Dobie senior Raymond Bashinski, a student at L.P. Card, has been awarded the General Motors John Smith Memorial Scholarship. Bashinski is one of only five students in the U.S. to receive this award. 
  The John Smith Scholarship is awarded each year to the most deserving Automotive Youth Education Systems (AYES) students in the U.S. Smith, a former CEO of General Motors, was instrumental in establishing the program as an initiative to meet the demand for skilled technicians in today's industry.
  The program allows students from quality secondary automotive programs to participate in a site-based internship at a dealership and work alongside mentor technicians.
  For the last 18 months, Bashinski has worked at Monument Chevrolet. He plans to continue his education and training in San Jacinto College's automotive service program. 
  Upon completion, Bashinski will graduate with an associate degree in applied science and a full-time position at his sponsoring dealer, Monument Chevrolet.

Lindsay Bellus with history teacher Bob Daugherty, flanked (in all photos) by Chris Bezdek, president of the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation, and Dennis and Michele Lamm, MDL Enterprise, Inc.

Duyen Dinh with art teacher Amy Crowder.

Jorge Fuentes with AP Physics teacher Jeanne Parlangeli.

Samantha Gomes with health science teacher Erin Kramer.

Phuong Ly with Pre-AP Biology teacher Maureen Nweke.

Ahmad Mohamad with GEAR UP campus coordinator Stefanie McKinney.

Trang Pham with chemistry teacher Dianne Berreth.

Tony Tieu with English teacher Marissa Alexander.

Carol Tran with Latin teacher Lisa Barrett.

Eric Wilson with history teacher Jody Janis.

Ian Boswell with physics teacher Christopher Stewart, flanked (in all photos) by Chris Bezdek, president of the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation, and Dennis and Michele Lamm, MDL Enterprise, Inc.

Noelle Cook with Patricia Jackson, her seventh-grade math teacher at South Houston Intermediate, now a counselor at Melillo Middle School.

Hilda Flores with math teacher Thomas Glos.

Raul Garcia with Spanish teacher and soccer coach Agustin Loredo.

Connie Le with tennis coach Deena Augst Delarosa.

Denielle Monroe with AP English teacher Elizabeth Alanis.

Meet Patel with English teacher Holly Bazan.

Susana Reyna with Pre-AP biology teacher Debbie McNabb.

Ismael Rosas with world geography teacher Matthew Koska.

Ann Tran with biology teacher Paul Gutierrez.

Erik Aguirre with AP Calculus teacher Keesha Bruce, flanked (in all photos) by Chris Bezdek, president of the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation, and Dennis and Michele Lamm, MDL Enterprise, Inc.

Jacqueline Cardenas with orchestra director Michael Bonas.

Kera Chambers with AP English Literature teacher Mary-Jennifer Que.

Jackeline Gonzalez with GEAR UP campus coordinator Pileirol Retta.

Maricarmen Medina with architectural design teacher Fuad Loutfi.

Amanda Rebeca Perez and Pre-AP Chemistry teacher Christina Reyna.

Sergio Rodriguez with AP Physics teacher Armando Morales.

Gabriela Lizbeth Silva with Pre-AP Algebra II teacher Loraine Borkowski.

Araceli Solache with Pre-AP Pre-Calculus teacher Gilbert De Leon.

Juan Velazquez with English teacher Andrew Winterle.

Montana Blair with AP Economics teacher Blake Emmons, flanked (in all photos) by Chris Bezdek, president of the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation, and Dennis and Michele Lamm, MDL Enterprise, Inc.

Michelle Cantu with Kim Villarreal, her second-grade reading teacher at Jensen Elementary.

Hunter Estrada with AP U.S. History teacher Terry Sheehan.

Antonio Garcia with health science technology teacher Kelly Cowan.

Erika Garza with AP Biology teacher Dr. Diane Barnes.

Ann Joost with Pre-AP Algebra II teacher Dana Deibel.

Faraz Mohammed with video technology teacher Jennifer Baldwin.

Seong A Noh with orchestra director Stanley Oakes.

Anthony Norville with track coach Lloyd Love.

Oscar Villarreal with health science technology Dr. Christina Garcia.

