December 8, 2025 • 22 mins
Greg Tepper, the Editor-in-Chief of Dave Campbell's Texas Football, joins the show to discuss all things football in the Lone Star State!
First, they reveal where Texas' FBS schools will play their bowl games and analyze the CFP draw for Texas A&M and Texas Tech.
They also discuss the semifinalists in each classification of Texas High School Football, debating which of the remaining teams are the most surprising and previewing each matchup.
First, they reveal where Texas' FBS schools will play their bowl games and analyze the CFP draw for Texas A&M and Texas Tech.
They also discuss the semifinalists in each classification of Texas High School Football, debating which of the remaining teams are the most surprising and previewing each matchup.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
We're back.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's the Craig Wake Show with Hauto Bak, broadcaster and
voice of the Texas Longhauks. Craig what.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (00:15):
This is an absolute true store. If you've ever opened
up the Born to Run album from Bruce Springsteen, you
see a picture of him with a beard and kind
of curly hair on the inside laughing. This is why
I bring this up. I was in a record store
(00:39):
in like it was like the summer of like nineteen
eighty and I was just thumbing through some records. At
the time, had full beard and I had kind of
curly dark hair, and a girl went up, came up
to me in the store and says, excuse me, are
you Bruce Springsteen?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, I was going to run. No, it actually happened because.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
In my younger days that one photo, I had somebody
show it to me. He said, think it kind looks
like it a little bit. We look nothing alike anymore now.
So anyway, it's normally on Tuesdays we visit with Greg Tepper,
the editor in chief Dave Campbell Texas Football Magazines, and
so I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling
down to the valley and up to Connecticut this week.
(01:22):
It wasn't going to be possible to make that happen
to Mars. So TEP was nice enough to come on
with us today, and I start with this. For folks
who don't know Greg Tepper's true heart pangs, he tweeted
out that Texas A and M's noon kickoff and it's
college football playoff home game against Miami would run counter
(01:47):
to the five A Division two state championship game that
day on Victory Plus. And you're proud to make that claim,
aren't you.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, Look, it's top four. We're all fighting for eyeballs
out there, But I know which one I'll be locked into.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, because you'll work.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I'll be working. I'll be I'll be a little busy
during that time, so someone will have to keep me
up to date on what's going on in Aggie Land
when when Miami takes on A and M. But yeah,
it's uh, it was always going to be like that,
you know. As soon as it became a parent that
Texas was going to get multiple teams in college football playoffs,
it stood to reason that there wasn't going to be
(02:31):
that there weren't going to be multiple teams. Rather, in
the top four. That would be pretty remarkable. Uh. And
so we started talking around here, but like, okay, well,
probably going to be a college football playoff game going
up against the state championship games, uh that week next week,
So you know, is what it is. It's the it's
a fun time here for football at every level.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Hey, it knocked me out of the two six eight
games last year because of Texas Clemson.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I mean, I'm in, I'm in the booth, call in.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
The game, but I've got vandergridt South Carol on television
set on a monitor in the booth. Okay, because because
George Sanders gave me no ind to grief.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
But I can't believe you're not gonna do our game.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah, I'm sorry, sorry, but.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I kind of got a straight get going here.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
I gotta you know, and I can't. I can't really
I understood that. But yeah, that was That's one thing.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So you know next week the day of Camel's crew
will certainly be dividing and conquering, uh, to to make
sure we got it all covered.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
And and by the way, uh, you know, obviously unfortunately
for the Longhorns because of not getting in the playoff,
I will be doing both six games. So I actually
told Drew, I said, well, if you make it this year,
I'll be there for that that kind of thing. So
I said, if you if you make it this year,
for it, Okay, that's you know, that'll that'll be a
good thing there.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Off of that.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Now, by the way, on uh that five A Division
two UH state championship day, that's uh, that's you working
with ted Emrick, isn't it is.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I believe that I'll be in the booths with Teddy
ballgame for that one and maybe a couple of the
more there. Yeah, we're trickling out the assignments and figuring
out where we're all going to be dividing our attention to.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
And by the way, as I mentioned, looking forward to
working with you on the two A Division two the
title game. Will we be seeing Munster going for back
to back?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I do think so. Munster looks like, in my opinion,
the favorite over Groover this week in ac semifinal rematch.
If you remember they played in the semi final last year. Yep,
it was a forty six twenty or forty nine twenty
six game, but honestly wasn't even that close. Group put
on a couple of cosmic touchdowns late.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
I think grew.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I think grew a little bit better. But I also
think Munster's still got that guy in case and Karney.
I think I think they're going to be the favorite.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
All right, before we get too deep in the high school,
let me roll back to college for a moment. Gotta
get your thoughts on the on the committee. I mean,
I know that a lot of Aggies are upset. They
thought they should have done the Miami uh, Miami idle
team jump over Notre Dame. They thought they should have
done the uh that the idle team jump over Old
miss to get in that six verses eleven thing to
(05:17):
give them a more favorable matchup there.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
But how about how about your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Well, let me let me tell you if you're if
you're an Aggie fan, I mean what you know, you know,
let's look get towards them out. You're in, You're in
the You're in the playoffs. There are a bunch of
other teams that wish they're in the playoffs. Uh, it's
a great year period. That said, if you're gonna start
looking at it, this is about as brutal a draw
in the playoff, as you can reasonably expect in that
(05:43):
you will take on Miami in the opener, a hungry
Miami team that is anxious, uh, you know, to prove
that they that they belonged, and they're going to get
talked about in all sorts of mean ways for the
next couple of it, you know, for for about two weeks.
