Cavs seek payback vs. North Shore Nextchallenge In L "'P is decorated with photos and For football players who .avis' championship plaques and posters to com- attend Ld,11-:::. .s, it's all quest Is rematch oflast memorate Cavalier legends about winningstatetitles. It's year's state semifinal who used to practice here. allabout ring.s. "Ibaven•tgottenaringyet,n For Card and a stellar By RickCanto the UniversityofTexas pledge Cavalier senior class, this rcanl u@slalfSUlQll,OOlll said after an early morning is their final opportunity to workout this week. earna statechampionship of Quarterback Hodson Card In 2016, the Cavaliers won their own. •e..., (13-1) is surrounded by memories of state behind college-bound will face off with Galena Park · '"" ~• glory days while stars such as quarterback North Shore (13-1) in a Class being interviewed inside the Charlie Brewer; receivers 6A Division I statesemifinal campus indoor practice facility. Cade Green, Cade Brewer and Saturday afternoon at Kelly One wallisfilled withover Garrett Wilson; and defen - Reeves Stadium with a berth sized black-and-red banners sive tackle Sammy Ochoa. At inthe statechampionship game for state football champion the time, Card was honing his ontheline. L, • ~ is quarterback Hudson Card averages 250 passing yards. ships earned from 2007 to skills inrelative obscurity with The cavalier senior will be atTexas next faJL [RONALD CORT£5/~0ll 2011 andin 2016. Thebuilding thefreshman team. SeeCAVS, C2 STAltSMAN) frequently find the end CAYS zone againstthe Mustangs. The trouble is stopping a J,'rom Page C1 North Shore offense that has averaged 62 points in four playoff victories. Last chance for a ring. Last weekNorth Shore "That's been my goal seta school playoff record since I was a little kid," for points in a 76-49 said Card, who returned victory over Humble to the Cavaliers after a Atascocita. seven-week hiatus to Card's return certainly recover from a footinjury helps the Cavaliers. last Saturday and guided Showing very little rust 1• ..., 1 ii to a 48-35 from his absence, he victory over Converse l.lke ,..,,,_s head coach Hank carter has guided his team completed19of2 7 passes Judson at theAlamodome. to a 13-1 record. over the past live years the cavs are for 342 yards and three "Now we have a chance." 69•8. (STEPHEN SPILLMAll/1-0R STATESMAN] touchdowns while rolling Card, his teammates through Judson lastweek. and the coaching staif challengeistheir quarter thing in common. Both "He's thebestquarter know it will not be easy. back (Dematrius Davis), lost season-opening backinthe nation," Eaves Before capturing stntelast who'san excellent passer gamesinAugust andenter said. year, North Shore rolled and fast on his feet. In Saturday's game riding ... .i,-e 11.i ,s also over r, 51-10 some ways (Davis) is a lot 13-game winningstreaks. received aninspired effort in a state semi at NRG like Hudson inthe way he Cavalier senior Kyle from junior running back Stadiumin Houston, and plays." Eaves (85 catches, 1,357 Weston Stephens, who most of the cast ofchar Davis is a dual-threat yards, 15 touchdowns) had a career game with acters have returned. quarter back who has recalls theagony oflosing 222 yards rushing, 84 Maybe the Cavs can passed for 2,177 yards to North Shore last year. receiving yards and tlrree pull off anupset. Perhaps and 25 touchdowns while "Before the season touchdowns against the playing close to home rushing for 948 yards and we all came together as Rockets. will help. It's possible 19 touchdowns. Yet the seniors andbasically told "Last year was a I..?, -::U I will relive best player in scarlet and each other we're going nightmare for me," said the glorious moments whiteis running back Zach to win state this year," Stephens, referring to that produced all those Evans, whohasrushedfor Eaves said. "After we thelossatNRG. "With all championship banners. 1,424 yards and 18 touch lost to North Shore (last the workouts I've put in, I "North Shore is simi downs while fielding December) that was our was thinking about North lar to Judson except their college offers from pow main goal. Wehadagreat Shore on the other side. players are about 10 or erhoa~essuch asAloboma, offseason, and the offense I've waited a whole year 15 percent bigger and GeorgiaandLSU. is executing well." for this, andI can'tbelieve 10 or 15 percent faster," L.1,,.111 'f~dV>J and North Averaging46points, the it's here again. The real Carter said. "The biggest Shore have at least one Cavaliers are a safe bet to test is coming up." ON THE AIR
SATURDAY NBA Time TV San Antonio vs. Phoenix 4p.m. FSSW/ NBATV/103.l Brooklyn at Toronto 6:30 p.m. NBATV Detroit at Houston 8p.m. AT&T SportsNet College football Time TV Illinois st at N. Dakota St lla.m. ESPN Army vs. Navy 2p.m. CBS Heisman Trophy Ceremony 7p.m. ESPN College basketball Time TV Men Kansas St. vs. Mississippi St. 10:30 a.m. ESPNU Oregon at Michigan 11 a.m. CBS Michigan St. at Oakland 11 a.m. ESPN2 Southern at Butler 11 a.m. FSI Syracuse at Georgetown noon Fox Tulsa at Arkansas 12:30 p.m. ESPNU Central Michigan at Texas I p.m. LHN/104.9 Alabama at Penn St l p.m. Big Ten Delaware vs. Villanova l p.m. ESPN2 Illinois-Chicago at DePaul I p.m. FSI Memphis at Tennessee 2 p.m. ESPN Middle Tennessee St at Mi:.sissippi 2p.m. SEC Seton Hall at Rutgers 3 p.m. Big Ten St. Louis vs. Auburn 3 p.m. ESPN2 Georgia Tech at Kentucky 4 p.m. ESPN College of Charleston at Richmond 4 p.m. NBCSN Old Dominion at Illinois 5 p.m. Big Ten Oklahoma at Wichita St. 5 p.m. ESPN2 Stanford at San Jose St 6 p.m. CBSSN Stony Brook at Providence 7 p.m. FSl Gonzagaat Arizona 9 p.m. ESPN2 High school football Time TV/Radio Katy Taylor vs. west. ~ 2:30 p.m. KBVO/1300 t...... Travs vs. North Shore 4 p.m.KNVA/104.9 College volleyball Time TV NCAA Tournament Baylor vs. Washington 3p.m. ESPNU Teams TBA Sp.m. ESPNU Teams TBA 7p.m. ESPNU Teams TBA 9p.m. ESPNU Golf Time TV PGA Tour 11 a.m. Golf Presidents Cup 1:30 p.m. NBC Presidents Cup Sp.m. Golf Boxing Time TV Crawford vs. Kaval iauskas 8p.m. ESPN UHF Hockey Time TV Women United States vs. Canada 6p.m. NBCSN Mixed martial arts Time TV UFC 245 Prelims 7p.m. ESPN2 Usman vs. Covington 9p.m. PPV Skiing Time TV FlS Alpine World Cup 8:30 p.m. NBCSN (tape) Soccer Time TV English Premier League Watford at Liverpool 6:25am. NBCSN Teams TBA 8:55am. NBCSN West Ham at Southampton 11:30 a.m. NBC German Bundesliga Werder Bremen at Bayern Munich 8:30 am. FSl Dortmund at FSV Mainz 8:30a.m. FS2 FlFA Club World Cup Monterrey vs. TBA 11:20am. FS2 SUNDAY NFL Time TV Houston atTennessee noon CBS Philadelphia at Washingto11 noon Fox LA. Rams at Dallas 3:25 p.m. Fox/104.9 Buffalo at Pittsburgh 7:20p.m. NBC NBA Time TV New York at Denver 7p.m. NBATV College basketball Time TV Men Oklahoma St at Houston 2p.m. ESPN Purdue at Nebraska 3p.m. Big Ten Southern Illinois-Edwardsville at Northwestern 3p.m. ESPNU Southern Illinois at Missouri 3p.m. SEC South Carolina at Clemson ◄ p.m. ESPN2 Bethany at Texas State Sp.m. 1300 Ohio St. at Minnesota 5:30 p.m. Big Ten Women Louisville at Kentucky noon ESPN Houston Baptist atTexas Tech noon FSSW Houston atTexas A&M I p.m. SEC Soccer Time TV English Premier League Tottenham at Wolverhampton 7:55am. NBCSN Man. City at Arsenal 10:25 am. NBCSN German Bundesliga Gladbach at Wolfsburg 8:30am. FSI Elntracht Frankfurt at Schalke 11am. FSl Italian Serie A Inter Milan at Fiorentina 1:30 p.m. ESPN2 College men NCAA Tournament Teams TBA Sp.m. ESPNU Golf Time TV PGATour 11am. Golf Presidents Cup noon NBC College wrestling Time TV Oklahoma St at Oklahoma 2p.m. FSSW
LOOK AHEAD: TEXAS LONGHORNS saturday rme Location Men's basketball: l p.m. Erwin Center vs. Central Michigan SUnday Time Location Diving: USA Winter Nationals all day Minneapolis, Minn. LOOK AHEAD:TIXAS STATE BOBCATS SUnday rme Location Women·s basketball: atDartmoutti l p.m. Hanover, N.H. Men·s basketball: vs. Bethany COiieges p.m. San Marcos LOOK AHEAD:TIXAS STARS saturday rune Location vs. Tucson 7 p.m. H·E·B Center LOOK AHEAD: AUS11N SPURS saturday Time Location at Windy City 7p.m. Hoffman Estates, Ill HIG H SCHOOL FOOTBALL: G AMES OF THE DAY
Taevin Brown, left, and the West defense smother San A'ntonio Brandeis quarterback Jordan Battles in last week's Class 6A Division II Region IV fmaL The Chaps, who give up just 10 points a game, will try to slow down a red-hot Katy Taylor squad in Saturday' s state semiflnal. lRONALDCORTES/FOR STATESMAN) West ~,e (13-1) vs. 14 tackles for a loss) and before catching fire in the tackles. nine sacks) had Katy Taylor (9-5) Sage Luther (85 tackles, playoffs. a career-high seven solo four INTs) allows just 10.1 Edge: west ~ • tackles last week against Class 6A Division II state points a game, and it held Judson as well as a fumble semifinal: 2 p.m. Saturday, previously unbeaten San Lair<' 1""\'1$ (13-1) vs. forcing sack for a unit that Mclane Stadium, Waco Antonio Brandeis to 227 Galena Park North has allowed 17.2 points a Quarterbacil: Since sepa yards in a 42-14 win last Shore (13-1) game.... As evidenced by rating himself from a QB week.... Taylor allows last week's win, a North platoon before the sev more than 29 points a Class 6A Division I state Shore defensive unit that enth game of the season, game but has forced 34 semifinal: 4 p.m. Saturday, has allowed an average WestTci..c senior Kirkland turnovers, and DB Trevor Reeves Athletic Complex, of 39.6 points over its last Michaux has averaged 204 Woods has four intercep Austin three games has its holes yards on 59% passing with tions in the postseason, Quarterback: In his return but still boasts plenty of another 263 total yards and including a pick six a week to the field after miss- talent suc:h as DBs