The Greatest Teams To Never Win State

[ThEgReAtOnE]

As we begin this new 2005 High School Football season can you guys name the best high school football teams to never win state in their respective year?

:D Goodluck!!!

[NMHS fan]

Of course I'm a little biased... :D

North Mesquite's '95 and '96 teams, but mainly the '96 team.

Ranked as high as no.1 in USA Today's national poll towards the end of the '96 season. Couldn't overcome key injuries in the playoffs. Still hurts, and we still haven't won one.

Tyler Lee and Mesquite High until last season, and '01 respectively.

The Woodlands have been pretty close, but had the misfortune to face North Shore in '03.

[Reaganrattler07]

In '99 I'd have to SA Macarthur....but that is biased cause my sister did go there at the time :D

Nice font, by the way bsptlw

[Mad Hatter]

98 judson team and last years judson team ..... North Shore team that judson knocked out in the early 90's was a very good team.

[jtk1519]

Abilene Cooper in 1967. Of course, those that were at the game will tell you that Cooper's QB, Jack Mildren, did score which would have given Cooper the title, but the zebras said he did not. Cooper lost that state championsip game to Austin Reagan 20-19. The Cougars that year scored over 36 points a game (remember that was during the 60s when a final score of 17-14 was considered a shootout) and gave up less than 7 while posting 6 shutouts.

[cougardude]

Abilene Cooper had some great teams play in the state title games in 1967 and 1996 and neither team was able to come away with the schools first ever football championship. :(

[NMHS fan]

98 judson team and last years judson team ..... North Shore team that judson knocked out in the early 90's was a very good team.

Judson has won state, I believe, so they don't qualify. Sarcasm in that last sentence, Judson fans. I'm well aware y'all have won quite a few.

[NMHS fan]

Abilene Cooper had some great teams play in the state title games in 1967 and 1996 and neither team was able to come away with the schools first ever football championship. :(

I forgot about Abilene Cooper. You guys have had some great teams, and are certainly due.

[KT2000]

The best team I've ever seen/heard of in Class 5A not to win state is 1994 Beaumont West Brook.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

1995 Garland Lakeview Patriots had an un-presidented 14 super athletes recieve Division-1 scholarships.

1988 Carter Cowboys led by super athletes linebacker Jesse Armstead and
Running Back Gregg Hill. (Title was stripped.)

1983 Odessa Permian had 7 shut-outs. Avg'd 38.7 points and held opponents to 4.6 points a game.

1978/2002 Garland Owls...super-elite teams.

And yeah ok...North Mesquite 1995 & 1996...great teams!

But that Lakeview team was phenomenal!!!!

[ThEgReAtOnE]

Judson has won state, I believe, so they don't qualify. Sarcasm in that last sentence, Judson fans. I'm well aware y'all have won quite a few.

The post says "respective year". For example Odessa has won state before,
but in 1983 they had a team that was darn good, but did not win state. So that 1983 team would be eligible.

:D C'mon guys there's got to be more!!

[TheDawghouse]

Copperas Cove's 98 team that had Vontez Duff, Charles Tillman, T.J Hollowell, and Howard Hodges, who are all in the NFL right now. We lost to eventual state champs Midland Lee.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

Copperas Cove's 98 team that had Vontez Duff, Charles Tillman, T.J Hollowell, and Howard Hodges, who are all in the NFL right now. We lost to eventual state champs Midland Lee.

The 95' Lakeview team had Samir Al-Amin, Robert Neal, Brian Parker and Derrick Dockery go to the NFL. (Dockery is starting guard for the Washington Redskins.)

They were knocked off by Lake Highlands, led by super athlete and future NFL Draftee quarterback Marcus Stiggers. (Everyone remembers him, dont'cha?)

:D Lets make it happen guys!!!

[03mustangwideout]

Id have to say the 96 North shore team who lost to judson

[AHS Mustangs]

Can anyone say Eisenhower? They have made it to the Semi Finals so many times only to be defeated by Judson. The one year they didn't have to play Judson, they made it to the championship game to loose to Midland Lee. They have had some pretty spectacular teams, but never good enough to break that last barrier down.

