COLLEGE STATION – Thanks in large part to LSU-bound quarterback Russell Shepard, the Cypress Ridge football team was expected to having one of the nation’s best offenses entering this season.

          Katy Taylor made the necessary second-half adjustments to win a playoff thriller Saturday afternoon, surviving Lamar 17-13 in a 5A-Region III, Division I area-round game at Delmar Stadium.

          Cypress Woods battled through three turnovers, a negated touchdown and two missed extra points to defeat Klein Forest, 22-15, Friday night in a 5A-Region II, Division I area-round game at Klein Memorial Stadium.

        The face paint of the Hightower defensive players said one thing: 33-9. That was the score of last year’s regional final loss to North Shore.

        Cinco Ranch displayed another offensive outburst as they manhandled Eisenhower 62-21 Friday night in a 5A-Region III, Division I area-round game at Rhodes Stadium.   The Cougars (10-1) took advantage of eight turnovers from the Eagles (7-3), converting five of them into 24 first-half points.   The Cougars advance to play Hightower at 6 p.m.

          Finding a clear-cut advantage for either Madison or Strake Jesuit entering their 5A-Region III, Division II area-round game Friday night was about as fruitful as combing the desert. The Marlins didn’t take long after kickoff to clear the air. Jeffrey Lewis ran for a 68-yard touchdown on the fourth play of the game, the Marlins scored two defensive touchdowns and the offense spread the Crusaders’ defense all night in a 35-23 victory at chilly Crusaders Stadium. Speed and defense seemed, then, to be the deciding factors against a Strake Jesuit team that seemed to rotate more players between different positions Friday than they had all year. “We just thought if we kept our head in it and just concentrated on every play, we could play smart and get the win,” said Marlins junior defensive back Pierre Hallett, who returned a fumble 24 yards for a touchdown midway through the first quarter.

{mp3}Podcast-20081121{/mp3}   Considering that several teams who in any other area of the state likely would make a deeper run will after this weekend be eliminated, this is one of the bigger area-round playoff weekends in recent memory.   Mammoth 5A-Division I matchups between Eisenhower and Cinco Ranch, and North Shore and Hightower, dominate this weekend's podcast.

  A look at this weekend’s area-round playoff games for 5A Division I, with the picks of staff writers Chad Washington and Dave Purpura: REGION III Eisenhower (7-2) vs.

  The option offense is tricky to run, but the one thing about it is you don’t have to be a big burly player to be effective. It helps to be small, but one must be quick and deceptive to use it to its full potential. On Saturday night at the Rig, Clear Brook’s Lane Berry proved that fact very well. {mosimage} Berry, who stands 5-feet-8 and 160 pounds, was pretty much unstoppable for the Wolverines in a 34-12 win over Fort Bend Marshall in a Division II, Region III-5A bi-district game, running for 94 yards on 13 carries and four rushing touchdowns.   For his accomplishments, he is the Athlete's Connection's College Ball or Bust.com Athlete of the Week.

  A look at this weekend’s area-round playoff games for 5A Division II, with the picks of staff writers Dave Purpura and Chad Washington: REGION III Katy (8-3) vs.

  Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman knew it was going to be a tough sell to say his Aggies will go into Austin and beat the rival Longhorns next Thursday night. But Monday at the annual Texas-Texas A&M luncheon, hosted by the Touchdown Club of Houston, Sherman talked about how his 4-7 team has improved, although it hasn’t shown in the win column.

{mp3}Podcast-20081117{/mp3}   Half the high school football playoff field is moving on. The other half is headed home and likely has already turned in everything from the season.   So who's left? And why? Dave Purpura and Ignacio Salazar, who's sitting in for the otherwise-occupied Chad Washington, review the bi-district round of the playoffs on today's podcast.   Chad rejoins us Thursday to preview the area round.

        Clear Brook runs the triple option like a finely tuned piano.   Saturday night against Fort Bend Marshall, the Wolverines played their own concerto.