Upton four TDs on the ground . ... ago. ing six weeks with a foot Stout and Joseph WIison. a J. Jensen Ill - the son of Edge: West",. injury, tu., ll.;i..s' Hudson Kansas State pledge. Taylor defensive coordi• SpKial teams: Senior Gard, a Texas pledge, Edge: L-' T ., nator J. Jensen, and both David Leadbetter (10-for- threw for 342 yards and Special teams:Hays answer simply to·J" - set 12 FGs, 79-for-79 PATS) is three TOs in a 48-35 win Mccannon is the latest a new offensive standard the latest in a long line of over Converse Judson last l.dl w..wia K to shine with for the school with 361 stellar West- "' kickers, week.... North Shore junior nine FGs on 11 attempts yards passing in a win over and Lowin doubles as a Dematrius Davis, a Virginia and 77 of 79 PATS. ... Katy Morton Ranch earlier dynamite punter with Tech pledge who started Although North Shore nei in the season and averages a 37.1-yard average ... ror last year's state cham ther punts nor kicks much. 171 yards passing. Taylor junior Renan Baeta pionship team. has rushed KJohn Villalobos has been Edge: west,._ (17-for-23 FGS, 48-50 PATS) for 576 yards and six TOs steady on extra points and other offense: Depth flashed his big leg with and thrown for 446 yards showed off his leg with a abounds for a balanced a 48-yard field goal last and five TDs in the past 44-yard FG against Dawson West .i t offense that week, and Cecil Ivey Jr. two games. in the third round of the averages 253 yards pass recovered a fumble for a Edge: Even playoffs. ing and 179 yards rushing, special-teams touchdown other offense: RB Weston Edge: I"' Tr ·, but WRs Ryan Lindley (90 against Cypress Creek. Stephens had a breakout Intangibles: L s, catches, 1,176 yards, 20 Edge: Taylor game last week for 1...-L playing in its fifth consecu TOs) and recent California Intangibles: West -, IC, T ~ I\ with 221 yards rush tive state semifinal, is 11·3 pledge Mason Mangum competing in a third con• ing and 84 receiving. WRs all-time against Houston (55 catches, 802 yards, 10 secutive state semifinal, is Kyle Eaves (85 catches. area teams, with two of TDs) headline the litany of seeking its ninth appear 1,357 yards, 15 TDs) and those losses (2015 to Katy skill players. ••• RB casey ance in a state title game Grayson Sandlin (60·985- and last season to North Shorter (1,315 yards. 17 and second under sixth· 14) lead a deep receiving Shore) coming against the total TDs) has emerged as year coach Todd Dodge, a corps.... North Shore's eventual state champions. a workhorse for Taylor, and future Hall of Farner who Zach Evans, the state's ... Defending state cham both he and CJ. Tolbert won four championships top RB recruit averages pion North Shore has won topped the 100-yard mark with SoUthklk.: Carroll more than 12 yards a carry 29 of its past 30 games, in a 58·20 win over Cypress In the 2000s. ... Taylor, and had 273 yards from Including a 51·10 victory Creek last week. making its first regional scrimmage and five TOs in over (ia ~ in last Edge: West; " finals appearance, finished last week's 76-49 win over year's Class 61\ DI state Defense: A dominant the regular season with Humble Atascocita. semifinal. Wes~ -• defense led by a 5-5 record and fourth Edge: North Shore Edge: North Shore DBs Leo Lowin (93 tackles, place in District 19-61\ Defense: DE Trey Sofia (75 Thomas Jones PREP FOOTBALL CENTRAi. TEXAS SCHEDULE CliossCA-1 Sl&le.-..i lalP>rt It was thought to be a Johnson picked offNorth ofthe year, buthis team laugher atthe intennis Shore's Dametrius Davis. mates rallied behindbackup sion, butCardand tal Card was held to only Nate Yarnell and held down entedteammates Weston 26 yards passingin the thefort, through a district li] Stephens, Grayson Sandlin, first halfbut rallied from title and three playoffwins. Kyle Eaves and Sterling a 28-3 deficit by complet Then Card came back with Cedric Goldea Hupp propelled oneheck ing13 of23 passesfor 264 342 yards and four touch ofa comeback attempt yards and a pair of touch downs inlast week's quar in thesecond halfatthe downs in the second half. terfinal win over Converse t wasn't the fairy tale Palace on Parmer. He also ran for u times for Judson at the Alarnodome. ending Hudson Card The 49-38 loss wasn't 66 yards and had a nifty TheCavsdidn't win Ienvisioned, but he put the desired result, but 28-yardTD scramble to this time, but they forced onsome kind ofshow in in Lake Travis' 35-point cut the deficitto 49-31. NorthShore tokeep hisfinal high school game. second-halfoutburst, "I told him, 'Old man, I its foot on the gas. Lake Travis' latest great Cardconnected with wide guess you canstill run,'" "Weshowed thekind of quarterback got an able outsGrayson Sandlin and Lake Travis coach Hank heart this team has," said assist from his playoff Sterling Hupp ona pair Carter said. "And he's Card, who finished with tested buddies and put oftouchdown passes in doing all that on about 50% a 19-4 record as a starter a realscare into the the thirdquarter, the lat ofhis foot ought to work." at Lake Travis. "Wehave a defending state champs ter comingafter sopho Thatfoot caused Card to Saturday afternoon. more defensive back DJ sit six games in the middle See GOLDEN, C2 GOLDEN FromPageCJ talentedgroupofguys. We justkeptfigbting.There's never a reason to quit." "Theway he came back from the foot injury shows the character he has," Hupp said ofhis quarterback. "He's a great leader for us as seniors and theteamasnwhole." Thisloss wasn't nearly as bad as that 51-10 beat downat Houston's NRG Stadium between the two team.~ last season, partly because of North Shore star rururing back Zach Evans, who has more than 25 offers from Division l schools, includ• ing Alab=, Auburn, Texas ;mdTexasA&M, Evans missed allbut one playinthe first half because he was tllldng the SAT, but heshowed up like gangbw.ters with16 carries for 172 yards and a scorein the second haH. As for Card, he is apparentlyall goodin the SAT department. He said he willsign with Texas inthe nextfew dnys, graduate later this month and then enroll incollege in January. "I'm really excited," he sakL "It'salways been a dream ofmine. Obviously, Lake Travis' Hudson Card runs over a North Shore tackler Saturday. INICK WAGNER/ we came up a little short AMERICAN-STATESMAN I tonight, and that's what I'm forced on right now. Garrett Gilbert, Michael whomade their mark come to typify this pro We had a great season, and Brewer, BakerMayfield, in the high school gram, but Card's resolve I'm proud ofour guys." Dominic DeLira, Charlie ranksatLake Travis. to come back, defy the His isa brightfuture. Brewer and Matthew Cardisthe latest. odds and lead his team to Add hi5 name to this Baldwin. They are an He didn't got out with a pair ofplayoff wins will list: Todd Reesing, Division l quarterbacks thestate title that has not soon be forgotten. North Shore ousts Lal By Rfok Cantu [email protected] The same strengthand speed that ledGalena Parle NorthShoretoastatefoot ballchampionship last year was more thanLake Travis could handleSaturday. After a 49-38 victory over the gritty Cavaliers at Kelly Reeves Stadium, North Shore bas reached the Class 6A Division I championshipgameagain. And the opposing team will be familiar. It will be a rematch of last year's game, alast-second41-36 win over Duncanville, which has beenwaitingfor this opportunitysince last December. Thisisthe second straight North Shore quarterback Oematrius Davis makes two Lake Travis defenders miss during year North Shore (14-1) his team's state semifinal victory Saturday. (PHOTOS BY NICK WAGNEJl/AMERJCAN·STATESMANJ bas knocked Lake Travis (13-2) out of the playoffs including a dazzling in the state semis. Last 28-yard run inthe fourth year, though, itwasa51-10 quarter. He was 16-for-31 blowoutatNRGstadium in for 290 yards. Senior Kyle Houston. Eaves was spectacularinhis "Today we fought and final game, catching seven clawed," Cavalier coach passes for 137 yards and HankCartersaid. adding a 38-yard run. "Itwas a lot better thana Itwasalso thefinalgame yearago." for senior linebacker Maui Behind Mustang quar Trevino, the team's lead terback Dematrius Davis, ingtackler. North Shore scored on its Holding back tears as he first offensive drive and walked off thefield, he said never looked back. Davis this was the best team he's was responsible for three beenpartofatLake Travis. ofhisteam'sfourfirst-half "It's sad right now touchdowns to make up because we played like for the absence of star run brothers," Trevino said ning back Zach Evans, who The Mustan~had three missed most of the half players rush for more than because he tookthe SATin 100 yards - Davis, Evans the morning and was late and Roger Hagan. They getting tothe game. finished with 394 yards For Lake Travis, no one rushingOD 56 carries. carried a larger playoff When Carter was ask.ed burdenthanjuniorrunning about Evans' absence back Weston Stephens, Lake Travis defensive back Copeland Gothard upends from thefirst half, he said, who entered the contest North Shore running back Roger Hagan during the "Yeah, thenthey went to witha total of721 yards in Cavaliers' state semifinal loss Saturday. their bullpen and brought the Cavaliers' previous four someone in who could victories. OnSaturday, he touchdowns in the third few minutes later. Evans, throw105milesanhour." brought life into a stagnant quarter. Grayson Sandlin showingwhyLSU,Georgia, Lake Travis has won offense with a 45-yard gotthe team's first touch Alabama, Texas A&M and at least 1o games in 12 of touchdown run, his 18th down on a 29-yard toss Texas are recruiting him, the past l 3 years. The five of the season, in the third from Hudson Card. Card burst J7Yards for a touch teams the Cavaliersfacedin quarter to narrow North closed thequarter by con downto increase theleadto theplayoffs were the same Shore's lead to 35-17. He nectingwith Sterling Hupp 42-24. ones they played last year. finished with 67 yards on with 2 seconds to go toslice This was the final high "Wemadesome adjust ucarries. deficitto35-24. school football game for ments at halftime and LakeTravis,which trailed Any glimmer of hope Card, who will join Texas played well in the second 28-3 at halftime, show Lake Travis hadofpulling next fall. He was respon half," Carter said. "We just some grit by scoring three off the upset vanished a sible for three touchdowns, came upalittlebit sho.rt." Questions face UT as early signing period nears Ily !