GoBigBlue1997

It is not the offenses' job to stop themselves. If the defense wants the offense to stop scoring then do something about it. I personally think it is much more disrespectful "slowing up", then it is to "run it up". I know I would not want somebody "taking it easy" on me. I would just assume you come full speed at least just out of pride. I do not need you to "baby" me. But to answer the question.. I would go for it. Even if you do not get the first down, you have the other team pinned deep in their own side of the field. Whats three points when you are up big anyway?

Prepare like they are a LaMarque team of old, but believe you are still the better team! This is the winning formula. I hear alot of talk about past championships and 14 quarterfinal appearences, I do not know how many of those players will be out there playing friday night, but that is the past. Also, If tradition accounts for 7 points on the scoreboard, then community support and crowd should also account for points. This is where Lumberton is second to none this season. It all starts with believing. This is something we have done all season. We lay the foundation with believing we can do anything. Then we build upon it with hard work and dedication. Then we starve ourselves to the point that we are so hungry we will do anything to survive another week. And all this comes to affirmation on friday nights. Make no mistake LaMarque... It will not be fear you see in our eyes, but FIRE! Turn It Loose Raiders!!!!

For me it is Lumberton Vs LaMarque. But all games this time of the year are good.

No, Doubt about it, you guys have been the class of 4A High School Football. We are the new kids on the block, so there is always going to be haters out there until we proove ourself. This is what we wanted all year, a chance to do just that. I do not know what the outcome of the game will be, but I know we will not be intimidated or scared. The Raiders are going to Turn It Loose Friday night and it should be a great game.

Thanx for all the support SETX. Last nights game was a great one!! So, what do you think Coach Cs' plans are today? Do you think he is going to the LaMarque/El-Campo game?

I wish I had a beer that big right now

ALL ABOARD!!!!

Teams will always have to make adjustments on the fly regardless of who you play or when you play them. Case in point Nederland, coaches refused to make any adjustments and that is why they missed the play-offs this year. They beat Brenham and Waller (two play-off teams) in non-district. Lumberton beat nobody in non-district, but because Nederland did not change anything at all Lumberton was able to beat them.

You guys played a very respectable non-district schedule as well. Much tougher than ours, but that does support the idea that tough non-district opponents does not matter that much. You did beat us in a very hard fought game, but we all finished district the same.

I do not see where it really matters that much. Playing a tough non-district schedule does not make you a better football team. If that were the case then Ozen would win district every year. They probably play the toughest non-district schedule in the area. Some ozen fans have told me that playing such a tough schedule has them feeling "Beat Up" going into district play. I feel playing one tough non-district opponent is enough.

Of course not... If the better team always wins the game then why play to begin with? There would be no such things as upsets.

Thats cool... I hope you will be going to the game friday. We can root them all on and give everyone another week to talk about us.

No rematch clause for me!! First time was tough enough. We won that one and I am ready to move on.

Who is worried about sitting anyway? I plan on standing the whole time!!! C'mon Raider fans...let's do not get lazy now. There are no seats on the L-train, standing room only!!!

Because Football is a TEAM game! No matter how good you are Individually, you are nothing unless you have good players around you. Each member of the team has a role, and each role is just as important as the other. Why would you want to try and divide the team like that anyway? Everyone is doing what they are suppose to be doing, that is why we are having success this year. I do not know why they even have Individual awards at the end of the season. To me it does not matter at all. You think any running back would be good without an offensive line? How good would a quaterback be if there were no receivers? In football, more than any other sport, is integrated so much it is like a machine. If one part is not working you just have a buch of junk.

Your best bet is to just get tickets at the field house office during school hours. They will be selling tickets at the gate but the home side may be sold out by then.

Great thread... It's nice to see some of the Alum that still care about Lumberton. Growing up in Lumberton and while in school we often compared our '92 team to that of our '96 team (Fall '95). There are some other good players on the 92 team that are not being mentioned. Chad Latino comes first to mind (All-District both ways). Perkins and Tal were very good... Baldwin might be the fastest WR from Lumberton still. The 92 Team was 3A and one of the larger schools in the district. Thats not to say that they played weaker competition, but it is more impressive when you are the smallest school in the district and competing. The 96 team had some great players too. Some younger Brothers of the 92 team. While TJ and Chad got most of the attention, there were alot players that were good. Kyle Gardner (RB) and Shane Winchester (LB, played College Ball) just to name a couple. Also, Jolly Adams, WR. It would have been great to see them teams get at it on the field. But this years team will be the most impressive. From Top to Bottom this district might be the toughest it has ever been. No easy games here. Also, they can do something that NO team from Lumberton has ever been able to do...make the Play-offs.

