sticky

The Game brings things into focus By Doyle Barlow Baytown Sun Published October 8, 2006 The 40th anniversary of The Game is in the books, and as the sun rose Saturday morning on Lee’s 34-7 win, several things were just as clear in the light of day as they were following the carnage Friday night at Stallworth Stadium. First and foremost, one fact is crystal clear: Lee is a pretty darn good football team, and they’re getting better every week. The offense is explosive, as it usually is at REL, but what you’d better not sleep on if you’re a Gander opponent is the running game. REL held a 21-7 halftime lead on Sterling Friday night, which they increased to 28-7 on the first play of the second half when Fred St. Luce returned a fumble for a touchdown. What ensued after that wasn’t typical REL football, it was a game of keep-away. And with junior running back Jarvis Moore, the Ganders have the ultimate weapon to play that game. Moore rushed for145 yards Friday night, with 92 of those coming on 15 second-half carries. Meanwhile, REL attempted only six passes in the second half, and only four of those were by starting quarterback Octavio Torres. Kevin Craft threw a pass on a fake punt, and Moore threw the other on a halfback pass. Only having six attempts is unusual. There have been games when the Ganders have had that many attempts in their first drive. Being able to run the ball like that is a luxury, and it does something else — it gives the defense time to rest. Which brings us to what I think was the biggest storyline of the game, the Gander defense. REL defensive coordinator Mark Crooms was concerned all week about Sterling’s ability to run the football with Jason Tanner, Stephen Guillory and Manasah Davis behind their big offensive line. And when RSS ran for gains of 12, 10 and 8 yards on their first three plays, I’d be willing to bet that Crooms was sweating bullets. But then, just when they needed it, the defense made a couple of big plays. On second-and-4 from the 42, Reggie Butler tattooed Davis on a sweep to the right side, and then on third down, St. Luce hit Davis for a four-yard loss on a completed pass. Those two plays forced an RSS punt, which REL would turn into an 86-yard drive and a 14-0 lead, and they also established the defensive tone for the night. The Ganders would end up giving up less than 100 yards, with Sterling’s only points coming on an interception return. Which brings me to another fact: the Ganders are legitimate contenders to win the District 21-5A title. Right now, Beaumont West Brook is probably still the favorite, but they’re hardly invincible. The Bruins defeated Kingwood, 30-14, Friday night, a week after REL defeated the Mustangs, 32-16. The Ganders play West Brook this week, and will have the added benefit of having the game at Stallworth Stadium. I firmly believe that whoever wins that game will win the district. What about Humble, you ask? Well, ever since losing quarterback Keith Baker a couple of weeks ago, the Wildcats have looked mediocre. They had 0 passing yards in and needed a defensive touchdown in a 17-7 win over Sterling last week, and this week, they trailed Channelview, 10-0, before rallying for a 21-0 victory. As for the Rangers, I don’t know what to think. Do I think they have the talent to win four of their next five games and get into the playoffs? Yes. Do I think they’ll do it? I don’t have a clue. This is a team that had tremendous participation in their summer and offseason program, and it would be a shame to see all that hard work go to waste. But it’s also a team that had a handful of players sit behind the Lee bench during the Ganders preseason scrimmage with Galveston Ball and talk trash about how bad they were going to beat them. As we know now, that didn’t happen. RSS still has time to salvage their season, but it’s time to let their actions on the field do the talking.

I never saw 7 in the box, much less 8 or 9.

Dayton by 21.

I'll pick BH in another close one.