\fikeCraven [email protected] Texas bolds 16 com mitments before the early 72- hour signing period begins Wednesday. The class isheavy on offensive talent, which isprobably good for the Longhorns considering the firing of defensive coordinator Todd Orlando. Only five pledges project todefense. Tom Herman arrived late in the 2017 cycle. He signed consecutive top threeclasses starting with the 2018 class headlined by safeties Caden Stems, B.J.FosterandDeMarvion Overshown. The 2019 class bas yet to make a major impact, with a few exceptions such as Roschon Johnson and Jake Smith. Five-star Jordan Whittington missed the season with an injury. Bru McCoy transferred after Texas head coach Tom Herman, center, has signed back•to-back recruiting classes that ranked No. 3 nationaDy. He has spring football. Four-star the seventh-ranked class heading Into this week's early signing period. [STEPHEN SPIUMAH/FOR STATESMAN) linebacker De'Gabriel Floyd wasforced to retire Nation's top classes Texas• class due tostenosis. Heading intothis week, The 10 highest·rated UT has 16 commitments for its 2020 recruiting class heading into the early signing Texas' class ranks sev recruiting classes head· period that starts Wednesday. The number in parentheses is that player's star rating, enth inthenation and first ing into the early signing and rankings reflect the player's overall national ranking. his position ranking and his in the Big 12 despite the period, per the 247Sports state ranking, per 247Sports• composite ratings and the American-Statesman's Fabulous Longhorns'7-5seasonand composite rankings. 55: uncertainty surrounding Number in parenthe• Pos. Player School Ranks the future ofmanyassis ses is that school's RB Bijan Robinson (5) Tucson (Ariz.) Salpointe 15th/2nd/2nd tant coaches cunently commitments: QB Hudson Card (4) Lake Travis 63rd/2nd/12th employed. The class is 1. Alabama (24): 3 5-stars, WR Quentin Johnson (4) Temple 69th/13th/15th headlinedbyfive-starrun 17 4-stars ATH Ja'Quinden Jackson (4) Duncanville 75th/3rd/5th nin.g backBijanRobinson 2.. Clemson (21): 6 5-stars,9 OT Vernon Broughton (4) Hou. Cypress Ridge 106th/11th/9th and a pair of athletic, 4•stars, 6 3-stars OLB Prince Dorbah (4) Highland Park 13lsVloth/17th provenwinnersatquarter 3. LSU (23): 3 5-stars, 14 s Xavio11 Alford (4) Alvin Shadow Creek 133rd/9th/19th back, LakeTravis' Hudson 4-stars CB Kitan Crawford (4) Tyler John Tyler 159th/11th/38th Card and Duncanville's 4. Ohio State (25): 2 5-stars, s Jerrin Thompson (4) Lufkin 165th/15th/24th Ja'Quinden Jackson. 14 4-stars, 9 3-stars C Jake Majors (4) Prosper 169th/5th/34th Questions face Herman s. Texas A&M (20): 1 5-star, OT Jaylen Garth (4) P. Neches-Groves 214th/19th/26th and his program on the 10 4-stars, 9 3-stars WR Troy Omeire (4) Fort Bend Elkins 238th/39th/48th field withthe Alamo Bowl 6. Florida (23): No 5-stars, G Logan Parr (4) S.A.O'Connor 271SVloth/30th game against Utah two 16 4-stars OT And re] Karie (4) Southlake Carroll 295th/23rd/36th weeks away. Expect most 7. Texas (16): 1 5-stars, 13 ATH Jaden Hullaby (3) Mansfield Timberview 611 th/35thn9th of Texas' pledges, and 4-stars WR Dajon Harrison (3) Hutto 795th/119th/102nd prospects acrossthe coun 8. Georgia (14): 2 5-stars, try,tousetheearlysigning 114-stars period.Theplayersinpre 9. Auburn (20): 1 5-star, 10 is likely to make it public 11 andrunningbackDerrian commitments made viouscl;isses chose to sign 4-stars, 9 3-stars before then, minusahand Brownin2O19. the recent update ofthe in December rather than 10. Oklahoma (19): No fulofprospectsplanningto Carthage wide receiver American-Statesman's wait for national signing 5-stars. 12 4-stars. 10 annmmceatall-stargames KelvontayDixonis a long 2020 Fabulous 55. The day in February. Seven Texans in January. time Texas target who only three-star prospects ofTexas' pledges plan to Five-star cornerback has put his recruiting on in the class are Jordan, enroll early. KeleeRingo and four-star the back burner because Jaden Hullaby and Dajon Questions facing the him onan official visitthis defensive linemanAlfred of the state high school Harrison. The average Longhorns: weekend andhopetoelimi Collins are Texas targets playoffs. The Longhorns ratingoftheclass ishigher nateanyconcernsaboutthe and among those con- are the favorite ifhesigns than any otherclass since can Texas keep the coachingstaffandlackofa templating a wait until in December. He's the Hennan'sarrival. class together? widereceiverscoach. their all-star games to younger brother ofcurrent Robinsonisthesecond Thesevenexpectedearly announce, thoughbothare lITrunningbackKeaontay ranked running back in The 16 commitments enrollees areprobablysafe, likely to sign inDecember Ingram and decommitted the nation. No team inthe appear solid, including considering they plan to and keep itquiet until the fromArkansas after Chad countryis signing a quar Robinson, who has main- move fromhome and into game. Morriswasfired. terback duo as talented as tainedthat his relationship a dorm in Austin after Texas' most recent Texas also could hunt the Card and Jackson, with with Texas assistant Stan the first week in January. offers were to comerback junior college ranks late in both leading state semi- Drayton was the main Players who plan to enroll Isaiah Dunson ofTucker the cycle and add a name finalists at the Class 6A factor in his recruitment. earlymustapplytothecol- High School in Georgia outofnowhere to filloutthe Division I level. The four- He's clearly the most legeandgetaccepted, so it's and defensive tackle class.Expect the Longhorns manoffensive line class is important player in the hardertoenvision a late flip Sawyer Goram-Welch to add atleast one graduate full of hard-nosed pros- class, and notjust because unlessthe movewas inth.e of Longview. Welch is a transfer at a needposition pects with high upside, he's the lone five-star works for atleast a month. 6-foot-4,278-pound three before the springorduring and the three wide prospect. Texas' early enrollees are starwho was committed to the summer, depending on receivers are diverse and Texas' need at running expectedtobe Card, Xavion Oklahoma State. Hetook howmany current players talented. back was highlighted by Alford, VemonBrougbton, an official visit to Austin enter the portal after the The one knock is on Johnson's move to the Jerrin Thompson, Logan this weekend, puttingthe bowlgame, defense, specifically the position after a prepcareer Parr, Jake Majors and Troy Longhornsinclear position numberofplayers. Afive- at quarterback. West Omeire. tolandhim. Howgood ls mandefensive class isn't Mesquite athlete TyJordan Herman needs more this class? ideal for a programneed- flipped from Texas toutah WhoJoins before defensive tackles if ing an influx oftalent on onThursday. Wednesday? Texas plans to move Don't let the decom- thatsidewith a new coor- The one player to watch toward a four-man front. mitments or the lack of dinator leading the way is Temple wide receiver Therecruiting fireworks Dunson was a one-time numbers paint your per- in 2020. Adding Collins, Quentin Johnston. The take place early in the Florida State pledge. The ceptionofTexas' class. It's Ringo and Dunson would four-star is seriously con- morning on Wednesday, Longhorns are familiar with an elite group of players, boost the numbers and sidering a flip to TCU, but the first day to sign. Any Georgia after signing cor- full of four-star talents. raise Texas' national class the Longhorns hosted player joining the class nerback Kenyatta Watson Thirteenofthe16in-state rank. PREP FOOTBALL CEHTRAl TEXAS SCORES AND SCHEDULE Class "'Omsioa I St1teMffliioll Galou PMI< Notlll Shon,49. Ula! ll'MS J8 Class"' Omsioa I Stat.- --6l. Katynytar 3 Stitedo...... we,dalo, (15-l)w<.-.GUyor(ls-J~ 7PJII. Class 4A Omsioa l St•te- cartllogc e.