This is the 15th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  CY-FAIR Nickname: Bobcats. Colors: Maroon and white. Enrollment: 3,270. 2007 record: 8-5 (Division I regional semifinalists) overall, 4-3 district. Coach: Ed Pustejovsky. Including phenomenal RB Sam McGuffie, the Bobcats lost 19 starters from a team that started well without the Michigan commit, struggled against the high-power team in its district and held its own with powerhouse North Shore until late in a third-round playoff loss.

  This is the 14th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  This is the 13th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

{mp3}Podcast-20080811{/mp3}   This is the 12th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  For the second consecutive year, two Cy-Fair ISD teams will play in front of a national television audience. The Oct. 16 game between Cypress Falls and Cypress Ridge will be televised on ESPNU at 7 p.m.

This is the 11th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

 This is the 10th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug. 28. Today, Athlete’s Connection sportswriter Chad Washington takes a look at Hastings and a few teams from District 18-5A.   There’s a new look over on High Star Road in Alief.

  Broderick Thomas, a senior quarterback at Madison, was granted eligibility for the upcoming season by the University Interscholastic League’s State Executive Committee. In a ruling on Wednesday, the UIL cleared the way for the 6-foot-3, 180-pound quarterback to play this year for the Marlins after being ruled ineligible by the District 20-5A Executive Committee. Thomas was the starting quarterback at Fort Bend Elkins as a sophomore in 2006 and as a junior midway through the 2007 season.

  This is the 10th of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  This is the ninth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  As we enter August, Chad Washington and I are merging our brainpower (snickers down, thank you …), narrowing the oh-so-expansive fall sports schedule and listing our dream foootball schedules for the 2008 season. Here are the 10 games I want to see, based on what we know (and are guessing) at this time: Week Zero: Katy at North Shore, Aug.

  This is the eighth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  Chad Washington’s 10 games for 2008: Zero Week: Eisenhower at Fort Bend Hightower, Aug. 29 at Hall Stadium. While Katy-North Shore has all the makings of a classic, the better game might be in Missouri City, where two very athletic teams (each with a bevy of Division I college talent) could determine who will be the top Houston-area team, especially if Katy knocks off North Shore. Week One: Cypress Falls at Westfield, Sept.

  This is the seventh of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  This is the sixth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  D.J. Monroe's huge game couldn't prevent an incredible comeback Tuesday night. The Angleton graduate and University of Texas commit was spectacular for the South team in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star Football Game at the Alamodome, but the North scored 16 points in the final two minutes to win 16-15. The North trailed 15-0 with 1:38 left, but Riley Dodge's 38-yard touchdown pass to Seth Gardner broke the shutout.

   This is the fifth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  For those who are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2008 high school football season, the Texas High School Coaches Association on Tuesday night will give you something to hold you over until next month. The THSCA will present its 2008 All-Star football game at 7:30 p.m.

  This is the fourth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  New University of Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin was smiling with pride Friday.

{mp3}Podcast-20080725{/mp3}   A few weeks ago, Athlete’s Connection sportswriter Chad Washington put up an impassioned argument concerning whether 7-on-7 football was an accurate indicator of regular-season fortunes. On this week’s podcast, Washington and Dave Purpura wonder how important polls are.

  This is the third of The Athlete's Connection 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug. 28.

  While the halls of Katy High School are getting a makeover, the initial work on the future of the football team is just beginning.

    Lest his ego swell, new University of Houston football coach Kevin Sumlin got a lighthearted shot of humility during Thursday afternoon’s Touchdown Club of Houston luncheon. Sumlin’s name was handwritten on a paper nameplate, and when he turned it inside out to write himself a few notes he saw another name typewritten. “Touchdown Club of Houston, LSU Day with Coach Les Miles,” Sumlin read, referring to the organization’s 2008 Tiger Tour stop eight days earlier.

  This is the second of The Athlete's Connection 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  Kenneth Guiton hasn't spent much time despairing over Eisenhower's 1-3 record at the Nike 7ON National Tournament last weekend. Not only does the Eagles quarterback not have time — "I'm not taking it easy this summer," he said — but the trip wasn't all about winning anyway. "Before we left (head) coach (Ray) Evans said he wanted two things out of this trip," Guiton said.

  This is the first of The Athlete's Connection 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug.

