Texas Football Classic 2009
Alamodome
Thursday, 7:30 p.m.: Floresville 36, SA Fox Tech 13
Friday, 7:30 p.m.: Boerne-Champion vs. Midlothian
Saturday, Noon: Mayde Creek (Katy) vs. Brenham
Saturday, 3:45 p.m.: Permian (Odessa) vs Duncanville
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.: East Central (San Antonio) vs. Steele (Cibolo)
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The cameras promise to click most frequent when legendary Friday Night Lights coach Gary Gaines returns to the Mojo of Permian (Odessa) High School football Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome.
But clearly the shutter speed will need to be set fastest following Permian’s matchup with Duncanville, when East Central (San Antonio) takes on Steele (Cibolo) in the final of five games over three days in the 11th annual Dave Campbell Texas Football Classic.
The finale will feature two of the top running backs in the state, if not the country, in East Central senior Chris Johnson (5-foot-9, 200 pounds) and Steele’s Malcolm Brown (6-0, 215), considered one of the top juniors in the nation at any position.
“That will be fun to watch,” Dave Campbell Football Magazine staff writer Travis Stewart. “That will be worth waiting to the bitter end.”
Sure, there may be no more compelling storyline this season than Gaines’ shocking return following a 20-year hiatus from arguably the nation’s most storied program (more on Gaines on Friday).
But Johnson versus Brown figures to be a videographers dream as both are blessed with superb speed and balance.
Johnson has been offered full rides by Colorado, Iowa State, SMU and Utah.
Brown, who rushed for 1,351 yards and 17 touchdowns in just seven games last season, reportedly has been offered by Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
He had 195 yards and two scores in his team’s 26-9 win over East Central in the season-opener last year.
Steele made it all the way to the state 4A playoffs before being eliminated by eventual champion Lake Travis 38-21 in the second round of the playoffs.
The Knights return 10 starters from last year’s 10-2 squad including highly-touted receiver Sheldon McClain (6-3, 180) and tackle Drew Phillips (6-4, 260). They come into the opener No. 80 in the state in the MaxPreps/Freeman computer-generated rankings.
Though all eyes are pointed at the Johnson-Brown matchup, the game’s most polished and visible player may be East Central defensive tackle Torrea Peterson, a 6-4, 300-pound senior headed to Oklahoma.
He’s ranked among the top 40 and one of a remarkable 18 starters returning from a team that went 3-7 last year.
More storylines on the four other contests that officially kicks off football in the Lone Star State.
Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Floresville (7-3) vs. Fox Tech (San Antonio, 5-6): Fox Tech returns talented quarterback Mark Morales (6-1, 195) among its four starters and looks to avenge a 42-18 loss to Floresville in last year’s opener. … Fox Tech rebounded from that loss to make the playoffs under coach Danny Peel. … John Baker has helped turn things around at Floresville, which has made the playoffs two of the last three years. ... The team returns just five starters including linemen Blake Griffith (5-11, 250), Dual Harroff (5-10, 240) and tight end Colton Wallace (6-2, 215).
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Boerne-Champion (Boerne, 6-4) vs. Midlothian (3-7): The Panthers would like nothing more than return the 35-7 defeat it endured in last year’s opener to Boerne-Champion, which overcame a huge renovation in 2008 to earn a playoff spot in one of the state’s toughest districts (27-4A). ... Formerly Boerne, the coaching staff moved onto a new campus in Champion while Boerne was being renovated. Boerne-Champion returns six starters, including a very talented receiver-safety in James Hurd (6-3, 185) along with linemen Dylan Benac (6-4, 250) and Zach Roberts (6-0, 265). … Midlothian returns eight starters including top receiving prospect Eddie Johnson (6-3, 215) along with receiving mate Gage Windsor (5-11, 175) and Eric Agbaroji (6-1, 165), who helps make up a terrific secondary.
Saturday, noon
Mayde Creek (Katy, 5-5) vs. Brenham (8-5): The Cubs return 13 starters who are extremely experienced at the skill position and defensive line. … Brenham won three playoff games last year with a big help from receiver Terrell Reese (6-1, 180) and defensive backs Jeremy Hall (5-10, 190) and Michael Walker (5-10, 155). … Brenham’s Glen West is 142-56-1 in his 18-year coaching career – the last 11 with Brenham. … Mayde Creek returns 10 starters, including terrific athlete and running back Devante Babin (5-8, 160) along with receiver Brady Atkinson (5-8, 165) and linebacker Tony Pullings (5-10, 185). .. But the Rams have a lot of inexperience on both lines. … Mayde Creek coach Lance Carter took over in 2007 and immediately took the Rams to their first playoff berth in 10 years.
Saturday, 3:45 p.m.
Permian (Odessa, 12-1) vs. Duncanville (6-5): Though talented players will spread the Alamodome in this one, all eyes will be on the two coaches. Duncanville’s Jeff Dicus has turned around programs wherever he has gone, including his previous stop at Lake Travis (Austin), leading that team to a state 4A title in 2007. Last year in his first season he led Duncanville to its first playoff berth since 2004. … Duncanville returns seven starters including senior running back Zavian Handy (5-6, 160), quarterback Divan Ealy (6-0, 185) and terrific punter Jese Champion (5-10, 165). … Gaines was, of course, at the center of the legendary program, leading the Panthers to a 16-0 season and long-awaited state crown in 1989 before leaving for grandeur pastures. … He returns after a 20-year hiatus. … He inherits a team that returns seven starters, including offensive lineman Austin O’Connell (6-3, 250) and Margarito Vasquez (6-6, 295) along with superb junior receiver Talon Smith (5-9, 160). … Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has the Panthers ranked No. 6 in the state preseason 5A poll.
See live coverage, video and pictures from the Texas Football Classic throughout the weekend.