~ 42 Class 4A _...,, Stat. Wi-ley56.Silm Allsba Wcsllal PLAYER OF THE W EEK Knland Michaux, QB, Westl;w: The Chaparral senior completed 16 of20 passes for 304 yards and a team-record seven touch downs in a 63-3 victory over Katy Taylor in a Class 6A Division II state semifinal Saturday. He also ran for 25 yards and another score. His seven TD passes broke Wes'tri'e's record set by Sam Ehlinger. His eight overall TDs also broke one of Ehlinger's Chaparral records. For the season Michaux has 41 touchdown passes and West.lilu quarterback KiJtdand Michaux eludes Katy Taylor linebacker Martin Nowlin seven interceptions. during West: \ts 63-3 Class 6A. Division II semifinal win Saturday in Waco. Michaux set a Chap record by throwing seven touchdown passes and having eight TDs overall to earn GAME BALLS American-Statesman Player of the Week honors. (ANGELA P1AZZA/fOR STATESMAN] ~ Brister, LB, Lampasas: including a pair ofTDs, in the touchdowns in thewin over Jaxon Watts, WR, Wilrberiey: The Badger sophomore had victory over-Taylor. Taylor. The Tcxan juniorcaught six 15 solo tackles. four behind KYie Eaves, WR. lftil Tr.,,11: Cooper Mecdlum, QB, passes for 99 yards and a the line of scrimmage, and The cavalier senior was a big Wlrnbertey: The Texan senior touchdown in the victory over returned an interception 35 play specialist in the loss to completed 19 of 28 passes for Silsbee. yards for a touchdown in a North Shore, catching se111?n 331 yards and ftve touch Ar;e Whitehead, QB, 49-42 loss to carthage in a passes for 137 yards. downs in a 56-43 victory ovcr Lampasas: The Badgerjunior aass 4A DI state semifinal tameron Everts, WR. Silsbee in aClass 4A D11 state passed for398 yardS and Hudson card, QB, L • • na 1';: Lampasas: The Air Force semifinal in Katy. three touchdowns and aver The Texas-bound senior bound senior caught 10 Jayton Polter, WR, Lampasas: aged 45 yards on four punts in closed his high school career passes for 228 yards and The Badgerjunior caught the lossto Carthage. by passing for 290 yards and a pair of TDs in the loss to five passes for 105 yards and MosesWray, RB, Wanbertey: two touehdowns and rushing cartilage. a touchdown in the loss to The Texan sophomore rushed for a third In a49-38 loss to Mason Mangi.m, WR, Carthage. forS5 yards and a pair of Galena Park North Shore in a wes,-,,,~.,, The Challarral Weston Stephens, RB, r.1ke touchdowns and caught fOLr Class 6A DI state semifinal senior, who will sign with ~,ls: The cavalier junior had passes for 109yards and aTD Jackson Coker, WR, Westlllke: California this week. caught 92 total yards and scored a in the win over Silsbee. The Chaparral senior caught six of Michaux's passes pair oftouchdowns in the loss three passes for 106 yards, for 155 yards and three to North Shore. Rick Cantu Texas to sign smaller but highly rated class By Mike Craven mcr::[email protected] A new crop of Longhorns will sign early Wednesday morning. Texas holds 16com mitments entering the early signing period, and each of them indicated that signing early is more likely than wait ing until February. Eight of the 16 pledges are expected to enroll early, including ~ - ""' • quar terback Hudson Card, Alvin Shadow Creek safety Xavion Alford and Houston Cypress Ridge defensive lineman Vernon Broughton. Texas' class ranks 10th in the nation and! second in the Big 12. Texas and Georgia are theonlytwoprograms with a lop-10 class despite having fewer than 20 commitments. The Longhorns signed top threeclassesin 2018 and 2019. Major news took place late Monday night when four star wide receiver Quentin Johnston flipped to TCU hours after USC offensive coordinator Graham Harrell announced that he was stay ing with the Trojans. Texas bas lost Ty Jordan, Princely Umanmielen, Ethan Pouncey and Joshua Eaton to de-com mitments since October. Let's take a closer look at what to expect during the early signing period: Early morning paperwork Signing a national letter of intent to a scbool locks in a SecCLASS, C3 Texas' Tom Herman has signed consecutive recruiting classes that ranked No. 3 nationally in 2018 and 2019; UT's 2020 class is ranked No. 10 heading into the start of the earty signing period. [NICK WAGNER/AMERICAN-STATESMAN) minds on a whim,sonothing An Important January CLASS isever a given until a player signs on the dotted line. Herman wrapped up fromPageC1 That said, the Longhorns the majority of his previ don't expect many sur ous two classes during the prises. Their remaining early signing period. That's commitment.It's an official commitments appear locked not as true this year. The agreement between a player inand no news isgood news Longhorns still need bodies nnd a school. The inception for Texas on Wednesday. at several positions before of the early signing period Herman hopes his contin turning the page to the two cycles ago shifted the gent of future players sign 2021 class. There are only recruiting calendar. No without dram.a orfuss. six defensive commits and longer is February's national Texas' class isn't com Chris Ash, the new defen signing day the big draw. plete. The Longhorns want sive coordinator, will want The early signing period is to sign at least 20 players, todosome late shopping to the new trend with nearly but many of the remaining add prospects that fit the 80 percent of FBS athletes targets are planning to wait system. Same with who nowsigning inDecember. lllltil an all-star game in ever Texas hires as the new Players will hold signing January orfor signing day in offensive coordinator. ceremonies throughout February to make a decision. The likelihood ofmultiple the day, but most of the Bastrop Cedar Creek players enteringthetrans official paperwork will defensive tackle Alfred fer portal isstrongfollowing be signed and sent to UT Collins is expected to coaching changes anda 7-5 before 9 a.m. Texas will anno11Dce at the all-star season. There are sure to start announcing sign game inAntonio onJan. 4. bemorestaffchanges once ings on Twitter in the Five-starcomerbackKelee both coordinator hires are early morning hours. The Ringo is also waiting until made official. A new slate Longhorns expect each of theall-stargame. Carthage couldkeep some players in their 16 pledges to fax, or athlete Kelvontay Dixon Austin, but some willfind digitally email, theirletters said he wants to wait nntil greener pastures at other on Wednesday morning. February. programs. The latest to arrive might There is the possibility The amount of play be five-star running back that Texas swoops in late ers who enter the portal Bijan Robinson because on a junior college trans determines how many pros of t he time difference in fer, but it's more likely pects Texas must pursue Arizona. that Texas stands pat and in January, or even on the focuses on filling out the graduate transfer market in A lack offireworks class in January once the thesummer. Anewcoach staff knows which players ing staff must hittheground It's ill-advised tospeak in on the current roster are running and make real certainties on the topic of enteringthe transfer portal impressions onthe available recruiting. These are teen after the bowl game. targetsin order to close the agers who can change their 2020cyclewith momentum. TEXAS' 2020 CLASS Texas has 16 commitments heading into Wednesday's start of the early signing period. National and position ranks are from 247Sports' composite ratings; state rankings are either from the Fabulous 55 or 247Sports composite: Pos. Player School Natl. Pos. State RB Bijan Robinson (5) Tucson (Ariz.) 5alpointe 15th 2nd 2nd QB Hudson Card (4) L-. 63rd 2nd 12th ATH Ja'Quinden Jackson (4) Duncanville 75th 3rd 5th OT Vernon Broughton (4) Hou. Cypress Ridge 106th 11th 9th OLB Prince Oorbah (4) Highland Park 131st 10th 17th s Xavion Alford (4) Alvin Shadow Creek 133rd 9th 19th CB Kitan Crawford (4) Tyler John Tyler 159th 11th 38th s Jerrin Thompson (4) Lufkin 165th 15th 24th C Jake Majors (4) Prosper 169th 5th 34th OT Jaylen Garth (4) Port Neches-Groves 214th 18th 26th WR Troy Omeire ( 4) Fort Bend Austin 238th 39th 48th G Logan Parr (4) S.A. o·connor 271st 10th 30th OT Andrej Karie (4) South.""~ carron 285th 23rd 36th ATH Jaden Hullaby (3) Mansfield Timberview 611th 34th 19th WR Dajon Harrison (3) Hutto 796th 119th 102nd OT Sawyer Goram-Welch (3) Longview 86th 159th Aflipping good day: Herman, Texas ink nation's 11th-rated class Te,cas head coach Tom Herman signed 16 prospects Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA's early signing period. The Longhorns' class ranks 11th nationally as focus shifts to national signing day in February. (RICARDO B. SAAZZIELL/AMERICAN•STATESMANi By Brian Davis "Obviously before we [email protected] start, I do want to apologize for something that ended up Longhorn Network pro on Jive TV this morning," ducers have long wanted Herman said athis afternoon true all-access to the Texas press conference. football program. They sure Herman should be got it Wednesday. allowed some leeway after As LHN's exhaustive all the recruiting energy signing day coverage rolled he's expended lately. along, producers switched to Texas signed 16 players on thealways-on camera inside Wednesday, eight of whom the UT coaches' meeting will be early enrollees, and room. They inadvertently Herman just recently landed caught head coach Tom a new defensive coordinator, Herman flipping the bird Chris Ash. in double-fisted fashion The class, which currently straight into the camera. ranks nth in the country, Houston Cypress Ridge defensive tackle Vernon Broughton, In HD quality, no less. includes one of the nation's the state"s top-rated defensive lineman, signed with Texas on Wednesday's start to the best running backs in Bijan Wednesday. IMIKE CRAVEN/AMERICAN-STATESMAN) early signing period had all Robinson as well as Hudson sorts of wackiness. Baylor Card, the four-star quar state, and there's a slew of then to nth on Wednesday introduced its new signees terback from Lake Travis. talented offensive linemen. andsecondintheBig12. Then with Twitter puppet shows. Defensive tackle Vernon Texas' class has dipped again, the Horns always sign Kansas State used Legos. On Broughton is the top-ranked from top-five to top-10 after that scale, Texas fit right in. defensive lineman in the recent decommitments, and See FOOTBALL, C4 will go back to using four signing day, according to one FOOTBALL man defensive fronts under UT source. Ash. Herman said last week The offensive coordinator From Page Cl that be sees Ohio State using search could extend beyond four down linemen and one the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 31. high safety "damn near every For now, Herman said he's talented players; theissue has snap." The Buckeyes have content to "take a deep been development. consistently good defenses breath right now." "We knew that this was every year. "Obviously, I