         Cinco Ranch showed why it won District 17-5A by thrashing Alief Taylor 50-14 Saturday night at Tully Stadium in a 5A-Region III Division I bi-district game.   The Cougars (10-1) defense forced eight Lions (6-4) turnovers while their offense capitalized and put up 462 total yards of offense.   “They have a great team.

            A late second-quarter scoring burst gave Cypress Creek a lead to hold on to and end Cedar Park’s season.

  Eisenhower head coach Ray Evans said it best after his Eagles defeated Westside in a 5A-Region III Division I bi-district game Saturday. “In the playoffs, it doesn’t matter how you get it done, as long as you get it done,” he said. Playing in a gusting wind at Humble’s Turner Stadium, Ike made some mistakes in turnovers and penalties, but its defense played well in a 23-3 win Saturday afternoon.

        Katy did what they do best: win in the playoffs.

          Not many Dickinson fans thought they would see their Gators not only win a playoff game, but win it convincingly. Dickinson earned its first playoff win in nine years with a 38-14 against Travis in a Division II, Region III-5A bi-district game at Mercer Stadium.

          The stiff cold front expected to dramatically drop temperatures across southeast Texas blew in less than a minute after Hightower finished dismantling Clear Creek 59-17 Friday night in a bi-district game at The Rig. So even if the Hurricanes were ready to talk about next week’s grudge match against North Shore, they didn’t get the chance. They’d done plenty of talking – figuratively – the previous three hours, smacking the Wildcats out of the playoffs practically before Creek knew what had hit it. A.J.

        Katy Taylor shocked Memorial 17-3 Friday night in a 5A-Region III bi-district playoff game at Rhodes Stadium, winning their first playoff game since 1986.   Now, Katy Taylor (7-4) awaits the winner of the Lamar-Kingwood game Saturday while Memorial (7-2) ponders what might have been.   This wasn’t the Memorial people were used to seeing.

  A look at this weekend’s bi-district playoff games for Districts 19- and 20-5A, with the picks of staff writers Dave Purpura and Chad Washington: DIVISION I Eisenhower (6-2) vs.

        Behind a strong performance by quarterback James Scott and a strong defense, Strake Jesuit won its second UIL playoff game in its history by beating Mayde Creek 37-21 Thursday night at Rhodes Stadium.   The win advances the Crusaders – who went through District 18-5A undefeated – to the area round of the Region III-5A Division II playoffs, where they will face either Madison or Atascocita. “(Our players) didn’t want to just make the playoffs, they want to be district champs for the first time and wanted to make a playoff run,” Strake Jesuit coach Ron Counter said.

  A look at this weekend’s bi-district playoff games for Districts 23- and 24-5A, with the picks of staff writers Dave Purpura and Chad Washington: DIVISION I Hightower (8-0) vs.

{mp3}Podcast-20081113{/mp3}   It's time for the playoffs - finally.   In today's podcast, Dave Purpura and Chad Washington take a look at the bi-district pairings for area teams, breaking down some of the bigger matchups of the weekend.   Listen and enjoy, and remember we'll be back Monday to recap the weekend. 

        Strake Jesuit defensive tackle Brett Provenzano was named the Greater Houston High School Football Scholar-Athlete by the Touchdown Club of Houston at its luncheon Wednesday afternoon at the JW Marriott in Houston. Provenzano, a senior with a grade-point average of 4.3, was the winner among 25 other student-athletes nominated by area coaches and the presidents of the three football-playing universities in Houston. Provenzano is a two-year letterman for the Crusaders, who went undefeated in District 18-5A.

  A look at this weekend’s bi-district playoff games for Districts 15- and 16-5A, with the picks of staff writers Dave Purpura and Chad Washington: DIVISION I Langham Creek (3-6) at Round Rock Stony Point (9-1) 7:30 p.m.