Dayton thrashes Ozen By Jerry Michalsky Baytown Sun Published October 7, 2006 BEAUMONT — Last year it was Beaumont Ozen who ended the season for Dayton with a heartbreaking 14-13 loss in the first round of the playoffs in a game played at Stallworth stadium. This year, the Broncos got some revenge by whipping the Panthers 48-6 Friday night in a District 22-4A game at Cardinal stadium. Dayton (3-2 2-0), leading 14-6 at the half put it out of reach early in the third quarter by scoring three touchdowns in a span of six minutes to up the lead to 34-6 to put the game away. After holding Ozen (0-5 0-2), to a three-and-out on their first series of the game it was the Broncos taking it straight down the field to get on the board first. Michael Dugat capped a 56-yard 11-play drive by scoring from nine yards out and 7-0 lead. It would stay that a way until the Panthers would cut into the Dayton lead at the 2:59 mark of the second quarter as London Durham scored. The Broncos then responded to the Ozen score by marching 61-yards on seven plays. Cody Green hit Paul Fontenot from 15-yards out on a 4th and seven for a 14-6 lead. The second half was a whole different story as Dayton scored 34 unanswered points. Dugat took the second play of the second half and broke it outside for a nifty 57-yard run. Two plays later the senior running back scored from seven yards out. Two minutes later it was Joe Carter picking off a Durham pass and returned the pick 65 yards for a Dayton score. Green then hit Fontenot again, this time from 26-yards out. for another Bronco score and what was once a 1-point game was now 34-6 with 5:21 left in the third quarter. Zachary Favela then scored his first Dayton score as Green hit him from 4-yards out. The 29-yard five-play drive was set up by a Ford Smesny interception. A.J. Dugat then capped the scoring for Dayton by returning an Ozen punt 44-yards with 7:26 left in the game. Dayton finished with 359-yards of total offense while holding the Panthers to 184. Dugat was rushed for a game high 136-yards on just 13 carries while Andrew Thomas lead all receivers with 4 catches for 38 yards. The Broncos will look to remain perfect in district play next week as they will head a little further past Beaumont to face Vidor. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Lions crush Panthers, 31-6 By Randy Cunningham Baytown Sun Published October 7, 2006 The Anahuac Express hoped to improve their district record to 2-0 after last week’s win over a tough Buna squad. However, the wheels fell off the Panther offense and their undefeated hopes were derailed 31-6 by the Lions Friday night. The Panthers’ first possession ended in disaster after only 2 plays, when Jacob Pesina’s first passing attempt was intercepted and returned to the Anahuac 13-yard line. Kountze wasted little time in taking advantage of their good fortune, as running back Dante Barnes ran around right end on a 7-yard jaunt to open the scoring. Mark Penik’s PAT gave the Lions a 7-0 margin. Anahuac could muster only a yard in offense on their ensuing drive, and Kountze immediately resumed their rushing ways, relying exclusively on their ground game to drive deep into the Panther end of the field. Though the Anahuac defense dug in their heels to halt the drive, the Lions increased their lead to 10-0 after Penik blasted a 44-yard field goal with 5:01 left in the first quarter. The squads traded punts, jockeying for field position before a 14-yard Panther punt gave Kountze the ball at the Anahuac 47. Five plays later, Barnes darted around the left side of the defense for his second touchdown of the half. Penik’s PAT increased the Lions’ lead to 17-0. The Anahuac offense then roared to life when Pesina connected with Phillip Raymond for an apparent 70-yard score. However, the Panthers’ hopes were quickly dashed when an illegal receiver penalty erased the points. Neither squad scored during the remainder of the half. Both offenses sputtered during the third stanza. The Anahuac offense, which compiled only 82 yards in total offense during the contest, simply could not come untracked. “We did not play fundamental footballâ€, stated head coach Rob Davis, “They whipped us at the line of scrimmage. We had a tough time running the football, and they played a really solid run defense. We had a good week of practice, and they gave us no surprises.†Kountze struck first in the second half, driving 66 yards in 11 plays to take a 24-0 lead on a 24-yard run by Thomas Wolcott. The PAT was good. Anahuac then quickly responded, traveling 62 yards to break their scoreless drought courtesy of a 35-yard strike from Pesina to Tristan Lewis, who broke through the Lion secondary down the middle of the field to cut the margin to 24-6. The 2-point conversion failed. However, Kountze immediately slammed the door on the Panthers, returning the ensuing kickoff to the Anahuac 38. Five plays later, Neal Batman unmasked the Panther secondary as he connected with wide receiver J. J. Turner for a 7-yard scoring toss. The PAT gave the Lions their final point of the contest. “We had a tough time overcoming adversity tonight†stated Davis, “We gave them a lot of momentum at the beginning of the game and never got it back. We’re just going to have to evaluate where we are, and do what we can this week to get better.†Anahuac (2-4, 1-1) faces Hardin in a 7:30 contest next Friday at Kyle White Field.