  Eisenhower receiver Greg Timmons was named to the Nike 7ON National Passing Championship All-Tournament team as his team participated in the national tournament this weekend at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore. Timmons and his team, called Strike Force in the tournament, participated with several top teams from across the country, including from Florida, Georgia, California and Pennsylvania. In the championship game, Team Super Speed (consisting of players from Plant High School in Tampa, Fla.) beat Team Merciless (Henry County High School, Ga.) 30-14.

{mp3}Podcast-20080717{/mp3}   With the recent rumors that a Houston television station will begin broadcasting high-school football games this fall, Athlete's Connection sportswriters Dave Purpura and Chad Washington discuss the benefits of television coverage of the game - and agree there's nothing like being at a game yourself.   For now, it looks like Houston-area teams will be featured at least twice on national television - Katy vs.

  There are no trophies or photos of Charlie Ward’s stellar career in his office.

  I watched the baseball All-Star Game a couple days ago. It used to be just a cool exhibition game, until the commissioner made home-field advantage in the World Series the prize for the winner.

  Ranked high in nearly every preseason football poll or publication, the Eisenhower football team this weekend gets a chance to prove its mettle on a national stage. The Eagles are one of eight teams participating in the Nike 7ON National Passing Championship Thursday to Saturday in Beaverton, Ore. Boasting highly-recruited quarterback Kenneth Guiton, versatile defensive back Craig Loston (Clemson commit) and receivers Greg Timmons (Texas commit) and Jazz Reynolds among others, the Eagles are favored by most to win District 18-5A and contend for the Region III championship.

  COLLEGE STATION — High scoring is common in 7-on-7 football, perhaps to the point where it's a landmark of the summer passing-oriented game. Usually, though, the point totals are near gawdy on both sides.

{mp3}Podcast-20080714{/mp3}   Exactly how much strong performances in the state 7-on-7 tournament translate into the high school football regular-season is debatable on end.   Just what they're worth is discussed in this week's podcast with sportswriters Dave Purpura and Heather Burr, both of whom were part of The Athlete's Connection's six-person coverage team last weekend in College Station.

  You shouldn't have to wait long or go searching for video highlights of the state 7-on-7 tournament.   Click on the links below to see how all the teams from The Athlete's Connection's coverage area performed Friday and Saturday in College Station.

        COLLEGE STATION – As Memorial and Tomball took the field Saturday morning, they knew that they were going to have to play hard to stay in the state 7-on-7 tournament’s consolation bracket. And as competitive as they were in their first state appearance, Memorial bowed out Saturday with a 26-12 loss. Memorial quarterback Davis Miller came out strong to get the Mustangs on the board first with a touchdown pass to De’Mario Thibodeaux, but Tomball quickly tied the game with a quick pass by Chad Tarhini to Joel Salzman. Both Memorial and Tomball were putting up great defensive walls that were keeping the offenses from scoring often. Each team went back and forth with Tarhini and Miller hitting their men, Salzman and Brandon Hulings, respectively to end the half with Tomball leading 13-12. After a pep talk from their coaches both teams came out ready to win. The Memorial offense, which included Daniel Neumann, Nolan Miller, Preston Burkett, Chris Renaudin, Josh Withers, Thibodeaux and Hulings were pumped and ready to control the field.

          COLLEGE STATION – Stratford’s appearance in the state 7-on-7 tournament ended Saturday morning with a 34-14 loss to Mesquite in the championship bracket. The Mesquite players came out early to score first laying the groundwork for Stratford to try and answer their call.

        COLLEGE STATION - The Katy football team found itself fighting for third-place in the consolation bracket Saturday at the state 7-on-7 tournament.

   (Langham Creek VS.

