Looking back now, I'm grateful to the late Emil Tagliabue, a longtime sportswriter with the Corpus Christi Caller-Times, my hometown newspaper, for taking the time to impart his wisdom on a kid who had grown up reading Tagliabue's work.

To this day, I cherish memories of road trips we took together when we covered Texas A&I football in the 1970s. Tag, as he was affectionately called, and I sometimes roomed together and we enjoyed shooting the breeze until he'd fall asleep. It was during one of these sessions that Tag told me something I've never forgotten.

"Every once in a while," he said, "try to go to a sports event and sit in the stands like a fan. It will help you see things from a different perspective, and that's always important for a journalist."

I thought about Tag as my son, Jesse, and I walked from a downtown parking lot to the Alamodome to watch the Notre Dame-Washington State football game Saturday night. Jesse, 27, grew up rooting for the Irish - and I must admit I had something to do with that - so we were pretty pumped about the opportunity to watch Saturday's game together.

I originally had planned to cover the game for KENS5.com from a seat in the press box, but it didn't take much for my son to change my mind.

"Dad, I was hoping you and I could watch Notre Dame together," he said.

Arriving at the dome more than an hour before kickoff, Jesse and I were in no hurry to go indoors on such a beautiful day. We mingled with the many fans who had gathered on the north side of the dome to drink, eat, be merry and buy merchandise (read: T-shirts and caps) commemorating the "San Antonio Showdown."

It was fun to soak in the atmosphere of a Notre Dame game - in San Antonio. While clearly outnumbered, Washington State fans made their presence known and had their own pregame party on the north side of the dome.

The NFL may rule the football universe, but for my money, college football, with all of its color, pageantry and tradition, has it all over the pro game. The NFL has the Super Bowl, but college football has Saturday afternoons in Austin, Norman, Okla., South Bend, Ind., Ann Arbor, Mich., Columbus, Ohio, well, you get the idea.

Saturday's Notre Dame game was the second my son and I watched in person. We were at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin on Sept. 21, 1996, when the Irish beat Texas 27-24 with a field goal on the last play of the game. While nothing but watching N.D. win the BCS title game could top that, Saturday's experience was more exciting because the Irish were playing in San Antonio.

But there's another reason why the game was a little more special: The Notre Dame band made the trip. And did it put on a show.

After hearing high school bands play the "Notre Dame Victory March" hundreds, if not thousands, of times through the years, it was great to hear the Irish band belt out the school's iconic fight song. The N.D. band, nearly 400 strong, dazzled with its pregame show and drew a standing ovation when it formed a map of Texas and played "Deep in the Heart of Texas" at halftime.

By the end of the first quarter, I made contact with two buddies from Corpus Christi, Bobby Gonzalez and Rene Cañas, who had made the trip to watch the game. As it turned out, they were sitting in the section next to ours.

We met at halftime and I reminded Bobby, a longtime N.D. fan, that we were in for a treat before the start of the fourth quarter. That's when the Irish band traditionally plays the "1812 Overture." It's one thing to hear it on TV, but quite another to hear it in person.

And the game itself? Well, it wasn't very intriguing, but then again, it was good to see N.D. enter the fourth quarter comfortably ahead. The Irish beat Washington State 40-14 to improve to 6-2 and become bowl eligible. WSU fell to 1-7.

Before the game ended, Jesse and I made our way to some empty seats behind the Notre Dame band. Knowing the Irish players and coaches always gather in front of the band after a game and sing the school's alma mater, we wanted to have a good view to soak in one more highlight for the memory bank.

As we made our way out of the Alamodome, I thought about Emil Tagliabue and the advice he gave me more than 30 years ago. For a few hours, I sat in the stands as a fan and observed far more than just the action on the field. I was reminded that the game is nothing without the fans.

I'll think about that the next time I'm sitting in a press box.

They don't call Alamo Heights running back Justin Rosenthal the "Red Rocket" just because he has red hair. He's quicker than he is fast, but he's a threat to score any time he touches the ball.

Rosenthal put on quite a show in the Mules' 41-16 dismantling of Kerrville Tivy on Friday night at Orem Stadium, rushing 39 times for 212 yards and three touchdowns. He scored another TD on an 8-yard screen pass from Cullen Mills, diving over a horde of would-be tacklers to land in the end zone.

A senior, Rosenthal scored on runs of 1, 3 and 67 yards, frustrating the Antlers with his ability to use his blockers.

"I've said all season that this is a great year to be a running back at Alamo Heights because we've got a heck of an offensive line," said Rosenthal, a senior. "I'm a decent running back, but our o-line is great. It's all about the offensive line.

"This feels good tonight because we were playing a very good team. I love playing against Tivy. I think both teams bring out the best in each other."

Alamo Heights improved to 7-2 overall and 6-0 in District 27-4A, clinching at least a tie for the league title heading into its regular-season finale against second-place Steele. The Knights rolled past Seguin 48-0 on Friday night to stay one game behind the Mules at 5-1. Tivy and Clemens, both 4-2, have clinched the remaining two playoff spots.

Rosenthal's running also opened up the passing game for Mills, who completed 14 of 17 passes for 217 yards and two TDs.

Facing a second-and-17, Mills hooked up with David Garza for a 55-yard scoring strike that gave the Mules a 27-3 lead at the half. Mills also scored on a 3-yard run.

Center Read Egger, guards Nick Morton-Gonzaba and Cullen Wernette, tackles Matt Cohen and Evan Golden, and tight ends Steven Elder and David Cantu did a great job of clearing the way for Rosenthal.

But make no mistake: The Red Rocket is one heck of a high school running back.

"He plays with a lot of heart and he's modest," Alamo Heights head coach Don Byrd said, smiling.

Tivy quarterback Johnny Manziel, an outstanding player himself, and Rosenthal hugged each other after the game.

"Justin is a great player," Manziel said. "He was very tough tonight."

Heights had the ball first in the second half and needed only four plays to score, Rosenthal squirting free on an inside dive and outrunning the stunned Antlers for a 67-yard TD that made it 34-3.

The Antlers scored their first TD on a 16-yard pass from Manziel to Colton Vick on their next possession. The Mules fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and Tivy recovered at the Heights 17. Manziel passed to Andy Kinnison for a 17-yard TD on first down, cutting the deficit to 34-16 with 7:13 left in the third quarter.

Heights fans really got nervous after Wyndham Burney returned an interception to the Heights 41 on the Mules' next possession with 2:05 left in the period. The Antlers drove to the Heights 16, but the threat ended when a fourth-down completion from Manziel to Kinnison in the back of the end zone was out of bounds.

The Mules put the game out of reach on their next possession, setting sail on a 15-play, 84-yard drive that ended with Mills' 3-yard TD.

The Mules won what expected to be a back-and-forth game relatively easy, jumping out to a 14-0 lead before Tivy got on the board with a field goal.

Rosenthal scored his first TD on a 1-yard run, capping an 11-play, 83-yard drive on the Mules' initial possession. After Tivy went three and out, Heights carved out a 10-play, 48-yard drive that ended with Mills' scoring pass to Rosenthal on the screen pass.

The Antlers responded with a 20-yard field goal, but the Mules made it 21-3 on their ensuing possession when Rosenthal scored his 3-yard TD with 3:18 left in the half.

"He's a good, strong runner," Tivy coach Mark Smith said. "He does everything well"

"I woke up after I went to bed and thought it was indigestion," Jeter said.