On a side note, I just realized that Aldine ISD has had 3 of its 4 high schools make it to the State Championship game. Aldine did in 89 loosing to Permian and in 90 winning against Arlington Lamar. MacArthur made it is 94 I think and lost to Lewisville in the last seconds of the game. And Eisenhower made it in 99 loosing to Midland Lee. Only Nimitz has not made it to the championship game, although they have made it to the semis. Pretty empressive for the district!

[The Dude]

15-0 #1 ranked 1998 Katy Tigers. That team was sick

[pack0808]

Definitely go with some of those Ike teams. As for Lufkin, the 2003 team was too good not to at least go to the finals and they definitely had the talent to win the 5adiv2 championship that year. They were loaded and got absolutely shocked by Garland in the 1st round. No team chemistry at the end killed them. They beat several top 10 teams including the state champs that year 35-14. That was a sad thing to witness when a team that good was beat out in the 1st round.

The 88 Carter teams is an obvious one since they had their title stripped. Katy in 98 i believe?? I am sure there is many more.

[ftballin11]

Have to agree The Dude.. 1998 Katy Tigers team was disgusting but got disqualified due to inelligble players. The '98 team was on the bus ready to get to San Antonio, and then found out they got disqualified. The state game was just a raping that year due to the replacement of Katy. But can't complain they had it coming to them, just wish UIL would punish the offenders instead of a whole team.

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

The best team I've ever seen/heard of in Class 5A not to win state is 1994 Beaumont West Brook.Them and the team with Kendrick Bernard and Anthony Malbrough--RB that went to Tech. If it wasn't for that fight in the endzone WB would've beaten Katy that nite. That was the night my hatred for Katy was realized. :D

[eagleike]

1993 Aldine Eisenhower Eagles. Hands down the best............lost to Converse Judson on the old penetration rule after tying the game. :mad:

1998 Katy team was the best other team I saw not win state. After meeting the 1997 state title team my interest grew in such a class and quality program. Was hoping for a back to back Houston state winner.

North Shore had some talented teams and until 2003 was snake bit just like Ike!!

[ThEgReAtOnE]

Lets not forget the 1993 Desoto Eagles, led by super running back Byron Hanspard. They wiped the floor with everyone, including the heavenly favored Dallas Carter Cowboys, in the 3rd round of the playoffs 63-13.

1995 Flower Mound Marcus led by Chris Sanders. The Dan Marino of Texas High School football. He threw the lights out!

[CoppellCowboy57]

2000- Coppell Cowboys, made it to the State Semi-Finals...Came back from 21 points down... scored the winning touchdown and lost on a 15 yard penalty for spiking the ball..

[dragonsdaddy]

cc, that was the regional finals at the most. i'm pretty sure it was the third game of the d-1 pos.

[c-lisle]

97' Lobos...many we had our heads in the clouds in that game with katy. They really shocked us.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

Sorry..correction, 1993 Desoto beat Carter 57-27.

1998 Converse Judson was pretty darn good. Lost to Duncanville in State Final.

[svrangerfan]

Houston Jones lost 2 times to to that Great Houston Yates team in 85. They were the only team that played them close that season.

96 North Mesquite lost their stud running back in a 1st round playoff game and it was over for them. Can't remember his name. He signed with Tech. Jason........

[ThEgReAtOnE]

Oh, and 1989 Garland Lakeview Centennial who shocked the pre-season touted Plano Wildcats in the playoffs.

The year Plano wrote "LAKE WHO?" on the big banners at Texas Stadium, and Lakeview proceeded pummel the Wildcats for 4 quarters.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

Houston Jones lost 2 times to to that Great Houston Yates team in 85. They were the only team that played them close that season.

96 North Mesquite lost their stud running back in a 1st round playoff game and it was over for them. Can't remember his name. He signed with Tech. Jason........


Jason Cofey was his name. He ripped his insides up. Rumored to have been on sterroids. (Most of the team was.) I actually spoke to a coach who left NM and admitted sterroids was rampant at NM from 1993-1997.