Eagles stay perfect with win over Coogs By Michael Pineda Baytown Sun Published October 7, 2006 CROSBY — On a night when the offenses tended to look offensive, Barbers Hill made enough plays and their defense did the rest as the Eagles improved to 5-0 on the season Friday night with a 10-0 win over Crosby. “We made plays when we had to,†BH head coach Don Price said. “It was a great effort by our defense. Crosby is a scary football team. We had great efforts on both sides of the ball and on special teams. Mason did a great job of punting tonight.†Fisher caught two passes on the night, one of which went 64 yards for a score. But it was as a punter where he had his biggest impact. The senior had nine punts on the night averaging 37 yards per punt. From that point it was on the defense which held Crosby out of the end zone. For the night Barbers Hill had 196 yards of total offense, 43 of which came on the ground. Crosby had 198 yards of offense but committed two turnovers and made mistakes when they least needed them. “I have to give Barbers Hill credit,†CHS head coach Kevin Flanigan said. “They don’t make mistakes. They do a great job of coaching. This was probably the closest anyone has played them. We have played a close ball game or two here and you take something from losing. But we are not going to get used to losing.†The Barbers Hill defense set the tone early in the game when Kyle Cox forced a fumble on a Torris Doze carry giving the Eagles possession at the 48-yard line. The Crosby defense held but the Eagle special teams came up with a big play as Fisher buried a punt in the right corner at the three-yard line. Despite the poor field position, the Cougars were able to pick up some momentum offensively. A 22-yard pass from Durran Starks to Caleb Randolph gave Crosby some breathing room. After picking up another first down on the ground the drive stalled forcing a punt. A roughing the kicker penalty gave the Cougars new life and they took advantage. Crosby made it down to the 23-yard line following a 13-yard Chance Casey run but a holding penalty put the Cougars in a hole from which they couldn’t recover. The drive ended on a Billy Greer 48-yard field goal attempt that was short. For the better part of the first half the Barbers Hill offense was stuck in neutral. The Eagles had trouble with the center snap throughout the game that threw the offense off balance several times. Crosby was also able the stuff the Barbers Hill running game for the better part of the evening. With 5:12 remaining in the half the Eagles did come up with a big play via the passing game. Facing a 3rd and eight at their own 36, Blake Patton found Mason Fisher isolated on the left on Ryan Wheatfall. Wheatfall was in position to make a play but Fisher, who is 6’4 was able to go over the Wheatfall who is only 5’4. Once Fisher gathered the ball in he sailed to the end zone to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead. “Wheatfall is a good player,†Price said, “but Mason is special and he made the play.