He was driven to the emergency room at Northeast Methodist Hospital by his wife, MaryAnn, when his chest pains persisted. Jeter said he went into surgery at about 2 a.m. Saturday and had two stents inserted to open two blocked arteries

Jeter, athletic director of the Judson Independent School District since 2005, said he has an appointment with his cardiologist Monday and doesn't know when he would return to work.

"About all they've told me is that my heart has very minor damage," Jeter said.

Former Judson head football coach D.W. Rutledge hired Jeter in 1984 after he succeeded Frank Arnold, and promoted him to offensive coordinator in 1988. Jeter remained on the Rockets' staff in that capacity until he was named athletic director following Arnold's retirement.

Jeter said he has received numerous get-well phone calls and cards from people throughout the San Antonio area and beyond. Judson head football coach Jim Rackley, who had quintuple bypass surgery in April 2008, visited Jeter on Thursday night.

"I told Jim it's a shame I had to get to sick to have a chance to visit with so many great friends I've known for so long," Jeter said Friday, chuckling. "I'm so grateful for all the support I've gotten."

An Odessa native, Jeter was an assistant coach at Katy High School for one year before going to Judson. He started his coaching career at San Marcos Baptist Academy in 1965 after graduating from Southwest Texas State, and later was head football coach at New Braunfels Canyon.

Rackley, who succeeded Rutledge as head coach in 2001, and Jeter coached together for 16 seasons.

"He's a man of tremendous integrity," Rackley said. "Sterling has a strong faith in the Lord and he lives that faith. He's a very humble man, a salt-of-the-earth guy who is a true-blue friend for life."

That's difficult to fathom for a program that has produced one state champion and two state finalists since 2002.

Like star player Quaylon Jones, Judson has been running away with District 27-5A again this year. (Photo courtesy of Antonio Morano / SAsports.com)

It's not like fans outside Judson's district have forgotten the Rockets, mind you. After all, how do you dismiss a school steeped in so much tradition? No school in the area has enjoyed the kind of success Judson has had since 1982, when it beat Churchill in the state quarterfinals and advanced to the semifinals for the first time.

Still, it's not a stretch to say the Rockets have become something of an afterthought since they moved from District 26-5A, arguably one of the best in the state, to significantly weaker District 27-5A at the start of the 2008-09 school year.

The change was mandated by the University Interscholastic League, which governs extracurricular activities in Texas public schools and realigns its districts every two years.

"Playing in a district that's not as tough as the one we were in for so long hurts us, but it doesn't kill us unless we let it," Judson coach Jim Rackley said Thursday. "Every district has its challenges. For us, it's not to become complacent.

"There's a loss of respect for us and we've got to get that back. That's motivation for us. Our goal every day is to keep up Judson's standards and defend that tradition."

After playing 28 seasons in a district composed primarily of North East ISD schools, Judson now competes against East Central, Highlands, South San, Corpus Christi Carroll, Corpus Christi King, Victoria Memorial and Wagner, the other high school in the Judson ISD.

To say Judson's plays in a weak district now would be an understatement. To wit: All four 27-5A playoff teams lost in the first round of the playoffs last season.

To further drive home the point, every 27-5A team but Judson and Wagner would be hard pressed to earn a playoff spot in 26-5A.

District 26-5A also has included Smithson Valley, which almost beat Southlake Carroll in the 2004 5A Division II title game

"What is good for you is when you get challenged to the hilt every week," Rackley said. "It presses you to push forward and stay focused because you know you won't make the playoffs if you don't."

Judson is 6-2 overall and leads the 27-5A race with a 5-0 record. The Rockets are coming off a 46-30 victory over East Central highlighted by the performance of sophomore running back Quaylon Jones, who rushed for 256 yards and three touchdowns.

There's no reason to believe Judson, which plays Victoria Memorial on the road Friday night, won't run the table in district for the second consecutive year. But how will that success translate in the playoffs against significantly tougher competition?

"Success is a double-edged sword," Rackley said. "It's natural to feel good when you win, but you can't pat yourself on the back too much. I think we've improved tremendously since the beginning of the season, but it's hard to really gauge where we are as a team because everything is relative to the level of the competition you play."

The Rockets finished the 2008 regular season 8-2 and went 7-0 in district, but lost to Stevens 14-12 in the first round of the playoffs. Stevens was 6-4 in the regular season and barely made the postseason, finishing tied for fourth in 28-5A with a 5-3 record.

The early playoff exit was a reality check for Judson, which had bowed out in the first round only two other times since becoming a state power.

"I think our players understand what happened and why it happened," said Rackley, who is 83-28 since succeeding D.W. Rutledge in 2001. "Not to take anything away from Stevens because they played a good game against us, but I think we were looking beyond Stevens when we started the playoffs.

"We thought we were better than we really were. You have to go out and prove it every week, and keep your mindset right. There were times last season when we didn't get better, and that hurt us in the playoffs. The challenge for us is to stay hungry."

If the rest of the team has the same attitude as senior linebacker Jordan Spice and senior quarterback Cody Boswell, the Rockets should be better prepared for the playoffs this season.

"What it comes down to is believing in each other and working hard to play at a high level every week," Spice said. "We respect all our opponents, no matter what district we're in. We know we've got to prepare and stay focused."

Said Boswell: "We look forward to getting better every day. That's been our attitude all season because of what happened last year."

Boswell has made the most of his passing opportunities in Judson's run-oriented offense, completing 42 of 57 attempts (73 percent) for 604 yards and four touchdowns.

"He's doing a good job of managing the offense," Rackley said.

Jones, only 5-foot-6 and 160 pounds, has played big in his first varsity season, rushing for 1,067 yards on 116 carries, a 9.0 average, and 14 TDs.

"He's got a gift, that natural vision to see the field," Rackley said. "The tougher the going gets, the tougher he gets. He really came on at the end of the game against East Central. He made some runs that were as good as any I've ever seen. They were Jerod Douglas-type of runs. I don't know if he'll be like Jerod, but he's a special kid."

Douglas, a three-year starter, helped lead Judson to state titles in 1992 and 1993 before going on to a solid career at Baylor.

Other offensive players who have played well this season, Rackley said, are junior tight end Colton Weimers, senior wide receiver Jordan Montgomery and senior tackles Kevin Slaughter and C.J. Boyd.

Rackley praised Spice, senior tackle Charles Parks, junior nose guard Bryan Villarreal, senior end Kouri Jones, junior safety/cornerback Richard Griffin, junior cornerback Trevon Gamboa and senior safety Darnell Bohannon-Bey for their defensive play.

The Rockets started the season 1-2, beating Warren 33-29 in their opener before losing to Smithson Valley (28-13) and Pflugerville (42-21). While they have won their district games by 37, 25, 55, 33 and 16 points, how good are the Rockets?

It's difficult to say, and therein lies the challenge for Rackley and his team.

We know the drill by now. While the Cowboys aren't even midway through their season and the high school football playoffs are two weeks away after this weekend, our body clock tells us this is the time of year the Spurs get going again.

My, how time flies. Wasn't it just a few months ago that the Dallas Mavericks booted the Spurs from the playoffs in the first round?

A lot has happened since then, of course. For starters, only five players remain from the Spurs team that capped the 2006-07 season with a sweep of LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

The Spurs were written off after looking old and stiff against the Mavs, but the obituary on the Tim Duncan era was put on hold after the franchise traded for small forward Richard Jefferson, drafted Pittsburgh All-American DeJuan Blair and signed free agent Antonio McDyess. Jefferson and McDyess are proven players and Blair, a forward/center who was drafted in the second round, could be one of the biggest steals in NBA draft history.