talked to going to bea small class when The Horns signed only a few guys," Herman said. we started," Herman said, two defensive linemen - "But I promised our players, "and that it would be about Broughton and Sawyer I promised the recruits that quality, not quantity." Goram-Welch, a late we would get the very best. That's where Ash comes in. bloomer from Longview. Most ofthose guys are still Herman and Ash have worked Herman said he expects to playing in bowl ganies and together twice before at Iowa sign two more in February. are in the NFL. St:ite and Ohio St:ite. Ash, 4S, Highland Park's Prince "So yeah, I have explored arrives in Austin on Thursday Dor bah is the only linebacker some NFL options as well," but will have no on-field among the initial16 signees, be confirmed. "This is some coaching duties until after the but the coach believes more thing that could take a while Alamo Bowl. are out there. because of you know the Herman said Ash and the Herman said the recruit bowl games that these guys defensive staffmust "decide ing staff will keep looking are playingin." who our best players are." for "the right four or five Whoever is selected, the That may sound simplistic, guys" to sign in February new coordinator will have but it's a first step to devel on national signing day. two freshman quarterbacks oping a cohesive plan. Former But Texas is likely to bit the to work with. Card, who is defensive coordinator Todd graduate transfer market to enrolling in January, said be Orlando's 3-3-5 scheme high fill specific defensive depth. had no concerns about what lighted the secondary. But Herman appears to be con Texas will do offensively. the three-man front gener tent to slow-play the search "I trust Tom Herman and ated almost no pass rush this for an offensive coordina- what he does," Card said season. tor. His mandate was to fix Wednesday. "I'mnotworried Herman confirmed Texas the defense and get through or anything like that." HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: CENTRAL TEXAS SIGNEES Jahdae Barron, DB, Hudson Card, QB, Lake Darius Lewis, WR, Del Tyler Swanberg, DL, Connally, Baylor Travis, Texas Valle, Abilene Christian cedar Ridge, Dordt (Iowa) Taylor Behl, LB, Isaiah Cash, CB, Rouse, Mason Mangum, WR, University Georgetown, Houston Baptist Westlake, California Kendall Thomas, TB, Stony Louisiana-Monroe Jackson Coker, WR, Makhi Proctor, OL/DL, Point, Furman Ben Bell, DE. Cedar Park, Westlake, Columbia Hutto, Benedictine (Kan.) Lordswill uwa-Ndukawe, Louisiana Tech Alex Costilla, OL, San College DL, Hutto, Houston Baptist Tahj Brooks, RB, Manor, Marcos (Trinity Junior Matthew Shipley, K, Chris "Deuce" Vaughn, RB, Texas Tech College), Texas State Liberty Hill, Hawaii Cedar Ridge, Kansas State Jalen Brown, QB, cedar Sean Fresch, WR/DB, LBJ, Gabriel Smith, TE/DE, LBJ, Desmond Young, QB, Ridge, Texas Southern Rice Texas Southern Bastrop, Houston Baptist Marcus Bryant, OL, Cedar Dajon Harrison, WR, Hutto, Collin Sullivan, WR, Round Ridge,SMU Texas Rock, Purdue Coaches remind players of lessons learned Ill.ctCaatu oments after the Lake Travis band Mfinished play ing the school song, Hank Carter gathered his play ers together for the last huddle ofthe season. After taldng a knee, every young man wearing black and red focused ontheir coach. Complete silence. With one wrapped around defensive end Trey Sofia's left shoulder, Carter told the players he was proud to be their coach. Spealdng with passion, be spoke about the "unbelievable effort" theygave ina49-38 loss to Galena Park North Shore in the Class 6A Division state semifinal Saturday at Kelly Reeves Stadium. Football is a sport that extends well beyond the Xs and Os on a white board. In good times and inbad, it serves as a vehicle that teaches life lessons. His three-minute message allowed a few players to drytheir tears. Joined by their assistant coaches, cheerleaders, the school superintendent and prin cipal andassortedpar ents, they bowed their heads and said a prayer. One ofthe state'spre mier high school foot ball programs had reason to be proud. Moments such as this are vital for football coaches who want their players to bond as one. Some coaches serve as second fathers. The lessons learned over the course ofa season are many. Learning how todeal with adversity is a class we all should take. Learning how to be a "brother" to someone you hardly knew before the season began ispriceless. "I'm never going to forget these guys," Cavalier senior receiver Kyle Eaves later said as players shared bugs and smiles with each other. One ofCarter's strengths is his ability to communi cate with young people. He emphasizes the bardwork the players have given, not the failures. Win or lose, the journey through a season is moire valu- able than theend result. Lampasas coach Troy Rogers had a similar experi ence Friday night inNew Caney, a town ofrougbly 20,000 people 50 miles See PREVIEW, C2 will come up tomor PREVIEW row," Rogers said. CedarParkcoach Carl 1''romPageC1 Abseck said heencour ages theseniorsto speak during the final team north of Houston. His huddle.They oftentalk Badgerssuffereda about theirown families, 49-42 losstoCarthage their four-year journey in agamethatwas not through high school. detennineduntilAce And they usually close Whitehead's pass into with a specialmessage theend zoneon the final to the underclassmen playfell incomplete. who will somedayplay ManyLampasas Lake Travi.s cavaliers head coach Hank cart.er, their finalgames. playersdroppedtheir concluding his prayer after a recent game against Hays, Vandegrift coach helmets nnd fell to their said the Journey to state is more important than the DrewSanders said he lmeeswhen they saw end result after Saturday's loss to North Shore. (JOHN reminds his players theirbrilliant season GUTIERREZ/FOR STATESMAN] thattherelationships cometoanend. While they have developed someopenly wept, badjustwon state. a lmee andwrapped from football will theywere consoledby "I justwant tostand their arms aroundeach last a lifetime. teammateswho stayed hereandtalceitin," other'sshoulder. Senior "Although the hugs withthemuntil they Rogerssaidwhilewatch receiver EthanRascoe andtears maybe sad, werereadytoletitgo. ingtheblue-clad fans stoodbeforethem, that's rewarding to me Whiletheslunned salutetheir favo.riteteam. bowed his head, andled as a coach because that players offered blank "Thisis special. Wehave theteam inprayer. means we'veconnected stares at each other, a great fanbaseandthey What malces these with them on a very deep roughly 3,000Badger cmne a long wayjustto momentsso poignant? leveland hopefully influ fans who made the support these guys." "It gives them a mes encedthem for the restof three-hourtripfrom Before theyleft sageofhope and lets their lives," he said. "As Lampasas wereontheir thefield, theplay them knowyouareproud coaches, that is some feet, cheering asifthey ers and coaches took ofthem and thesun thing we set out to do." Texas to welcome 8 freshmen to campus inJanuary By Danny Davis (strength and conditioning [email protected] coach Yancy) McKnight. We expect those guys to be At bis press confer ready to contribute in the ence on Signing Day, fall," Herman said. Texas coach TomHerman Injury updates: expressed excitement Herman told reporters on aboutthe early enrollees in Wednesday said thatfresh UT's 2020 recruiting class. man defensive lineman Ofthe 16 players signed Peter Mpagi was dealing by Texas, eight will be on witha heart issue. Running campus at the beginning back Derrian Brown, a of next year. Those play running back who joined ers will go through spring Mpagiin UT's 2019 recruit practices and Herman ing class, is still recovering noted that "We'll get to from a stroke suffered last start working with those winter. In November, a guys inJanuary." spinal stenosis diagnosis During the last two forced freshman linebacker recruiting cycles, Texas DeGabriel Floyd to take a signed 19 players who medical retirement. enrolled early. Quarterback Brown has been cleared Sam Ehlinger was one of for physical activities and only three early enrollees in is doing some modified Herman's inaugural class in workouts. Herman said that 2017. Brown continues to attend Lake Travis quarterback speech therapy and did well Hudson Card, the first2020 in his classes this semes commit and the Herman ter. According to Herman, dubbed "the face of the Texas is playing it "month class," will enroll early. by month" with the Georgia As will offensive linemen native. Logan Parr and Jake Majors. Herman said that Mpagi Joining them thisspringwill was released from an area be receiver Troy Omeire, hospital this week and defensive linemen Vernon will return to Houston to Broughton and Sawyer recover. The hope atTexas Goram-Welch and defen is thatMpagi willbebackin sive backs Jerrin Thompson class this spring. His play andXavion Alford. ing status, though, is "so far Texas typically does not removed from ourthoughts play true freshman on the right now, being the sever offensive line. UT also has ityofhis heart issue." anexperienced quarterback On Wednesday, Herman in Ehlinger. The otherearly didn't have an update enrollees could quickly find on sophomore receiver someplaying time onspe Joshua Moore since his legal cial teams, though. status is still unresolved. "We wantthem tocome In August, Moore was in, especially those early arrested and chargedwith guys that have had an off the unlawful carrying ofa season under their belt weapon. He bas been sus and six more months with pended this entire season. Lal{e Travis' Card, Texas' first pledge, seals the deal By Brian Davis seruor season with a foot assistant coach his entire [email