State’s Rich Crop of QBs on Display in Bowl Games
from Houston Chronicle
As one era of Texas football history came to a close with the final Cotton Bowl Classic at Fair Park, the game’s quarterbacks, Graham Harrell of Texas Tech and Jevan Snead of Mississippi, represented the vanguard of a new chapter in the game’s development. Harrell, who has set eight NCAA passing records this season, and Snead, in his first year as a starter for the Rebels after transferring from Texas following the 2006 season, are among 12 former Texas high school quarterbacks starting for bowl teams representing eight states and six conferences. That group accounts for almost a fifth of the 68 bowl participants, more than any other state, and it depicts the development of Texas football in like fashion that the move from Fair Park to the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington tracks the path of the Cotton Bowl’s evolution. More

Daingerfield Reveling in Tigers' Football Title
from Mount Pleasant Daily Tribune
Daingerfield -- It's been a long time coming. Those words are from Brandon Scheu, who is back in town with his brother Brian for Christmas with their parents, and for football. The two, who were both at the state championship game against Cisco in Waco last weekend, are former Daingerfield Tigers. Brian graduated in 2001 and was on the team when they went to state in 1998 -- and lost. More

The Faith of a High School Football Coach
from ABC News
They played the oddest game in high school football history last month down in Grapevine, Texas. It was Grapevine Faith vs. Gainesville State School and everything about it was upside down. For instance, when Gainesville came out to take the field, the Faith fans made a 40-yard spirit line for them to run through. Did you hear that? The other team's fans? More

Basketball Referee Dies After Collapse, Skyline Coach Says
from Dallas Morning News HS Game Time
A basketball official who collapsed during the intermission of a holiday tournament game has died, Skyline boys basketball coach J.D. Mayo said. Mayo, in a phone call late Monday night, said Jake Bethany was pronounced dead at R.H. Dedman Memorial Hospital hours after collapsing at Loos Field House. Bethany collapsed in the hallway before the Loos basketball court entrance as he prepared for the start of the second half of a Dallas ISD/Coca-Cola Boys Tournament game. More

Loss in 1982 Semifinals Drove Judson to Title in 1983
from San Antonio Express-News
The greatest triumphs often are rooted in the throes of defeat. Now in their early 40s, the players on Judson's 1983 football team discovered that during one of the most memorable seasons in the history of Greater San Antonio high school sports. Motivated by the disappointment of losing in the 1982 state semifinals, the Rockets won the Class 5A state championship with a 15-1 record the next year. And so began Judson's ascent as one of Texas' elite teams. The Rockets have added five more state titles, including one by forfeit, since winning their first 25 years ago. More

A Truly Fabulous Year for Lake Travis' Gilbert
from Austin American-Statesman
Time was winding down on Garrett Gilbert's high school career when the whispers started to trickle throughout the Lake Travis sideline. It started with the coaches who kept the statistics and spread quickly, like a rumor at the office. G-Man, as the Cavaliers call him, was close. Very close. Just 34 yards separated the Lake Travis quarterback from the state record that every high school signal caller dreams of holding — Texas' record for career passing yards. Cavaliers coach Chad Morris looked at the clock, which had ticked down to fewer than four minutes left, and its scoreboard, which showed the Cavaliers' victory over Longview and a second straight Class 4A state championship was now a formality. More

Rawls On a Roll after 500th Win
from San Angelo Standard Times
Most people hope their first job out of college can just be a stepping stone to something greater. Bronte High School boys basketball coach Rocky Rawls turned his first job into quite a legacy. Early in December, Rawls won his 500th game at the school, and he hasn't slowed down a bit since passing that remarkable milestone. With Tuesday night's 46-27 victory over Robert Lee in this tournament finale, Rawls is up to win No. 508 as his state-ranked Longhorns improved their record to 15-1. More

Humble Coach Has Special Link to Team
from Houston Chronicle
After Humble lost a 58-57 heartbreaker to Beaumont Ozen in the first round of the Barbers Hill tournament, coach Blair Redmon needed a few minutes with her team.Redmon — Humble’s second-year coach — knew what her players were thinking, because she used to be in their shoes. Redmon graduated from Humble in 2000 and was one of the Wildcats’ top players. More