PackAttack

With respect to all of our new district opponents, there is much to learn in a new district. You can see there is a lot of good talent and coaching in this district. Everything all the teams have done to this point means nothing now, everyone starts 0-0 . I think there will be some good matchups and looking forward to seeing what Lufkin can accomplish this year. We are no different than anyone else right now, trying to get all the starters back on the field at one time, it hasn't happen all year for us. BH is without some key players too, it's always about your depth and next man up. Got to play with who you have healthy. We are so far North in this district and we play all of our non- district games even further North. Makes things harder for us to keep up with other teams in the district. Lots of respect for Barbers Hill, a good program and with good coaching. They had a decent playoff run last year. Should be a very competitive game. Just hoping my Panthers can protect their home field next Friday night.

Ball is 4-0, any team who is 4-0 has done their job. Manvel (1-3), Texas City (2-1), Friendswood (1-2) and Houston Westside (0-4). Does SOS (4-10) play any factor?

The 2-1 Lufkin Panthers head to the 2-1 Tyler Lions on Friday 9/20/24 for their 4th game of the season. Last week Lufkin defeated 7A Little Rock Southwest, Ark 57-12 in Texarkana, Tx, while Tyler defeated 5A DII Seagoville on the road 48-7. This will be the 73rd meeting between the two teams with Tyler High holding 39-31-2 advantage through 2023. Lufkin has played North in all their non district games, will head North for the last time this year before district play down in Southeast Texas. Playing in Texarkana last week, then ending the regular season down in Galveston. Matt Stepp has Lufkin a +9 points , while DCTF computer picks Lufkin +15 points. All Lufkin football games can be viewed at [Hidden Content] This will be the first game Lufkin will have their starting QB Javion Johnson who was injured in Lufkin's scrimmage with Huntsville. Tyler is loaded with skilled players who found success making it to the semi finals of the State 7 0n 7 Tournament this year. Lufkin opens district at home next week against Barbers Hill, Tyler will begin district play next week against @ Highland Park. [Hidden Content]

Who has Ball played? 6A Manvel (ranked #115) is 1-2, 5A DII Texas City (ranked #29) is 1-1 and 5ADI Friendswood (ranked #45) is 1-2. Now they are playing an 0-3 6A Westside (ranked #233) this week. I re-watched the Texas City and the Friendswood games. Think I know someone who can play stout D on them.

DCTF picks Jasper by +13 points

DCTF picks Silsbee by +20 points

DCTF has PAM as +44 pt favorites.

Got nothing more to say about this game, Lufkin will be down at West Brook in about 2 1/2 weeks for a district game and we'll see that pans out.

Knew i was right. Been doing this a long time. Good luck and may the best team win. I don't have a dog in the hunt either way.

That is not how you do that. Lufkin would never and has never played anyone three classifications below them, most schools never do. I guess different times and different perspectives. What happen to the West Brook program? They use to be quite the challenge to play just a few years ago. Frankly I would feel more shame if a lower classification team like Silsbee or Lumberton beat my team or even played them close. I'd have to burn my Panther shirts. LOL

The question I have to ask is why BWB is playing a 4A DII school anyway, three classifications below them??

Well, we needed a game any game to fill out the schedule back in June. Still don't know much about Little Rock SW except they have a bunch of decently looking athletes who are not well coached. Hard to figure looking at them, because there is talent on that team. Lufkin took some JV players for this game too, (no game Thursday) even they got in on the action in the 4th, it was 43-6 at the half so what do you do. It was more a scrimmage situation than anything else, Lufkin sat three key defensive starters for his game, and again played without our starting QB in the line up for the 3rd week in a row. Coutee a WR has been playing QB. Lufkin did what you do to a team that is not very good. They gave up two TD on fluke plays, a certain INT that ended up in WR hands for a long TD run, then a double fumble, picked up by D, fumbled again and then original fumble guy picking it up taking it for TD against 2nd team D. We traveled 3 hours to play as the home team, while LRSW traveled 2 hours to Texarkana. Next week we head to Tyler. The Panthers should be at full strength for the first time this season. A good comparison here. 6A Longview defeated @ Lufkin 7-3 the 1st game of the year. Last night 5A DII SOC @ Longview won 45-44 in a place that is one of the hardest places to win in the State of Texas, Lobo Stadium. I think Lufkin D is pretty good, the O has found some footing the past two weeks with a backup QB. Everything starts for real in a couple weeks, and we can throw out this portion of the season.

As tough as our last two seasons were in Lufkin, we did beat these AMC kids both years when they were sophs and juniors. My personal belief is both AMC and Weiss are very good teams this year, not world beaters. Too many mistakes and TOs and special team flubs between two Top 10 teams. Just saying. AMC just stalled in 2nd half and Weiss tried to play Santa Claus with TOs in the 1st half. Lots of missed opportunities.

Well, Forney graduated some key components from their last two seasons and it shows, they returned 5/5 from last year. Forney gave up 30 to LH who is ranked #75 in 6A. Forney has a young defense, they may be a little overrated in the polls.