protected] injury. Carddidn'twaiver on career, "that's probably not his when Texas coach Tom going to happen in today's Lake Travis quarterback Herman snuffled his staff and college football," Ile said. Hudson Card had 23 schol demotedoffensive coordina - Lake Travis coach Hank arsbjp offers. Only one torTim Beck on Dec. 1. Carter said even rock-star mattered. Herman bas yet to hire a offensive coordinators after "When we sat down as a new offensive coordinator. afewyears "aregoing to geta family and talked about it, For most athletes, it's not a beadcoaching job anyway." is there anywhere else you big deal who calls the plays. "And so you're not going would rather go than the Itis for quarterbacks, thougll. tobethere with thecorethat University of Texas?" his "I trust Tom Herman and staff for very long ifyou're father Doug said. "None of what he does," Card said. playing well - or if you're them even came close." "I'm notworried or anything playing poorly," Carter said. Card was born in t he like that. I know he'll bring in The Longhorns also Houston area, raised in the top guys and I trust who signed Ja'Quinden Jackson, Cypress and movedtoAustin be gets. Like I said, I couldn't a four-star quarterback from lake Travis quarterback Hudson Card poses for a photo after signing before starting high school. be more excited to signand I Duncanville who suffered a with Texas on Wednesday. He was the first commitment of the He'sbeento more Longhorns have no second thoughts or tornleft knee ligamentinjury Longhorns• 2020 recruiting class, pledging in the spring of 201& games "thanI cancount." anything." inlast week's statesemifinals. !RICARDO 8. SRAZZIEll/AMERlCAN-STATESMANJ To finally send Texas Card'sunwavering beliefin Going into next season, coaches a signed national theLongllornsandHermanis Texas has Ehlinger, soph school career. He will enroll will be a senior next fall, and letter of intent Wednesday a case study in what recruits omore - to - be Casey at UT this January, allow puttinghimselfinpositionto was a dream come true. should be considering during Thompson, Cardand Jackson ing him to go throughspring lead the Horns. Card was thefirst commit this process. Recruits are all on the roster. Roschon practice. "Yeah, he's an awesome ment in UT's class. He was signing toplayfor the school Johnson, whomoved to run He needs to learn the dude," Card said ofEhlinger. offered a scholarship inApril and thehead coacll. Assistants ning back as a freshman, has playbook and learn how to "We text here and there and 2018 and committedthenext will always comeand go. said he wants to go back to eat. Card said he currently be already gives me advice month. Herman said lastweekhe's quarterbackin 2020, too. weighs 183 pounds andwants ! know I'll be in good hands Coaches didn't waiver on been telling recruits tile same Card threw for 6,428 yards, toget into the210-215 range. withhim. I'lllearn a lot from their commitment when he message. To thinkoneathlete 80 touchdowns and 12 inter He also can't wait to start him. And I'mjust excited to missed a good portion of his is going to play for the same ceptions during bis high learning from Ehlinger, who get on campus." AMERICAN - STATESMAN 2020 FABULOUS 55 The America11-Statesman's Fabulous S5 list of the state's top recruits for 2020, compiled by staff writer Mike Craven. Number in parenthesis is that prospect's star rating. bnk ,i.,., Sciliool(Clm) HI.. WI. c:on,,eaoc. I """RB zadla,y &ans (g Ga.lffla Park ff. Shan, (6A) 5-11. 200 -.Incl. lSU, Gco,gio, Texas A&M 2 OB J.\ybl - (4) ctJolo Sloott (6,\) 6 I. 1'0 Sign,d•lllllt>asA&M ) OU! o,..., Slnd Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley keeps winning Big 12 championships - and keeps signing highly• rated recruiting classes. His 2020 class ranks in the top 10 nationally and leads the conference, just ahead of Texas. [JEFfAEY MCWHORTER/THE ASSOCIATE0 PRESSJ By MatthewBain flippedfromTexasonMonday), along with four-star corner USAToday Network offensivetackle Garrett Hayes back David Vincent-Okoli, (also a top-100 prospect), the Mountaineers did well in It's the first day ofthe early defensive tackle P:ttrickJenkins, the JUCO market, addingfour signing period and, as usual, comeroockKeontaeJenkins and transfers whoheldotheroffers TexasandOklahomasitattbetop safetyBudClark.That'sagroup from placessuchasTennessee, oftheBig u inleansofrecruiting thatcanhelp a team win in a lot Maryland, Boise State, Florida rankings. ofwaysdowntheline. State, Iowa Stateand Nebraska. But therestofthepackisn'tas 5. Iowa State - The Cyclones furbehindasit'sbeeninprevious Campbell's cyclones also did wellwithJUCO trans years. continue cllmb fers ontop oftheir highschool TCUbasfivefour-starsignees, signees, landingtwoimmediate including twotop-100 players. Matt Campbell just keeps impactpiecesindefensivetackle West Virginia isstill recruiting inching Iowa State further and Latrell Bankston and receiver strong, despitean iffy season. further up tbe Big 12 ladder, Xavier Hutchinson, who drew The Iowa State revival contin gradually building bis program anOldshoma offerinNovember uesunderMattCampbell. And intoa strongerrecruitingforce. butstuckwithIowaState. LesMilesisstart:ingtogetbisfeet TheCyclones' zo20class ranks 6. Oklahoma State - The under him down in Lawrence, 43rd in the country. That's Cowboys signed an promis Kansas. better than 46thin 2019, 55th ing quarterback in four-star, Here's a breakdown of early in 2018 and 52nd in 2017. The top- 200 prospect Shan e signingdayaroundtheBig 12: 2020class isheadlined by a duo Illingworth, a California prod of top-tier Midwest quarter uctwho picked Oklahoma State Oklahoma's 0-llne backs infour-star Iowa product over the likes of Louisville, ls stacked Hunter Dekkers,thestate'stop Arizona State and Arkansas. prep passer in history, and They could jumpinto the top This is about as loaded an three-star Minnesota product five if four- st ar all-purpose offensive line recruiting class as Aidan Bouman, whose stock backDaniyelNgatapicks them youcanget.TheSoonerssigned could have risen further had he when he commits Jan. 2. five linemen.111at includes the notcommitted totheCyclones 7. Texas Tech - The Red 247Sportscomposite's No. I and 19monthsago. Raidersdidwellat theoffensive 2 offensive guards in four-star skill positions, bringing in four Texas product Nate Anderson Class rankings starreceiver Loic Fouonji, high and four-star Oklahoma prod three-star receiver Ja'Lynn uctAndrewRaym.Joiningthose l. Oklahoma - Yes, Texas Poll{, three-starrunningback two are four-star, top-200 has the only five-star recruit Tahj Brooks andthree-starath MarylandoffensiveguardAaryn signed to a Big 12 team. But lete Myles Price - all top-700 Parks - No. 6 at hisposition - g;imesare so oftenwonandlost prospects from Texas. :md four-star Washington, D.C. inthetrenches,and theSooners 8. Baylor - TheBearssigned offensive111ckleAntonHarrison. recruitedtbebest.groupofcifen two four-stm prospects in The Sooners also added three sive linemen in the conference defensiveend James Sylvester star Arizona offensive tackle - byadecentmargin, too. andcomerback Jahdae Barron, NoahNelson.Torunbehind that 2. Texas - Five-starrunning bothTexasproducts.Baylorstill group, Oklahoma signed four back signee Bijan Robinson, ha.~ workto dointhis class, but star Texas running back Seth a top-20 natio.naJ prospect, tbosetwoaretootalentedtohave McGowan. That'lldojustfine. is going to be special. So, too, Baylor anylower thaneighth. youfigure, will beTexas' 2020 9. KansasState-TheWildcats Gary Patterson, qu.'lrterback recruit, four-star, wentdeepintotheJUCOlll2rket, TCUreload top-lOOprospectHudsonCard, signingfivetrnnsfersthatinclude the latest in a Jong line ofstar threefrom.in-statepowerhouses Patterson and his staff ~ignal-callersfrom LakeTravis. Hutchinson (one) and Butler signed five four-star recruits 3. TCU - Bringing in five (two). Three-star Texas line despite a lackluster 5-7season. four-starsigneesisanimpressive backer Jeremi.'lhHarris headlines Translation:TheGaryPatterson feat. Offensive linemanBrandon theirhighschool signees. brand remains alive and well. Coleman, a product ofTrinity 10. Kansas -We'llseeifthe He hasbroughtinatleast three Valley Community College, Jayhuwks sign all 24 of their four-star signeesin thepast five couldhaveanimmediateimpact. pledges they had entering classes. Five is the most since Healsoheld offers from Florida Wednesday; they had already TCU landed eight in its 2016 state, Houston, [owa Stateand signed 15 as of the late after class.This year's cropoftalent Missouri. noon. Nomatterwhat, this will is spread across the field, too. 4. West Vi:rginia - ln bethebest class Kansashashad You'vegot6-4receiverQuentin addition to a strong crop of inyears.Milesdeservescreditfor Jobosoo(a top-1ooprospect. who high-three-star signees to go that. PREP FOOTBALL STATE SCORES AND SCHEDULE CU.S.Sl\,l Dh'tMI Stltt ~ ~lt( l.5-0)wsG.llffla.Pirt Norltl Sbert OH). J P,111.. SiL...-dly a& Af'll90tl's ATI.TSUdin DMIDtlGtlyit;t(l4 1).sAIIStil~ -·-(140, 7D.nLSll.tdlytl~l:Oti$Af&l CW.SSA Dhl..l Sbl.t~ -~Ryu(lS-O)wsAlvift SMdolwClttl. 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EP NIICric:as.Jr. l.6l 9n,dsrus-JJTOs.; llfHDAll THOMAS, RDwldard. ~ PoiilL ,..,....Sr. U.94 ,.Sbinl ,-ara,15 TDS. J OMIISowtJI" CARTERBROWK. hSluldDlWSiNI.SOpb;..U• 45Pt\~ l 4-15FGs.6fG$O'l(!r,0.bnrQOlf9 OflMsM- Pk~ ot the'k.ar: moitsntb OjlgN.-1 HIISR'tAM OEFE.NSt IRANDON DROWN.K.tty MOrt• R&nl1 Sf. 88 bddcs,24 TFL. 9ucts., SfP,lMAHKCMP, -tPMX'ria.s.Jr. 29satlS.2l Tf'LnllCLlts; BYRON MUAPWY,OC!SOIO,.Jt.88Udck!s, 12 Tfl,8sadis;TN(YS0t-lA. '- ..M;,S,.'8 ~ 21TFl. 9.5 s.acks lMll!Nelos; Ml MOCAlUY,AuU.itl\llnd(,grift,S,. lO LKti6. 