HS Football End of Season

The end of every football season is tough.  To coach football well takes a tremendous amount of emotional energy.  There are so many relationships that are formed throughout the season and while most of them are much deeper than a game it is those games that provide the opportunities for the relationships to grow.  The final huddle is always hard, as the memories come flowing back.  While I wish we could have won Friday it would have just delayed the inevitable, the season must come to an end.  In those final moments I always have a feeling that I could have done more and am reminded of the end of Schindler’s List where Schindler feels he could have saved more people.  The stakes are certainly not as high, but my day to day ability to impact the team is over, especially for those 11 seniors. 

Yes, I will see them in the halls and they will come back and visit.  The underclassman will start working towards next year and life will go on but the relationships do change.  I hope that we have planted seeds, cultivated and watered the soil, and removed obstacles to growth so that we can see each player grow as a godly man.  We have seen a lot of growth but it will take years to know the impact. 

As I finish my 11^th season as a coach I am starting to make plans to find those first players that I coached and see just where they are at.  It has been an honor to coach your son this past season, to have the opportunity to impact their life with something that is more than a game.  Below you will find some information on how to provide me with some feedback on the season and I hope you take that opportunity to help me and the football program.

Last Practice and Equipment turn in

We will have the last hit drill right after school on Monday, November 26.  This drill is a symbolic passing of the torch for the seniors and just takes a few minutes.  After the drill we will turn in all equipment and empty out all the lockers. Players that are not in a winter sport will help put away the field equipment.  Everything should be done by 4:30.  Players that are in a winter sport will turn in their equipment first so that they can get to their practice.

Awards Banquet

The fall sports awards banquet will be on Thursday, December 20 in the gym at 7PM. I like to see the players dress up for this night.  At least have them treat it like a chapel day at school. We will still have our end of Season party during the AFC/NFC Championship games in late January.

Game Recap and Blue Shirt Warriors

Click here for the story about Friday’s game.  Click here to see the final Blue Shirt Warriors.  In reality they have all earned this award.  Picking a single player is very difficult each week.  Everyone that has not already gotten a shirt will get one at the final practice.   

End of Season Survey and Player Interviews

Each year I send out a survey for both players and parents at the end of the season.  The following links will take you to the surveys. We put several parent and player ideas from last year’s survey into practice this year. Once your son has filled out the survey I would like to have an exit interview with him.  These can be done during lunch or right after school and usually last about 15 minutes.

Underclassman End of Season Survey

Senior End of Season Survey

Parent End of Season Survey

Off-season Workouts

We will take a little time off but I will be sending out information about our off-season workouts in the next couple weeks.

HS Football Week 11 - Playoffs

It was another great win to close out the season and give the seniors a final win at home.  We have continued to make great progress the last several weeks and I am looking forward to that continuing into the playoffs.  Please encourage your son to watch a little film so they can be prepared for practice and the challenge that awaits us as we take on a very good team from Marble Falls in Faith Academy.  The changes that TAPPS made this season insure that every playoff team is a good one, so it will be an exciting trip this Friday.

Weekly Theme- Courage

Psalm 23 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Week 10 HS Schedule

Monday, November 12-4:00 to 6:00 pm (Full Pads)

Tuesday, November 13-4:00 to 5:50 pm (Full Pads)

Wednesday, November 14-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)

Thursday, November 15-3:45 to 5:00 pm (Half Shell)

Friday, November 16-7:00pm against Faith Academy at Marble Falls (bus leaves at noon and should return around 2:30AM)

Directions

1511 Pony Drive Marble Falls, TX 78654, Click here for driving directions.

There is a large Formula 1 race in Austin on Sunday and traffic is expected to be bad all weekend. While players and families are welcome to spend the night this is also a factor in making the decision to return home that night.

Charter Buses

We are planning to take a charter bus again.  We are also exploring the idea of taking one and maybe two charter fan busses.  We believe that the cost on the fan bus may be in the range of $25 to $30 per person if we could fill it.  If you would be interested in riding a fan bus please let me know.  If you would like to help offset the cost of the player charter that is also greatly appreciated.

Grade Check

Grade check will be on Tuesday.  I have talked with several players that are in the danger zone.  Please check RenWeb to make sure your son has everything in.