The Longview TD came with 2 seconds left in the 1st half, a 48 yd run after the Lobo RB fumbled the ball, everybody is going to get it, the ball bounces back up perfectly into the RBs hands, he changes direction and goes for the TD. It was good reaction by the RB on a busted play with defensive guys on the ground diving for the ball. It was a great defensive game on both sides. Lufkin played w/o their starting QB using a starting WR at QB. A very wet and rainy night in Lufkin. Lufkin O had their chances but could not capitalize. 6A Longview is ranked #16 in the nation by On3 Sports site. Ranked #31 in State by DCTF.

Don't put much stock in their predictions for Lufkin. Can't speak for anyone else.

Lufkin has their offense figured out. This unit will be a completely different talent group from the past two years. If the OL is adequate the skilled players are abundant with this group.

BU and Westbrook moving to 5A DI from 6A, playing in district with the likes of North Shore, Summer Creek, Atascocita and CE King has been overlooked a bit. So for me it's not a stretch to say it becomes a little more even ground for them in this district. That was one stout 6A district the past two years. That's why I say this could be one stout 5A DI district this year. There are no sure things for PA, Lufkin, BH or Ball IMO, some folks are going to need to earn their spots this year.

I don't buy Barbers Hill 6th with their coaching staff and returning offensive guys. Don't think they drop that much after last season. Also can't comment much on United, Westbrook or Ball. All new district for us, so will have to learn a little bit on the fly. I've witnessed PAM a couple times the past two years. I see what they have. As I mentioned earlier, 6A Longview and 5A DI Tyler on the road will be great test for Lufkin in non district. I do believe District 9-5A DI will be more competitive than some think.

Probably have a lot more to say about the Lufkin Panthers later on, possibly after the scrimmage with Huntsville next week. Coach Quick, like John Outlaw before him never demonstrates a lot of importance to win a scrimmage. To them it's more about getting the finishing pieces and parts in place for the 1st game of the year. That has always been a little frustrating to fans, it's just the way it has been for a long time. Lufkin is coming off a 3 year drought from the playoffs, lots of eyes on this group of kids, and closer eye on the coaching staff by the fans. Probably should be more LP fan excitement about this season, and there is every reason to be upbeat. However just think lots of folks are taking a wait and see approach. The talent is certainly there in abundance, the team chemistry is for sure there, did I mention a closer eye on coaching? Yes, I did, and that's the aspect most fans are watching the closest. On paper, everything points to a dynamic year, we have been here before more times than I would like to mention. So we will see how this flows. The Longview and Tyler games will tells us a great deal, for both will be either better or as good as anyone else in 9-5A DI this year IMO. For me, I'm not counting any chicken just yet!

Lufkin is going to be a load for anyone to play this year. Folks can not compare them to the last three years talent-wise, except a couple of the same coaching are still there. Lufkin has wasted more great talent under our OC at Lufkin than I can count, hopefully the talent itself on that side of the ball will supersede over that issue. Not worried about the defense, there are some rough dawgs on that side of the ball.

Those two kids out front in that newspaper photo are the Panthers two starting Rbs, (L) Gavin Phillips and (R) DeMarkus Chinn.

Yes, should announce this soon.

Old Ape, no one has made any excuses. Your just stirring your own pot you know nothing about. Region II districts are no joke. You don't know much about Lufkin history either. We were in THW/Conroe/Klein district from about 2004-2012, and again with THW/Beaumont/Tomball in 2016 and 2017. Travel? Don't cry to me about Beaumont driving to THW. Then we were in a district with College Station, Magnolia, Waller and Bryan. Then with New Caney/College Station/ Magnolia/Waller, Cleveland and Tomball in 2018-2019, and We just got out of a two year swing with Longview, Forney, Lancaster, McKinney North, Tyler and the Mesquite schools. Go check a map on that, it can get confusing, it is for us too. LOL In the 70s, 80s and 90s and 2001 State Championship year, we had an all East Texas district that over that time included the schools in Texarkana(Texas High), Longview (Longview, Longview Pine Tree), Tyler ( John Tyler, Tyler Legacy), Marshall and Nacogdoches. You see, we travel good, cause we have never had any other choice. Looking forward to playing you guys this year. Lufkin has 48 seniors on the roster, they have a chance to be pretty good this year.

Yep, missed the playoffs three straight years, there is no excuse IMO. Can't blame the stacked district we were in the past two years either, anyone should be able to finish 4th in a district. Let's just say It wasn't for the lack of talent. SMH It must be nice when folks live in an area were you can drive to your games in the time it takes one to can eat a Big Mac and fries. You are not stuck in the middle of nowhere in East Texas where there are only two 5ADI teams (Lufkin, Tyler). Your team wasn't facing having to drive 8-9 hours round trip to play football games, that included sub varsity games on Thursday night. I'm sure you would have been okay with a 8-9 hour drive. Right? I think not, you guys would have done the same petitioning we did. Agreed there was poor planning on the part of our HC/AD for not accepting whatever opportunity was offered right after the UIL approved the move. Fully understand you guys did not want Lufkin in your district either, and you didn't want to make the trek to Lufkin. Most schools who are not from East Texas ever like the drive to Lufkin. Sorry, all water under the bridge now, and we might be stuck with a 9 game schedule too. No fault but our own. Looking forward to coming down to Ball to play. As I have said before we travel well and so do our fans. Going to be a fun year.