[ktCarl]

Have to agree The Dude.. 1998 Katy Tigers team was disgusting but got disqualified due to inelligble players. The '98 team was on the bus ready to get to San Antonio, and then found out they got disqualified. The state game was just a raping that year due to the replacement of Katy. But can't complain they had it coming to them, just wish UIL would punish the offenders instead of a whole team.

"Sick"..."Disgusting" ? Is that like saying bad is good? "Had it coming to them"?????? You ain't really from Katy. You must be a Katy-Taylor child. B-T-W, it was only one kid that cheated on his 6 week progress report. There weren't any 'offenders'(plural). Coach Johnston told the UIL what happened looking for mercy. The rest is history.
I've always wondered what happened to that kid that cheated. After that dark day in Katy's football history he was unheard from. I know the kids name but wouldn't want it plastered on any internet forum. All is forgiven.
That '98 team was Katy's best chance for back to back State Titles.

[svrangerfan]

Oh, and 1989 Garland Lakeview Centennial who shocked the pre-season touted Plano Wildcats in the playoffs.

The year Plano wrote "LAKE WHO?" on the big banners at Texas Stadium, and Lakeview proceeded pummel the Wildcats for 4 quarters.


I was at that game. Sitting on Planos side pulling for the Pats. It was never seriously in doubt.

[farmerfan]

Lets not forget the 1993 Desoto Eagles, led by super running back Byron Hanspard. They wiped the floor with everyone, including the heavenly favored Dallas Carter Cowboys, in the 3rd round of the playoffs 63-13.

1995 Flower Mound Marcus led by Chris Sanders. The Dan Marino of Texas High School football. He threw the lights out!


Nice picks, the 95 Marcus team is still the greatest HS passing team I have ever seen. With Chris Sanders at QB, Miles Coon at TE, Billy Miller and Aaron Wright at WR, Stephen Ennis at RB, they would score at will on just about any defense. Up until the state finals they did not have a close game, they cruised through district and and the first 5 playoff games, only to pick the wrong time to play their worst game

The 1993 DeSoto Eagles were a great team, had Byron Hanspard not sprained his ankle early against Killeen then they would have won that game, he got injured early and that killed the morale of the Eagels. Killeen won that game and then got killed by district rival Temple the next week. I know in Lewisville we were looking forward to playing DeSoto, they had been ranked number 1 in the area all year, with Carter #2 and we wanted a shot at either one of those teams.

The 93 Permian Panthers fall into the same category as Katy, Permian was 9-0-1 and had a very good football team. They would have cruised to the D1 state finals had they been allowed to stay in the playoffs, but the UIL had other things to say.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

I was at that game. Sitting on Planos side pulling for the Pats. It was never seriously in doubt.

Did you ever see the 1995 Lakeview squad play? They were stacked, both ways. Nothing but playmakers. 14 Division 1 Collegiate athletes, 7 300 pounders, 10 players running under 4.5 and the O-line average 6'3 in height. Their running back squatted 575, benched 315 and cleaned 305. He was a monster.

CC and that 95' Flower Mound squad is the only squad that would come, athletically.

There has only been to super teams from Lakeview...89' and 95'. Which do you think was better?

[dragonsdaddy]

back in the day, the 77 sherman squad did everything including beating the eventual state champion plano. they actually tied in their head to head game, but the officials miscounted the penetrations when plano scored late and thus plano elected to go for the tie rather than the win with a 2 pt conversion. after the game the officials reviewed the tapes and lo and behold sherman had tied in penetrations and was ahead on first downs. the on field tally is the official count however, and so sherman, who was ranked 1-2 throughout the year watched as plano rolled to state winning several memorable games, garnering the moniker"cardiac cats". man what an exciting season that was. sure beat the fool out of studying for dental school in houston.