Playoffs - Thanksgiving

If we win our first round playoff game we will practice Monday and Tuesday at our normal times, Wednesday morning and then again on Friday afternoon.  We will not practice on Thanksgiving and are trying to provide the most time around Thanksgiving Day for people to travel. A second round game would most likely be in Giddings on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Game Recap and Blue Shirt Warriors

Clickhere for the story about Friday’s game.  Each week we select a player that has closed the gap the most during that week.  They will get a special t-shirt and their picture is on the box score page for that week’s game.  Click here to see this week’s selection.  

HS Football Week 10

 It was a great team effort on Friday night with big plays coming from so many different people. We are continuing to improve in all areas of the game of football. The past few weeks have been special and I am looking forward to that continuing on into the playoffs. It was exciting to get the JV players in the varsity game after they finished the JV season against Fort Bend. The JV season was a lot of fun and a tremendous amount of improvement was seen there as well.

With the time change practices will continue to get shorter. On Monday we will be dropping pumpkins off the grandstand so that may take some extra time. Players never seem to mind sticking around for activities like this one.

Weekly Theme- Legacy
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Week 10 HS Schedule

• Monday, November 5-4:00 to 6:15 pm (Full Pads)
• Tuesday, November 6-4:00 to 6:00 pm (Full Pads)
• Wednesday, November 7-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)
• Thursday, November 8-3:45 to 5:00 pm (Helmet)
• Friday, November 9-7:00pm at Home vs Galveston

Senior Night
We will be honoring our 11 senior football players prior to the game Friday night starting at 6:40PM. We would love to have a big crowd so please plan to arrive early.

Senior Dinner
We are moving the senior dinner to Tuesday night right after practice. We will be going to the Salt Grass Steakhouse by Willowbrook Mall. Seniors should be headed home around 8. Several seniors and myself will need to be at the open house on Thursday.

Playoffs – First Round
It is almost certain that we will be headed to Marble Falls which is about 45 minutes west of Austin. I am planning to take a charter bus and not spend the night. I will know more details later in the week.

Playoffs - Thanksgiving
If we win our first round playoff game we will practice Monday and Tuesday at our normal times, Wednesday morning and then again on Friday afternoon. We will not practice on Thanksgiving and are trying to provide the most time around Thanksgiving day for people to travel.

Game Recap and Blue Shirt Warriors
Click here for the story about Friday’s game. Each week we select a player that has closed the gap the most during that week. They will get a special t-shirt and their picture is on the box score page for that week’s game. Click here to see this week’s selection.

HS Football Week 9

What a great win Friday night.  We have made so much improvement in the past few weeks and continue to close the gap.  It was really a team win on Friday night.  We got great contributions from every part of the game.  Special teams were the best they have ever been even when dealing with a lot of wind.  The onside kick recover and perfect extra points by Nealy, along with Will Echol’s punting and our hands team coming up with every kickoff.  We forced turnovers on defense and made big plays on offense.  Frank Aufmuth broke the school record for catches with 53 and counting which is really is a team effort. We even had some success running the ball and out rushed our opponents for the first time this season.  My personal highlight for the night was winning the sideline battle in large part due to three freshman (Cale, Adam, and Chris) who learned you can impact a game even without playing.

I am looking forward to another great week of practice and the opportunity to take the show on the road to Rosehill.  Rosehill is playing 11 man football for the first time this season and they are showing great improvement each week.  They got their first district win last night against Galveston.

Weekly Theme- Consistency

Malachi 3:6 “’I the Lord do not change,’…declares the Lord”

Week 9 HS Schedule

Monday, October 29-4:00 to 6:30 pm (Full Pads)

Tuesday, October 30-4:00 to 6:10 pm (Full Pads)

Wednesday, October 31-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)

Thursday, November 1-3:45 to 5:00 pm (Helmet)

Thursday, November 1-JV Game at Home against Fort Bend at 5:30 pm

Friday, November 2-7:00pm at Rosehill Christian – Bus leaves at 4:30 pm

JV Game

We have added one more JV game on Thursday.  It will be at home against Fort Bend at 5:30 pm.

Directions to Rosehill

19830 FM 2920, Tomball, TX 77377

Click here for map and driving directions

Senior Dinner

I will be taking the seniors out for our annual steak dinner after practice on Thursday, November 8 before we play Galveston on senior night.

Playoffs - Thanksgiving

We will be in the playoffs if we play our football the next two weeks.  We will play on the road but I think we will be the favorite.  This means that we would be playing the Saturday after Thanksgiving and practicing during the week of Thanksgiving like we did last year.  We will not have practice on Thanksgiving Day.