Im not much for making predictions, but I do know BOTH teams will be ready for this one. They know what this game means and should both approach it assuming Dayton is going to win. Last week is exactly that... Last Week. Lumberton should not assum, in any way, that Nederland will come out flat or deflated because of it. In fact, We need to caution on the other side and take a play-off spot and not expect it to be given to us. I really like Lumberton's chances in this game. Dayton was so effective, like PNG, because Nederland is too one dimensional. It is Pass, Pass, Pass..and then Punt. There is no attempt to run the ball. Against lesser talent this is effective, but against teams that are well coached and near the same talent level, it is too predictable. Lumberton runs well and can pass well if you key on the run. Nederland also does not show enough intensity on Defense. This does not help when facing a team that likes to run. A running team wants to play an Intense, Physical game. Things that I have not seen from Nederland this year. At least not on a consistent basis. Us beating Dayton and Dayton beating Nederland has no bearing on the outcome of this game. That was a different Dayton team last week, and as much as I hate to say it, the outcome would be much different if we played them now. Thats not to take anything from our win... I am just saying they are a much improved team and not a measuring stick between us and Nederland. We have a great chance this week and our kids can do something that no Lumberton team has done ever. We will come out Intense and Prepared and our boys will leave it all out on the field.

There are several coaches on the staff that were on our '96 team that lost to LCM and missed the play-offs as players then. So, I know they remember and they want this win just as much as the players do. So, no one is looking past this week.

Would love to go see the Raiders...but have to go help root on the Bulldogs.

I think all Teams have the ability to win their last two games. I do think Lumberton would have the toughest test if it needed to beat Nederland the last week to clinch a spot. Not only is Nederland a tough team, but we would also be up against alot of history. But, with so many scenarios out there that could play out, it is just too hard to predict what will happen. If Dayton beats Nederland then loses to PNG then it would come down to point differential between Nederland, Lumberton and Dayton (assuming PNG beats Central and Lumberton beats LCM and Nederland beats Lumberton). If all that were to happen, Nederland would have to beat Lumberton by more than 2 points over what they lost to Dayton. Example: Dayton beats Nederland by 10. To out right clinch a spot they would need to beat Lumberton by 12. There are just too many ways this could play out. Alot of questions will be answered this Friday! See ya' at the fields.

You are right about that... I over-looked that scenario. Thank you. In that situation would there just be tri-district champs and points would determine play-off seating of the small schools or would points determine district champions as well? What a great year this has been and you are also right Mike about Lumberton deserving a play-off spot. Nothing should be given to anyone... go out and earn it like everyone else. The only thing for sure is that it is going to come down to the wire. The most that I hope for is that when Nederland and Lumberton play it will be to determine play-off seeding and not who is in and who is out. For that to happen Lumberton and Nederland have to win this week. That is nothing against Dayton, but the suspense is killing me. I do not care if we go in as two or three just as long as we make it. This is the season of streaks. Either they continue or they break. Whoever makes it, it will be deserving!

Im glad you touched on the crowd involvement Mike. I am new to the mid-county area and have been living in Nederland for 4 years now by way of Lumberton. While my roots still Bleed Blue, I have been supporting the Dogs since I have moved here. I have been to several games each season and by far are the most disapointed with this years fans. There is almost a feeling like we are waiting for the other shoe to drop so to say. There does not seem to be any rally behind the team. Its like the players are out there by themselves and the fans are hoping they do not fail. Which is what all fans do I guess... but there is a distinction between the two and not a sence of a combined one. I doubt I am making any sense but I am from Lumberton and should receive a pass. As for a prediction Nederland has the talent to be the best team in 22-4A, but they do not always play like it. I think Nederland shows up and gets this one 20-14.

Ok, I hope thats true, because I would hate to see it end in a coin flip. I really do not see a situation where there would be a coin flip. There are so many different scnarios that could play out the next two weeks but everyone I have been able to come up with, there has been a clear head-to-head advantage.

What is the Tie Breaker in 22-4a? Do they look at Head-to-Head at all or is it just a coin flip? Also, do points scored matter at all? I remember one year Lumberton beat Ozen by 2 points but needed to win by 3 to make playoffs.