†In the second half, the Eagle defense held Crosby to 85 yards, most of which came on one drive. On the first Cougar possession, Cameron Swart was a disruptive force from his defensive tackle position. The senior had one tackle for a three-yard loss and combined with Joe Sexton to drop Casey for no gain following a Cougar first down. The Eagles forced a punt when Nick Coggin broke up a deep pass on 3rd and 10. “They were pretty good but I just came out in the second half ready to go,†Swart said. “The adrenaline was flowing. I thought the game was on the defenses shoulders. We have an awesome defense. I trust the defense and I trust my teammates.†The Cougars forced a punt and took possession at their own 14. Casey started the drive with an 18-yard run and Starks completed passes to Casey and Jessie Moore. Crosby got all the way down to the Barbers Hill 18 where they had 2nd and one. Working out of the shotgun, disaster struck when a poor snap got past Starks. Crosby fell on the ball at the 33-yard line facing 3rd and 16. A pass netted five but on fourth down Steven Vara deflected a pass to end the threat. “We hadn’t had a bad snap in the shotgun in four games,†Flanigan said. “It is one of those deals. We are banged up right now with our No.1 and No. 3 receivers on the sideline as well as one of our top linemen. But that didn’t beat us. We have to execute.†Barbers Hill iced the game in the fourth quarter with a 16-play 69-yard drive that resulted in an 18-yard Coggin field goal. Taking possession with 9:34 remaining in the game, the Eagles took nearly eight minutes off of the clock. Barbers Hill converted on three third downs and one fourth down on the drive. The big plays of the drive were passes of 20 yards and 19 yards from Blake Patton to twin brother Todd Patton. The drive stalled on the one yard line where Price elected to go for the field goal which Coggin converted with 2:01 remaining in the game for a 10-0 lead. Crosby put together one last threat thanks to a 51-yard kickoff return by Torris Doze that put the ball at the 29-yard line. Coggin slowed Doze down allowing Jonathan Delgado to make the touchdown saving tackle. After a two-yard rush by Starks, the defense swarmed the junior quarterback. Cox deflected a pass on second down and on third pressure by Sexton forced an incomplete pass. After a penalty, Starks went to Moore across the middle but Chris Bradshaw’s hit on Moore resulted in an incomplete pass to seal the game. Blake Patton led the way completing 9 of his 13 passes for 153 yards while gaining 25 yards on the ground. Mason Fisher caught two passes for 62 yards. Chance Casey had gained 81 yards on 18 carries to lead Crosby. Starks was 8 of 26 for 103 yards. Todd Patton intercepted one of Starks passes. Moore had three receptions for 37 yards. Next week, Barbers Hill host New Caney, while Crosby travels to C.E. King.