  A look at this weekend’s bi-district playoff games for Districts 17- and 18-5A, with the picks of staff writers Dave Purpura and Chad Washington: DIVISION I Memorial (7-1) vs.

{mp3}Podcast-20081110{/mp3}   The high school football regular season is over, and now it's on to the nitty-gritty - the playoffs.   We'll preview all the bi-district matchups Thursday, but in this podcast, Dave Purpura and Ignacio Salazar recap the regular season and offer their observations and/or surprises.   Listen and enjoy ...

  Cypress Creek's best season in three years has been rewarded with a first-round home playoff game. The Cougars (7-1, 7-0), who finished off an undefeated season in 15-5A with a 54-20 win over Cypress Springs Saturday, will host Cedar Park at 2 p.m.

      With pride and tradition on its side, Fort Bend Marshall turned a lackluster first half into a big win and another trip to the playoffs. Quarterback Jared Pickett came in relief in the second half and sparked the Buffaloes to a 23-14 win against Fort Bend Austin Saturday night at Mercer Stadium to clinch the final District 23-5A playoff berth.

        In its first varsity year, Cypress Woods has a spot in the postseason.   The Wildcats clinched a playoff berth with a wild 70-20 win against Cypress Falls Saturday afternoon at the Berry Center.

          A year after going winless in district play, Cypress Creek clinched an undefeated District 15-5A championship by pouncing on Cypress Springs 54-20 Saturday afternoon at Pridgeon Stadium.   The Cougars (7-1, 7-0) defense recorded six interceptions and a fumble recovery and continually forced the Panthers (4-5, 3-4) out of sync.

          In an emotional game, Cinco Ranch used poise to pull out what has to be their biggest win in football in school history. A 24-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shane Ros to Tyler Mack in overtime gave the Cougars a 27-21 win over bitter rival Katy to give Cinco its first-ever District 17-5A championship.

      Cypress Ridge clinched a playoff berth last week and wanted a final District 15-5A win.   Langham Creek needed a win Friday night for a shot at the postseason.   The outcome was close at Pridgeon Stadium but Cy Ridge came out ahead, 48-41.

    It was billed as the high school game of the week and it didn’t disappoint as Madison spoiled Lamar’s perfect season 24-21 Friday night at Butler Stadium to forge at least a two-way tie for the District 20-5A title.   It all came down to the last play of the game.

      (Game: Memorial VS.

            All year, Hightower coach Shane Hallmark has been all over his team for inconsistent play despite regularly defeating opponents by double digits.

            Several Strake Jesuit coaches and players looked more relieved than elated Friday night after the Crusaders’ 21-13 victory against Stratford. Defensive coordinator Swift Fletcher smiled and shook his head a few times as he approached the postgame huddle, then exchanged a half-hug with head coach Ron Counter and listened as the latter capped the night’s overriding theme. “Very few people thought you could do this,” Counter said of the Crusaders winning the District 18-5A championship outright and undefeated (8-1 overall, 6-0 district).

{mp3}Podcast-20081106{/mp3}   Just in case playoff scenarios need more explaining, Chad Washington and Dave Purpura do their best and break down some of the top games of the weekend in the Week 10 Preview Podcast.   We'll be back Monday to recap the final weekend of the regular season and look forward to the first round of the playoffs.

