supercentex
09-20-2005, 11:45 AM
Texas Line Dance
By Eddie Hughes
Independent Staff Writer
Published 08/19/05 11:15:27
Most people who went to theaters to see "Friday Night Lights" didn't leave aching for a shot to beat the big-time high school football programs in the movie.
But those people don't include coach Tim Murphy and his Clovis East High football players.
The Timberwolves are headed to Midland, Texas, for a Sept. 30 matchup with powerhouse Midland Lee, a program that has won three state titles in the past six years and the national championship in 1999.
In "Friday Night Lights," a movie about the 1988 Odessa Permian team of the football-crazed region of west Texas, the Midland Lee Rebels beat the Permian Panthers in a rivalry game to cause a three-way tie in the district.
When Murphy and his players saw the movie, it sparked an idea.
The Clovis East administration had already come up with the idea to schedule an out-of-state game, Murphy said.
"We ended up calling Odessa Permian," he said. "They felt they weren't ready to play us because their team isn't as good as it used to be.
"They said to call Midland Lee."
So that's what Clovis East did. And now, the Timberwolves are the guests for Midland Lee's homecoming game in its 15,000-seat stadium, marking the first time in history a Division I school from California and a Texas Class 5-A team (two high school football hotbeds) have met.
"It makes Buchanan Stadium look average," Murphy said. "That's how nice it is."
And don't expect anything less than a sellout in an area where high school football is the prime source of entertainment.
"What people don't understand, especially in this area, is there's not a whole lot to do," Midland Lee coach Randy Quisenberry said in his thick, Southern accent. "There are no college teams around."
Although Quisenberry said "Friday Night Lights" didn't do a perfect job of portraying the high school football scene in west Texas, the coach said the movie showed how much pride the fans take in their teams.
"They're very supportive, that is true," Quisenberry said. "You don't win there -- yeah, they'll put 'for sale' signs on your property probably."
Murphy got a glimpse at life in west Texas when he visited the school in May. He's also seen footage of a couple Midland Lee games, and noticed that the Rebels have quite a bit of talent and size.
Three Rebels have already committed to Texas A&M, Quisenberry said.
Those players include running back Trent Hines, who rushed for 1,654 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, Quisenberry said. Then there's 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle Leslie Ray and speedy wide receiver Terrence McCoy, the younger brother of the Rebels' star quarterback from a year ago, Jamie McCoy.
But, then again, Clovis East has some star power of its own, starting with running back Tracy Slocum, who rushed for more than 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2004. Slocum said he hasn't narrowed his college choices down yet, but TheInsiders.com reports that he has received offers from California, Fresno State and Washington State. Arizona, Arizona State and Nebraska have also made offers, according to Rivals.com, and USC and UCLA are interested in the No. 4 running back prospect in California. Slocum said he hasn't scheduled any official college visits yet.
Another Division-IA prospect is Clovis East defensive back/running back Andrew Pancotti, who said he's been recruited by Fresno State, Boise State, Wyoming and Sacramento State.
With preseason practice underway, Clovis East players are already riled up about the looming game.
There are bragging rights on the line, and not just for the two schools playing. The schools will be representing their entire states.
"The main thing is to win," Pancotti said. "We don't just want to win, we want to dominate to prove to them California is a big deal."
The Rebels run a multiple-set offense more similar to Clovis West's style. Murphy said Midland Lee might have more size and speed, but Clovis East is just two years removed from a Central Section championship and has plenty of talent remaining.
Clovis East running back D.J. Savoy, who Murphy said is the team's most improved player, wasn't as outspoken as his teammate, but excited nonetheless.
"We know how their reputation is," Savoy said. "We're going to do our best and see what we can do."
Midland Lee, which opens the season against defending Texas state champions Southlake Carroll, closes it's non-district schedule against the Timberwolves.
"The biggest thing that I'm talking about and our coaches are thinking," Quisenberry said, "we're hoping to come out of non-district not beat up physically and not mentally."
If the Rebels can do that, Quisenberry said, they'll have a shot at the district and state titles.
"You see how big football is out in west Texas," Murphy said. "And playing a team like that really adds to how fun high school football can be."
Texas hospitality
The Clovis East football players are traveling to Texas in style.
The Timberwolves will board a chartered plane on Sept. 28 and take off for their big showdown against Midland Lee Sept. 30, and return to Clovis Oct. 1. A group of about 140 -- players, coaches, administrators, parents, cheerleaders and water girls -- will fill the 150-seat plane, said Clovis East athletic director Tosh Nitta, who also visited the Midland Lee campus with coach Murphy in May to help arrange the trip.