[dragonsdaddy]

the marcus team wasn't terribly athletic, imo. they caught lightning in a bottle for sure, but wouldn't have been any more able to run over or thru teams than slcs recent champs. few dc's had ever seen anything like fm brought and the kids bought into it. they helped change the present day face of hs football along with stephenville and ennis.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

The 73 thru 76 South Oak Cliff teams were VERY talented. But never made the big game. Coach Woody Hays of Ohio State lived at the SOC practices. He was amazed at the athletes they had.


:D To envy me is to waste your time!

[farmerfan]

the marcus team wasn't terribly athletic, imo. they caught lightning in a bottle for sure, but wouldn't have been any more able to run over or thru teams than slcs recent champs. few dc's had ever seen anything like fm brought and the kids bought into it. they helped change the present day face of hs football along with stephenville and ennis.

DD- you are 100% accurate in your assessment of that Marcus squad. They did not have the best of athletes, but brought a whole new era to the the HS game. Starting in 92 under the direction of Matt Tittle at QB, Marcus started throwing the football all over the field and I believe a Marcus QB led the metroplex in passing for something like 6-7 years in a row, where those Marcus teams got over looked was on the defensive side of the football, for years, Marcus had one of the best defenses in the state. I believe had they won the 95 state title many people would be talking about that team as one of the best to ever play the game, they just picked the wrong time to play a bad game.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

85' Permian was talented. But had probably the biggest choke in a state title game in the history of texas high school football. They demolished teams, all season, only to be "Goose Egged" by Yates in the title game. It was pretty horrific.

But they were good...up until that game!!

:D

[DiamondJ2]

I know that this is 5A, but in 4A it has to be several CalAllen teams.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

If that Lakeview team would have not allowed an interception return for a touchdown, fumble and missed extra point, ALL IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, the game would have been 35 to 20.

They would have easily advanced through the next 3 rounds and played that 95' Marcus team. They had three all-everything db's, a super linebacker and 300 pound tackle that ran a 4.97 and benched 425 pounds. (Official) Their defense was ranked 1st through the first 8 games of the 95' year. During the regular season they only allowed 96 total points...and shutout 4 teams, one being the #3 state ranked Arlington Martin team.

Lakeview was eyeing Flower Mound...what a game it would have been.

:D To envy me is to waste your dreams.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

The Stephenville, La Marque and Tyler John Tyler cross wars were some of the best games ever seen.

Between 93-97 all three of these teams had consistant super teams. Especially Stephenville!!

:D

[farmerfan]

I still think what Marcus did to a undefeated Lake Highlands team in the playoffs shows the dominance they had. They made Lake Highlands look like a JV squad during the semifinals, Marcus Stiggers broke one long run and got shut down the rest of the night.
Who did Lakeview lose to in the playoffs in 95?

[ThEgReAtOnE]

I still think what Marcus did to a undefeated Lake Highlands team in the playoffs shows the dominance they had. They made Lake Highlands look like a JV squad during the semifinals, Marcus Stiggers broke one long run and got shut down the rest of the night.
Who did Lakeview lose to in the playoffs in 95?

Lakeview lost to Lake Highlands...34 to 34. Lake Highlands advanced on penetrations. Lakeview gave up an interception return for td and a missed PAT in the 4th quarter to give away the game.

My point was had Lakeview advanced they would have swept the rest of the teams. Their only test would have been Flower Mound.

:D

[farmerfan]

stupid ties, if they tied that LH team then they must have been the real deal then.

[dragonsdaddy]

i remember the sherman coach was upset about the error in the plano game, but in reality, had the ref's been accurate with their stats, they would have gone for 2, like they did vs hp in the reg finals. kimbrough played the odds, the game ended with sherman on the 25 trying to get the winning penetration. they actually got across the 20, but a penalty moved them back, and the rule was that you had to run a play inside the 20 for the penetration to count. in the po's plano again went for the tie late vs jt to advznce. ties are a thing of the past now.

[farmerfan]

Sherman also had some teams in the late 80's and early 90's that seemed to come up short in the playoffs, for years Sherman gave Denton, Lewisville and Marcus fits, it used to be that we all just played for 2nd knowing Sherman would win the district.