Ganders soar in 7th straight win By Doyle Barlow Baytown Sun Published October 7, 2006 The Game wasn’t much of one. In the 40th version of the annual crosstown rivalry between Lee and Sterling, the Ganders looked like a team poised to make a run for a district title, while the Rangers looked like a team that was, well, … 40. The end result was a 34-7 REL win that kept the Ganders (4-1) undefeated in District 21-5A play at 2-0, while dropping the Rangers to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the district. It was the fourth straight victory for the Ganders, while RSS lost its fourth straight — all at home. The victory also gives the Ganders a 24-14-2 edge in the all-time series. REL will host West Brook next week, while RSS will travel to Channelview. “Going into this, we talked about the fact that we wanted to make Sterling a hungry friend,†REL head coach Dick Olin said. “What we mean by that is that now Sterling has to come out and fight every week and by doing that, they’ll help us. We’ve got a lot of respect for them and their goal of making the playoffs is not out of the realm of possibility.†An REL defense that had received its share of criticism coming in held the Rangers to 93 yards and no touchdowns on the night, and only 34 yards of offense in the second half. In addition, the Gander defense got a 20-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown from Fred St. Luce for a score, and the special teams added a touchdown when Luis Gonzales recovered a fumbled kickoff in the end zone. “I really didn’t think we’d shut them down like we did,†said REL defensive coordinator Mark Crooms. “I thought they’d be able to run on us a little bit, but they never did. “All week we worked on staying in our rush lanes so that (Jason) Tanner couldn’t get outside the pocket. “We’re getting better and better. We’re getting there.†The Ganders limited Tanner to 22 yards rushing and only 21 yards passing. Sterling’s only touchdown came when Denzel Kennedy picked off an Octavio Torres and returned it 60 yards for a score late in the second quarter. “It was another Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde scenario for us,†RSS head coach Herb Minyard said. “It was a situation where they made plays and we didn’t. We didn’t play well, but there’s nothing we can do about that now. We told the kids after the game that we have to move on.†Lee dominated without getting a big performance from Torres, who finished 9 of 20 for 96 yards with a pair of interceptions. He did have a 7-yard touchdown strike to Michael Mahan to cap the opening drive and give REL a 7-0 lead with less than two minutes elapsed. But just like in last week’s win over Kingwood, it was the REL ground game that was the difference. The Ganders had 257 yards on the ground, with Jarvis Moore rushing for 145 yards on 27 carries. Moore, who had over 200 yards last week, did most of his damage after intermission, with 92 yards and a touchdown in the second half. Inside receiver Kevin Craft also had a big night rushing, with 70 yards on five carries, including a 24-yard touchdown run. Craft ran the ball three times on reverses as the Ganders tried to take advantage of Sterling’s aggressive, pursuing defense. “We just wanted to put those (reverses) in to try to slow them down some,†Olin said. Lee wasted no time in serving notice that they were going to pull out all the stops. On the opening drive of the night, REL ran a reverse to Craft on third-and-9 to keep the march alive. Craft also had a 30-yard reception on the drive, with Torres hooking up with mahan on the next play. On their second drive, REL marched 86 yards on 14 plays, capped by Craft’s 24 yards run on a backward pass from Torres. The drive was kept alive by a 10-yard run by Craft on a fake punt on fourth-and-2. Following Craft’s score which gave REL a 14-0 lead came the most bizarre play of the night. Ulises Arias’s kickoff was mishandled by Dawsel White and rolloed into the end zone. White never downed the ball and Lee’s Luis Gonzales jogged into the end Zone and picked it up with the officials signaling it was a touchdown. Minyard came onto the field and argued with the officials, but to no avail, making the score 21-0 with six seconds left in the first quarter. Sterling got on the board with Kennedy’s interception return, as the score was 21-0 at halftime. It looked like the Rangers might be able to build some momentum, but on their first play from scrimmage, Guillory ran into the line where the ball was stripped by St. Luce, as he raced the other direction for a TD and 28-7 lead. Moore added a two-yard dive in the fourth quarter for the final points. After that it was all up to the defense which never cracked. “We just came out, played hard and executed,†said REL defensive tackle JT Cleveland. “They have some good athletes but we came out and did our jobs.â€

