Todd Dodge 5A/4A State Title Predictions

[KFDM COOP]

Dodge breaks down state title games
By Carlos Mendez

Star-Telegram

Former Southlake Carroll coach Todd Dodge, who won four state championships in five seasons with the Dragons, said he thinks Euless Trinity and Aledo are the favorites in their games this weekend, while the Denton Ryan vs. Lake Travis and Denton Guyer vs. Cibolo Steele games are toss-ups.

He took time out this week to break down the 5A and 4A championship games for the Star-Telegram. Trinity vs. Pearland (5A Division I)



I have not seen Pearland. I have seen Trinity. I know that Pearland got by a huge stumbling block by beating Katy. That’s pretty impressive. I know they have an outstanding running back. Trinity is just interesting. Last year, they were kind of looking to this year to win a state championship, and they still ended up winning one. They’ve just got such a veteran team. I would have to definitely put my pick on Trinity in this one. Coach Tony Heath has done a great job at Pearland, but Trinity just has so much experience in championship games. The way they’ve won so many games, hardly anything fazes those guys.

Guyer vs. Steele (5A Division II)

I watched Guyer play last week at SMU. I have not seen Steele. I’ve known about Malcolm Brown. He’s one of the greatest backs to come around in a long time. Guyer was very impressive last week. Down 17-0 at halftime, they did everything they had to do to battle back into it. They’re playing with as much confidence as anybody in the state right now. That Josh Stewart kid is pretty impressive. He’s a warrior. He doesn’t come off the field. Those are the things that impress me about Guyer. And the fact that they got it done when it looked like there was no hope.

Ryan vs. Lake Travis (4A Division I)

Wow. Ryan is as good on defense as anybody has seen in quite a while. They really are. I think they’re going to give Lake Travis trouble from the standpoint that they can stay in Cover 2 and hold up against the run. That’s the thing not many people can do. They can line up with 5 1/2 in the box and hold up. Lake Travis is a tempo team. I think they’re really going to have to speed up the tempo on Ryan. That will be a really interesting matchup to see how Ryan handles it. I don’t see any weaknesses in the Ryan defense. Lake Travis is very capable on offense, but Ryan has as good a defense as I’ve seen in a while. I know Michael Brewer and that bunch are fantastic. It’s going to be a tremendous matchup.

Aledo vs. La Marque (4A Division II)

I look at Aledo the way I look at Trinity. Aledo has so many kids who have played in big ballgames and won a state championship. La Marque has a great pedigree, but it hasn’t been there in a while. I have to give the edge to Aledo. I know La Marque is very athletic. There’s no doubt about that. That goes all the way back to when I was in high school and I played La Marque. But I have to give the edge to Aledo.

[PinoNDN]

He gives all the Dallas area teams the nod hah. Can't argue though. We'll see what happens!