So they're gonna be a motivated Miami team coming down.
If you get past that, well, the good thing is
you can stay within the state of Texas. The bad
(06:03):
thing is Ohio States waiting for you there in the
cotton pool in Arlington. And then if you were to
get packed that you would see likely Georgia in a
semi final. So I will say this and then we'll
have to earn it every single step of the way.
That was seven was probably as far as hosting a
(06:24):
game is concerned, depending on your opinion of Indiana is concerned.
That is probably the most brutal draw that they could
have gotten. For the Aggies and then for Tech, I
would say, look, you know, you get the four seed,
you get a buy, you can get three weeks off
and get to get to sit back. I thought that
it was very interesting. Somebody asked Joey maguire about how
(06:46):
they prepare, how much preparation they're doing for James Madison,
who's taking on Oregon, and he said, you know, not
not a whole He said, they're not a couple of
gas watching it, you know, just in case. But he said,
they're all eyes on are on Oregon. And then yeah,
a trip to Miami awaits for the U for them,
So it's a it's a really really I thought, I
thought a relatively strong drawl there for Texas Tech, considering
(07:10):
they probably weren't going to move up. Uh, but but
you know, Oregon's gonna be no treat. But that'll be
a really really fun matchup, assuming it's going to be
Tech in Oregon and they take they have no problems
with James Madison.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Yeah, you know the thing that heard that The biggest
quote on cooint I used the term loosely complain. If
there is one from Taxa Tech fans is they said,
this the one bad size. They don't get to those
the playoff game can because you can imagine what that
atmosphere would be like in Lubbock if they got to
play a home playoff game.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Look that's that's you know, it's one of those things.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Where you're going to be in the elite eight playing
a simple and you probably take that every step of
the way. But there it was a no loose situation.
You know, if they were four, then they would have
been in the situation they are. If they were five
and they were playing James Madison Will, they'd be pretty
heavy favorites and they could have a really really exciting
home game against a team that they're they're in my opinion,
pre significantly better than. But for Tech, what a weekend
(08:01):
to get that win over over BYU and to really
flex on a national stage h and show that there's
a different programs. The defense stood on his head, I
mean four turnovers and and then just just harassing b
YU basically and and my friends stats a war Parker
who tweets about this stuff. He's got, he's had, he's
(08:21):
been on this on BYU for a while. B Y
is very good on scripted drives. And then after the
scripted drives they kind of don't really have. That's when
you really know what they're about. And basically after that
first drive text text snuffed them out something fierce, and
I thought that was very quch.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
The concern for me.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
For Tech would be that they've got to start finishing drives.
They've got to they've got a these This field goal
parade in the red zone ain't going to cut it
in the playoffs. But that's a problem for three weeks
from now. Now they can just sit back and enjoy
something they haven't had since the mid nineteen fifties.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Absolutely, And and let me get your thoughts on on
a couple other things. Unfortunate for North Texas. They don't
win the American they're going to the New Mexico New
Mexico Bowl. And I said, listen, it's a good thing
to get to go to a bowl game. And I
had somebody on the text line say, is North Texas
really happy to go to New Mexico? Is it the
best use of resources, new staff, new team? How best
(09:13):
is the team and the staff in this game? I'll
tell you this from talking to the people in Debt
and I've talked to They're happy to go to a
bowl game. Did they want to be in the playoff,
of course, would they like to have been maybe a
little higher up in the in the pecking order on
the bowl, Yes, But they're happy to go to a
bowl game, the players are invested in it, and Neil
Brown will wait his time to take over the program.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I mean, like, let's remember here that bowl games have
not necessarily been a guarantee for North Texas. I mean,
I mean, first of all, they haven't won a bowl
game since twenty thirteen. They've got two bowl wins in
their program history. So like that that whole idea of
being like, oh, oh, I wish we would have gone
(09:56):
to a better bowl. Yeah, I understand that it could
have been a lot more. But at the same time,
if you're in North Texas, I think that you don't
necessarily look to, you know, look down on opportunity like this.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
And you're right.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
The biggest thing for me is that even with a
new coaching staff kind of coming in and then stuff
like that, this gives your guys uh uh, you know,
basically an entire uh spring term of practice. You know,
you get three weeks of practice to get ready for
a bowl game and stuff like that. Use that to
your advantage, use that to get better for twenty twenty
six and hopefully make another run at this thing. And
(10:29):
I think you know, if you're if you're in North Texas. Uh.
I think that that going to a bowl playing and
simple is pretty big. And if they can come away
with a win and do that would be something they
haven't done in a decade, and they just haven't done
all that often in their program history. I think there's
still a lot out in front of North Texas here
in this postseason.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Yeah, I do too, And you're right.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
If you use two hands, I think now you can
count the total number of Bowl appearances for North Texas.