Yesenia Cordova with GEAR UP campus coordinator Saran Carnes, flanked (in all photos) by Chris Bezdek, president of the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation, and Dennis and Michele Lamm, MDL Enterprise, Inc.

Diego Andres Gonzales with AP Physics teacher Gary Davis.

Fernando Gonzalez with GEAR UP campus coordinator Sarah Carnes.

Jessica Hernandez with P.E. coach Joan Propp.

Gustavo Huitron with AP Biology teacher Toby Day.

Wyatt Lang with AP Biology teacher Toby Day.

Alexa Martinez with girls head basketball coach Rupert Ellis. 

Lea Salmeron with band director Jeff Embrey.

Jose Alberto Sanchez with HOSA coordinator Dr. Michelle Baker.

Valerie Sanchez with AP English teacher Jammie Ridenour.

Sam Rayburn's Advanced Placement students recently celebrated the conclusion of AP exams with the school's first Smarty Party. After a year of college level coursework, countless study sessions and many hours of homework, students took a break and went for a much-deserved dip in the pool. Below: Andy Aquino, Brooks Myers and Yasmine Silva take the plunge.

Pasadena High senior Ashley Velasquez signed a letter of intent to play volleyball for Garden City (Kan.) Community College last week. Below: Velasquez, seated with Pasadena High Coach Lynn Perry, signs her letter of intent with well-wishers Joe Saavedra, Pasadena High's principal; her father and mother, Humberto and Nubia Velasquez; her brother, Joshua Velasquez; Pasadena High assistant coach Carmen Solis; school counselor Deon Parrish; college advisor Pilar Retta and Tim Giraud.

  Pasadena High's Pedro Reyes, Alondra Serna and Eduardo Aleman teammed up for the year's highest point total in World Scholar's Cup competition last week at the Second Annual World Scholar's Cup Houston Round in Spring.
  Reyes placed first in individual competition, Serna placed third and Aleman third. Reyes won one gold metal, three silvers and one bronze. Serna took four golds, one silver and two bronze medals. Aleman landed two golds, one silver and two bronze medals.
  Two other Pasadena High students -- Cristian Deleon and Jennifer Gomez -- took gold medals.
  Below: Pasadena High's World Scholar's Cup participants celebrate their achievements.

  Three Dobie spring sports athletes were recently honored as finalists in Athlete of the Year competition sponsored by the Houston Touchdown Club.
  Dobie Swimmer Joe Cavazos, golfer Chris Sorenson and tennis standout Tony Tieu were among 68 student athletes in different sports from around the Greater Houston area who were honored at the Touchdown Club's annual banquet.
  Below: Swimmer Joe Cavazos (second from right) with Dobie Principal Franklin Moses, swim Coach Bradley Nguyen and Dobie Assistant Principal Mike Van Essen.

  On Friday, students from Mae Smythe Elementary paid tribute to military service members with their annual Memorial Day celebration performance.
  Each year, Mae Smythe faculty member Ken Davis organizes and directs student performances to commemorate the men and women who died during military service.  Performances included patriotic songs by Mae Smythe students as well as the posting of the Colors and precision drill performances by the Sam Rayburn JROTC. Event photo follows.

  Dobie aquatic science students had the opportunity to participate in the Galveston Bay Foundation's "Get Hip to Habitat" program during the 2011-2012 school year.
  In the fall, students harvested smooth cordgrass and established a mini-salt marsh nursery on campus. Throughout the year students monitored the growth of the grass and maintained the salinity, pH and temperature of the water. The project culminated with students transplanting the matured plants to marsh restoration sites around Galveston Bay during the first week of May.
  Smooth cordgrass is the tall grass found in the Galveston Bay estuary system, which has suffered great losses due to erosion and subsidence. Wetlands and estuaries serve many valuable functions to both people and wildlife, including providing food and shelter to young fish, shellfish, and bird species; protecting shorelines from erosion; absorbing excess rain and storm surge; filtering runoff and providing a "sink" for toxins; and serving as a source of public recreation and education.
  Participating in this program allowed students to not only learn about the Galveston Bay estuary system, but students also gain a sense of ownership and responsibility to their mini-marshes and became stewards of Galveston Bay.
  Top photo: Seniors Donnesha Williams, Zach Long, Krystin Langley and Racquel Reyes plant cordgrass in the mud at Baytown Nature Center.
  Middle left: Senior Donnesha Williams uses a refractometer to determine the salinity of Galveston Bay. Middle right: Seniors Jordan Williams and Jermichael Washington pitch in with cordgrass planting.
  Bottom left: Seniors Elena Rodriguez and Miranda Gloria lay down new cordgrass. Bottom right: Junior  Katherine Perrone takes a break while planting.