"I'm going to go into the season with a little chip on my shoulder," Blair said after he fell to the second round.

The way Blair played in the summer and preseason, he's driven to make a bunch of general managers look foolish for passing him up in the first round. This guy is going to be fun to watch.

Adding to the excitement of opening night will be the return of Manu Ginobili, who missed the last half of the 2008-09 season and the entire playoffs with a stress fracture in his right ankle. In a nutshell, the Spurs were a different team without him.

While Tim Duncan remains the face of the franchise and point guard Tony Parker is a bona fide star who is still improving, Ginobili is the "x factor" in San Antonio's hopes of winning a fifth championship.

Yes, the Spurs improved markedly by trading for Jefferson and adding a veteran rebounder and defender in McDyess, but no player on the roster inspires confidence the way Ginobili does when he's on his game.

With his herky-jerky moves and knack for getting to the rim consistently, Ginobili was one of the most difficult players in the NBA to defend before injuries sidelined him. The question that looms paramount for Spurs fans is whether this Ginobili, now 32, will have the same explosiveness he had when he helped lead the team to its last championship.

If Ginobili's health holds up and the new Spurs jell with the Big Three - Duncan, Ginobili and Parker - San Antonio could dethrone the Los Angeles Lakers as Western Conference champs. Of course, much of the Spurs' fortunes will hinge on Duncan's knees, too. The "Big Fundamental," as he was nicknamed by Shaquille O'Neal, was slowed by tendinitis in his knees late last season.

Given Ginobili's history, he will do whatever it takes to help the Spurs win. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, and the latter probably will be the case, Ginobili will energize his teammates with his frenetic style and competitive ferocity.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich faces the task of making all the moving parts work together, but this ain't his first rodeo. The man knows how to get the best out of his players.

"We've still got a long way to go, but we're not usually a team that wants to be ready in November," Ginobili said last week in an interview carried on the Spurs' Web site. "Usually in November, we keep building. In December, we build for being good in March and April. We know this is a process.

"We've got a long way to go, but we've got a lot of potential. That's the great thing. We're all very enthusiastic about it. We accomplished a lot of things (in the preseason), but we can get so much better that it's crazy to think about it."

Meanwhile, the anticipation continues.

Photos courtesy of The Associated Press.

Davis, 6 feet and 202 pounds, has the size and strength to punish ball carriers like a linebacker and the speed to cover receivers on deep routes. He was at his best in Reagan's 31-14 victory over New Braunfels last week, picking off three passes to run his interception total to 17 since he became a starter his sophomore year.

"And I'm not quite done yet," Davis said Thursday, smiling.

Davis has returned two interceptions for touchdowns, the first against MacArthur his sophomore year and the second against New Braunfels last year.

"Kyle is a good run stopper as a tackler and a ball hawk in the secondary," Reagan head coach David Wetzel said. "He's able to understand where the ball is going. He reads his keys well. He's got quite a feel for what's happening on the field."

Besides his obvious physical talent and high football IQ, Davis is the type of football player who looks good even when he's standing still. That's how well he fills out his uniform.

Davis reminds me somewhat of former Judson standout Darnell Stephens, who had a stellar career at Clemson before playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Like Stephens, who played quarterback, safety and cornerback at Judson from 1988-90, Davis has proven his versatility as a running back when he's seen spot duty at that position.

"Kyle is an excellent athlete, but more than anything, he's highly competitive and a very intelligent player," Wetzel said. "He understands the game and what the coaches are trying to teach, and the game plan that's being formulated from week to week. Another great thing about him is that he wants to do well.

"He ran the ball the ball a lot last year and he's ready if we need him to play wide receiver, too, but we really need him to concentrate on defense because he's one of our leaders there."

Davis has improved steadily each season, finishing with four interceptions as a sophomore and eight last year. Reagan has made the playoffs both years and is the defending District 26-5A champion. The Rattlers went 11-2 last year and advanced to the Division II state quarterfinals.

This year's squad is 5-2 overall and tied with Madison atop the 26-5A standings with a 4-1 record. Reagan plays surging Johnson (5-3, 4-2) in another key district game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Heroes Stadium. The Jaguars, playing in only their second varsity season, are coming off a 14-13 victory over Roosevelt and have won three in a row.

"Johnson has a lot of kids who started high school at Reagan," Wetzel said.

After facing Johnson, the Rattlers play MacArthur and end the regular season against Madison.

"At this point, anything can happen," Davis said. "You can't relax in this district because everybody is tough."

Reagan, which lost heavily to graduation, has won four consecutive games since starting 1-2. After losing to Katy Cinco Ranch 28-0 in their opener, the Rattlers downed Warren 35-3 before dropping a 17-12 heartbreaker to Smithson Valley. Reagan led 12-11 before the Rangers scored the winning TD with 44 seconds left.

The Rattlers bounced back with a 14-10 victory over Churchill, and beat Lee (45-7) and Roosevelt (38-29) before defeating New Braunfels.

"I think we're pretty good," Davis said. "We're coming together."

Davis had a scare last spring when he broke three ribs and punctured a lung after colliding with a teammate during a passing drill.

"I was trying to break up a pass and ran into a linebacker," Davis said. "We weren't in pads yet. I was pretty sore for a while."

By the start of the summer, Davis had recovered enough to participate in college camps. He went to 11 in all, making stops at Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Rice, SMU, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas-El Paso and Tulsa.

Davis is being recruited primarily by Air Force, A&M, Baylor, Navy, New Mexico, North Texas, Richmond, TCU and UTEP.

Born in Dallas, Davis moved from Atlanta to San Antonio with his family before his seventh-grade year at Bush Middle School. The Davis family also has lived in New Orleans, where his father, Kurt, was born and raised.

Davis credits his parents - his mother is named Angela - and paternal grandparents, Alexander and Josephine Davis, who moved from New Orleans to San Antonio after they were displaced by Hurricane Katrina, for much of his success. Kyle's only sibling, Kelsey, is a student at LSU, their father's alma mater.

"My family gives me great support," Kyle said. "They tell me, 'Do your best and be persistent.' I know that they'll love me no matter what happens on the field."

It's obvious Davis takes as much pride in his meticulous mental preparation as he does the physical aspects of his game.

"I think my awareness of where the ball is, whether it's on the ground or in the air, is one of my strengths," Davis said. "You have to be smart. After you watch films of the other team, you can pretty much predict what they're going to do."

Davis' stats reflect his deftness at doing that consistently.

Photos courtesy of Phil Franzone.

A University of Incarnate Word wide receiver, Hamilton is hardly an imposing figure at 5-foot-10 - "in my cleats" - and 175 pounds. He isn't slow but he's no speedster, either.

Hamilton may look average when he lines up, but he transforms himself into a force after the ball is snapped. A redshirt freshman and Smithson Valley graduate, Hamilton has shown a flair for consistently getting open and catching the football.

What's more, he has a knack for eluding defenders after making a reception. In a span of three games, Hamilton has become one of the most exciting players on the Cardinals' roster.

UIW head coach Mike Santiago has an explanation for Hamilton's impressive "YAC," yardage after catch in football jargon.