So it's it's not the it hadn't gone stale for them,
and I'll tell you somebody else it hadn't gone So
how about your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Check take rallies back.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
They get three more wins and they're gonna play Rice
and and yeah Rice is five and seven out of that,
but there were several five and seven teams that had
opportunities turned it down. Rice is happy to go when
they're gonna play Texas, stay in the ball game and
could be a pretty good ball game.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah. You know, here's the one thing is I think
there's a lot to gain for both of these programs
that are going to enter twenty twenty five or twenty
twenty six rather looking for kind of that next step,
you know, for Texas Stato as a falling back to Earth,
although they rallied late to make a bowl to take
on an in state rival, you know in Rice, I
think is a really really nice opportunity for them. And
(11:36):
then for Rice, look, sometimes it pays being the nerd school,
right number one, you know in the APR, so they
get the first the first crack out of whatever. You know,
they're not enough six and sixteens, and sure enough they
get that opportunity. And for Scott Abail, I guarantee you
they were leaping at that opportunity to say yes, yes, yes,
you know, for a first year coach, to get that
extra rep time, to get those extra those extra weeks
(11:59):
with your guy and preparing for something, preparing for a
meaningful football game, I think that's huge for study, it
on companies.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
So so yeah, I think there's a lot.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Of winners there and and it'll be fun because I
think that you're gonna get You're gonna have two teams
that have something. You know, if you believe in season
and season momentum, this is the kind of thing that
you just say, all right, this can we can go
into the off season, feeling really good about ourselves, feeling
very good, and especially if you're rice the end the
season with a win, I think would be really really
strong for the Owls that they could pull it off.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Talking football and the Lone Stars take with Greg Tepper,
editor in chief of Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine. All right,
let me, uh, let's jump to the high school thing.
And I thought about this, and I thought, you know,
here's here's an interesting way to put this to you
at at the start of the year when you're you're
looking at it, and and and we'll go classification by classification.
(12:53):
We're down to the final four in each and of
course the state championship matchups already now set for six man.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
But let's start in six A.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Alan Duncanville, North Shore, Lake Travis. If and I use
the word if there's a surprise out of these four,
which is it, I mean, I.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Suppose it's Allan. You know that they were able to
d throne North Crowley, but I think that that all
four of them pretty chalky picks. And and yeah, I
think you know for Lake Trump's, you know, it's interting
that Lee Travis. I looked up that this is their
first semi final since twenty twenty one. You know, that's
the longest drought for Lake Travis to four through six.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
You know, it's like a good you know, good for
Lake Travis. Those those three are long years. Be submit
to the final four to speak to the caliber program
that Hank Carter's running.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
All right, I would say I would know the answer
to this next one, but I'll let you decide. Uh
in six A D two South Lake, Carrol de Soto,
see E King, Sheldon see E King of Houston, and Vandergrift.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Of those four, which is the most surprising, I.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Think, I know what you can say, Ye, it's see yeah, see,
I mean their first ever trip to a semifinal.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Corey Laxon, the former Rice star doing great things there.
And then yeah, they are going to be a handful
out of the Houston area and especially considering they came
out of that district this three twenty three six they
I mean, then it's the playoffs last year. I mean,
it's like for them to be in the semi final
is pretty remarkable.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Would it be sick to say though?
Speaker 4 (14:22):
That? Certainly with all the injuries Vandergriff sustained and they
were kind of limping into the playoffs facing Westlake and
by district. Would you say at that point from there
to get back to the semifinal round is a little
bit of an eyebrow raiser.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Yeah. I think they walked a really difficult path. I
mean because they had to take on west Lake that
needs own introduction, and then for hid the two games
in the middle they had to go, and they to
avenge a pretty lopsided loss from week one against Dripping
Springs and show how far especially that defense has come.
So yeah, I think that you know, from from week
(14:58):
ten to now, yeah, would be among the most surprising.
But from the preseason, see king would be that would be.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
This pres all right five A D one Alito, lone Star,
Port Arthur Memorial and Smithson.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Valley probably pour up a memorial. The boys from the
four h nine, you know, undefeated, they are fun to watch.
Their explosive I think they're but but I didn't us
look at Loan Star. We had high hope for them
that they would have had to get past Highland Park,
which they did with a seven hundred and forty yard
explosion last week. So uh, yeah. They Uh, those would
(15:30):
be the two that would be in one in two.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
In some order, Melissa South, o'cliff, Richmond Randall and Bernie
in five eighty two.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
What's so funny?
Speaker 1 (15:40):
So like the answers of Melissa, because you know, there.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Is a team that missed the playoffs last year and
they're in there.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
But we'll consider Bernie.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Bernie late in the offseason loses their coach and their
quarterback when Shaye Hendrick takes a job on the staff
in the University of Arkansas, and suddenly they just like
up been back in the state semifinal. So already, certainly
it has an argument, but I think the answer is
clearly the champions of Region one.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
All right, Uh speaking of Region one, Stevenville, I know
that's not a surprise Stevenville, seliandt what a what a
great semi final? That is kil Gore and Laverna again Lavernia, Yeah,
I was.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Back to back regional champions for Brian Noll. They they are,
They're the team you can't kill in the playoffs. I
would say that all all, all four of them are
not necessarily surprised, but but Laverna is the most surprising.