  Six Sam Rayburn High students -- three from choir and three from dance -- participated in a special Mothers Day Fashion Show at the Paramount Rehabilitation Center on May 11. The students also handed out Mothers Day cards to residents. The cards were part of a community service project by Sam Rayburn students in celebration of Mothers Day.
  Below left: Students hand out Mothers Day cards. Below right: Participants Natasha Moreno, Pete Tello, Alexandra Gonzales, Chilo Buendia, Juanita Alanis and Arley Garza.

Pasadena High teachers Alfonzo Vasquez and Blanca Ruiz listen as Tom Hancock, Pasadena ISD Education Foundation member and a former Pasadena High principal, explains the details of their mini-grant award.

  PASADENA ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION MINI-GRANTS 
  Applicants: Blanca Ruiz, Alfonzo Vazquez
  Mini-Grant Name: College Visits by AVID/HEAL Peer Mentors
  Abstract: The AVID/ HEAL Peer Mentorship Team (freshmen and sophomore students) expressed a desire to increase the basic awareness of vocabulary necessary for a college-bound student. Topics included GPA, entrance exams and financial-aid awareness. New topics for next academic year include study skills and information gained from the peer mentors during their field trips to local colleges and universities.
  Amount: $5,000 
  Sponsor: Tony and Bo Ogden

  Applicants: Tricia Anderson, Lori Borkowski
  Mini-Grant Name: AcaDec Study Nooks
  Abstract: Our Academic Decathlon program qualified in 2010-2011 for state competition for the first time in five years.  We qualified again for state in 2011-2012.  Academic Decathlon is a program in which students compete in 10 events with a central theme.  Events are essay, speech, interview, math, science, music, economics, art, language and literature, and the Super Quiz.  Students spend about six months studying material on these subjects before competing in district, region, and state competition from December throug late February.
  Amount: $4,991
  Sponsor: Albemarle Foundation

Vazquez and Ruiz celebrate their mini-grant with Sherry Bufkin, Post Oak Bank; Anthony Truong, AXA Network LLC; Tom Hancock, Pasadena ISD Education Foundation; Maureen Singleton, Thompson & Horton Attorneys; Jay Bain, American General Insurance; and Chris Bezdek, president of the Education Foundation.

Karen Bounds (center), representing the Albemarle Foundation, makes a check presentation to Pasadena High teachers Lori Borkowski and Tricia Anderson (in front). Joining in the celebration are Pasadena High Principal Joe Saavedra; Maureen Singleton, Thompson & Horton Attorneys; Jay Bain, American General Insurance; Tom Hancock, Pasadena ISD Education Foundation; Anthony Truong, AXA Network LLC; Sherry Bufkin, Post Oak Bank; and Chris Bezdek, president of the Education Foundation.

Tara Evans gets a big hug from her grant partner, Laurie Etnyre, and (right) explains to her students what the grant is all about.

  PASADENA ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION MINI-GRANT 
  Applicants: Tara Evans, Laurie Etnyre
  Mini-Grant Name: Maverick U
  Abstract: CLUELESS! This best describes high school students when making decisions about college. Students have no idea which college they want to attend and do not know how to apply for admissions, scholarships and financial aid.  Maverick U is a program that allows the faculty to represent their alma mater and mentor students for that university. The program is already successful, but needs to be taken to the next level. We want students to visit these universities with their mentors to learn about the campus and be an eyewitness to what these institutions have to offer.
  Amount: $3,378
  Sponsor: Mosher Seifert and Company

Tara Evans and Laurie Etnyre display their mini-grant check.