  All championship and consolation bracket scores from the second day of the Division I state 7-on-7 tournament:   Championship bracket Round One Mesquite 34, Stratford 14 Georgetown 41, Arlington Bowie 26 Arlington Lamar 26, Plano West 0 Temple 27, Fort Bend Elkins 25 Tyler Lee 46, Seven Lakes 26  Hebron 48, Mercedes 41 Austin Lake Travis 33, Garland Naaman Forest 32 Lufkin 44, Arlington Martin 27 Stephenville 25, Ed-Couch Elsa 21 Baytown Lee 25, Tyler John Tyler 21 Coppell 35, South Garland 27, OT Richland 47, Rockwall 20 El Paso Montwood 25, Cy-Fair 21 Colleyville Heritage 31, Gregory-Portland 13 Plano 60, Wichita Falls 54 Sulphur Springs 32, Austin 26   Round Two Arlington Lamar 34, Georgetown 7 Tyler Lee 33, Temple 32 Lake Travis 36, Hebron 29 Mesquite 40, Lufkin 26 Stephenville 21, Baytown Lee 6 Richland 43, Coppell 37 Colleyville Heritage 51, El Paso Montwood 29 Plano 70, Sulphur Springs 51   Quarterfinals Arlington Lamar 33, Tyler Lee 27 Mesquite 42, Lake Travis 36 Richland 44, Stephenville 34 Heritage 39, Plano 26   Semifinals Mesquite 34, Arlington Lamar 33, OT Richland 43, Colleyville Heritage 24   Final: Richland 35, Mesquite 32   Consolation bracket Round One The Woodlands 46, Laredo Alexander 35 Round Rock Stony Point 26, Cinco Ranch 20 A&M Consolidated 32, Duncanville 6 Round Rock Westwood 33, Brady 19 Schertz Clemens 34, Klein 20 Abilene 25, El Paso Del Valle 6 Beeville Jones 27, Pleasanton 19 Denton Guyer 24, Garland 13 Langham Creek 41, Wylie 19 Spring 41, Weslaco 28 Abilene Cooper 27, Klein Oak 19 Beaumont West Brook 28, Cypress Falls 8 Arlington 19, Belton 13 Katy 18, Klein Forest 13 Tomball 27, Pearland 26 Memorial 20, Chavez 14   Round Two The Woodlands 39, Round Rock Stony Point 19 A&M Consolidated 12, Round Rock Westwood 7 Abilene 46, Schertz Clemens 26 Beeville Jones 20, Denton Guyer 18 Langham Creek 44, Spring 0 Beaumont West Brook 36, Abilene Cooper 33 Katy 34, Arlington 33 Tomball 26, Memorial 12   Quarterfinals Langham Creek 33, Beaumont West Brook 20 Tomball 40, Katy 14 The Woodlands 34, A&M Consolidated 20 Abilene 53, Beeville Jones 15   Semifinals Langham Creek 35, Tomball 28 Abilene 41, The Woodlands 39   Final: Abilene 34, Langham Creek 33

    (Seven Lakes - Day 1 Pool Play)       (Cinco Ranch VS.

        {mp3}SaturdayteaseSBISD20080711{/mp3}  COLLEGE STATION - The Memorial Mustangs made the trip to College Station to bring their “A” game to the state 7-on-7 tournament.

        {mp3}SaturdayteaseSBISD20080711{/mp3} COLLEGE STATION - The Stratford Spartans got a call last week that Hastings was not able to attend the 2008 FSN State 7 on 7 tournament and that as runner up they were invited to attend.  The Spartans packed their gear and made the quick trip to College Station to show everyone that they are the team to beat.