[rantanamo]

Those who say DeSoto 1993 are making a good call. 17 D-1 signees in the senior class alone. I have no idea how many of these guys made it to the NFL, CFL, or whatever, but a lot of these guys were starters in college.

As for North Mesquite '95. Nahhh. '94 was a much better team.

'99 SGP was a great one too. Lost a heartbreaker to Garland in the semifinal that year. Serious, serious athletes at the skilled positions.

[farmerfan]

As for North Mesquite '95. Nahhh. '94 was a much better team.
.

The best North Mesquite team was the 96 team, I believe that was the year they hosted Permian and beat them something like 28-3, North Mesquite came in ranked #1 in the state with Permian ranked #2, Mesquite Memorial was sold out from what I have heard it was rocking that night. Had Jason Coffey not suffered from a injury, North Mesquite most likely would have been playing Westlake for the D2 title.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

67' Garland Owls

71' Tyler John Tyler

93' Plano Wildcats

98' EP Coronado

95' Arlington Lamar

All of these teams were very talented. But didn't win the big one.

:D

[ThEgReAtOnE]

Those who say DeSoto 1993 are making a good call. 17 D-1 signees in the senior class alone. I have no idea how many of these guys made it to the NFL, CFL, or whatever, but a lot of these guys were starters in college.

As for North Mesquite '95. Nahhh. '94 was a much better team.

'99 SGP was a great one too. Lost a heartbreaker to Garland in the semifinal that year. Serious, serious athletes at the skilled positions.

94' North Mesquite??...was better than 95' and 96'??

We had a sorry, 6-4, 94' Lakeview squad that beat the crud out of that 94' North Mesquite squad that year. I remember it was a Saturday aftertoon. The score was like 31-10, or something.The Garland Owls football team was in the stands, that game...and since we beat NM, Garland won district, outright.

Nahhh...95' and 96' was much better. I heard from the horses mouth...Phillip Littlejohn. (He was the senior star of that 94' NM team.)

[dada]

85 Houston Jones :) only team to come within a country mile of the 85 Yates team....TWICE....had a feeling they must've been pretty good.

[badger95]

Can anyone say Eisenhower? They have made it to the Semi Finals so many times only to be defeated by Judson. The one year they didn't have to play Judson, they made it to the championship game to loose to Midland Lee. They have had some pretty spectacular teams, but never good enough to break that last barrier down.

On a side note, I just realized that Aldine ISD has had 3 of its 4 high schools make it to the State Championship game. Aldine did in 89 loosing to Permian and in 90 winning against Arlington Lamar. MacArthur made it is 94 I think and lost to Lewisville in the last seconds of the game. And Eisenhower made it in 99 loosing to Midland Lee. Only Nimitz has not made it to the championship game, although they have made it to the semis. Pretty empressive for the district!

Eisenhower did not play Midland Lee in '99. They lost in the Semi-Finals to Westlake. They had 6 consecutive turnovers at one point. It was the darndest thing I've ever seen!

Westlake then went on to lose a halftime lead, and eventually the game to the Cedric Benson and Eric Winston led Rebels of Midland Lee in the Finals at Memorial Stadium.

[dada]

Eisenhower did not play Midland Lee in '99. They lost in the Semi-Finals to Westlake. They had 6 consecutive turnovers at one point. It was the darndest thing I've ever seen!

Westlake then went on to lose a halftime lead, and eventually the game to the Cedric Benson and Eric Winston led Rebels of Midland Lee in the Finals at Memorial Stadium.
No...Lee beat Esienhower for the title in 99.....in Austin

[implacable44]

Judson - every year they lost - especially last year and in 1990 and 1991.

[Favpack]

Judson - 2004 - that is funny. I'm sure they were a fine team, but, c'mon guys - you get beat by 2 td's in the semi's by the team that doesn't win state. Sounds to me you may, possibly have been the 4th best team in D1 - including D2 you might not make the top 6 or 7. That's homeritis to the nth degree

I always answer this with Cooper from 1967.