Game Recap and Blue Shirt Warriors

Each week we select a player that has closed the gap the most during that week.  They will get a special t-shirt and their picture is on the box score page for that week’s game.  Click here to see this week’s selection.  You can also see pictures and video.

Radio Broadcast

The radio broadcast guy had some technical difficulties so I am not sure how much of the game actually got done.  If things had worked as planned it would be up on the TSRN website to listen to but I am not sure since he had to broadcast by phone.

HS Football Week 8

It was a great win in front of a great crowd Friday night.  It was good to see so many former players and to be able to put on a good performance for them.  I really felt like we closed the gap this last week.  We showed great improvements in so many of the little things that we have struggled with all season long.  I am looking forward to that improvement continuing this week.   

Weekly Theme-Grace

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourself, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Week 8 HS Schedule

Monday, October 22-4:00 to 6:30 pm (Full Pads)

Tuesday, October 23-4:00 to 6:10 pm (Full Pads)

Wednesday, October 24-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)

Thursday, October 25-3:45 to 5:00 pm (Helmet)

Thursday, October 25-JV Game at Bay Area 6:00 pm (Bus Leaves at 3:15)

Friday, October 26-7:00pm Home Game against Woodlands Christian

Senior Dinner

I will be taking the seniors out for our annual steak dinner after practice on Thursday, November 8 before we play Galveston on senior night.

Playoffs - Thanksgiving

Only the top two teams in the district are guaranteed a playoff spot so every game is a must win game in order for us to make the playoffs.  I certainly believe this is possible and believe that our first round playoff game would be a very winnable game.  This means that we would be playing the Saturday after Thanksgiving and practicing during the week of Thanksgiving like we did last year.  We will not have practice on Thanksgiving Day.

Blue Shirt Warriors

Each week we select a player that has closed the gap the most during that week.  They will get a special t-shirt and their picture is on the box score page for that week’s game.  Click here to see this week’s selection.

Winter Sport Tryouts

I would like to see all of our players participate in multiple sports.  There are tryouts coming up for the winter sports.  Football players can go to those tryouts however they are not allowed to participate in practices and games until the end of the football season.  I have made some exceptions in the past but the player needs to come and talk with me first and should not assume that anything is just ok.

Film

There is a lot of film up for everyone to look at.  It is broken down into a lot of different play lists where players can look at specific things.  We were better prepared this week and I think by watching more film earlier in the week it will be even better this week.  It would be great if out scout team knew all the Woodlands plays before Monday.

Radio Show

On Tuesday night I will be on Chalk Talk Live from Gabbys BBQ at 7:30.  You can listen the broadcast live and at any point after it is over at http://www.tsrnsports.com/Broadcast/Broad-LoneStarNetwork.htm.

Morning Workouts

Attendance has been too low to continue doing morning workouts on Monday and Wednesday.

MS Football Final Week

It is hard to believe that this is the final week of Middle School football. It takes a lot of people to put on a football season and I want to thank each of you for your help. From my perspective I have seen a lot of good things this season and I am very appreciative to Coach Mason and the job he did in his first season as head coach. I hope everyone had a lot of fun and is ready to do it again next year.

Homecoming is tonight and it should be an exciting game and a big crowd. The Junior class will be cooking hamburgers starting at 5 with kickoff at 7 so I hope everyone can make it out to the Stadium.

Weekly Theme-Grace
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourself, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Week 8 MS Schedule
Monday, October 22-4:00pm to 6:00 pm (Full Pads)
Tuesday, October 23-4:00 to 5:45 pm (Full Pads)
Wednesday, October 24-4:00 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)
Thursday, October 25-5:00pm A Team Game at Home against Bay Area

MS Awards Banquet
The fall middle school sports awards banquet will be on November 5 at 7pm in the gym.

MS Equipment Turn In
Equipment turn in for all middle school football players will be right after school on Friday, October 26 in the field house. Players should turn in all equipment. Practice and game uniforms should be washed.

HS Football Week 7

It was a tough night at Bay Area where the ball just did not bounce our way. I was encouraged by the progress we are making in finding a new identity on offense. We need to continue to learn from our mistakes and the best way to do that is through watching film.

Weekly Theme- Perseverance
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Week 7 HS Schedule
Monday, October 15-4:00 to 6:30 pm (Full Pads)
Tuesday, October 16-4:00 to 6:10 pm (Full Pads)
Wednesday, October 17-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)
Thursday, October 18-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Helmet)
Friday, October 19-7:00pm Homecoming vs Beaumont Legacy

Homecoming 
There will be a lot of distractions this week. Football should be a priority over the “fun activities” that will go on during the week. It is NOT ok to come late or miss practice to decorate or participate in other activities.

