The football coaches at Brownwood and Early both got their Christmas gifts early this year. Of course, they will have to wait until December to see exactly what they got. The UIL had their biennial realignment in early February and coming out of that announcement were at least a few happy coaches and fans around here.
Early already knew they were going to have some good things happen as they went from 3A Division I to 3A Division II so they were getting rid of Jim Ned, Brock, etc. You hate to say it’s an easier district for the Horns, but it is certainly a more comfortable one and certainly in a more comfortable region. Plus, I think Early will have a really good football team. They’ve got the potential to go deep in the playoffs and maybe even pick up a regional championship. And after that, who knows?
Brownwood didn’t change divisions but got their wish to go to Region I. They got out of a district that now includes La Vega and defending state champs Stephenville and China Spring. We, meanwhile, get scooted out and into Region I and the competition should be not as tough. Now, on occasion, somebody in Region I will have great talent, but it’s not a year after year deal like it is in Region II.
The Lions will play a tough non-district schedule and their district schedule just depends on how good those teams are for the next two years. Andrews and Lubbock Estacado, and even Big Spring, have had some pretty good teams in the past. Lake View has had some pretty good ones as well. We’ve had some fun games in the past with those four new teams in our district.
Lake View, we played back to back in the playoffs back in the 70s. But, my favorite memory of Lake View was in 1995 when W.T. Stapler was head coach of the Lions and we ended up winning a total of one game, but except for a penalty against Lake View, we could have won two. We were three points ahead of them with under a minute to play, and they had a fourth and inches as they were inside our 10 yard line. The fourth down play was stuffed by us and gave us the win – we thought – but there was a flag and it turned out they got a motion penalty prior to the snap. Five yards back, they kick a field goal and tied the game and that’s why we went 1-8-1 instead of 2-8.
We’ve met Andrews a few times in the playoffs and they, on occasion, are not only tough, but they are very, very tough. Big Spring, not much of late, but they had a two-year run where Ryan Tannehill, now of the Tennessee Titans, was their quarterback. They finished both of his seasons ranked in the Top 5 in the state.
Lubbock Estacado, in the late 60s, they were a powerhouse. One of the great games in Brownwood’s history was in 1969 in the playoffs when Estacado, in their second year as a high school, as defending state champs, had never lost a ballgame, and Brownwood beat them in Abilene, 29-13. They are still a very good, very talented program.
So, we have a history with those teams and hopefully the history over the next two years will be some happy reunions for your Brownwood Lions. Plus, the Lions should not only be better, but a lot better this year than they were last year. So, we’ve got a chance to have a really, really good season and not only get into the playoffs, but make a run and maybe win the regional championship. Again, when you get that far, who knows?
Of course, both of these teams that we’re talking about have to stay healthy. They have to be lucky enough to win big ballgames, but the possibility is certainly there. I, for one, am excited about it because if both of these teams do what I think they could do, then 2022 will be a great year of football for all us and it should be fun to watch!
Until next time, so long everybody.
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‘Out of the Box’ with Dallas Huston is published each Monday morning at BrownwoodNews.com. Dallas was the radio voice of the Brownwood Lions and Howard Payne Yellow Jackets for more than 55 years. He currently is Pastor of Center City Baptist Church and hosts a Men’s Bible Study in Brownwood on Monday evenings. Your comments are welcome at [email protected].