  Azalia Herebia, a junior at Memorial High, has been selected to attend Camp College, a four-day college appplication and financial aid "boot camp" to be held next month at Texas Christian University. Herebia is one of only 120 students from around Texas to be chosen for the event, which is sponsored by the Texas Association of College Admissions Counselors.

  Dobie history teacher Craig Sanders has been invited to participate in a pair of prestigious seminars this summer.
  Sanders will be attending a three-day seminar entitled "The Making of Modern America," conducted by Humanities Texas at the University of Houston June 11-14. This event, will feature a keynote address by Pulitzer Prize-nominated historian H.W. Brands and lectures from distinguished history professors from Boston University, Ohio State University, UCLA, Rice University, the University of Houston, the National Archives, TCU and Southwestern University.
  In July, Sanders Sanders will attend a week-long landmarks of American history and culture workshop in New York City co-sponsored by the National Endowment of the Humanities and Gilder Lehrman Institute.
  Focusing on the history of New York City, the workshop will be hosted by Columbia University and feature daily tours of New York City historical regions such as Harlem, Five Points, Lower Manhattan, Wall Street, Bronx and Brooklyn, as well as several New York City museums and historical buildings.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker congratulates the winners of the City of Houston Public Service Recognition Week Essay Contest: from left, Memorial High School seniors Anthony Norville, Annelise Moore, Amelia Reyna and Blake Huddleson; right front, and Clear Lake senior Audrey Nguyen.

  Four Memorial students were honored last weekend for essays that claimed all but one of the top five sports in the City of Houston Public Service Recognition Week writing contest.
  Annelise Moore took first place in the contest, which required students to select a city job and work off the prompt: "If I Were _____________, What a Difference I Would Make."
  Moore picked the topic: "If I Were Head Librarian at the Houston Public Library, What a Difference I Would Make." She won $2,000 for the entry.
  Anthony Norville took second in the contest and won $1,000 with his essay, "If I Were Director of Economic Development, What a Difference I Would Make."
  Amelia Reyna took fourth place with an essay that placed her in the role of Director of the Construction Branch in Public Works and Engineering." The essay earned her $400.
  Blake Huddleston placed fifth and won $350.
  Memorial English teacher Patricia Cain earned a $350 award for placing the most students in the final five. More than 350 essays were submitted.

Rachel Trevino, the District 22-5A girls golf champion, signed a letter of intent to play golf for Rogers State University in Claremore, Okla., recently. Below: Trevino smiles after signing her letter of intent.

Sam Rayburn senior Isaic Gonzalez recently won an art design contest for a logo to be displayed on trucks used by Urban Foods. Gonzalez (pictured below) was awarded a $500 scholarship for his winning design.

  AP Literature students at Memorial captured four of the top five places in the City of Houston essay contest.
  Annelise Moore took first place in the contest, which required students to select a city job and work off the prompt: "If I Were _____________, What a Difference I Would Make."
  Moore picked the topic: "If I Were Head Librarian at the Houston Public Library, What a Difference I Would Make." She won $2,000 for the entry. Moore was told by contest officials that the real head librarian for the City Houston will be at the awards ceremony and that some of Moore's suggestions in her essay will be implemented by the library system.
  Anthony Norville took second in the contest and won $1,000 with his essay, "If I Were Director of Economic Development, What a Difference I Would Make."
  Amelia Reyna took fourth place with an essay that placed her in the role of Director of the Construction Branch in Public Works and Engineering." The essay earned her $400.
  Blake Huddleston placed fifth and won $350.
  Honorable mentions went to three Memorial students: Ashley Montgomery, Montana Blair and Josiah Sandhu.
  Memorial English teacher Patricia Cain earned a $350 award for placing the most students in the final five.
  More than 350 essays were submitted.

"

South Houston forward Leobardo Vasquez makes a move inside late in the game as Cypress Ridge defenders Andres Rivas (3) and Ravi Lumba (11) close in.

