UIL to decide grid title sites in all classes
the Austin American-Statesman
State championship football games will have predetermined sites in all Texas high school classifications starting next year. The University Interscholastic League's Legislative Council voted Monday to have fixed sites in classes 1A through 4A. The state's largest classification, 5A, is in the third year of having both title games at the same site. Below 5A, coaches still determine championship game sites either by mutual agreement or a coin flip, just as they do through each round of the playoffs. UIL officials say they haven't decided whether games will be played at the same site. More

2A football playoff format changed
the Austin American-Statesman
The football playoffs in Class 2A will change after decisions made by the UIL Legislative council. Class 2A football will be divided into two divisions prior to the start of the season and the state championship football games in Conferences 1A - 4A will be played at pre-determined sites. As a result of the referendum ballot, Class 2A superintendents across the state voted to divide football brackets into two divisions (Division I and Division II) prior to the start of the season.More

Brownwood tops Graham, but Shipley-McCoy friendship remains strong
the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Friends for 25 years, teammates and roommates, they suddenly found themselves on opposite sides of the field Friday night. Their families had shared many campfires and just as many victories. But here at Gordon Wood Stadium, teeming in Brownwood maroon, they were divided, set in headlong opposition. The Shipley-McCoy friendship became a rivalry Friday, when Brownwood defeated visiting Graham 28-27 in a crucial Class 3A game. Brad McCoy is the coach of Graham; Bob Shipley the coach of Brownwood. They were teammates and roommates when they played at Abilene Christian. And their sons, Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley, are teammates and roommates at Texas. But they were all rivals last Friday. More

UIL passes measure requiring officials to register with agency
the Houston Chronicle
The University Interscholastic League will soon govern the officials that call its varsity games. The UIL legislative council approved an amendment to require all officials that work its varsity team sports contests to register with the league, one of several items ruled on at its biannual legislative council meetings at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center. More

Birdville QB chasing wins, TD record
The Dallas Morning News HS Game Time
When Graham Harrell threw 67 touchdown passes in only 13 games for Ennis in 2003, it was difficult to imagine anyone breaking that state record. Quick-striking, spread offenses were rolling up big numbers across the state, but nobody was going to match the number put up by the future Texas Tech star. Then along came Denton Ryan's Scotty Young, who threw 65 touchdown passes (also in 13 games) last season. And this year, there's Birdville's Josh Dorman, who has thrown 39 touchdown passes in eight games. That's enough for Dorman to at least think about Harrell's glamorous record. More

O'Connor dedicates victory to principal
the San Antonio Express-News
The O'Connor Panthers are in the midst of fighting for their playoff lives, but it was a different battle that had running back Jerreal Minor in tears following Saturday’s 48-21 victory over Holmes (2-6, 1-5 District 28-5A). O’Connor principal Larry Martin is battling thyroid cancer, and doctors say the cancer is spreading faster than typically seen. Martin said the prognosis is good and that he is "going to get better," but his struggle has resonated with a Panthers team that had been focused on nothing but Xs and Os before recently learning of their principal’s condition. That the Panthers did, staying ahead in the race for the fourth and final playoff bid in 28-5A after storming out to a 41-7 halftime lead in front of 2,699 fans at Farris Stadium. More

Memorial may have found its answer
the Beaumont Enterprise
If you want to know how the Memorial football team handed Class 5A power Galena Park North Shore a 7-6 loss on Friday, make sure you read the following sentence carefully. Theopportunityisnowhere. At first glance, it might appear that the sentence reads, 'The Opportunity Is Nowhere' but if you look closely, you will see this the sentence is actually reads 'The Opportunity is Now Here.' "That was something I heard a while ago from another guy," said Memorial coach Kenny Harrison. "I thought using it as motivation before we played North Shore would be a good idea." But the sentence is more than just a motivational tool. It also provides a sense of perspective when looking at Memorial. Like the sentence, at first glance, when most folks look at Memorial's record from last season, they will see this was a 3-6 team. More

Promises unfulfilled: Injuries can leave recruits in limbo
The Dallas Morning News HS Game Time
Eight hours remained until kickoff last Friday and Ennis' star receiver was not in class. Instead, Kyle Guinyard sat at home, shut out from the outside world with the shades drawn. The day before, Guinyard underwent an operation to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in his team's loss to Mesquite Horn on Sept. 18. On that Friday night – like most during his varsity career – Guinyard shined. The highly touted senior, who had offers from three Big 12 schools, snagged 10 passes for 142 yards, leaving defenders behind with a quick feint here and a juke there. But on his last cut, his worst fears were realized. More