If only because you know, it feels like they were
a team that that maybe Region four was gettable, was gettable,
but but but Lavernia rises the occasion. And you're right
(16:40):
Stevenville Salina. I mentioned this on my program that this
is for for high school football history buffs that is
that just means something to them. Stevenville Silanti is good
at a Greek.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Football Absolutely for you do too, brought Carthage, west Orn, Stark,
and Sentin.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Uh the answer Westworn start? Yeah, how about Hiawafa Hickman
getting them back to what they do well, which is
just running game and defense. Uh, they're they're They're running back.
Elvy Jefferson, all five foot three of them. He is
fun to watch. If you've never seen that little water bug,
he is a lot of fun to watch.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
But yeah, what's our start back into a semi final?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Not sure where to begin with this? One?
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Three A D one, Peter grand View, yoakum Mitlanto.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
All of them. Yeah, this is the first time that
I have ever I mean.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
This, I went oh for four on my regional.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Final picks for in three eighty one.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
The Bay Cables computer.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
All four of those teams were underdogs. All four of
them uh and and I think probably among those it's
it's probably Yoakum simply because they had to get through
a district where they played Hitchcock and then they had
to beat the defending state champs in Columbus. Although Grandview
has been a real surprise too. I mean they've all
been huge surprises. It's three A Division one. We mentioned
(18:00):
it in the all you know before the playoffs that
three division one has been the most chaotic division, and
sure enough it's given us a chaotic final four.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Does anybody even fall into the category? However, the opposite
on three A two Wall Gunner, Newton and East Bernard.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
He answered, East Bernard, and I'll tell you why because
East Bernard in week eleven lost to tighte Haven by
fifty three points. It's then a month later last week
in the regional final they beat tighte Haven thirty four
thirty one. And so you know, as far as upset,
you know, surprise are concerned, they would be the one.
(18:38):
The rest of them are about shock.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
As they come. Okay, all right to a D one.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Didn't you say Joaquin's charmed life has to end.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
At some point?
Speaker 4 (18:48):
You got you got West Texas Hambledon joaquinan Refuria.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Uh it is the answers are either Region one or
Region three. So to net West Texas is in their
first semifinals since nineteen ninety five in West Sex. They're
fired up up there, Instinet. But then Joaquin, I mean,
at this point, we can't be surprised. I mean, hashtag
playoff Joaquin is a real thing. They finished fourth through
in their district last year and made the semi finals.
(19:13):
Now they finished third in their district and they make
the semifinals. They just they hit the playoffs and they
just become a different team, and it's it's kind of
wild to watch, all right.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
And then to eighty two we mentioned probably Monster over
that and then Mount the Enterprise and Shiner. I guess
Mount the Enterprise is the is the eyebrow raser razor
here for a very good reason.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Okay, Mount Enterprise.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Obviously, the headline.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
There is Kagan ash now the all time single season
rushing leader. He's going to break Kenhall's career record this
week as well. He's only like eighty yards away from it.
I mean, a remarkable, remarkable career. To the text segment,
but this is the most interesting team in the playoffs.
Because they're averaging sixty one points per game and they're
given up thirty five. Okay, I want to put.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
To you this way. Into a Division two.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
The Rawls Jack Rabbits gave up thirty three points per game,
so they were a better defensive team statistically. The Mount
Enterprise and Ralls went one and nine. Okay they are
Mount Enterprise is the crazy guy in the fight. And
it is like and now they take on Shiner and
I have no idea what's going to happen?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Yeah, all right, So in other words, is Mount Enterprise
this year's version of what was a Belleville two years
ago had given up Alo's points.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
It was Gilmert Gilbert that's that last year?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Well three Gilmert Yeah, uh toy point three Gilmert. Where
their their defense was like bottom half of of the
of the the four Division two And you just don't
see that, Like you you've been around long enough. It's like, okay,
generally speaking, you don't have to be like a defensive juggernaut,
but you can't be a defensive liability to make a
deep run. But Gilmour won a title in twenty twenty
(20:52):
three Mount Enterprise.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Like what why not us yeah, no doubt. Okay, all right,
here's the meanest thing. We do give you three games.
You pick one and the the choices are six A
D one, Alan Duncanville for a D two, Brought Carthage
free a D two Wall Gunner.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Oh, Craig, why would you do this to me?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Especially the last Yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Think it's brought Carthage.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Battle of unbeatens big stadium there in Mesquite. It's the
defending state champs in Carthage against the undisputed number one
contender to the crown. It's probably brought Carthage, but Wall
Gunner is gonna be hillatious. And then Alan Duncanville. The
(21:47):
storyline there of you know, you go back to twenty
eighteen when Duncanville beat Allen and that was kind of
the end of the Allen era at the beginning of
the Duncanville era, and now Allen has an opportunity to
like return in the favor. The storyline is so good there.
But I think I'm gonna go to Carthage and Brock.
That's where I'm heaving.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
He is the Greg Tepper, editor in chief of Dave
Campbell's Texas Football magazine. I appreciate it, and we'll look
forward to visiting state championship week.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I'm looking forward to my friend, all right.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
Thanks, that's Stepper all right. We have more coming up
on thirteen Hunder of the Zone
We're back.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
It's the Craig Wake Show with Hauto Bak, broadcaster and
voice of the Texas Longhauks. Craig what.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Okay?
