KFDM COOP

I was at the WOS/Sterling game in 85 in the Dome.

It’s been a long wait for Ross By Jim Finley Contributor Published November 10, 2008 Makes you wonder if Ronald Reagan knew what was in store for the Ross S. Sterling Rangers back in 1985. I’m betting he did. President Reagan, after all, was a big football guy. Not only did he portray the immortal George Gipp (“The Gipperâ€) in the inspiring movie “Knute Rockne – All-American (1940),†but he played a little football himself at Eureka College. (It’s a good thing Michigan didn’t schedule Eureka this year.) Moreover, Reagan was a former sports broadcaster – those guys know everything – and then there was that Cold War thing, where he was undefeated, untied, and unafraid. You may be wondering what President Reagan has to do with the BossRoss Rangers. I have the answer. It just so happens that Reagan was in the first year of his second term as president of these United States (even Massachusetts) when the Rangers made their last appearance in the state playoffs. Now they’ve reached that pinnacle again, but who would’ve predicted such a long drought way back then? Jeez, only a few of the students now enrolled at Sterling were even born then – those long, seems-like-an-eternity 23 years ago. To say the least, it’s been a long time coming. Herb Minyard and his troops should take a well-deserved bow. The Rangers, history now records, beat Channelview Friday night, 35-26, to secure sole possession of third place behind North Shore, one of the state’s true high school beasts, and Beaumont West Brook. They finished 3-2 in District 21-5A warfare and 6-3 for the season. As a reward, they get to play muscled-up Pearland (9-0) in a bi-district contest at 7 p.m. Friday in Deer Park. But no matter. They have at least one more game. Good for Ross S. To say that Sterling gaining the playoffs is even more of a colossal surprise than the final score of the Obama-McCain game (64 million to 56 million) would be an understatement. But I’m good at understatements. Coming into the 2008 season, the Rangers had all the odds stacked against them. They were so lightly regarded that Texas Football Magazine placed them at the bottom of 21-5A in its preseason predictions. Behind even Channelview, with no disrespect to the Falcons. In Texas Football and Channelview’s defense, it was a pick few could argue with. Besides, why bother? Sterling entered preseason training camp coming off a 1-9 season and returning only 16 lettermen. That was the good news. Say what? With the opening of Goose Creek Memorial High, Minyard would lose more than 50 percent of his football players, a number of whom were slated as starters. Just what he needed, right? The shame of it was that, before losing 80-plus players to the new school, the Rangers had laid the foundation for possible future playoff paradise a year earlier. To be sure, there were several pitiful performances to begin ‘07, but the Sterling troops got better and better as the year progressed. Still, despite week-to-week improvement, the Rangers found themselves having to beat playoff-bound Kingwood in their final game to avoid the school’s first winless year. In a masterful triple-overtime heart attack – and one of the best games ever played at Stallworth Stadium – they won by a 52-49 count. And, finally, maybe, hopefully, they could see light at the end of the football tunnel. Nope. It was, as someone once said, an oncoming 18-wheeler loaded with nitroglycerin. Boom! Ahead were the player transfers, and the Las Vegas odds were 114 to 41 that Sterling could match even the 1-9 slate of ’07. Dark days loomed ahead (think Wall Street here). But it didn’t happen. Minyard skillfully kept his remaining army together, got off to a good start, and finally put an end to a 23-year-old nightmare. I visited with the personable coach during the spring and ask him about his depleted situation. “It is what it is,†he said. “We’re going to play with what we’ve got. That’s all you can do.†And play they did. Now, after almost a quarter-century in which the Rangers posted a paltry 84-144 record (50-97 in loop play), they’re back in the state playoffs. Who cares if Pearland is the hairy-chested opponent? Ronald Reagan would be proud. Jim Finley is a retired managing editor for The Baytown Sun.

We may even have TV for these 2 games as well!! 8)

Predictions?

Don't eat to much Mike.

Nice Stadium!

What game (s) will you be at this weekend?

Monday Night game...Post scores here...

NM

[Hidden Content]

I'm predicting Kirbyville!

Top Rated Offense vs. Top Rated Defense.

Not sure, but i think this could be a close game.

CC Is good! Here's their results [Hidden Content]

SETXsports.com may, i say may be broadcasting both BISD games Saturday.

I am sure that the Coaches have their reasons and who cares kids will enjoy it. 3A Schools play in big Stadiums all the time, especially in the playoffs.

10:35 pm

Must include Players Name, School and Stats!!! Offense and Defense and Special Teams.

Good question!

What got my attention was back in 7 on 7 when they defeated 3A Celina in 7 on 7 State Tourney.

New Waverely is good!!

Good luck in the Playoffs,

Sat at H.I.

47-31 High Island Wins!

Class 5A Alief Hastings 36, Houston Northbrook 7 Cypress Creek 54, Cypress Springs 20 Fort Bend Clements 38, Fort Bend Bush 13 Fort Bend Dulles 14, Fort Bend Willowridge 6 Houston Chavez 31, Houston Westside 28 Humble Atascocita 35, Kingwood 7 Katy Cinco Ranch 24, Katy 21 Klein Oak 44, Spring Dekaney 7 Pasadena Rayburn 21, Pasadena 7 Pflugerville 31, Pflugerville Connally 14 SA O'Connor 28, SA Stevens 17 SA Reagan 32, SA Madison 28 SA Southwest 43, Eagle Pass Winn 0 Class 4A Gregory-Portland 36, CC Ray 13 SA Southwest 43, Eagle Pass Winn 0 Other Schools Amarillo Heritage Classical 82, Lubbock Christ The King 36 Brownwood Victory Life 55, WF Christian 6 Cypress Woods 70, Cypress Falls 20 Carrollton Christian 29, FW Calvary 24 Duncanville Christway 46, Rockwall Fulton 0 FW Hill School 76, EP Immanuel 63 Cypress Woods 70, Cypress Falls 20