The Timberwolves will also be involved in Midland Lee's homecoming festivities that include a bon fire, parade and a true "down home" Texas barbecue. Clovis East will get its very own float in the parade.
The Timberwolves will also tour The Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas, that features the legendary Chaparral Race Cars on display.
The Clovis East football booster club helped raise $65,000 for the Texas trip, as fund-raisers started back in April. Steve Henry, president of the booster club, organized a golf tournament and crab feed to help raise money, but all the work was worth it in his eyes.
"The kids will remember this Texas trip for the rest of their lives," said Henry, whose son Jake is a senior fullback on the Clovis East squad. "The city owns the stadium; it has NFL-style lockers and they're putting our players' names on the lockers. They're anticipating a sellout crowd of 15,000 -- it's an off week for the other local teams so everyone from west Texas will be in Midland for the big game."
Clovis East opens the season on the road against West High of Bakersfield on Sept. 9.
All-Central Section team
Clovis Unified schools placed eight players on the preseason All-Central Section football team released Aug. 17 by Cal-Hi Sports.
Clovis West led the way with four selections, including highly touted defensive lineman Chris Lewis (6-foot-3, 245 pounds). Running back Kyle Duffy, who rushed for 1,674 yards last season, was also selected along with offensive lineman Ross Wood (6-2, 250) and kicker Ben Milam.
Clovis East had two players selected in Slocum and Pancotti. According to the Cal-Hi Sports release, Slocum is "a definite Mr. Football State Player of the Year candidate." Pancotti was selected as a multi-purpose player, being that he sees time on offense and defense.
Buchanan High's Justin Prueitt, who plays both offensive and defensive line, was the Bears' lone representative. Prueitt has already given a verbal commitment to Cal coach Jeff Tedford to play offensive line for the Pac-10 school next season.
Clovis High linebacker Geoff Warner (6-0, 200) represents the Cougars. The release said Warner should see an increased role as a leader with the departure of former teammate Zack Follett, now at Cal.
Note: ESPN Radio is scheduled to broadcast the Sept. 30 game live from Midland, Texas. For information about the Midland Lee Rebels and the Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, Texas, go to www.kylgrafx.com/rebs/grandecomm.htm. For donations or to sponsor a Clovis East player, call 291-2226.
Sports editor Lisa Houk contributed to this report.
By Eddie Hughes
Independent Staff Writer
Published 08/19/05 11:15:27
Most people who went to theaters to see "Friday Night Lights" didn't leave aching for a shot to beat the big-time high school football programs in the movie.
But those people don't include coach Tim Murphy and his Clovis East High football players.
The Timberwolves are headed to Midland, Texas, for a Sept. 30 matchup with powerhouse Midland Lee, a program that has won three state titles in the past six years and the national championship in 1999.
In "Friday Night Lights," a movie about the 1988 Odessa Permian team of the football-crazed region of west Texas, the Midland Lee Rebels beat the Permian Panthers in a rivalry game to cause a three-way tie in the district.
When Murphy and his players saw the movie, it sparked an idea.
The Clovis East administration had already come up with the idea to schedule an out-of-state game, Murphy said.
"We ended up calling Odessa Permian," he said. "They felt they weren't ready to play us because their team isn't as good as it used to be.
"They said to call Midland Lee."
So that's what Clovis East did. And now, the Timberwolves are the guests for Midland Lee's homecoming game in its 15,000-seat stadium, marking the first time in history a Division I school from California and a Texas Class 5-A team (two high school football hotbeds) have met.
"It makes Buchanan Stadium look average," Murphy said. "That's how nice it is."
And don't expect anything less than a sellout in an area where high school football is the prime source of entertainment.
"What people don't understand, especially in this area, is there's not a whole lot to do," Midland Lee coach Randy Quisenberry said in his thick, Southern accent. "There are no college teams around."
Although Quisenberry said "Friday Night Lights" didn't do a perfect job of portraying the high school football scene in west Texas, the coach said the movie showed how much pride the fans take in their teams.
"They're very supportive, that is true," Quisenberry said. "You don't win there -- yeah, they'll put 'for sale' signs on your property probably."
Murphy got a glimpse at life in west Texas when he visited the school in May. He's also seen footage of a couple Midland Lee games, and noticed that the Rebels have quite a bit of talent and size.
Three Rebels have already committed to Texas A&M, Quisenberry said.
Those players include running back Trent Hines, who rushed for 1,654 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, Quisenberry said. Then there's 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle Leslie Ray and speedy wide receiver Terrence McCoy, the younger brother of the Rebels' star quarterback from a year ago, Jamie McCoy.