  DEER PARK - The end came hard Friday night for one of the most successful sports seasons in South Houston history.
  A goal by Cypress Ridge junior Marlon Cardenas not quite five minutes into the contest stood up for the next 75 minutes and carried the Rams to a 1-0 victory over the Trojans in the semifinals of the Region III boys soccer tournament at Deer Park's Abshier Stadium.
  The Trojans seemed on the verge of the tying goal several times over the balance of the contest but never found the anecdote for Cardenas' early score. Rams goalkeeper Seth Mabe turned away three South Houston shots in the final four minutes of the first half.
  Cypress Ridge advanced to face Morton Creek in Saturday's regional championship game. Morton Creek eliminated Deer Park, the Trojans' District 22-5A rival, 2-0 in the earlier semifinal.
  The Rams matched South Houston's technical skills throughout the contest and played air-tight defense, especially in the second half. Under extreme pressure from South Houston standout Leobardo Vazquez in the first half, the Rams found fresh footing in the second half by limiting Vasquez's access to the ball.
  South Houston finished the season 14-8-4, a campaign that saw the Trojans win three playoff games and come within two victories of a trip to state.

South Houston freshman Jefry Hernandez works the ball against Cypress Ridge's Martinez.

Trojan senior Leobardo Vazquez knocks down Cypress Ridge's Andres Rivas with the force of a shot on goal in the first half. 

Cypress Ridge sophomore Robert Garza (14) leans in on South Houston senior Alejandro Farias.

Trojan senior Jorge Pineda battles Garza for position.

South Houston junior Ediberto Garza negotiates a maze of Cypress Ridge defenders.

South Houston senior Juan Sosa fights off contact by the Rams' Andres Rivas.

Cypress Ridge players console Trojan senior Luis Rodriguez after the game.

South Houston Coach Agustin Loredo tells his players to hold their heads high after the loss.

GAME ALBUM

  For the second year in a row, the J. Frank Dobie Lariaettes have been named National Grand Champion Team at Showtime Nationals. Recently competing for two days in Galveston at Moody Gardens, the girls swept the competition and came out on top. Not only did the Lariaettes defend their team and officer titles, they also gained a new and third title- National Grand Champion Elite Team.
  The breakdown of awards follows:

Grand Championship Awards:
Grand Championship Team
Grand Championship Elite Team
Grand Championship Officer Team 

First Place:
Team Pom
Team Jazz
Team Kick
Team Modern
Elite Team Jazz
Elite Team Hip Hop
Elite Team Contemporary
Military Team Jazz
Military Team Lyrical

Second Place:
Military Team Hip Hop 

Applause Awards:
Team Modern Choreography

  The tradition continues at Sam Rayburn High School, with the announcement of the 2012 Bluebonnet Belle and Beau Pageant Scholarship winners this past Saturday evening.  
  Sarah Snyder, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Snyder. Sarah is a member of the National Honor Society and the varsity cheer team as well as chorale and girl's ensemble. She has been accepted with scholarships to both Baylor and Auburn Universities.
  Gustavo Huitron, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincente Huitron. Gustavo is a member of, Student Council, Gear Up, and Academic Decathlon, as well the varsity soccer team, and the theatre stage crew. Gustavo has been accepted to Rice and Baylor Universities with a scholarship to Baylor.

Sarah Snyder and Gustavo Huitron accept their scholarship awards. 

The 2012 Pasadena Special Olympics annual soccer tournament is scheduled for Saturday, April 14 at Sam Rayburn High. Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend this free event. For more information contact Sergeant Luis Gonzalez at 713-740-0330. 

Pictured are former UH quarterback and Heisman trophy candidate Case Keenum, Joseph Horton, Ruth Horton, KHOU 11 Sports Reporter Matt Musil and the Greater Houston area FCA director Eric Anderson. 

  At the Bruce Matthews Celebrity Golf Classic benefiting the  Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Joseph and Ruth Horton, pictured above center, were honored as the  Houston area "Bill Yeomen Coach of Influence" FCA sponsors of the year. 
 Earlier that week, the Hortons  were treated to a dinner hosted by Hall of Fame  recipient, Bruce Matthews, who was joined by fellow Hall of Fame recipient, Anthony  Munoz.  Munoz spoke to the audience about the positive influence of a coach and the difference a coach made his life. 
  Following the golf classic, the Hortons were given a commemorative trophy for their positive influence on student athletes . 