Speaker 4 (00:15):
This is an absolute true store. If you've ever opened
up the Born to Run album from Bruce Springsteen, you
see a picture of him with a beard and kind
of curly hair on the inside laughing. This is why
I bring this up. I was in a record store
(00:39):
in like it was like the summer of like nineteen
eighty and I was just thumbing through some records. At
the time, had full beard and I had kind of
curly dark hair, and a girl went up, came up
to me in the store and says, excuse me, are
you Bruce Springsteen?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, I was going to run. No, it actually happened because.
Speaker 4 (01:02):
In my younger days that one photo, I had somebody
show it to me. He said, think it kind looks
like it a little bit. We look nothing alike anymore now.
So anyway, it's normally on Tuesdays we visit with Greg Tepper,
the editor in chief Dave Campbell Texas Football Magazines, and
so I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling
down to the valley and up to Connecticut this week.
(01:22):
It wasn't going to be possible to make that happen
to Mars. So TEP was nice enough to come on
with us today, and I start with this. For folks
who don't know Greg Tepper's true heart pangs, he tweeted
out that Texas A and M's noon kickoff and it's
college football playoff home game against Miami would run counter
(01:47):
to the five A Division two state championship game that
day on Victory Plus. And you're proud to make that claim,
aren't you.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Yeah, Look, it's top four. We're all fighting for eyeballs
out there, But I know which one I'll be locked into.
Speaker 3 (02:05):
Yeah, because you'll work.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
I'll be working. I'll be I'll be a little busy
during that time, so someone will have to keep me
up to date on what's going on in Aggie Land
when when Miami takes on A and M. But yeah,
it's uh, it was always going to be like that,
you know. As soon as it became a parent that
Texas was going to get multiple teams in college football playoffs,
it stood to reason that there wasn't going to be
(02:31):
that there weren't going to be multiple teams. Rather, in
the top four. That would be pretty remarkable. Uh. And
so we started talking around here, but like, okay, well,
probably going to be a college football playoff game going
up against the state championship games, uh that week next week,
So you know, is what it is. It's the it's
a fun time here for football at every level.
Speaker 4 (02:51):
Hey, it knocked me out of the two six eight
games last year because of Texas Clemson.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
I mean, I'm in, I'm in the booth, call in.
Speaker 4 (02:57):
The game, but I've got vandergridt South Carol on television
set on a monitor in the booth. Okay, because because
George Sanders gave me no ind to grief.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
But I can't believe you're not gonna do our game.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Yeah, I'm sorry, sorry, but.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
I kind of got a straight get going here.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
I gotta you know, and I can't. I can't really
I understood that. But yeah, that was That's one thing.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
So you know next week the day of Camel's crew
will certainly be dividing and conquering, uh, to to make
sure we got it all covered.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
And and by the way, uh, you know, obviously unfortunately
for the Longhorns because of not getting in the playoff,
I will be doing both six games. So I actually
told Drew, I said, well, if you make it this year,
I'll be there for that that kind of thing. So
I said, if you if you make it this year,
for it, Okay, that's you know, that'll that'll be a
good thing there.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
Off of that.
Speaker 4 (03:44):
Now, by the way, on uh that five A Division
two UH state championship day, that's uh, that's you working
with ted Emrick, isn't it is.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I believe that I'll be in the booths with Teddy
ballgame for that one and maybe a couple of the
more there. Yeah, we're trickling out the assignments and figuring
out where we're all going to be dividing our attention to.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
And by the way, as I mentioned, looking forward to
working with you on the two A Division two the
title game. Will we be seeing Munster going for back
to back?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
I do think so. Munster looks like, in my opinion,
the favorite over Groover this week in ac semifinal rematch.
If you remember they played in the semi final last year. Yep,
it was a forty six twenty or forty nine twenty
six game, but honestly wasn't even that close. Group put
on a couple of cosmic touchdowns late.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
I think grew.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
I think grew a little bit better. But I also
think Munster's still got that guy in case and Karney.
I think I think they're going to be the favorite.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
All right, before we get too deep in the high school,
let me roll back to college for a moment. Gotta
get your thoughts on the on the committee. I mean,
I know that a lot of Aggies are upset. They
thought they should have done the Miami uh, Miami idle
team jump over Notre Dame. They thought they should have
done the uh that the idle team jump over Old
miss to get in that six verses eleven thing to
(05:17):
give them a more favorable matchup there.
Speaker 3 (05:20):
But how about how about your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Well, let me let me tell you if you're if
you're an Aggie fan, I mean what you know, you know,
let's look get towards them out. You're in, You're in
the You're in the playoffs. There are a bunch of
other teams that wish they're in the playoffs. Uh, it's
a great year period. That said, if you're gonna start
looking at it, this is about as brutal a draw
in the playoff, as you can reasonably expect in that
(05:43):
you will take on Miami in the opener, a hungry
Miami team that is anxious, uh, you know, to prove
that they that they belonged, and they're going to get
talked about in all sorts of mean ways for the
next couple of it, you know, for for about two weeks.
So they're gonna be a motivated Miami team coming down.
If you get past that, well, the good thing is
you can stay within the state of Texas. The bad
(06:03):
thing is Ohio States waiting for you there in the
cotton pool in Arlington. And then if you were to
get packed that you would see likely Georgia in a
semi final. So I will say this and then we'll
have to earn it every single step of the way.