Still having those Broncos dancing in your head. Try shaking your head real fast. Their you go. Thinking straight yet?

How can you say this? Dayton can't compete in this district. Heard it a thousand times. Come on now. Poll should be for who gets second and third and don't put Dayton in the mix. In reply: And...

Did somebody lose that wasn't suppose to? I think the only score that made me go hmmmmm was the Jasper game. Bulldogs have turned into quitters.

It seemed that the bad snaps might be a thing of the past and then all the sudden they show up again. I hate that. Go away bad snaps. We don't need or want you.

After going to five games against Crosby in a home match, the Eagles knew they had to be very prepared when they entered the Cougar Den. And step up they did. Barbers Hill made sure there was not a fifth game. NOR a fourth game. The Eagles won by scores of 25-23, 25-10 and 25-15. Barbers Hill is now 25-7 and 10-0. Crosby drops to 8-2 in district play. BH will host C.E. King and New Caney next week.

I'll be surprised if WOS completes the season anywhere near .500. But hey I'm no expert.

It looks like that guy in front is a PNG fan who is undercover and is getting ready to stab those guys runnning through the sign. Dang blood thirsty indians.

By Michael Pineda Baytown Sun Published October 6, 2006 Going into the season, the Barbers Hill football team realized the season would be different due to the move to Class 4A. Thanks to a strong senior class, the Eagles have continued their winning ways, jumping out to a 4-0 start on the season and a 1-0 record in District 21-4A. One of the reasons for the Eagle’s success this season is senior linebacker Daniel McSwain who has set himself apart with his play on the field. “This year has been everything that I expected and more,†McSwain said. “We are playing as s team. It takes everybody to win. In moving up to Class 4A with a strong senior class we have the opportunity to prove how good we are. I think the teams will be a lot more competitive. Everyone is going to try and beat us because we are the new guys on the block.†McSwain credits the chemistry of the team as one of the reasons that the Eagles have continued their winning ways. Entering the season Barbers Hill was one of the favorites to advance to the playoffs where the Eagles would like to erase the bitter memory of the loss to Kirbyville. Content-Disposition: form-data; name="story_summary" Going into the season, the Barbers Hill football team realized the season would be different due to the move to Class 4A. Going into the season, the Barbers Hill football team realized the season would be different due to the move to Class 4A. Thanks to a strong senior class, the Eagles have continued their winning ways, jumping out to a 4-0 start on the season and a 1-0 record in District 21-4A. One of the reasons for the Eagle’s success this season is senior linebacker Daniel McSwain who has set himself apart with his play on the field. “This year has been everything that I expected and more,†McSwain said. “We are playing as s team. It takes everybody to win. In moving up to Class 4A with a strong senior class we have the opportunity to prove how good we are. I think the teams will be a lot more competitive. Everyone is going to try and beat us because we are the new guys on the block.†McSwain credits the chemistry of the team as one of the reasons that the Eagles have continued their winning ways. Entering the season Barbers Hill was one of the favorites to advance to the playoffs where the Eagles would like to erase the bitter memory of the loss to Kirbyville. “There is probably not a day that goes by that I don’t think about Kirbyville,†McSwain said. “I just want a chance to get back and get a chance to make something happen. In the playoffs anything can happen.†The next step for Barbers Hill in district play will be Crosby, a former rival. The Cougars also came into the season as one of the favorites to make the playoffs. Crosby is off to a 2-2 record this season but could easily be 4-0 on the year. “They are a good football team,†BH head coach Don Price said. “They are well coached and have good skill positions and a good line. They are executing better on both sides of the ball each week, they will be a challenge. “We have to limit their big plays because they have the ability to score real quick. They have the kind of athletes that can turn a five yard gain into a 60-yard gain.†McSwain is undersized as a linebacker weighing in at 185 but more than makes up for it with 4.5 speed. As a two-year starter at middle linebacker, McSwain has made the most of his ability and talent. “I read my blocks and I put in a lot of work on film,†McSwain said. “I don’t have a seventh period so a bunch of us seniors go down and watch film together. We also try to go eat together on Thursdays. Being a senior, it’s going by a lot faster.

Dayton wins big and everyone gets to play.

If the Southeast Texas Web site were to last for a thousand years, people will still say this is the best example of posting idiocy.

I didn't like it because their was nothing new. Give me a story line that i haven't seen in some movie in the last five years.

