I'm taking a break from this one, so for the in depth scoop, here's Bill...
This was a more challenging year coaching than the past 12, even more so than last year's 1-10 (one win, 10 losses) season. We were able to win four games, set school records and legitimately make the playoffs. Doing all this garnered respect from our coaching peers and the local media as our Houston Christian coaching staff was chosen to coach the South Team in the annual Lone Star Christian Sports Network (LSCSN) Private School All-Star Game. The game featured the best private school football players from not only the greater Houston area, but also San Antonio, Austin, Beaumont, and Tyler (Dallas area has their own game). Our squad had players from Beaumont Kelly, Westbury Christian, Concordia Lutheran, Second Baptist, Marble Falls Faith, as well as our own kids from Houston Christian and our new SPC friends from Kinkaid, St. Johns and Episcopal. (SPC is the Southwest Preparatory Conference and this was Houston Christian's first year in that conference.) The North team seemed loaded as they had 8 players from St. Pius, several from state-runner up Northland as well as St. Thomas. After our first day of practice I was not highly optimistic but we came together well as a team and dominated the game 35-21. It was a very fun and rewarding experience.
The game was played at St. Thomas High School. I was nursing a bad head ache at the beginning of the game. Here I am with Coach Max Bowman behind me and Coach Ken Craig to my left.
Coach Craig and I celebrate with players after another score by our own WR # 11 Stephen Consoli.
I excitedly greet a cornerback from Concordia who helped caused an interception that resulted in a touchdown.
This is basically the only way Rachel is able to enjoy the game. When released, Major will scale the tallest set of bleachers!
It doesn't take a long time of watching a football game before Brady and Eli are inspired to play their own.
Big Daddy and Gran Betty often take in the local games that I coach.
Our roster contained several defensive backs, none of which had played safety. So I had to pick a couple and convert them. Fortunately, I had some experience with these guys coaching against them during the season. Left is Matt Ellis from Kinkaid, who had several tackles and a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown, earning him Defensive MVP for the game. On the right is Jonathan Newar from St. Johns who also had several tackles including a big one on fourth and goal from the the 3-yard line. Had a great week with these guys and they picked up on things quickly.
These are the the six Houston Christian players selected for the game. Starting from the left: OT Josh Keith, C Jordan Watkins, WR/CB Stephen Consoli, me, DE/P Carl Mundt, WR Ernie Mercado and QB Alex Roys, who was Offensive MVP with 3 td passes. Watkins, Consoli, Mundt and Roys were part of the first freshman class I worked with at Houston Christian.
Travis Hartman was also part of that first freshman class. When he was a sophomore I inserted him in as a defensive starter to challenge the seniors. He decided to transfer to St. Pius X for his senior year after Coach Johnston retired last year. We kept in touch during the season and had this special opportunity to share the same field for his last high school game.
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