"I tell Dom that the reason they can't tackle him is because they're laughing so hard," Santiago joked Tuesday. "He's not big, he's not fast and he's not good looking. I'm still trying to figure out what his redeeming value is."

Santiago was joking, of course. He knows full well the impact Hamilton has had on the offense since he caught his first collegiate touchdown pass in the Cards' 38-35 overtime victory over Panhandle State on Oct. 3.

Hamilton has set a torrid pace, finishing with two TD receptions in each of UIW's past three games. The Cards have won all three to improve to 4-3 in their first season in school history.

Hamilton is the team's leading receiver despite missing the first three games of the season with a slight tear in his right hamstring. He has caught 19 passes for 403 yards and the six TDs, and is averaging an impressive 21.2 yards per catch and 100.8 yards per game.

"Being here for a full year now, I've learned this offense," Hamilton said. "It has soaked in. I'm going out there and finding the right spots and not getting frazzled. I've built confidence in myself and I think our team has become more confident, too."

UIW, competing as an NCAA Division II independent before jumping to the Lone Star Conference next year, plays Southwestern Assembles of God at 2 p.m. Saturday in Waxahachie.

Hamilton has scorched defenses the past two weeks, catching seven passes for 188 yards in a 38-20 victory over East Central Oklahoma on Oct. 10 and six passes for 123 yards in a 53-18 rout of Texas Lutheran on Saturday.

"What amazes me is his YAC (again, that's yardage after catch)," Santiago said. "Dom has a good feel for the passing game and a knack for getting open. He has shown an amazing quality for running with the ball after he makes the catch."

Five of the six TD passes Hamilton has caught have been thrown by redshirt freshman Eric Massoni, who supplanted junior Thomas Specia as the Cards' starting quarterback after coming off the bench to rally them past Panhandle State.

The Panhandle game was Hamilton's coming-out party, too. He came up big after senior wide receiver Todd Walker suffered a concussion, finishing with five catches for 83 yards and two TDs.

UIW overcame a 35-21 deficit and forced overtime with two fourth-quarter TD passes from Massoni to Hamilton, the first with 3:49 left and the second with 1:10 remaining, and a pair of extra-point kicks by Thomas Rebold.

"Dom and Massoni are starting to click," Santiago said. "They both have a feel for each other."

While Hamilton said Massoni "throws a nice ball," he also gave Specia some props.

"Thomas does a great job, too," Hamilton said. "It's good to have two quarterbacks with that kind of talent not only to be prepared in case of injury, but to hit a defense with a chance of pace."

Hamilton hurt his hamstring on the fourth day of preseason workouts and was held out of drills because he couldn't run. He has seen action in every game as the holder for extra points and field goals.

"It was definitely tough not being able to play wide receiver the first three games," Hamilton said. "I did feel left out. That's just the way it is when you're injured. The strange thing is, I missed the first three games of my senior season at Smithson Valley with a knee injury.

"After working so hard for a year, I was really looking forward to the start of this season. The anticipation had built up. Now that I'm back, it makes me appreciate playing even more. It's definitely been a jump for all of us, but I think we've proven a lot of people wrong by winning more games than we were expected to."

Hamilton caught his first pass of the season in a 17-14 loss to Langston State (Okla.) on Sept. 26.

Hamilton played cornerback as a junior at Smithson Valley, but started at wide receiver and also saw action at quarterback his senior year. The Cards have three other Smithson Valley players on their roster, linebacker Dakota Mawyer, safety Aaron Hernandez and running back Trent Rios.

Recruited by only a handful of colleges, most of them Division III schools, Hamilton sent game films of his junior season to UIW coaches.

"I thought I may wind up playing defensive back," he said. "I don't know how many people thought I could make it as a college wide receiver. I'm not big and I'm not fast, but I'm one of the most competitive guys on the team. I wanted to prove people wrong."

So far, he's done that and much more.

While Perez was hardly a standout as a two-way end, he relished being part of a team and was respected for his grit, dedication, work ethic and loyalty to his teammates and coaches.

"Stevie loved St. Anthony and he loved playing football," said his father, Conrado Perez Jr., who lives in Eagle Pass.

Stephen Perez, a 2002 St. Anthony graduate, demonstrated the same passion for the Marine Corps after he enlisted in 2004.

"When Stephen said he was joining the Marines, people told him he wouldn't make it because it would be too tough," said Diana Perez, who lives in San Antonio. "But he was determined to make it. He loved the Marines. I believe it was his calling."

Stephen Perez, was killed by shrapnel from an explosion April 13, 2006, in an area between Fallujah and Karma, Iraq. He was 22.

On Saturday, St. Anthony honored Perez by retiring his jersey number in a poignant ceremony before its homecoming game against, fittingly, Harlingen Marine Military Academy at Lang Field.

His mother and only sibling, Kenny, were presented with St. Anthony jersey No. 87 by former Yellowjackets head football coach Frank Vavala and St. Anthony principal Henry Galindo. Another No. 87 jersey will be permanently displayed on the St. Anthony Wall of Fame.

"It was just amazing to see one group come together to remember my brother," said Kenny Perez, 29. "He would have been so honored and so proud. He was always proud to wear that St. Anthony jersey. Stephen was a special person in many ways, and our family is so grateful to the St. Anthony community for honoring him in such a special way.

"Stevie was more than a brother to me. He was my best friend. I think about him every day. It's a constant struggle to make it through the day, but my family helps me by remembering the good times. We do a lot more laughing than crying when we think about him now."

Diana Perez said her son's death is like an "open wound," but she takes solace in knowing he was loved by so many people.

"After he died, we talked to some of the Marines from his unit and they told us Stephen was everybody's best friend," she said. "That's just the way he was, always trying to help people. He thought of others first."

Stephen Perez's maternal grandfather, Tony Pena, served with the Marines and is a Korean War veteran. Pena and two of Diana Perez's sisters, Jeanette Lynch and Annette Gremmer; and Kenny Perez's wife, Misty, and their two children, Nikolas and Stephanie, also attended the ceremony.

Diana Perez said the jersey presentation was difficult but also uplifting.

"It was very touching, very moving," she said. "We felt that Stephen was watching over us, and it couldn't have been a more beautiful day. When the teams ran on the field at the start of the game, I reminisced about the days my two sons played for St. Anthony.

Kenny Perez, a 1998 St. Anthony graduate, also wore No. 87.

"St. Anthony is a very close community and a special place," Diana Perez said. "You consider yourself family when your kids go to school there. It was like going back home when we were there Saturday."

Perez's father, a diabetic who suffers from kidney failure, was unable to attend the ceremony because it's difficult for him to travel.

Conrado Perez Jr. said he went to his room and reflected on his son's life Saturday afternoon.

"The pain in my heart is worse than my physical pain," Perez said. "I went to my little cubby hole where I have my computer and thought of all the great memories I have of Stevie. I'm not embarrassed to say I shed some tears. I'm always wondering why the good die young.

"I was not at St. Anthony physically, but I was there spiritually and mentally. I could feel Stevie's presence. I knew he was at Lang Field, too, with that beautiful smile on his face. He was always smiling."

Conrado Perez, who turns 54 on Oct. 30, was a standout pitcher at Eagle Pass High School and St. Mary's in the 1970s.

"The last three years have been very tough, but I've had a lot of help from a lot of people," said Perez, who lives with his father. "I've learned from people, and I've also been sustained by my faith."

Perez singled out his father and former father-in-law for their support.