Continuing the tradition of Dobie Lariaettes in college, Alaina Burns, pictured below, was selected as one of the 15 new team members dancing for the Texas State Strutters.  Three-year line member and senior Dobie Lariaette Feliss Goree will be joining the Trinity Valley Community College dance team, the Cardettes, for her freshman year in college.

Twenty-two students from Dobie and South Houston high schools participated in Sea World's Career Camp over spring break. They gained hands-on experience, learned what it takes to work at Sea World and how to become marine mammal trainers. The students were accompanied by teachers Cindy Wilems, from Dobie, and Laurie Aubin, from South Houston. Below left: Students and teachers at Sea World. Below right: Dobie's Jesika Ramirez makes friends with a dolphin. Bottom: dobie's Cat Johnson, Angela Mills and Paloma Tapia hang out with the penguins.

Twenty-two students from Dobie and South Houston high schools participated in Sea World's Career Camp over spring break. They gained hands-on experience, learned what it takes to work at Sea World and how to become marine mammal trainers. The students were accompanied by teachers Cindy Wilems, from Dobie, and Laurie Aubin, from South Houston. Below: Students and teachers at Sea World.

  Pasadena High's swimming and diving team placed four individuals and four relay teams on the All-District 22-5A squad.
  First-team members from Pasadena were Ronnie Acosta, one-meter diving; and Rene Acosta, one-meter diving. Ronnie Acosta also earned honorable mention in the 100 Butterfly.
  Alexis Rivera placed on the second team in the 100 Backstroke and earned honorable mention in the 50 freestyle.
  Angelica Heysquierdo earned honorable mention in the 100 Breaststroke.
  The following relays were named to the all-district team:
  Andrew Heysquierdo, Ray Navarro, Rene Acosta and Ronnie Acosta: first team, 200 Freestyle Relay.
  Cynthia McLehany, Angelica Heysquierdo, Alexis Rivera and Diana Martinez: second team, 200 Medley Relay and the 400 Freestyle Relay.
  Diana Martinez, Angelica Heysquierdo, Jennifer Palos and Cynthia McLehany: second team, 200 Freestyle Relay.

  Ten members of the Memorial High FFA placed in showings at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The list of winners follows:
  Morgan Caliva, senior, fourth in class, Limousin Steer
  Aaron Aleman, sophomore, class champion and reserve, Light Weight Division Duroc
  Elyssa Martinez, sophomore, class champion and reserve, Light Weight Division Dark Cross
  Amy Martinez, sophomore, third in class, Dark Cross
  Christian Rocha, senior, fifth in class, Spot
  Aliena McGee, sophomore, seventh in class, Yorkshire
  Cody Brabston, freshman, eighth in class, Hampshire
  Magen Haase, sophomore, eighth in class, Dark Cross
  Lauren Savage, freshman, eighth in class, Dark Cross
  William Hull, sophomore, 11th in class, Duroc

Sam Rayburn's Samantha Lang won the girls title at the recent Kempner Golf Tournament. Eduardo Nuno of the Texans' boys team finished fifth. Below: Nuno and Lang show off their medals.

  Memorial High art students made history this past Saturday at the award ceremony at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Art Competition. For the first time in Pasadena ISD's history, four students' artwork were selected for auction. Also a first in the district,a student was awarded Class Champion.
  Amy Truong took home the color drawing Class Champion award and her drawing will be auctioned next Sunday along with Stephen Alcala's, Kiet Vo's and Tram Le's art piece. Tram Le was also selected to attend the Western Art Academy summer session. She will spend two weeks learning painting and two weeks learning sculpture with two of the finest art professors in Texas. 
  Congratulations to the following student whose work was selected as the best in the district:

1.Hakeem De Hoyos

2.Sheri Galvan

3.Alex Hinojosa

4.Misael Galvan

5.Amy Truong- (Glassell Art school scholarship)

6.Kiet Vo- (Glassell Art school scholarship)

7.Tram Le -(Glassell Art school scholarship and Western Art Academy)

8.Stephen Alcala -(Glassell Art school scholarship)

  Hundreds of members of the Sam Rayburn JROTC Texan Battalion and high school students lined the perimeter of the field in Rayburn's backyard in anticipation of the long-awaited landing. For over 100 members of the Battalion, Wednesday afternoon's ride in a CH-47 Chinook twin-engine helicopter would be an experience of a lifetime. 

