Sunday, August 21, 2016 The Baytown Sun 1C 7 p.m., Friday, September 2, Stallworth Stadium ‘The Game’ turns 50 Rivals and friends Wilkinson, Sawyer have been facing off since fifth grade By Michael Pineda current Texas City head coach Leland [email protected] Surovik. “There are things that assistants just The fate of Baytown Lee and Baytown haven’t dealt with,” Sawyer said. “When Sterling bragging rights in the 50th anni- David was at Sweeney, there were things I versary of The Game will be determined couldn’t talk to him about.” on the field, by two teams led by two men That has changed, not by admission who are no strangers to competing against but just in observing the two together. each other. As Sawyer continues to get his feet wet, Ranger head coach Brett Sawyer and he will lean on Wilkinson for advice on Lee head coach David Wilkinson first different aspects of the job away from the faced off against each other in fifth grade field. Some issues off the field, the two are in a basketball game. They have competed lock and step in unison with each other, each other in baseball and football grow- specifically on reaching out to the young ing up and even coached against each oth- men they coach and teach them about be- er. And through the heat of competition a ing successful off the field. friendship was forged as fellow students “You can’t save every kid, but your at Texas A&M and coaches within Rich- goal is that you work tirelessly to teach ardson ISD. them what the program is supposed to be It was Sawyer who first became a head about,” Wilkinson said. “You have emo- coach, getting the nod at Sweeney. And tional teens without guidance in a lot of one of his first calls was to Wilkinson, situations.” who agreed to serve as the defensive co- Sawyer said that some kids have been ordinator. And wouldn’t you know it, the taught not to trust through trying to sur- families developed a friendship as tight as vive and the coach is working to gain the those of the two men. trust of the kids. Wilkinson said he kept Call it fate or destiny, but now the two his thoughts to himself when the coach- men will become part of the legend and ing search and subsequent interviews took lore of a rivalry that has stood the test place but felt his friend was the best per- of time. And some might find it ironic son for the Sterling job. the friendship is based on the sharing of “In my heart of hearts, I knew Sterling thoughts and experiences and a love of life needed a man like Brett,” Wilkinson said. than competition. “His moral compass is set. He never wa- “Our friendship is mainly like bounc- vers from what is right.” ing ideas of each other, laughing at stupid Speaking of right, there is some small things,” Wilkinson said. doubt about the first time the future Sawyer explained life as a coach as friends met in competition for the first living on an island. There is a need to time. Wilkinson recalls playing Sawyer’s share with others in the same situation, team in basketball and winning. Submitted photo whether it be to share ideas or ask advice “Y’all were good but we beat you all,” Brett Sawyer and David Wilkinson, shown here during a summertime respite, have known about issues beyond the scope of duties Wilkinson said. each other since fifth grade and become great friends during that time. for assistant coaches. At Sweeney, Saw- yer turned to former West Columbia and See BuDDieS • Page 7C Goose Creek C.I.S.D. salutes The 50th Anniversary Friday, Sept. 2 at Stallworth Stadium Welcome to all the alumni, former players & coaches. Best of luck to all players! 2C The Baytown Sun THE GAME Sunday, August 21, 2016 Rivalry holds fond memories for coach By SuSan PaSSmore ence for Olin. Drew Tate was a four-year starter at quarterback As excitement builds in antici- for Lee from 1999-2002, and was pation of the 50th game between All Big 10 and Offensive MVP the Robert E. Lee High School Big 10 at the University of Iowa Ganders and the Ross S. Sterling in 2003-2007. He has played for Rangers Sept. 2, many former the past 10 years with the Cal- players, coaches gary (Canada) Stampeders. Lake and fans remem- Tate played linebacker from ber the rivalry 1995-1997 for Lee and went on of past games. to play for Texas State Universi- Dick Olin led the ty. He is defensive coordinator at Ganders for 17 Clear Lake High School. of those games Looking back on his career, as head football Olin remembers many of the coach at