Powder Puff Game
The powder puff game will be played on Monday night at 7:30pm. It is always a fun game and I am sure the girls and the coaches would appreciate a big crowd.

Field Painting
We will be painting the Warrior heads and other things on the field after practice on Thursday. We have upgraded to using a sprayer so there is less to do but players are still welcome to stay and help.

Senior Dinner
I will be taking the seniors out for our annual steak dinner after practice on Thursday, November 8 before we play Galveston on senior night.

Warrior Welcome
This Thursday there will be two more chances for you to attend a Warrior Welcome Mission Tour. The first will be at 8:30am and the second at 7 pm. I know you will count it a blessing and it will be one of the best hours of your week. Click here for more details.

MS Football Week 7

It is hard to believe that there are just two weeks remaining the middle school season and the B team will play their last game on Tuesday. I will be sending more information out about the end of the season, awards banquet, equipment turn in and other things later in the week.

Weekly Theme- Perseverance
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Week 7 MS Schedule
Monday, October 15-4:00pm to 5:45 pm (Full Pads) – All non A team players
Tuesday, October 16-4:00 to 5:45 pm (Full Pads) – A Team Players Only
Tuesday, October 16-5:00 pm B Team Home Game vs Salem Trinity
Wednesday, October 17-4:00 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)
Thursday, October 18-6:00pm A Team Game at Woodlands Christian Bus leaves at 3:45

Homecoming
There will be a lot of distractions this week. Football should be a priority over the “fun activities” that will go on during the week. It is NOT ok to come late or miss practice to decorate or participate in other activities.

Powder Puff Game
The powder puff game will be played on Monday night at 7:30pm. It is always a fun game and I am sure the girls and the coaches would appreciate a big crowd.

Warrior Welcome
This Thursday there will be two more chances for you to attend a Warrior Welcome Mission Tour. The first will be at 8:30am and the second at 7 pm. I know you will count it a blessing and it will be one of the best hours of your week. Click here for more details.

HS Football Week 6

We had a good week of practice and I think that our bye week could not have come at a better time. This week starts the part of the season that counts as we open district play. Bay Area is a long time rival that is much improved over last year. CCS has won the last 5 meetings between the two schools dating back to the 2009 season.

Weekly Theme- Humility
Romans 12:3 “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

Week 6 HS Schedule

• Monday, October 8-4:00 to 6:15 pm (Full Pads)
• Tuesday, October 9-4:00 to 6:10 pm (Full Pads)
• Wednesday, October 10-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)
• Thursday, October 11-3:45 to 5:30 pm (Helmet)
• Thursday, October 11-6:00pm JV Game at Home against Bay Area
• Friday, October 12-7:00pm at Bay Area Bus will leave at 2:45

JV Game
JV players will grab a quick bite to eat after school and then practice with the varsity players before getting dressed at 5 for the JV game.

Friday
The bus will leave at 2:45 on Friday. There is only a half day of school that day. Players will be allowed to go home after school and we are not going to serve a team meal. If a player needs to stay at school they can come out to the field house but they will need to bring something to eat. Everyone should be back to school to load the bus by 2:15.

Grades
We have not had any issues with grades this season but it is important to finish out the quarter strong. Please encourage your son to be diligent with their school work this week.

Seniors
The seniors will be on the senior retreat on Monday so practice will be little shorter.

MS Football Week 6

The A team got another big win Thursday and I enjoyed watching this one in person. It will be a full week of football with the makeup game on Monday against Northland and the regular scheduled games for the rest of the week.

Weekly Theme- Humility
Romans 12:3 “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”

Week 6 MS Schedule

• Monday, October 8-5:00pm A Team Game at Northland (Make Up Game) Bus leaves at 3:15pm
• Monday, October 8-4:00pm to 5:45 pm (Full Pads) – All non A team players
• Tuesday, October 9-4:00 to 5:45 pm (Full Pads) – A Team Players Only
• Tuesday, October 9-5:00 pm B Team Home Game vs Western Academy
• Wednesday, October 10-4:00 to 5:30 pm (Half Shell)
• Thursday, October 11-5:00pm A Team Game at Fort Bend Bus leaves at 3:00pm

Grades
We have not had any issues with grades this season but it is important to finish out the quarter strong. I know the extra game does not make it easy but please encourage your son to be diligent.