But, then again, Clovis East has some star power of its own, starting with running back Tracy Slocum, who rushed for more than 1,800 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2004. Slocum said he hasn't narrowed his college choices down yet, but TheInsiders.com reports that he has received offers from California, Fresno State and Washington State. Arizona, Arizona State and Nebraska have also made offers, according to Rivals.com, and USC and UCLA are interested in the No. 4 running back prospect in California. Slocum said he hasn't scheduled any official college visits yet.
Another Division-IA prospect is Clovis East defensive back/running back Andrew Pancotti, who said he's been recruited by Fresno State, Boise State, Wyoming and Sacramento State.
With preseason practice underway, Clovis East players are already riled up about the looming game.
There are bragging rights on the line, and not just for the two schools playing. The schools will be representing their entire states.
"The main thing is to win," Pancotti said. "We don't just want to win, we want to dominate to prove to them California is a big deal."
The Rebels run a multiple-set offense more similar to Clovis West's style. Murphy said Midland Lee might have more size and speed, but Clovis East is just two years removed from a Central Section championship and has plenty of talent remaining.
Clovis East running back D.J. Savoy, who Murphy said is the team's most improved player, wasn't as outspoken as his teammate, but excited nonetheless.
"We know how their reputation is," Savoy said. "We're going to do our best and see what we can do."
Midland Lee, which opens the season against defending Texas state champions Southlake Carroll, closes it's non-district schedule against the Timberwolves.
"The biggest thing that I'm talking about and our coaches are thinking," Quisenberry said, "we're hoping to come out of non-district not beat up physically and not mentally."
If the Rebels can do that, Quisenberry said, they'll have a shot at the district and state titles.
"You see how big football is out in west Texas," Murphy said. "And playing a team like that really adds to how fun high school football can be."
Texas hospitality
The Clovis East football players are traveling to Texas in style.
The Timberwolves will board a chartered plane on Sept. 28 and take off for their big showdown against Midland Lee Sept. 30, and return to Clovis Oct. 1. A group of about 140 -- players, coaches, administrators, parents, cheerleaders and water girls -- will fill the 150-seat plane, said Clovis East athletic director Tosh Nitta, who also visited the Midland Lee campus with coach Murphy in May to help arrange the trip.
The Timberwolves will also be involved in Midland Lee's homecoming festivities that include a bon fire, parade and a true "down home" Texas barbecue. Clovis East will get its very own float in the parade.
The Timberwolves will also tour The Petroleum Museum in Midland, Texas, that features the legendary Chaparral Race Cars on display.
The Clovis East football booster club helped raise $65,000 for the Texas trip, as fund-raisers started back in April. Steve Henry, president of the booster club, organized a golf tournament and crab feed to help raise money, but all the work was worth it in his eyes.
"The kids will remember this Texas trip for the rest of their lives," said Henry, whose son Jake is a senior fullback on the Clovis East squad. "The city owns the stadium; it has NFL-style lockers and they're putting our players' names on the lockers. They're anticipating a sellout crowd of 15,000 -- it's an off week for the other local teams so everyone from west Texas will be in Midland for the big game."
Clovis East opens the season on the road against West High of Bakersfield on Sept. 9.
All-Central Section team
Clovis Unified schools placed eight players on the preseason All-Central Section football team released Aug. 17 by Cal-Hi Sports.
Clovis West led the way with four selections, including highly touted defensive lineman Chris Lewis (6-foot-3, 245 pounds). Running back Kyle Duffy, who rushed for 1,674 yards last season, was also selected along with offensive lineman Ross Wood (6-2, 250) and kicker Ben Milam.
Clovis East had two players selected in Slocum and Pancotti. According to the Cal-Hi Sports release, Slocum is "a definite Mr. Football State Player of the Year candidate." Pancotti was selected as a multi-purpose player, being that he sees time on offense and defense.
Buchanan High's Justin Prueitt, who plays both offensive and defensive line, was the Bears' lone representative. Prueitt has already given a verbal commitment to Cal coach Jeff Tedford to play offensive line for the Pac-10 school next season.
Clovis High linebacker Geoff Warner (6-0, 200) represents the Cougars. The release said Warner should see an increased role as a leader with the departure of former teammate Zack Follett, now at Cal.
Note: ESPN Radio is scheduled to broadcast the Sept. 30 game live from Midland, Texas. For information about the Midland Lee Rebels and the Grande Communications Stadium in Midland, Texas, go to www.kylgrafx.com/rebs/grandecomm.htm. For donations or to sponsor a Clovis East player, call 291-2226.
Sports editor Lisa Houk contributed to this report.