  Complete scores from Friday's pool play in the state 7-on-7 tournament:     First Round Pool A Arlington Bowie 32, Langham Creek 26 Stephenville 41, Laredo Alexander 35, OT Pool B Cinco Ranch 34, Arlington Lamar 14 Tyler John Tyler 40, Spring 21 Pool C Duncanville 7, Klein Oak 0 Temple 33, Coppell 28 Pool D Seven Lakes 33, Rockwall Heath 32, OT Round Rock Westwood 24, Beaumont West Brook 20 Pool E Hebron 42, El Paso Montwood 28 Klein 38, Belton 7 Pool F Colleyville Heritage 39, Klein Forest 33 Lake Travis 43, Abilene 37 Pool G Mesquite 39, Pearland 13 Wichita Falls 40, Beeville Jones 32 Pool H Denton Guyer 50, Memorial 28 Lufkin 35, Sulphur Springs 32 Pool I Ed-Couch Elsa 42, Georgetown 34 Wylie 45, The Woodlands 39 Pool J Weslaco 28, Round Rock Stony Point 26 Baytown Lee 26, Plano West 24  Pool K South Garland 31, Fort Bend Elkins 27 Abilene Cooper 32, A&M Consolidated 26 Pool L Richland 48, Cypress Falls 26 Tyler Lee 34, Brady 12  Pool M Arlington 41, Schertz Clemens 35 Cy-Fair 33, Mercedes 26 Pool N Garland Naaman Forest 27, El Paso Del Valle 26 Gregory-Portland 21, Katy 20 Pool O Stratford 44, Pleasanton 19 Plano 39, Tomball 35 Pool P Arlington Martin 42, Garland 21 Austin 33, Chavez 27 *** Second Round Pool A Arlington Bowie 34, Stephenville 25 Laredo Alexander 38, Langham Creek 32 Pool B Tyler John Tyler 34, Cinco Ranch 22 Arlington Lamar 34, Spring 12 Pool C Temple 38, Klein Oak 35, 2OT Coppell 27, Duncanville 14 Pool D Rockwall Heath 26, Beaumont West Brook 19 Seven Lakes 42, Round Rock Westwood 34 Pool E El Paso Montwood 47, Belton 0 Hebron 54, Klein 36 Pool F Colleyville Heritage 34, Lake Travis 33 Abilene 25, Klein Forest 12 Pool G Beeville Jones 27, Mesquite 26 Wichita Falls 35, Pearland 14 Pool H Sulphur Springs 40, Memorial 33 Lufkin 40, Denton Guyer 20 Pool I Ed-Couch Elsa 34, The Woodlands 27 Georgetown 55, Wylie 53, 2OT Pool J Plano West 34, Round Rock Stony Point 26 Baytown Lee 20, Weslaco 13 Pool K South Garland 41, Abilene Cooper 20 Fort Bend Elkins 41, A & M Consolidated 26 Pool L Richland 35, Tyler Lee 26 Cypress Falls 25, Brady 20 Pool M Mercedes 61, Arlington 59, 4OT Cy-Fair 34, Schertz-Clemens 13 Pool N Garland Naaman Forest 40, Katy 22 Gregory-Portland 39, El Paso Del Valle 20  Pool O Stratford 42, Tomball 31 Plano 55, Pleasanton 32 Pool P Garland 38, Austin 28 Arlington Martin 34, Chavez 13 *** Third Round Pool A Arlington Bowie 26, Laredo Alexander 22 Stephenville 33, Langham Creek 21 Pool B Spring 31, Cinco Ranch 28 Arlington Lamar 36, Tyler John Tyler 0 Pool C Coppell 21, Klein Oak 13 Temple 33, Duncanville 14 Pool D Rockwall Heath 33, Round Rock Westwood 21 Seven Lakes 30, Beaumont West Brook 12 Pool E El Paso Montwood 41, Klein 27 Hebron 47, Belton 12 Pool F Abilene 42, Colleyville Heritage 34 Lake Travis 40, Klein Forest 25 Pool G Mesquite 34, Wichita Falls 21 Beeville Jones 27, Pearland 13 Pool H Memorial 41, Lufkin 26 Sulphur Springs 41, Denton Guyer 27 Pool I Ed-Couch Elsa 38, Wylie 24 Georgetown 27, The Woodlands 25  Pool J Round Rock Stony Point 32, Baytown Lee 21 Plano West 35, Weslaco 34 Pool K A&M Consolidated 45, South Garland 6 Fort Bend Elkins 20, Abilene Cooper 13 Pool L Richland 32, Brady 12 Tyler Lee 39, Cypress Falls 20 Pool M Cy-Fair 39, Arlington 20 Mercedes 52, Schertz-Clemens 46 Pool N Gregory-Portland 51, Garland Naaman Forest 44 Katy 34, El Paso Del Valle 21 Pool O Plano 39, Stratford 38 Tomball 34, Pleasanton 25 Pool P Chavez 42, Garland 21 Austin 20, Arlington Martin 19

         (Cy-Fair - Day 1 Pool Play)    (Cy-Falls VS.

    Football is a part of life in Katy.

  {mp3}Fridaytease20080710{/mp3}   COLLEGE STATION - Second Baptist did well for a team that almost missed the state 7-on-7 tournament. The Eagles won all three of their games in pool play, but fell to New Waverly in the first round of eliminations Thursday afternoon at Texas A&M.

  To say any team needs to qualify for the state 7-on-7 tournament might be a stretch – especially when they’ve made it four consecutive years. Stratford coaches and players probably won’t say they need to be in College Station Friday and Saturday, but in a year the Spartans are trying to groom a successor to Andrew Luck, the trip could be especially helpful. Then another school’s misfortune became Stratford’s ticket. The Spartans, who finished third at the Cinco Ranch SQT in early June, were awarded a berth into the field last week when future District 18-5A rival Hastings had to withdraw. “We had heard through the grapevine that it might happen,” Spartans 7-on-7 coach Kyle Mosley said.

Second Baptist is the only Houston-area team to participate in the Division II (Class 3A and under) state 7-on-7 tournament, starting Thursday afternoon at College Station.