  "This is our second time in three years that the U.S. Army National Guard has landed at our school and given our cadets flights aboard one of their helicopters,"  Cadet Company Commander Esperanza Diosdado said.
  Disodado, now in her senior year, said the experience is something she will never forget. "When you are on the helicopter and looking down below, it's almost hard to explain the feeling. It's just amazing." 
  Members of the U.S. Army National Guard began the afternoon with a safety and precaution debriefing to the cadets, including a few assistant principals who were invited for a flight. Assistant Principals Vanessa Reyes and Temeka Brown were two of the lucky ones.

  "I think I was more nervous than the kids were," said Reyes post-flight. "But I am immensly proud of our program and the strength and discipline these students exhibit."
  Reyes noted that the JROTC program at Rayburn is not only the largest in the district, but it also continues to grow in numbers every year. That, she said, was all a reflection of the exemplary staff driving the program.

  Although most people may never get to experience the rush of flying in an Army helicopter, for these cadets, its a chance to get an inside look at the lives of those who fight for our country and our freedom. Event photos follow.

The U.S. Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter makes a graceful entrance onto the Texan field. 


Cadet Colonel Esthephany Garza presents Lieutenant Colonel James Hardy with a Texan Battalion plaque of appreciation.

Assistant Prinicpals Vanessa Reyes and Temeka Brown are filled with excitement before boarding on their flight. 

Lt. Col. Alan Mooneyham greets members of the Bravo Company, 2-149 General Support Aviation Battalion.  

Lieutenant Colonel James Hardy  greets the cadets and gives a rundown on the flight schedule for the day. 


SSG. Troy Lord talks safety tips and precautions before members of the Texan Battalion board the flight. 


With a final farewell wave, the CH-47 Chinook and its crew departs to its base in Grand Prairie, TX. 

The Pasadena High Debate Team earned the No. 37 spot out of all public 5A high schools in Texas last week at the UIL State Cross-Examination Tournament in Austin. Members of the team pictured below are juniors Victor Perales and Corissa Barrow, freshman Alfredo Dominguez, and sophomores Karla Galar and Kevin Johnson.

Pasadena High's Eagle Escort recently won the grand championship of the large-team division at the Danceline State Drill Team Contest at Montgomery High School, in additional to winning several other awards. Officers pictured below are Kristina Cervantes, Nency Juarez, Amairani Ortuno, Mirza Reyes, Yolisma Magana, Patty Maldonado, Gloria Quintanilla, Jessica Moreno, Daniela Baez, Jaquelyn Moreno and Jessica Reyes.

  Five Dobie students took home awards at the State DECA Conference in Corpus Christi last weekend. Students competed in occupational areas related to their job training. Students are judged on their knowledge of marketing, economics, and management skills as well as their social and selling skills. Business owners, managers, and other community leaders were involved with the judging at the conference.
  Dobie winners, pictured below, were Sandra Gonzalez, Business Services Marketing; Yvonne Ramirez, DECA Scholarship; Celeste Carmona Restaurant and Food Service Management; Radherson Rijo Automotive Services Marketing; and Berenice Martinez, Food Marketing.
  "I am very proud of these DECA students for representing Dobie High School and Pasadena ISD at this state Conference," said Karen Daigle, Dobie's DECA advisor.

  The Lariaettes opened the competition phase of their calendar last month and wasted no time in hauling home awards. In their first competition of the year, the squad was named overall first runnerup at the Crowdpleaser's Competition held at Clear Springs High School. The Lariaettes landed the following awards.
  TEAM 
  Super Sweepstakes (for scoring 90 or above on all routines from all judges)
  Best in Class Winner / Pom
  Best in Class Winner / Modern
  First Runnerup Best in Class / Jazz
  First Runnerup Best in Class / Kick
  Choreography Award for Jazz
  Crowdpleaser's Award (outstanding entertainment factor for Jazz)
  First Runnerup / Medium Ensemble (to Dobie's Contemporary Company)
  Second Runnerup / Large ensemble (to Dobie's Jazz Troupe)
  MILITARY OFFICERS
  First Runnerup / XL
  Super Sweepstakes (for scoring 90 or above on all routines from all judges)
  Best in Class Winner / Hip Hop
  Best in Class Winner / Contemporary
  First Runnerup Best in Class / Jazz