"My Dad is a very sharp person and he's also very strong," Perez said. "My father-in-law has been great, too."

Although Stephen Perez's parents divorced when he was an infant, he visited his father and relatives in Eagle Pass regularly.

"He was born in San Antonio, but he always said he was from Eagle Pass, too," Conrado Perez Jr. said. "That was Stevie. He just loved people."

No column on Stephen Perez would be complete without noting that he was a die-hard Spurs fan. Whenever he called home from Iraq, he always had one burning question: How are the Spurs doing?

After Perez was killed, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sent a letter of condolence to the Perez family and invited his parents and brother to a game.

"Coach Popovich wrote us that letter when the Spurs were in the middle of the playoffs," Kenny Perez said. "As busy as he was, he took time to remember my brother. We'll always be grateful to Coach Popovich and the Spurs' organization. Stevie would be so honored that the Spurs thought about him."

Lest we forget, we're the ones who owe so much to Stephen Perez and his family for their sacrifice.

In other words, I was among the players who simulated the opposing team's offense for the Bulldogs' defense each week. We took our lumps, to say the least, but we also took satisfaction in giving the defense a "good picture," as coaches like to say.

Now back to Alexander, who is in his eighth season as head football coach at Clark. I thought about him and his days at TLC as I watched the Cougars beat Warren 27-17 Friday night at Farris Stadium.

In a nutshell, Clark reflects its coach. The Cougars play with a controlled intensity and do nothing fancy. They just line up and execute.

Playing before a crowd of 3,874, Clark improved to 8-0 overall and 6-0 in District 28-5A, while Warren fell to 1-6 and 1-4.

The Cougars led 7-3 after one quarter and 17-3 at the half, but Warren cut it to 17-10 after recovering a fumble at the Clark 12 on the opening kickoff of the second half. The Warriors just missed recovering an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, or things might have been a lot more interesting.

Warren was ahead 20-10 heading into the final quarter and went on top 27-10 on a 1-yard run by running back Tevin Glasgow with 5:37 left. But the Warriors refused to go quietly into the night.

Warren cut the deficit to 10 points again when sophomore Rex Dausin, the son of Warriors head coach Bryan Dausin hooked up with junior wideout Marcus Smith for a 57-yard TD with 1:39 left.

The late rally ended when Warren's onside kick rolled out of bounds before it went 10 yards, giving Clark the ball at the Warriors' 41 after a five-yard penalty.

"Warren is going to have a good team," Alexander said. "We knew they would be tough."

We figured as much, too, considering Dausin's stature. Remember, this is the guy who guided Roosevelt to the Class 5A Division II state title in 1995 and Marshall to the state semifinals. And just two years ago, Warren gave regional champion Madison all it could handle in the playoffs before falling short.

Anybody who thought Clark would have an easy time with the Warriors on Friday night was way off base. To Clark's credit, it stepped up and kept its composure when it was challenged. No doubt, the Cougars reflect their coach.

"He's got so much experience under his belt that we respect him and model ourselves after him," senior quarterback Hayden Greenbauer said. "He's always encouraging us and staying on us."

Said senior center Robert Chapman: "Coach Alexander believes in discipline and we try to play like that."

That's the Lloyd Alexander who embodied the spirit of Jim Wacker's undersized Texas Lutheran teams. A 1971 Marshall graduate, Alexander played defensive end at 5-foot-7 and was nowhere near 200 pounds.

But Alexander was gritty, fundamentally sound and would knock your block off. As I noted earlier, I know this from experience.

"Really, a defensive end?" an obviously amused Greenbauer said, looking in Alexander's direction. "Maybe back in the day."

Kids these days.

Alexander was a senior starter on the 1974 TLC team that won the first of back-to-back NAIA Division II national championships, finishing 11-0 and outscoring its opponents 421-42. Thirty-five years later, Rutledge says Alexander is one of the toughest teammates he ever had.

Now 57, Alexander has coached at Clark for all but two seasons since the school opened in 1978. He was at Southwest High School in 1988 and 1989, but returned to Mike Robbins' staff in 1990. He never has been a head coach anywhere else but Clark, where he is 65-28.

Alexander is such a big part of the Cougars' tradition that he has been on the coaching staff for 19 of their 21 playoff appearances. His best season was last year when Clark advanced to the state semifinals for the first time in school history and finished 13-2.

What keeps him going?

"The guys in there," he said, pointing to the team bus with a smile.

.

Blackwood recalled the Texas-OU game 32 years ago recently, when we talked by phone following the announcement that he will be among five people inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in February.

Blackwood, who lives in West Palm Beach, Fla., hasn't been to a Texas-OU game since playing in his last one as a senior in 1978. But his memories of the 1977 classic have endured the passage of time.

"That 1977 game against Oklahoma was special," Blackwood said. "We played a really good defensive game. It's one of my proudest games as far as how our team played. We weren't going to be denied that day."

Blackwood was a junior defensive back when the No. 2 Sooners and No. 5 Longhorns clashed at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Oct. 8, 1977. UT hadn't beaten OU since 1970 and was in its first season under Fred Akers, who had succeeded legendary Darrell Royal.

The Sooners beat the Horns for five consecutive years, from 1971-75, before struggling to forge a 6-6 tie in 1976 that left Royal physically ill. Years later, Royal said he never wanted to win a game more than that one.

Royal - ironically, an All-America quarterback at OU under Bud Wilkinson in the late 1940s - went 12-2 against his alma mater before his fortunes in the series changed dramatically.

The Sooners were favored in 1977, but UT had at least three things going for it heading into the Red River showdown: a healthy Earl Campbell, kicker/punter Russell Erxleben, and a dominant defense composed of such future pros as Blackwood, Steve McMichael, Johnny Johnson, Brad Shearer and Jay graduate Derrick Hatchett. Shearer, a senior tackle, earned All-America honors and won the Outland Trophy that season.

"I felt we had a chance to dominate the game defensively," Blackwood said. "Our thinking was, 'If they don't score, they don't win.'"

As their No. 2 ranking indicated, OU was hardly chopped liver. Led by senior quarterback Thomas Lott, a wishbone wizard from Jay High School, the Sooners were prolific offensively and relentless defensively.

"That Oklahoma team had some great offensive players, guys like Kenny King and Elvis Peacock," Blackwood said. "But we had some great players, too. I thought we had a phenomenal team. Our defense felt that as long as we hung in there, Earl would pop one."

He did, but that's getting ahead of the story.

UT was 3-0 heading into the OU game, outscoring its opponents by a combined 184-15. After beating Boston College 44-0 in its opener, avenging a 14-13 loss the previous year, the Horns routed Virginia 68-0 and Rice 72-15.

The Sooners entered the game against UT with a 4-0 record. They started the season No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, but fell to No. 5 after edging Vanderbilt 25-23 in their opener.

OU breezed past Utah 62-24 before nipping Ohio State 29-28 in a classic in Columbus, Ohio, climbing from No. 3 to No. 1 in the AP poll. OU defeated Kansas 24-9 the following week, but slipped to No. 2 before meeting the Horns.

Now back to Blackwood.

"We weren't even ranked going into the season in '77, but we came out and beat the snot out of Boston College and Virginia," he said. "We obviously went into the OU game with some confidence. We knew we could move the ball. Earl was used in a totally different way that season, and he was lighting it up."

After lining up at fullback in the wishbone for three seasons, Campbell moved to tailback when Akers ditched the triple-option and went to the "I" formation.