Crosby, Barbers Hill set to get reacquainted By Michael Pineda Baytown Sun Published October 5, 2006 This Friday a rivalry will be rekindled on the gridiron when Crosby hosts Barbers Hill. The regular season meeting was brought about by the latest UIL district realignment which saw the Eagles move up to Class 4A. While the two teams have not met in a regular season game in recent memory, they have scrimmaged each other in the preseason. As the Cougars prepare for their second district meeting they do so with a healthy respect for their neighbors to the East. “I know they have a lot of skill people,†CHS defensive end Greg Buckner said. “They accomplish their assignments. They execute what their coaches teach them. We have to focus on our picture. When I say picture I mean we can’t be worried about anything but the game and our assignments.†Buckner has been one of the leaders for the Crosby defense over the last two years. The senior started on the other side of the ball as a running back his sophomore year. Buckner switched to the defensive side of the ball and has not looked back becoming one of the Cougars more productive players. “I just love the game,†Buckner said. “I love hitting people and being better than my opponent. Being on the offense helped me defensively. When I moved I did what I had to do. It was hard at first but it has worked out well. “We strive for excellence defensively. And there is always room for improvement. We are a playoff team, I can actually say that.†Buckner and the rest of the Cougars will have their work cut out for them when they face the talented no-huddle offense of Barbers Hill. Crosby forced six turnovers against Smiley and scored two touchdowns defensively but the Eagles will not be as generous. “Barbers Hill doesn’t make mistakes,†CHS head coach Kevin Flanigan added. “They don’t turn the ball over and they tackle very well. You do those two things and you are going to win a lot of ballgames. They are extremely sound fundamentally. You try to keep a fine line between expressing how good a program is without intimidating the kids.†Crosby is coming off of a feel good 54-3 win against Smiley. The Cougars district opening victory came on the heels of two tough consecutive losses to Port Neches-Grove and Dickinson. “The win gave us a lot more confidence,†Buckner said. “In the other games we didn’t have our heads in the game. The Dickinson loss hurt really bad. It hurts more when you know that you should have won it.†“After the close games with PNG and the Dickinson thing,†Flanigan said, “It really cured a lot of ills. A big win cures a lot of things. We had some big plays. I don’t think that they are satisfied but we did some things to improve. “We will have to play our best game of the year to beat Barbers Hill.†--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub-Varsity scores -- BH vs. Huffman BH JV over Huffman 25-6, 25-13. BH Record: 21-1 and 9-0 BH 9th over Huffman 25-18, 25-15. BH Record: 20-2 and 8-0

Third school could change dynamics By Doyle Barlow Baytown Sun Published October 4, 2006 Football supremacy in Baytown will be on the line Friday night at 7:30 p.m. at Stallworth Stadium when Lee and Sterling square off for the 40th time. The winning school gets to claim the title as the best football team in the city, and even more importantly, gets a year’s worth of bragging rights over their crosstown rivals. It’s a fact. If you win “The Game†you win a lot more than just a game. But the battle for football supremacy in Baytown stands to look a whole lot different in a couple of years. That’s when Goose Creek ISD will open a third high school, and in so doing, change the dynamics of high school football. What’s going to happen? Will the three schools all play each other? If Sterling stays in Class 5A and Lee drops to Class 4A, will the Ganders and Rangers never play? What’s going to happen with Baytown football? The answer? According to Goose Creek athletic director Tom Ed Gooden, right now, there is no answer. “Everything is still up in the air,†Gooden said. “Every since I’ve been here, I’ve heard rumors just like everybody else. I’ve heard Sterling is going to stay in 5A and Lee is going to be in 4A. I do know the new high school is being built to handle 1,800 students, and that’s a 4A school.†Gooden said the main thing would be how the students who don’t go to the new high school are divided. If they are divided equally, there could still possibly be enough to make both of those 5A schools, although most early reports say Sterling will get a bigger percentage of the kids than Lee, which is at capacity now. “Where do you put the other students?†Gooden said. “How do you balance that? You still have to figure out what’s best for all the students in Goose Creek.†But even if one of the schools is in 5A and two are in 4A, that doesn’t mean they can’t play each other in football. It’s not unusual for 4A and 5A schools to face off, and in fact, Lee opened their season against Class 4A Beaumont Central this year. “It would be hard to take a matchup like Lee and Sterling away,†Gooden said. “Class 4A plays 5A, it happens all the time and I’m not opposed to it. “That’s not a decision the A.D. makes. That’s something that the community has a lot of say in and I can’t see Lee-Sterling week or Sterling-Lee week going away.†Of course, Gooden also wants to see the new high school in the mix. “I would hope that the new school would grow and progress to where they could compete with the other two,†he said. “People in Baytown need to be supportive of all the schools except for that one week when they play each other.†But that’s all a couple of years down the road. Right now, Gooden is just looking forward to Friday night at Stallworth Stadium. “I’m real excited about Friday night. It should be an interesting game,†Gooden said. “There’s a lot of distractions and it’s one of those games that’s a lot more fun for the community and the kids than the coaches. It ought to be fun.â€