10nL6 ~ W:ll!SSk..NER. "'-'lu-CMtrll.St. lZ'9WilK,.22Tfl. Us«lb.2 ff:MVIUS WWAMS, Od&S -TOSkyh,S,. IXI ladtK, l5 rrL 3 INR. 2 Fl. MAUK CANNON. t.cwlgWeW, St.Sl tld.1cs., ,sacts.1,°'""""-TR.. 2 Ff, 5P81JS: e.uon DAVISON. l)k,, Lee. Sr.111 Udtes.i Im. 6 P9Us;CAMERON OUVEA. fOr\lMd II\. Jr. 7 am., 2ctdmsiwitTDs;Ct-911ST1AH SMITH-JOHHSON. Rid'lfUd. SO. SI cac:uts. 7 IMR. lOPBUS PIMlltr. CRICAIIBC. Abile~Sr.2lpunts. 45.5 l'tg.. lonoal?l.811\SdrlO "'IV_,.....,..[k,f(.'ft$i'i'? Pa,etof theYUr.81.wlon""" SECOflO.rEAM Oft-ENSE O)uttlffljfetd,.C,td,,sHil,S,.; JUit...,ors. Prosptt,Sr.; ~ Nurtor, lk'llbtl -MunOfid,Sr.: t.ot,,,11 Pan, SAHOrdlsidc aco.«,1<. •-- .. 11,!i<, 11: m..~IIDd:tlal,Jr. -SECOl COrlaorOiik'y...."" Md HUTTO MAKES FABFIVES STATEMENT Class6A The seven th annual 1. weswk.. 15· 1 Bob Hayes Jaguar Classic 2. Vandegrift 12·2 last weekend proved to 3. Anderson 11-3 be a round robin ofsorts 4. Bowie 13· l for the top three Class s. Westwood 11·4 5A schools in the Austin Class SA area. Manor knocked off 1. Hutto 16· l host LBJ 56-43 in one 2.LBJ 11·4 semifinalbehind 21 points 3. Manor 13·4 from Augustine Arroyo 4. Cedar Park 10·3 and 17 points from Jamal 5. Glenn 13·3 Shead. Red-hot Hutto Class 4A and others rolled through the other 1. Thorndale 11 •2 sideofthe bracket before 2. Liberty Hill 10·5 topping Manor behind a 3. waldorf 12-2 spectacular game from 4. Taylor 1~ Jean-Pierre Sanders. 5. St. Michael's ll·6 Hutto and Manor, who both compete in District 18-5A, will play again Jan. Anderson handed Bowie n at Manor in the first of its first loss of theseason two district meetings. as Max Sm ith nailed LBJ bounced back from a fall-away 3-pointer its semifinal loss to beat on the baseline at the Manor 73-61 in a non bu2Zer. Smith scored all district game Tuesday. 16 of Anderson's points Shead, an all-state point Hutto senior guard Jean-Pierre Sanders led the Hippos in the fourth quarter and guard who signed with to the tournament title at the Bob Hayes Classic hosted led all scorers with 20 Houston, injured an by LBJ, Sanders had 39 points in the title game against points.... JohnWetter, ankle in the first half and Manor, ISTEVE LEWIS/FOR STATESMAN) a M,1;;... senior who missed the rest of the signed with UT-Dallas, game. No. 24 LBJ in 5A; No. Blue-chip for scored 22 points during 3 Liberty Hill and No. ward Gr eg Brown a 50-49 win over POLL POSIT ION 19 Taylor in 4A; No. 9 Ill had 38 point s in Lehman, including hit Thorndale in 2A; No. 6 Vandegrift's 76-75 win ting the winning free The latest state polls St. Michael's in private over Hendrickson in a throws at the end of the released this week by school 5A; No. 8 Texas District I 3-6A contest District 25-6A game .... the Texas Association School for the Deaf in last Friday, and Gabe Dripping Springs won the of Basketball Coaches private school 4A; and Rayer continued his role H-E-B Wildcat Classic include No.10 Wesi lu e, No. 2 Waldorf in private as an ideal complement in Portland by beat No. 22 Vandegrift, No. scboolzA. with 20 points.... Jaden ing Clear :... 68-39 in 23 Anderson and No. William s bad 31 points the title game. Aldan 24 Bowie in 6A; No. 10 NEWS AND N OTES for the Hawks (7-7, 0-2). Bailey earned tourna Hutto, No. 11 Manor and ... In District 2~ - 6A. ment MVP recot!nition. ... Cedar Park won the tournament last weekend Taylor tournament with a 60-52 win over last weekend, defeat Cameron Yoe. ing Liberty Hill in the final 61-51. Matthew PLAYER OFTHE Minor, a senior for the WEEK Tirnberwolves, earned MVP honors after aver Jean-Pierre Sanders, aging more than 12points senior, Hutto: Sanders, and eight rebounds..... a 5-foot-10 point Glenn finished second guard who signed with in the 33rd annual Great Midwestern State, East Texas Shootout in lifted the Hippos to an Brownsboro last week 84-74 win over Manor end, when the Grizzlies in the championship defeated Royse City, game of the Bob Hayes Mineola and Kaufman Invitational at LBJ with before losing toMansfield 39 points, 14 rebounds, Legacy in the champion six assists andfive steals. ship game.... A handful ofarea teams competed GAMES TO WATCH in the River City Classic in New Braunfels. Weiss Friday went 3-2 behind an Taylor at Dripping all- tournament effort Springs, 4 p.m. from Princeton " PJ" Westwood at Round Humphries, Connally Rock, 7p.m. picked upacoupleofwins Cedar Pork at Glenn, 7 over Austin Achieve and p.m. San Antonio Southwest, Lake Travis at and Rouse dropped all Westl. e, 7:30 p.m. four of its games.... Thorndale won its own Thomas Jones Connally's Lashiyah Fowler scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added five steals to earn American•Statesman Player of the Week honors as the Cougars beat highly regarded Ellst View. [RYAN WAlTON/1-01< STATESMAI<) G I R L S HI G H SCHOO L BAS KETBALL: FAB FI V ES. NOTES AND P LA YER OF THE WEEK NET NOTES FabFlves AJ Marotte and Victoria Bakercombined for 44points Austin High held offa fero Class6A as Vista Ridge beatWestwood ciousDel Valle fourth-quarter 1. West ...... i 15·5 71-54. Marotte, whofinished rally to defeat the Cardinals 2. Vista Ridge 14-3 with25points,andBaker, who 53-50inDistrict 25-6Aaction. 3. San Marcos 16·3 scored 19 points before foul - Maroons fresln:rum point guard 4. Ui.E~...S l2·6 ing out , were both honored Shanel Reidledthewaywith 5. Vandegrift 17·6 after the game ceremonies 20 points while senior Anna Class SA for topping 1,000 points in Farris contributed 11 points I. CedarPark 17·3 their careers at Vista Ridge. and sophomore post S adie 2. Connally 13-6 The win over Westwood was Swiftchipped in 10. 3. East View 14-3 also career victory No. 200 "It was a scrappy and fast - 4. Georgetown 12·6 for Vista Ridge coach Keith paced gam e, and we had S. Dripping Springs 12•4 Allen. been ahead the entire game," Class 4A and others Vandeg rift b eat Austin coach Tricia H ughes I. La Grange 13·2 Hendrickson 55-41 andCedar said. "DelValle made a come 2. Lampasas 14 ·4 Ridge defeated Leander 46-28 back in the fourth quarter to J. Round Rock Chrlstlan 9·0 as Mlkayla Johnson led the bring it to one point with 36 4. Jarrell 13·3 Raiders with 16 points. In seconds left inthegame when 5. Liberty Hill 9-9 other action, Cailyn Kleper Shanel Reid knocks down scored 3? points as Rouse two free throws to put us up improved to 13-6 overall by bythree. We needed n game win," ~ "' \·: coach beatingthe visiting Australia where it forced us t o hove to KevinBussingersaid. Stingrays. holdon andwin a close one. n The Cavaliers improved to Round Rock Christian JuniorpowerforwnrdEriny 4-0 in district beading into Academy beat Living Kindred led the Cardinals the Friday showdown with Rock Academy 71-35 as CJ with 18 points as Del Valle ral co-district leader West!, , Lake Travis guard Raeven Boswell and the Cavsface rival westlake In an early-dlstrlct showdown Friday. (JOHN GUTIERREZ/FOR STATESMAN] Westlake, LT to face off this week Rlvals only unbeaten stayed perfect in dis- from Bailee Chynoweth. team In District trict play with wins over ... Austin High (10-7, 13-6Aplay Austin High (56-35) and 2-2) rebounded from its Lehman (57-26). Raeven loss toLake Travis with a By Colby Gordon Boswell bad 19 points 53-30 win over Del Valle, Amerk:an-Sl.tlesm:an and Emmy Haney added Friday. Shane Reid led the Correspondent 13 against the Maroons. Maroons with 20 points, Lake Travis coach Kevin while Anna Farris scored THEWEEK IN REVI EW Bussinger said Sydney 11 points and Sadie Swift Heller, Mia GalbraHh, added 10 points.... Lily Team ofthe Week: Jackie Cillier-s and Haney Guevara scored 17 points Bowle all playedwell against the to lead Hays (8-9, 1-2) to Lobos. a win overAkins.... Akins The Bulldogs (9-7, 3·1 (2-14, 1-3) defeated Del District 25-6A) went 2-0 Player ofthe Week: Vo.lle earlier in the week. on the week with d.ra- Zeta Jenkins, Bowle matic one-point wins Game of the Week: over Hays (40-39) and Jenkins, a sophomore Westlake at Lake Anderson (47-46). post, had 13 points in the Travis (Friday) Against Hays, Katheryn Bulldogs' win over Hays, McClanahan hit the go- thentallied 19 points and In the early going at ahead 3-pointer with 11 reboundsinadditionto least, these two teams 18 seconds left, while her game-ending hero- seem to be a few steps Zeta Jenkins bad an old· ics during the win over ahead of everyone else fashioned three-point Anderson. in the district. Westlake play with 10 seconds left hasn't lost to a team in to give Bowie the lead The rest ofthe Central Texas yet, and against the Trojans. district Lake Travis hasn't been The Bulldogs rallied challenged inits four dis- from a 23 • 7 first·quarter Westlake (15-5, 3-0) trict wins. It should be a deficit vs. Anderson. defeated Leillman 77-24 fun one. Mcclanahan finished earlierin theweekbehind with 12 points against Emily Segbers' 16 points Rest ofthe district the Rebels while ChyneU on 7-for-7shootingfrom Mitchell added 10 points. the field and 14 points The onlydistrictgames from Shay Holle. In a are on Friday this week. Honorable Mention: non-districtgameFriday, Lehman heads to Del Lake Travis the Chaps took care of Valle, Anderson wel- Georgetown 65-33 thanks comes Akins and Austin The Cavs (12-6, 4-0) toHolle's16 pointsand 13 High heads toHnys. Eanes expands Spanish unmers1on• • program Multilingual programs growing In popularity, spreading across schools In centralTexas By Luz Moreno- Lozano lmoreoo· [email protected] In bis quest to ensure his 4-year-old daughter grows up bilingual, Grant Stanis moved his family into the Eanes school district for its popular Spanish immersion program. "When we looked for homes, we specifically look for homes in districts that had this program," Stanis said. "My ask of you is