For a while, it appeared UT's frustration in the heated series with OU would continue after it lost starting quarterback Mark McBath and his backup, Jon Aune, to season-ending injuries in the first quarter.

Third-stringer Randy McEachern, a junior who wasn't even listed in the Horns' media guide at the beginning of the season, entered the game and earned a place in UT lore.

With the score tied 3-3, McEachern directed the Horns on an 80-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown run by Campbell - see, he did "pop one" - just before halftime. UT's other first-half points came on a 64-yard - yes, a 64-yard - field goal by Seguin graduate Russell Erxleben.

Erxleben booted a 58-yarder to give the Horns a 13-6 lead with 8:08 left, but the Sooners had one gut-wrenching drive left in them. With Lott wheeling and dealing, OU drove from its 20 to the UT 4 before facing a fourth-and-one with 4:10 left.

Lott ran left on the option and headed upfield, but was held for no gain by Shearer and Johnson.

"That was the courage and the fortitude of our defense," Blackwood said. "It was so exciting to see us make that stand."

Still, UT would need one more big play before it could celebrate.

With the Horns unable to make a first down - they gained only two yards to the 6 in three plays - Erxleben had to punt out of the UT end zone. And what a punt it was. It went 69 yards and put the Horns out of danger.

"Russell Erxleben was absolutely unbelievable," Blackwood said. "They had no chance after that last punt."

And Campbell?

He rushed for 124 yards on 23 carries and scored the Horns' only TD, making OU another notch on his belt en route to the Heisman Trophy that season.

UT finished the regular season 11-0, but its hopes of a national championship ended with a 42-10 loss to Notre Dame in the 1978 Cotton Bowl.

But the 1977 Horns long will be remembered for their stirring victory over OU.

"You don't forget games like that," Blackwood said.

(Photos courtesy of The University of Texas)

After helping Lanier win state championships in 1943 and 1945 and serving a two-year hitch in the Army Air Corps, Rodriguez played basketball at Tyler Junior College and the University of Houston before going into coaching in 1951.

Not surprisingly, Rodriguez's first job out of college was at El Paso Bowie High School, where Herrera was the baseball coach.

David Rodriguez speaks at the dedication Monday. (Photo courtesy of SAISD)

"He took me under his wing," Rodriguez said Monday. "I don't know what my life would have been without Nemo Herrera. I think it would have turned out very differently."

Rodriguez was among eight players from the Herrera era who attended the dedication ceremony Monday for the new Alumni Center and gym at Lanier.

Rodriguez's jersey number (11) was retired Monday and will hang from the rafters above the court named after Herrera, who died in 1984 at age 84.

The Voks also retired the jersey number of Orlando Mendez-Valdez, a 2004 graduate who wore No. 33 before going on to an All-America career at Western Kentucky.

No doubt, Rodriguez and Mendez-Valdez, who completed his career last season, are the greatest players in Lanier's proud history. Voks coach Rudy Bernal should be commended for taking the initiative to honor Rodriguez and Mendez-Valdez.

Mendez-Valdez was unable to attend Monday's program, but Rodriguez made the trip from El Paso and sat with the greats from yesteryear.

"A lot of memories went through my mind as I sat listening to all the things said about Coach Herrera," said Rodriguez, 82. "It was great to see some of my former teammates."

Herrera coached at Lanier for 17 years, leading the Voks to the state tournament six times in 15 seasons from 1931-45. Besides winning the 1943 and 1945 state titles, Lanier finished runner-up in 1939, third in 1942 and 1944, and lost in the first round in 1931.

Herrera's oldest son, Charles, represented the coach's family and spoke at the ceremony.

"If my father were here today - and I know he is - he would say how proud he is of all his former players," Herrera said. "He loved Lanier High School."

Herrera's teams gave people in the barrios surrounding Lanier something to rally around during the dark days of the Depression and World War II.

"We were so proud of those Lanier teams," said Tony Reyna, who attended Lanier before transferring to San Antonio Vocational and Technical High School before his sophomore year. "We didn't have a lot to cheer about back then.

"We were so poor we didn't know where the next meal was coming from, but we looked forward to going to the Lanier games. They were the focal point of our community."

Herrera, who was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, left Lanier for El Paso Bowie after the 1944-45 season. He guided Bowie to a state baseball title in 1949, the first year the University Interscholastic League sanctioned the sport.

A high school coach from 1942 to 1970, Herrera had a 545-193 career record in basketball and went 469-298 in baseball.

"He could coach anything," Rodriguez said. "Coach Herrera was very organized and was a tough disciplinarian. We were in awe of him because of his character and the way he coached. We were all Mexicans, but when we got to the state tournament, we didn't see any other Mexicans.

"Coach Herrera always taught us to respect the other team, but not to be afraid. He would say, 'Look at those guys. They're big but you can play with them.' He taught the brand of basketball that became popular later. We ran the full-court press and ran on offense. We used our speed and quickness. Coach Herrera was a heck of a defensive coach."

Rodriguez, who coached the boys basketball team at Bowie for 10 seasons, was a teacher, coach and administrator in El Paso during a 52-year career in education. He was accompanied to the ceremony by his wife, Mary, who wore the blue sweater her husband earned as a Lanier letterman.

At 6-foot-3, Rodriguez towered over his teammates. He grew to 6-5 after high school, and had an outstanding college career.

Other players from the Herrera era who attended the ceremony were Carlos Camacho, Tony Cardona, Jesse Saldana, Jesse Camacho, Walter Kelley, Joe Bernal and Raul San Miguel.

"Coach Herrera was like a father to us," said Kelley, who played on the 1943 state championship team. "He was always there for us."

Rudy Bernal, who next month begins his 27th season as Lanier's boys basketball coach, grew up hearing stories about Herrera and the Voks' glory days from his father. Ramiro Bernal, who died in 2008, was a standout player on the 1942-43 team before marching off to war.

Large photos of the Voks' two championship teams now hang on a wall behind one of the baskets in the new gym.

"Now I'll get to see my Dad up there every day," Rudy Bernal said. "This is a great facility. We want to make this gym a place that other teams don't want to play in because it will be extremely hard to win when they step on the floor. That's our goal."

Bernal, a 1973 Lee graduate led the Voks to state tournament in 2000 and 2001. Bernal, who never has been a head coach anywhere else but Lanier, said that trying to live up to the tradition established by Herrera's teams is powerful motivation.

"It's just something that's on my mind all the time," Bernal said.

A plaque honoring Herrera in the foyer of the Alumni Center was unveiled Monday. A group of Lanier alumni raised $25,000 to pay for the digital reproduction of the championship team photos, the plaque and the lettering on the floor.

Job well done, folks. Coach Herrera would be proud.

After all, he might be onto something: Both junior Thomas Specia and redshirt freshman Eric Massoni won in their debuts as UIW's starting QB.

Six weeks after Specia looked solid in the season opener, Massoni passed for 278 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Cards to a 38-20 victory over winless East Central Oklahoma before a crowd of 1,864 Saturday at Benson Stadium.

UIW lost three games in a row before Massoni came off the bench and helped rally the Cards to a 38-35 victory over Panhandle State in overtime Oct. 3 in Goodwell, Okla. His big game earned him the starting role against ECO, which is now 0-7.

The Tigers compete in the Lone Star Conference, which will include UIW starting next year.

Besides winning two games in a row for the first time, UIW improved to 3-3. The Cards play Texas Lutheran at Benson Stadium Saturday at 2 p.m.