That was seven was probably as far as hosting a
(06:24):
game is concerned, depending on your opinion of Indiana is concerned.
That is probably the most brutal draw that they could
have gotten. For the Aggies and then for Tech, I
would say, look, you know, you get the four seed,
you get a buy, you can get three weeks off
and get to get to sit back. I thought that
it was very interesting. Somebody asked Joey maguire about how
(06:46):
they prepare, how much preparation they're doing for James Madison,
who's taking on Oregon, and he said, you know, not
not a whole He said, they're not a couple of
gas watching it, you know, just in case. But he said,
they're all eyes on are on Oregon. And then yeah,
a trip to Miami awaits for the U for them,
So it's a it's a really really I thought, I
thought a relatively strong drawl there for Texas Tech, considering
(07:10):
they probably weren't going to move up. Uh, but but
you know, Oregon's gonna be no treat. But that'll be
a really really fun matchup, assuming it's going to be
Tech in Oregon and they take they have no problems
with James Madison.
Speaker 4 (07:21):
Yeah, you know the thing that heard that The biggest
quote on cooint I used the term loosely complain. If
there is one from Taxa Tech fans is they said,
this the one bad size. They don't get to those
the playoff game can because you can imagine what that
atmosphere would be like in Lubbock if they got to
play a home playoff game.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Look that's that's you know, it's one of those things.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Where you're going to be in the elite eight playing
a simple and you probably take that every step of
the way. But there it was a no loose situation.
You know, if they were four, then they would have
been in the situation they are. If they were five
and they were playing James Madison Will, they'd be pretty
heavy favorites and they could have a really really exciting
home game against a team that they're they're in my opinion,
pre significantly better than. But for Tech, what a weekend
(08:01):
to get that win over over BYU and to really
flex on a national stage h and show that there's
a different programs. The defense stood on his head, I
mean four turnovers and and then just just harassing b
YU basically and and my friends stats a war Parker
who tweets about this stuff. He's got, he's had, he's
(08:21):
been on this on BYU for a while. B Y
is very good on scripted drives. And then after the
scripted drives they kind of don't really have. That's when
you really know what they're about. And basically after that
first drive text text snuffed them out something fierce, and
I thought that was very quch.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
The concern for me.
Speaker 2 (08:38):
For Tech would be that they've got to start finishing drives.
They've got to they've got a these This field goal
parade in the red zone ain't going to cut it
in the playoffs. But that's a problem for three weeks
from now. Now they can just sit back and enjoy
something they haven't had since the mid nineteen fifties.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
Absolutely, And and let me get your thoughts on on
a couple other things. Unfortunate for North Texas. They don't
win the American they're going to the New Mexico New
Mexico Bowl. And I said, listen, it's a good thing
to get to go to a bowl game. And I
had somebody on the text line say, is North Texas
really happy to go to New Mexico? Is it the
best use of resources, new staff, new team? How best
(09:13):
is the team and the staff in this game? I'll
tell you this from talking to the people in Debt
and I've talked to They're happy to go to a
bowl game. Did they want to be in the playoff,
of course, would they like to have been maybe a
little higher up in the in the pecking order on
the bowl, Yes, But they're happy to go to a
bowl game, the players are invested in it, and Neil
Brown will wait his time to take over the program.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
I mean, like, let's remember here that bowl games have
not necessarily been a guarantee for North Texas. I mean,
I mean, first of all, they haven't won a bowl
game since twenty thirteen. They've got two bowl wins in
their program history. So like that that whole idea of
being like, oh, oh, I wish we would have gone
(09:56):
to a better bowl. Yeah, I understand that it could
have been a lot more. But at the same time,
if you're in North Texas, I think that you don't
necessarily look to, you know, look down on opportunity like this.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
And you're right.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
The biggest thing for me is that even with a
new coaching staff kind of coming in and then stuff
like that, this gives your guys uh uh, you know,
basically an entire uh spring term of practice. You know,
you get three weeks of practice to get ready for
a bowl game and stuff like that. Use that to
your advantage, use that to get better for twenty twenty
six and hopefully make another run at this thing. And
(10:29):
I think you know, if you're if you're in North Texas. Uh.
I think that that going to a bowl playing and
simple is pretty big. And if they can come away
with a win and do that would be something they
haven't done in a decade, and they just haven't done
all that often in their program history. I think there's
still a lot out in front of North Texas here
in this postseason.
Speaker 3 (10:45):
Yeah, I do too, And you're right.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
If you use two hands, I think now you can
count the total number of Bowl appearances for North Texas.
So it's it's not the it hadn't gone stale for them,
and I'll tell you somebody else it hadn't gone So
how about your thoughts?
Speaker 3 (10:59):
Check take rallies back.