[implacable44]

funny - that '04 judson team beat the d2 runner up - which only lost to the state champion by 3 in the final seconds -- that same team that Judson beat by just a tad bit more than 3 in the regular season on their home field ???
please explain your rationale for placing Judson so low for 2004 ?

[rebelraider]

1995 Garland Lakeview Patriots had an un-presidented 14 super athletes recieve Division-1 scholarships.

1988 Carter Cowboys led by super athletes linebacker Jesse Armstead and
Running Back Gregg Hill. (Title was stripped.)

1983 Odessa Permian had 7 shut-outs. Avg'd 38.7 points and held opponents to 4.6 points a game.

1978/2002 Garland Owls...super-elite teams.

And yeah ok...North Mesquite 1995 & 1996...great teams!

But that Lakeview team was phenomenal!!!!

If you put the 1983 Permian team on your list then you would also have to put the 1983 Midland Lee team that beat Permain twice that year (20-6 in Odessa and again in the Quarterfinals in Lubbock 20-0) only team to ever beat Periam twice in the same season.

Midland Lee lost to Judson in the Championship game that year 25-21

RR

[badger95]

No...Lee beat Esienhower for the title in 99.....in Austin

You're right, I'm thinking of 2000. My bad, but still the darndest thing I've ever seen!

[rantanamo]

94' North Mesquite??...was better than 95' and 96'??

We had a sorry, 6-4, 94' Lakeview squad that beat the crud out of that 94' North Mesquite squad that year. I remember it was a Saturday aftertoon. The score was like 31-10, or something.The Garland Owls football team was in the stands, that game...and since we beat NM, Garland won district, outright.

Nahhh...95' and 96' was much better. I heard from the horses mouth...Phillip Littlejohn. (He was the senior star of that 94' NM team.)

I know, I was there in the stands that day. The 94 team was older and deeper, and a much tougher opponent on the field, I thought. The '95 team was very one dimensional and almost like a "start over" team with a ton of juniors. Yes, they were good in '95, but in '94 they were simply better, as was Garland in '94. That '95 team was much much easier to defend, and besides a super short field from our backwards punt, didn't even move the ball that game. I think Phillip Littlejohn was being very modest. They were probably the best team in the area that year not named Plano East or Garland(and ranked appropriately). I never said they were better than '96. That was a very nice senior class.

None of them were as shockingly talented or hard to defend as DeSoto '93. That team was lights out.

[RDAWG11]

How about last years 2004 Spring Westfield team! Loaded with talent. Had a great run just saved the whole season's mistakes for one game!

[ThEgReAtOnE]

How about last years 2004 Spring Westfield team! Loaded with talent. Had a great run just saved the whole season's mistakes for one game!

The craziest thing with the Westfield team is they're back...all of them!! Quarterback and running back, both in the top 5, respectively.

:D Get ready for tomorrow night!!!

[dada]

The craziest thing with the Westfield team is they're back...all of them!! Quarterback and running back, both in the top 5, respectively.

:D Get ready for tomorrow night!!!
And a defensive secondary to die for.

[ThEgReAtOnE]

And a defensive secondary to die for.

I'm telling you...I'm from the DFW/East Texas, but everyone needs to watch out for this Westfield team, up there. They are going to be monsters this year!!!!!

We'll see, starting tomorrow night!!! I don't even think Katy has what it takes to slow them down....maybe Southlake, Garland or Tyler Lee!!!

[Favpack]

funny - that '04 judson team beat the d2 runner up - which only lost to the state champion by 3 in the final seconds -- that same team that Judson beat by just a tad bit more than 3 in the regular season on their home field ???
please explain your rationale for placing Judson so low for 2004 ?

Please - it doesn't matter how you did in pre-dist. -- it's how you finished. Judson got beat in the semi's by a team that did not win state - period. Lufkin beat Tyler Lee in Week 2 - so what? Take the 8 teams in the two semis (DI & DII) and rank them. No way I put Judson inside SLC, SV, TLee, or Westfield - - and getting thumped by Westfield doesn't put you in the top 6 IMO.

So, to say '04 Judson is in the ranks of one of the best teams all-time to not win state is quite humorous.