After starting off slowly as the offense struggled, Massoni looked like anything but a redshirt freshman once UIW took control. He completed 16 of 25 passes, with no interceptions, and had TD passes of 58 and 30 yards to Dominic Hamilton and 20 yards to Matt McLaren.

"It took us a while to figure out what they were doing defensively, but once we did, we got it going," said Massoni, who played at Cedar Park High School.

Hamilton and McLaren more than took up the slack for top wide receiver Todd Walker, who missed the game after suffering a concussion against Panhandle.

"Eric did a good job of giving me some good throws," said Hamilton, a redshirt freshman from Smithson Valley who finished with seven catches for 188 yards. Both of his TDs came on diving, over-shoulder catches. "This win is definitely a confidence booster."

Santiago said Hamilton's two TD receptions "were as good as any I've seen" during his coaching career.

"Dom was great out there," Massoni said. "The offensive line did a great job of giving me time to throw and our receivers got open. I felt better as the game went on."

McLaren, a sophomore from Friendswood who transferred from Texas A&M-Commerce, had three receptions for 45 yards.

Santiago said he told his team throughout the week that the offense probably would start slowly because the Tigers' defense was tough to figure out.

"We talked to the defense and told those guys they would have to give us time and help us make the adjustments we needed to make," Santiago said. "We saw some things in the second quarter and I think Eric had a lock on them by halftime.

"We saw some weaknesses in the secondary and made the adjustments. They had a couple of guys who could cover, but they had two who were having a hard time."

After a scoreless first quarter, ECO took a 6-0 lead on a 40-yard run by Joshua Maldanado with 11:08 left in the second period. But the Cards scored on Massoni's 58-yard strike to Hamilton on their next possession and Thomas Rebold added the extra point.

UIW went ahead 14-6 when linebacker Dakota Mawyer stripped the ball from Tigers quarterback Lucas Peters on ECO's next possession, and safety Aaron Hernandez returned the fumble for a 43-yard TD.

"Dakota did a good job of stripping the ball and I was at the right place at the right time," said Hernandez, a sophomore from Smithson Valley.

Mawyer, a redshirt freshman from Smithson Valley, said the defense was determined to play well from the outset.

"We knew the defense had to set the tone to give the offense a chance to get going," he said.

The Cards extended their lead to 21-6 on Massoni's 20-yard pass to McLaren with 1:14 left in the third quarter. Rebold made it 24-6 with a 36-yard field goal at 11:55 of the fourth.

UIW's last two scores came on Massoni's second TD pass to Hamilton and defensive end Alan Ford's 54-yard fumble return.

"I told the defense that they were going to have to help us score, but I didn't expect the defense to score twice," Santiago said, smiling.

UIW outgained the Tigers 398-277 in total offensive yardage. ECO outrushed the Cards 151-105, but struggled mightily in the passing game. The Tigers were 0-for-11 through three quarters before completing their first attempt in the fourth. They hit 8 of 28 passes for only 126 yards and were intercepted twice.

Lucas, who started, was 0 for 8 before leaving the game with an ankle injury. Backup Josh Phillips completed 8 of 19 passes, but had the two interceptions.

Although ECO is winless this season, it's important to remember that the Tigers' program has been around for a long time. The bottom line is ECO was beaten by a team composed mostly of freshmen and redshirt freshmen.

"Right now every win is an upset for us," Santiago said. "We've had three upsets this year and more upsets are coming up."

He smiled before expressing his pride in the commitment his players have made to do everything they can to give themselves a chance to win.

"These guys drink the Kool-Aid," Santiago said. "They take to heart what you say. You tell them, 'This is what you have to do,' and they'll do it. Sometimes they can't do it because they can't physically, but they're learning us and we're learning them."

On Saturday, that learning curve didn't seem as big anymore.

Shaken by the death of its popular coach, Luling had plenty of raw emotion Friday night when it took on Sam Houston in their District 27-3A opener at the SAISD Complex.

Driven by the memory of Robert Dean from start to finish, the inspired Eagles jumped all over the Hurricanes en route to a 26-13 victory that long will be remembered by the kids who wore the white jerseys Friday night.

Luling players wept and exchanged hugs in the final seconds as they invoked the name of Dean, who died Thursday after a short illness. A framed photo of Dean rested on the Eagles' bench throughout the game.

"We had to get this one for our coach," said senior Craig Mager, who rushed for 129 yards on 16 carries and caught a 53-yard touchdown pass from junior Braxton Allen. "That's about all I can say."

Allen was too overcome with emotion to speak after the game, only nodding affirmatively when asked if felt Dean's presence on the Luling sideline.

Dean, diagnosed with pneumonia last week, was found dead at home Thursday afternoon. by Luling athletic trainer Shelley O'Neal and defensive coordinator Gene Scoggin.

Dean, divorced and the father of three daughters, was 41.

He was in his fourth season at Luling and in his second as head coach. A memorial service is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the school district's football stadium.

"We really miss him," Luling fan Carol King said. "Our kids are devastated. He helped with almost everything at school. Since he lived alone, all of his football players were his children. He loved all of them. To him, it was all about the kids. I hope he knew how much we loved him."

Scoggin, who wept as he led the Eagles in prayer on the field after the game, and offensive coordinator James Howell will share head-coaching duties for the rest of the season.

"It was tough to be out here without Coach Dean," Scoggin said. "He was a dear friend. I'm proud of our kids. We came out with a lot of emotion, too much in the first half. But I think we settled down. You have to give all the credit to the kids."

Howell said Dean would have been proud of the Eagles, who improved to 2-4 overall.

"He told our kids to play hard every week," Howell said. "Tonight, they did that. I felt he was with us. I could feel his presence."

Sam Houston, which had won three in a row since losing to Medina Valley, slipped to 4-2.

The game was marred by penalties from beginning to end, with Luling getting flagged 12 times for 112 yards and Sam Houston for 13 and 108 yards.

The Hurricanes led 7-6 after one quarter, but the Eagles were ahead 20-7 at the half. After a scoreless third quarter, Allen scored on a 1-yard sneak to put Luling on top 26-7.

Quarterback Dominique Braxton-Lee scored Sam Houston's second TD on a 44-yard run, cutting the deficit to 26-13 with 8:40 left. But that's as close as the Hurricanes would get.

The Eagles outgained Sam Houston 376-205 in total offense. Allen, who rushed for 78 yards, completed 8 of 21 passes for 106 yards and the TD to Mager but was intercepted twice.

"They were inspired," Hurricanes coach Gary Green said. "I told our players that we had to get off the mark quickly to match their emotion. They were high when they came out and we did everything to help them stay high.

"Emotion usually lasts a quarter, at the most. But every time we got going, we had a penalty. We've got to learn how to win. One of the hardest things to do is mold a team of talented individuals into a team. I preach that every day."

Across the field, the Luling Eagles had no difficulty grasping that concept.

"This is all about Coach Dean," wide receiver/safety Jared Nash said. "He prepared us for this. This win is for him."

There was never any doubt.

"Football is important to me, but so is Mount Zion," Culpepper said.

That commitment reflects the discipline and dedication that Culpepper, a senior, consistently has demonstrated since he earned a starting spot on the Brack varsity as a sophomore.

"That's where he gets his strength, at Mount Zion," said his father, Willie Culpepper Jr., a 1976 Roosevelt graduate who was a standout running back and receiver himself. "The congregation has been great to us. I don't know what we would have done without those good people."