Speaker 4 (11:01):
They get three more wins and they're gonna play Rice
and and yeah Rice is five and seven out of that,
but there were several five and seven teams that had
opportunities turned it down. Rice is happy to go when
they're gonna play Texas, stay in the ball game and
could be a pretty good ball game.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
Yeah. You know, here's the one thing is I think
there's a lot to gain for both of these programs
that are going to enter twenty twenty five or twenty
twenty six rather looking for kind of that next step,
you know, for Texas Stato as a falling back to Earth,
although they rallied late to make a bowl to take
on an in state rival, you know in Rice, I
think is a really really nice opportunity for them. And
(11:36):
then for Rice, look, sometimes it pays being the nerd school,
right number one, you know in the APR, so they
get the first the first crack out of whatever. You know,
they're not enough six and sixteens, and sure enough they
get that opportunity. And for Scott Abail, I guarantee you
they were leaping at that opportunity to say yes, yes, yes,
you know, for a first year coach, to get that
extra rep time, to get those extra those extra weeks
(11:59):
with your guy and preparing for something, preparing for a
meaningful football game, I think that's huge for study, it
on companies.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
So so yeah, I think there's a lot.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
Of winners there and and it'll be fun because I
think that you're gonna get You're gonna have two teams
that have something. You know, if you believe in season
and season momentum, this is the kind of thing that
you just say, all right, this can we can go
into the off season, feeling really good about ourselves, feeling
very good, and especially if you're rice the end the
season with a win, I think would be really really
strong for the Owls that they could pull it off.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
Talking football and the Lone Stars take with Greg Tepper,
editor in chief of Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine. All right,
let me, uh, let's jump to the high school thing.
And I thought about this, and I thought, you know,
here's here's an interesting way to put this to you
at at the start of the year when you're you're
looking at it, and and and we'll go classification by classification.
(12:53):
We're down to the final four in each and of
course the state championship matchups already now set for six man.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
But let's start in six A.
Speaker 4 (12:58):
Alan Duncanville, North Shore, Lake Travis. If and I use
the word if there's a surprise out of these four,
which is it, I mean, I.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Suppose it's Allan. You know that they were able to
d throne North Crowley, but I think that that all
four of them pretty chalky picks. And and yeah, I
think you know for Lake Trump's, you know, it's interting
that Lee Travis. I looked up that this is their
first semi final since twenty twenty one. You know, that's
the longest drought for Lake Travis to four through six.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
You know, it's like a good you know, good for
Lake Travis. Those those three are long years. Be submit
to the final four to speak to the caliber program
that Hank Carter's running.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
All right, I would say I would know the answer
to this next one, but I'll let you decide. Uh
in six A D two South Lake, Carrol de Soto,
see E King, Sheldon see E King of Houston, and Vandergrift.
Speaker 3 (13:53):
Of those four, which is the most surprising, I.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Think, I know what you can say, Ye, it's see yeah, see,
I mean their first ever trip to a semifinal.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
Corey Laxon, the former Rice star doing great things there.
And then yeah, they are going to be a handful
out of the Houston area and especially considering they came
out of that district this three twenty three six they
I mean, then it's the playoffs last year. I mean,
it's like for them to be in the semi final
is pretty remarkable.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Would it be sick to say though?
Speaker 4 (14:22):
That? Certainly with all the injuries Vandergriff sustained and they
were kind of limping into the playoffs facing Westlake and
by district. Would you say at that point from there
to get back to the semifinal round is a little
bit of an eyebrow raiser.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Yeah. I think they walked a really difficult path. I
mean because they had to take on west Lake that
needs own introduction, and then for hid the two games
in the middle they had to go, and they to
avenge a pretty lopsided loss from week one against Dripping
Springs and show how far especially that defense has come.
So yeah, I think that you know, from from week
(14:58):
ten to now, yeah, would be among the most surprising.
But from the preseason, see king would be that would be.
Speaker 4 (15:04):
This pres all right five A D one Alito, lone Star,
Port Arthur Memorial and Smithson.
Speaker 2 (15:08):
Valley probably pour up a memorial. The boys from the
four h nine, you know, undefeated, they are fun to watch.
Their explosive I think they're but but I didn't us
look at Loan Star. We had high hope for them
that they would have had to get past Highland Park,
which they did with a seven hundred and forty yard
explosion last week. So uh, yeah. They Uh, those would
(15:30):
be the two that would be in one in two.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
In some order, Melissa South, o'cliff, Richmond Randall and Bernie
in five eighty two.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
What's so funny?
Speaker 1 (15:40):
So like the answers of Melissa, because you know, there.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Is a team that missed the playoffs last year and
they're in there.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
But we'll consider Bernie.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
Bernie late in the offseason loses their coach and their
quarterback when Shaye Hendrick takes a job on the staff
in the University of Arkansas, and suddenly they just like
up been back in the state semifinal. So already, certainly
it has an argument, but I think the answer is
clearly the champions of Region one.
Speaker 4 (16:06):
All right, Uh speaking of Region one, Stevenville, I know
that's not a surprise Stevenville, seliandt what a what a
great semi final? That is kil Gore and Laverna again Lavernia, Yeah,
I was.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Back to back regional champions for Brian Noll. They they are,
They're the team you can't kill in the playoffs. I
would say that all all, all four of them are
not necessarily surprised, but but Laverna is the most surprising.
If only because you know, it feels like they were
a team that that maybe Region four was gettable, was gettable,
but but but Lavernia rises the occasion. And you're right
(16:40):
Stevenville Salina. I mentioned this on my program that this
is for for high school football history buffs that is
that just means something to them. Stevenville Silanti is good
at a Greek.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
Football Absolutely for you do too, brought Carthage, west Orn, Stark,
and Sentin.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Uh the answer Westworn start? Yeah, how about Hiawafa Hickman
getting them back to what they do well, which is
just running game and defense. Uh, they're they're They're running back.