to always think ofthe children and you'll know exactly what todo." Like Stanis, multiple fami lies said they relocated to the district or transferred their children from neighboring schools to take advantage of the Eanes program. "Being able to speak another language i~ justas important as being able to learn math efficiently oras being able to play on a sports team," said parentMarkHuddleston. "It's a life skill that they can take with them for tbe rest oftheir lives. n An online petition in favor of continuing the program was signed by almost 600 district parents. Such sup port prompted the Eanes school board on Tuesday night to approve the contin uation and expansion of its Spanish immersion program through the fifth grade at four campuses. Such language programs have steadily grown in pop ularity, spreading across schools in the CentralTexas region. Immersion programs, like the one used in Eanes, are used by districts to immerse native English speakers into a second language. The 436 students enrolled in the dis trict's Futuro program receive approximately 50% of their core instruction inSpanish. Two-way dual language pro grams, a popular option for school districts with a diverse student population, teaches native English speakers and See SPANISH, A7 More than 80 parents and educators addressed the Eanes school board Tuesday to voice their opinions on the district's Spanish immersion program. The school board voted unanimously to expand the program, despite concerns about cost and classroom size. (LUZ MORt:NO-LOZANO/AMERICAN·STATESMAN) through fifth grade, and Board members last SPANISH some Pflugerville, Del expressed concern with VaUe and Manor schools the financial implication FromPogeAI also offer dual language ofexpandingtheprogram, programs. - ·, including teacher stipends, offers a one-way dual as well as the additional speakers of other Jan - language program at one workit will puton teach g\Jagesinclasses together elementary campus. ers. But theyalso weighed to simultaneously learn Eanes' educators say thevalue they said itbrings both. These programs its program, which has to thestudents. are taught half the day in waitlists at some schools, Superintenden t Tom English andtheother half increasesstudentengage Leonard said he didn't in the other language. ment and results in full think the money would Otherarea districts also fluency in Spanish; stu be an issue and believes offer one-way dual lan dents in the program recruiting more teachers guage programs, which also perform at or above - and retaining them - is are geared toward stu expectations in math and doable. dents who are learning reading. "It's not the money English, while master Butcritics said the dis that will change this," ing their native language, trict should invest the Leonard said. "Money including in written form. money elsewhere. They canhelpmitigate some of A more traditional bilin also worry classsize ratios this, butwhatchangesthis gual program transfers will get too large, hamper is time and gettingto full students to English-only ing efforts to recruit and implementation." instruction while offering retainteachers, including Board member Ellen othersupport. 14morebilingual teachers Bnltbazar, whose motion While the programs who will be needed in the led the unanimous deci differ, educators say the next four years. sion, said the host of goal is to give students an With more than 1,000 special programs in Eanes opportunity to become students expected toenroll - such as robotics, the bilingual, bicultural, and in the program by the business incubator and biliterate through literacy 2023-24schoolyear,pro athletics - is a hallmark and content learning in jectedcostsare estimated ofthedistrict,andthedis two languages. at more than $315,000, trict always finds a way to In the Austin district, including nearly $245,000 fund the things they think multiple schools provide for bilingual teacher are important. Spanish multilingual programs for stipends. immersion is nodifferent, students at several crun• Courtney Moss, aCedar she Sllid. puses from elementary to Creek Elementary parent, "lrun notinthebusiness high school. Of Austin's saidwith the di5trict facing of taking away oppor nearly 81,000 students, a more than $2million def tunity for other people's more than a quarter are icit next year, continuing children," Balthazar said. English language learn the program would be a "Wecan do hard things, ers, or students with financial burden. She said and we can dohard things another first language the program Jacks a SUS- well. And we are doing a who are learning tospeak tainable plan. hard thing well and get English.Thedistrict offers And teachers in Eanes ting better at it.... I fully two-way dual language appear divided onoffering support our administra programs in Spanish, theprogram.About56%of tion, and I fully support VietnameseandMandarin Spanish immersion teach our teachers, who are Chinese. ers surveyed inNovember professionnl enough and Round Rock offers a srud they believed the innovative enough to two-way Spanish dual program should continue, solve these problems to language program at 12of while71% ofnon-Spanish make this a stellar and its elementary campuses immersion teache.rs said it even better program than from prekindergarten shouldn't. it already is." City lool With overcrowding City looks at YMCA ussion with city actlVlty center . . entatives on Lakeway considers Monday night. partnership with YMCA Thecityis eyeingaprivate to bulld, operate new public partnership to create recreation faclllty a new recreation center in Lakeway. The project might be located on property cur By Leslee Bassman rently owned by the Lakeway Coutrfbulinj! writer Municipal Utility District but under contract to Legend Brian Rigby, directorof architecture for Gro, a company that Capacity issues at both Communities in the city's develops YMCA facilities, provides a high-level overview of a the Lakeway Activity and center off Lohmans Crossing, proposal to partner the nonprofit organization with the city of Lakeway Swim centers were Lakeway for a new rec.reation centerduring the City Council's at the forefront of the City See YMCA, J\9 meeting Monday. [PHOTO BY LESLEE l!AS.SMANJ YMCA FromPageAl Mayor Sandy Cox said. The idea of a recre ational center hasactually been in the works for more thana year, she said. "Our parks and rec committee has been looking at ways for our community to expand (its) recreation facilities," Cox said. "When we wentout for a survey last year, it was oneofthetopitems." Althoughnoaction was taken, council members agreed to explore adding a recreational facility through a partnership with the YMCA or pos sibly pursuing one with the Lake Travis school district. Cox said this initial "high level" presentation allowed the dais to seek input from the commu - nity onsucha proposal. Currently, there are more than 2,700 YMCAs across the country, with 48 new centers opening in communities annually, andabout 50 public-pri vate partnerships that have been created over the past couple of years, said Brian Rigby, director of architecture for Gro, a company that develops facilities for YMCA. The YMCA is a non profit entity focused on water safety, community gatherings and •family togetherness," he said. "We look todesign build· ings that can engage that, to better our communi ties and look at some of the needs that maybe we can address in the private sector," Rigby said. An Oklahoma shared facility would be a good model for Lakeway, he said, with its city-funded aquatic center run by the YMCA. The building has "a lot of synergy" and a lobby that "feels more like a hotel lobby," he said. The building provides a second floor space for adults. Rigby said the facility design process is tailored to the community being served by the program, includingitsdemograph • ics, city challenges and types of interests. "We're thought of, sometimes, as the 'swim and gym,"' b e said. "That's not the case for the21st century YMCA." Programming can include music and dance classes, sewing for kids, t een activities, a free senior fitness program and Project Safe, which offers swim lessons to children during the school day. YMCA facilities are "designed to fit into your n eighborhood, to fit into your life styl e and hopefully go into the com munity in very positive ways," Rigby said. Two bujJding models were presented, with the costof an 80,000 square foot facilityrangjng from $35 millionto $45 million and the cost ofa 60,000 square foot facility rang ing from $28 million to$32 million, Rigby said. The main dilference between the facilities is that a competition-readynata torium,orswimming pool facility, is included in the larger project, Cox said. "We've heard a lot from the swim community (about) not having enough lanes out here, not having enough diving capac ity out here," she said, adding that the existing city-owned swim center currently can't meet resi dents' needs. From an operations standpoint, about 3,000 to 3,500 family member ships, are needed for a YMCA to be financially successful, Austin YMCA CEO James Finck said. However, with Lakeway's demographics, he expects a local facility to attract morethan4,000 families. Currently, a family membershiptothe Austin YMCA costs $82 per month, Finck said. Under the proposed model, thecitywouldown the facility, but it would be operated by the YMCA that is overseen bya vol unteer board oftrustees madeupoflocal residents, hesaid. "Thecity'sgoingtosave moneyin the long run. Toe more programs across the reallydoown the YMCAs. community is going to board," Finck said. We're just the stewards, get more robust and a lot "The communities and we runthem."