Culpepper and his wife, Joyce, have been separated since Willie III was 10. Culpepper, 17, has lived with his father since then. His only sibling, Rar-King, a freshman football player at Austin McCallum, moved in with his mother last year after living with his father and brother.

From all accounts, Willie III has weathered his parents' split relatively well. His mother has a good relationship with his father and attends Brackenridge games.

"We're still a family," Willie III said.

The Eagles, 4-1 overall and 2-0 in District 28-4A, play Edison (1-4, 1-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Alamo Stadium. Brack is the defending district champion, but lost in the first round of the playoffs and finished 8-3.

Culpepper rushed for 1,506 yards and scored 14 touchdowns last year. As his stats this season indicate, Culpepper is on a similar impressive pace. He has rushed for 675 yards and nine touchdowns, and is averaging a whopping 9.12 yards per carry.
"I worked hard all summer to get ready for the season," Culpepper said. "This team is motivated to do better than we did last year. I know a lot of people look down at us because inner-city teams don't do well in the playoffs, but that just gives us more incentive. We talk about that all the time."

Culpepper said he and his teammates also are driven by stories they've heard of Brack's 1962 team, which won the 4A state title. Guided by coach Weldon Forren, the Eagles were led by such standouts as elusive running back Warren McVea, quarterback Victor Castillo and receiver Pete Bautista.

"Coach Hall has talked to us about that team, and some of those players have come to school and talked to us," Culpepper said. "We know what Brack did back then. They had one great back and stuck to their goal."

Culpepper was at the top of his game in a 42-14 victory over Jefferson last week, rushing for 142 yards and three TDs and catching two TD passes from quarterback Michael Reyna.

"Willie is going to be that guy we depend on," Brack head coach Willie Hall said. "He's gotten a little bit better each season and added something to his game. He's more of a leader this season. He's always led by example, but now he's more vocal when things aren't going well."

Culpepper's father said he has passed on everything to his son that he learned from Sonny Detmer, who coached the running backs at Roosevelt when he played, Detmer is the father of former NFL quarterbacks Ty and Koy Detmer.

"Sonny taught me so much about football," Willie Jr. said. "He taught me how to run with the ball and how to run pass routes and catch the ball. I taught Willie everything Sonny taught me."

Willie Jr. said there is no comparison between father and son as running backs.

"Willie is better all the way around than I was," he said. "He is faster, quicker and has better vision than I had. I think he's also a better kid. Sonny told me the way to make him better is to teach him all the things I didn't do. That's what I've tried to do."

Although only 5-foot-8 and 155 pounds, Culpepper is a tougher inside runner than some may think. But it's his quickness, speed and elusiveness that have caught the eye of coaches from UTSA, Air Force Academy, Iowa State and Montana State, to name a few of the schools recruiting him.

"You find a lot of quick people, but what separates Willie from so many other backs is that he doesn't lose a step when he makes a cut," Hall said. "He even gains speed coming off his cut. Defensive players will take an angle to catch him as he's making his cut, but they'll be five yards behind him after he comes out of it."

Lupe Vasquez, who coaches the Eagles' running backs, put it succinctly: "Willie's got another gear."

Nobody who has seen Culpepper play would argue with that.

The stage.

Arnold, 68, chuckled Tuesday when he recalled his reaction last month after learning he had been selected for induction into the Hall.

(L-R) Bill Greehey, Vanessa Richey Said, Frank Arnold and Joe Cortez. Not pictured: Glenn Blackwood, who did not attend Tuesday's news conference.

"I thought they'd made a mistake," he said. "I never thought I would go into the Hall of Fame. And if I ever did, I thought it would be posthumously and my wife would have to be up here speaking."

Arnold will be joined by former NFL player Glenn Blackwood, high school basketball coaching icon Joe Cortez, ex-Texas All-American swimmer Vanessa Richey Said, and business leader Bill Greehey when the Class of 2010 is enshrined at the Hall of Fame Tribute on Feb. 12 at the Alamodome.

All but Blackwood, who lives in West Palm Beach, Fla., were present at a news conference Tuesday at the Alamodome to announce the latest group of inductees.

"I've always considered San Antonio home," Blackwood said by phone. "This is quite overwhelming to me. I'm really looking forward to going back and seeing people I know."

Blackwood, who was born in San Antonio and graduated from Churchill in 1975, was a standout defensive back at Texas before going on to a nine-year career with the Miami Dolphins. He and his older brother, Lyle, were teammates with the Dolphins for six seasons. Lyle went into the San Antonio Hall of Fame in 2008.

Arnold led Judson High School to its first state championship in 1983, his last of 13 seasons as a head coach. He was 42-9 in four seasons with the Rockets, who advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals and finished 14-1 in 1982 before winning it all with a 15-1 record the next year.

A 1959 Burbank graduate, Arnold was 101-42-2 during a career that included stints at Sam Houston, Jefferson, Holmes and MacArthur.

"I knew there was good potential at Judson, but you never know you're going to win a state championship," Arnold said. "I'm happy that I could be a part of all that. One of the best things was seeing all our fans come out to our stadium on Friday nights. It was fantastic."

Given Cortez's credentials and his place in the history of San Antonio high school basketball, his induction into the Hall is an honor long overdue.

To wit: Cortez holds the city's record for career victories, going 823-443 in 40 seasons.

He coached at Peacock Military Academy for four seasons before going to Central Catholic, his alma mater, in 1960.

Cortez became synonymous with the all-boys school on St. Mary's in 36 seasons with the Buttons, who went 791-404 and won 10 Texas Catholic Interscholastic League championships during that span.

Central Catholic also finished the season No. 1 in the city three times under Cortez, who relished the challenge of playing against the best public-school squads in San Antonio.

"I feel so honored and humbled," said Cortez, 78. "You never do anything alone. I've been blessed to have so many people help me. I'm grateful to the many players I coached, and the coaches I learned from through the years."

Cortez was an assistant at Trinity and coached pro basketball in Mexico for a few years after leaving Central Catholic. But nothing ever compared to coaching his beloved Buttons.

"We had a pride in the school," Cortez said. "I had a special bond with Central Catholic and I wanted to produce winning teams. That's why I put so much of myself into the job. I have a great wife (Maria Teresa) who always supported me during my career."

A 1984 Churchill graduate, Richey Said was a member of UT swim teams that won four national championships. She also swam on Churchill's state titlist her senior year.

Richey Said became one of the country's best pentathletes after completing her college career, winning gold medals in 1993 and 1994 at the U.S. Modern Pentathlon National Championships, the U.S. Olympic Festival and the Pan American Modern Pentathlon Championships.

Richey Said was named U.S. Modern Pentathlon Athlete of the Year in 1993 and 1994.

"I could have gone anywhere I wanted after I left college, but I moved to San Antonio because the people here are so friendly and they embrace newcomers," said Richey Said. "I have a lot of people to thank for my success."

Greehey, one of San Antonio's most highly visible businessmen and most generous philanthropists, has been an ardent supporter of sports at all levels.

Lauded for his leadership and financial support, Greehey kept the PGA Valero Texas Open from moving by committing to the title sponsorship and also helped garner support for the building of the Alamodome. The St. Mary's University Athletics and Convocation Center is named in his honor.

"It's a special moment," Greehey said after being introduced at Tuesday's news conference.

Here's a tip of the hat to all five inductees.