  Just to distract you from the Election Day hangover, here’s what you need to know for the final weekend of the high school football regular season: THE PLAYOFFS: WHO’S IN … 15-5A: Cypress Creek, Cypress Ridge; 17-5A: Cinco Ranch, Katy; 18-5A: Strake Jesuit, Memorial, Stratford; 19-5A: Eisenhower, Humble; 20-5A: Lamar, Madison, Westside, Chavez; 21-5A: North Shore, Beaumont West Brook, Baytown Sterling; 22-5A: Pearland, Deer Park; 23-5A: Hightower, Travis.   … AND WHO’S STILL WAITING 15-5A: Cypress Woods, Cypress Springs, Langham Creek, Cypress Falls; 17-5A: Morton Ranch, Katy Taylor, Mayde Creek, Seven Lakes; 18-5A: Elsik, Alief Taylor; 19-5A: Kingwood, Atascocita, Aldine; 21-5A: Port Arthur Memorial, Baytown Lee; 22-5A: La Porte, Pasadena Memorial, South Houston, Dobie; 23-5A: Elkins, Kempner, Fort Bend Austin, Fort Bend Marshall. WHERE YOU’LL NEED TO BE 15-5A Cypress Woods (5-2, 4-2) vs.

{mosimage}The Alief Taylor football coaches originally slotted Rodney Owens as a wide receiver for this, his senior season. Forgive Owens that it took until the ninth game of the season for him to catch a touchdown.

{mp3}Podcast-20081103{/mp3}   Many teams have clinched playoff berths, and many more still are waiting to still not only if they'll be in, but if they get in who they play.   In our podcast review of Week Nine, Dave Purpura and Chad Washington take a look back, update every district and even flash back a few months just to prove how much one (or both?) of us knows about that of which we speak.   Listen and enjoy!

          When a team scores six touchdowns in the first quarter, it’s easy to believe they’ll get the win.

      The Woodlands ran into a buzzsaw Saturday afternoon at Woodforest Stadium, finding itself unable to click on offense and falling 15-13 to Lufkin in a District 14-5A game. The sixth-ranked Highlanders were held to minus-17 yards rushing in the second half and 45 yards rushing total in losing their first game of the season (7-1 overall, 4-1 district). Trev'on Lewis had 101 rushing yards and one touchdown, and a 24-yard run late in the game to seal the victory.

  Travis dominated on both sides of the ball to beat Fort Bend Austin 28-3 Saturday night at Mercer Stadium.

                Given the first quarter alone Saturday night, fans at the Elsik-Stratford game could have been forgiven if they thought the Rams might run the Spartans in submission and use their massive offensive line to wear the Spartans down. But an inability to convert on crucial fourth-downs and sustain solid tackling painted Elsik into a do-or-die corner and catapulted Stratford into the playoffs. Rodney Anderson took the opening kickoff of the second half 76 yards for a touchdown, scored from 1 yard moments later and Jerry Young made two interceptions in the fourth quarter to power the Spartans to a 28-14 victory in a District 18-5A game at Tully Stadium. The win sealed a postseason berth for Stratford (5-2 overall, 4-2 district) and sent Elsik (3-4, 3-3) into an elimination game against Alief Taylor Friday at Crump Stadium. “I just happened to see a seam, I hit it and took off to the house,” Anderson said of his kickoff return.

          A second-half surge catapulted Memorial past Hastings 28-14 in a District 18-5A game at Crump Stadium Saturday night.

          In what could have been called an early playoff game, Fort Bend Marshall held on to beat Clements 21-18 Saturday afternoon at Mercer Stadium to earn the right to play for one of the playoff spots in District 23-5A. The Buffaloes (2-5 overall, 2-2 zone) were led by quarterback Jared Pickett, who ran for more than 200 yards and two touchdowns while passing for more than 150 yards and a touchdown to get the win.

        Kempner didn’t need to score a late touchdown to win the game, but it needed one to keep its postseason dreams alive. Kempner needed to win by nine points Friday night to clinch a spot in next week’s game against Elkins to play for one of the district’s four playoff spots.

      Rodney Owens ran for four touchdowns and caught a fifth, and Alief Taylor kept its playoff hopes alive with a 42-14 drubbing of Northbrook in a District 18-5A game Friday night at Crump Stadium.   Owens scored from 26, 31, 11 and yards and caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Are' early in the second quarter. Treveon Taylor added an 80-yard touchdown in the third to make it 35-0. Owens finished with a game-high 165 yards rushing on 11 carries.