Rob- players that helped make Lee olin ert E. Lee High a powerhouse. Just a few no- School and has tables were Jermaine Alfred, fond memories about his time as quarterback from 1992-94, who a Gander coach. played at Baylor. Alfred is now “We had a great staff and great offensive coordinator at Clear kids,” said Olin. “In 1992, my Lake High School. All-Stater first year at Lee, we went 0-10. Clint Stoerner was quarterback Coaches who go 0-10 don’t get in 1995, earning a scholarship to to be coaches too long. I told Arkansas and then playing with Marvin Guy, the athletic director, the Dallas Cowboys. that we were not going to win a Ell Robertson III was All-State game, but we would get better if quarterback for the Ganders, I was given a chance. We played went to Kansas State and then Sterling that year, and they beat to Canada to play for two years. us.” Brian Johnson was the Gander In Olin’s second year with the quarterback in 2003 and played Ganders, the team went 5-5, but at the University of Utah. his third year, their 9-3 record Jeremy Moses held the QB took them to the playoffs after position from 2004-2006 and beating Sterling. When a pep ral- played for SFA, where he won ly for their playoff game against the Walter Payton Award. Aldine Eisenhower yielded a Josh Jones, quarterback in sparse attendance, Olin realized 2007, played for the Army at the intensity of the rivalry. West Point. Tim Jirrels started “The attitude was that this for the Ganders in 2008, Olin’s game didn’t matter. The only last season with the Ganders. game that mattered was Ster- Now retired, Olin plays golf, ling,” said Olin. “There is rivalry watches his sons coach and anywhere there are two schools, Sun file photo spends time with his family and grandkids. He also gives advice, but it’s incredible how much em- In a 2005 practice, Lee head coach Dick Olin gives quarterback Jeremy Moses, right, a play as offensive phasis was placed on one game. but only if his kids ask for it, coordinator Clint Riley looks on. Our goal was to go to the play- he says. Daughter Kristen Olin offs and win championships. Our teaches at Lee, so he still gets to goal was not just to beat Sterling. him he needed to do something ling Week, Olin never lost sight state to play. I felt like it was hear about the Lee-Sterling rival- Once we began to de-emphasize with the birds or they would of the fact that every Friday night my responsibility to help them ry. that game, we could focus more die. There are also some rumors they played a rival. He also was get there. We did whatever we Although he can’t recall the on winning the others.” about Olin waiting behind the aware of the influence he and his could. Anytime a coach wanted Ganders’ record during his 17 Olin, however, could not to- bushes ready to egg anyone who staff had on the players. to visit a kid, I called the princi- years at Lee, he has some good tally escape being caught up in came by to egg him, his car or “Kids learn from high school pal to make sure it was OK. They football stories, and he still re- the rivalry. When several geese, his house. Adding to the rivalry football. We never talked to our always supported us — Charles members working with his staff painted Ranger blue, showed was the fact that his wife Martha kids about winning and losing. Hebert, David Hall and Bruce members to help their players up in his yard the night before taught at Sterling, but he admits We talked to our kids about us- Davis — and Bruce had been one as the most important part of his a Lee-Sterling game, he knew she was a good sport about it ing athletics as a means to an of our junior high coaches.” job. he had to take some action. He even at the Sterling pep rallies. end,” said Olin. “We had 137 Having had the opportunity to “We tried to make them better called another coach, Chris Dip- Amidst the decorated halls and kids go someplace with football. coach his sons, Drew and Lake people as well as better players,” pel, a biology teacher, and told exciting pep rallies for Lee-Ster- Sometimes they had to leave the Tate, at Lee was a good experi- said Olin. Sunday, August 21, 2016 THE GAME The Baytown Sun 3C Not his brother’s (record) keeper Cavaretta bests brother’s mark in first game against Rangers BY BETH DOMBROWA Doug Cavarretta didn’t set out to score more touchdowns than his older brother, but a friendly semi-challenge from a sports re- porter, the late Jim Kyle, proba- bly didn’t hurt.