Elvy Jefferson, all five foot three of them. He is
fun to watch. If you've never seen that little water bug,
he is a lot of fun to watch.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
But yeah, what's our start back into a semi final?
Speaker 3 (17:18):
Not sure where to begin with this? One?
Speaker 4 (17:20):
Three A D one, Peter grand View, yoakum Mitlanto.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
All of them. Yeah, this is the first time that
I have ever I mean.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
This, I went oh for four on my regional.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
Final picks for in three eighty one.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
The Bay Cables computer.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
All four of those teams were underdogs. All four of
them uh and and I think probably among those it's
it's probably Yoakum simply because they had to get through
a district where they played Hitchcock and then they had
to beat the defending state champs in Columbus. Although Grandview
has been a real surprise too. I mean they've all
been huge surprises. It's three A Division one. We mentioned
(18:00):
it in the all you know before the playoffs that
three division one has been the most chaotic division, and
sure enough it's given us a chaotic final four.
Speaker 4 (18:09):
Does anybody even fall into the category? However, the opposite
on three A two Wall Gunner, Newton and East Bernard.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
He answered, East Bernard, and I'll tell you why because
East Bernard in week eleven lost to tighte Haven by
fifty three points. It's then a month later last week
in the regional final they beat tighte Haven thirty four
thirty one. And so you know, as far as upset,
you know, surprise are concerned, they would be the one.
(18:38):
The rest of them are about shock.
Speaker 3 (18:39):
As they come. Okay, all right to a D one.
Speaker 4 (18:43):
Didn't you say Joaquin's charmed life has to end.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
At some point?
Speaker 4 (18:48):
You got you got West Texas Hambledon joaquinan Refuria.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Uh it is the answers are either Region one or
Region three. So to net West Texas is in their
first semifinals since nineteen ninety five in West Sex. They're
fired up up there, Instinet. But then Joaquin, I mean,
at this point, we can't be surprised. I mean, hashtag
playoff Joaquin is a real thing. They finished fourth through
in their district last year and made the semi finals.
(19:13):
Now they finished third in their district and they make
the semifinals. They just they hit the playoffs and they
just become a different team, and it's it's kind of
wild to watch, all right.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
And then to eighty two we mentioned probably Monster over
that and then Mount the Enterprise and Shiner. I guess
Mount the Enterprise is the is the eyebrow raser razor
here for a very good reason.
Speaker 2 (19:34):
Okay, Mount Enterprise.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
Obviously, the headline.
Speaker 2 (19:37):
There is Kagan ash now the all time single season
rushing leader. He's going to break Kenhall's career record this
week as well. He's only like eighty yards away from it.
I mean, a remarkable, remarkable career. To the text segment,
but this is the most interesting team in the playoffs.
Because they're averaging sixty one points per game and they're
given up thirty five. Okay, I want to put.
Speaker 1 (19:59):
To you this way. Into a Division two.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
The Rawls Jack Rabbits gave up thirty three points per game,
so they were a better defensive team statistically. The Mount
Enterprise and Ralls went one and nine. Okay they are
Mount Enterprise is the crazy guy in the fight. And
it is like and now they take on Shiner and
I have no idea what's going to happen?
Speaker 4 (20:21):
Yeah, all right, So in other words, is Mount Enterprise
this year's version of what was a Belleville two years
ago had given up Alo's points.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
It was Gilmert Gilbert that's that last year?
Speaker 2 (20:31):
Well three Gilmert Yeah, uh toy point three Gilmert. Where
their their defense was like bottom half of of the
of the the four Division two And you just don't
see that, Like you you've been around long enough. It's like, okay,
generally speaking, you don't have to be like a defensive juggernaut,
but you can't be a defensive liability to make a
deep run. But Gilmour won a title in twenty twenty
(20:52):
three Mount Enterprise.
Speaker 4 (20:53):
Like what why not us yeah, no doubt. Okay, all right,
here's the meanest thing. We do give you three games.
You pick one and the the choices are six A
D one, Alan Duncanville for a D two, Brought Carthage
free a D two Wall Gunner.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Oh, Craig, why would you do this to me?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Especially the last Yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
Think it's brought Carthage.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Battle of unbeatens big stadium there in Mesquite. It's the
defending state champs in Carthage against the undisputed number one
contender to the crown. It's probably brought Carthage, but Wall
Gunner is gonna be hillatious. And then Alan Duncanville. The
(21:47):
storyline there of you know, you go back to twenty
eighteen when Duncanville beat Allen and that was kind of
the end of the Allen era at the beginning of
the Duncanville era, and now Allen has an opportunity to
like return in the favor. The storyline is so good there.
But I think I'm gonna go to Carthage and Brock.
That's where I'm heaving.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
Okay, all right.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
He is the Greg Tepper, editor in chief of Dave
Campbell's Texas Football magazine. I appreciate it, and we'll look
forward to visiting state championship week.
Speaker 2 (22:16):
I'm looking forward to my friend, all right.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
Thanks, that's Stepper all right. We have more coming up
on thirteen Hunder of the Zone
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