  The Lariaettes were named the outstanding team at the American Dance/Drill Competition at Moody Gardens earlier this month. The girls came in second place overall out of 39 teams -- and finished only two points behind the winning squad.
  The Lariaettes brought home the following awards: 
  Solo Finalists
  Second runnerup: Colonel Alaina Burns; Third Runnerup: Lieutenant Amanda Palacios; Fourth Runner Up: Major Samantha Green. 
  Military Officer Awards
  Sweepstakes & Gussie Nell Davis Award (Division 1 with a score of 90 or above on all routines from all judges)
  Judges Award / Jazz
  Judges Award / Lyrical
  Judges Award / Hip Hop Best
  Overall Technique
  Best Overall Presentation
  Best Overall Precision
  Best Overall Choreography
  Best in Class Super Team Officers (best officers of all the Division 1 teams) 
  Team Awards
  Second Runnerup / Best in Class Duet: Taylor Sias and Tearra Small
  Winner / Best in Class Medium Ensemble (Contemporary)
  First Runnerup / Best in Class Large Ensemble (Hip Hop)
  Winner / Best in Class Large Ensemble (Jazz Troupe)
  Sweepstakes & Gussie Nell Davis Award
  Judges Award / Jazz
  Judges Award / Pom
  Judges Award / Modern
  Judges Award / Kick
  Best Overall Technique
  Best Overall Presentation
  Best Overall Precision
  Best Overall Choreography
  First Runner Up / Best in Class Super Team

Dobie runnersup in solo finalist: Samantha Green, Alaina Burns and Amanda Palacios.

The Lariaettes show off their hardware following the competition at Moody Gardens.

  This past weekend, the Dobie High School DECA students competed at the State DECA Conference in Corpus Christi. DECA is a youth organization for students who are currently enrolled in a marketing class. These students work at local employers within the community and are receiving high school credit for their work experience.
  Students competed in certain occupational areas related to their job training and were judged on their knowledge of marketing, economics and management skills as well as their social and selling skills.  The next level of competition is the International Career Development Conference that will be held in Salt Lake City in April. 
  The following five students were named winners in their respective categories:

     Sandra Gonzalez- Business Services Marketing 
     Yvonne Ramirez- DECA Scholarship 
     Celeste Carmona- Restaurant & Food Service Management 
     Radherson Rijo- Automotive Services Marketing
     Berenice Martinez- Food Marketing

  Two standout football players for Pasadena High recently signed letters of intent to continue their careers at the college level.
  Julian Nance, the third-leading rusher in District 22-5A last fall with 1,144 yards, signed to play for Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas. Armando Lemus, a standout fullback and receiver, signed with Bacone College in Muskogee, Okla.
  Nance earned first-team all-district honors as a linebacker his junior season and at running back his senior season. He scored 13 touchdowns last fall to rank third in the district in scoring.
  Lemus contributed three receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns in Pasadena's biggest victory last season, a 26-21 triumph over South Houston.
  Below: Joined by Pasadena High Principal Joe Saavedra and Eagles Coach Jeff Ganske, Lemus and Nance sign their letters of intent.

On Saturday, the Side Kicks traveled to a dance competition in Katy. Out of 22 schools, the girls took home 10 awards. A list of awards follows.

Officer Technique Award

Officer Super Sweepstake

Officer Jazz Choreography Award

Officer Contemporary Choreography Award

Team Technique Award

Team Super Sweepstake

Team Production First Runner Up

Military Team Choreography Award

Jazz Team Choreography Award

Pom Team Choreography Award

  The Texan Battalion Leadership Team once again secured a first place finish in this year's College Options Foundation JROTC Leadership and Academic Bowl (JLAB).
  For the third consecutive year, the team now has an opportunity to compete in Washington.  Rayburn's Level II JLAB score defeated 305 of 313 other JROTCs within their eight-state JROTC alignment, making them one of only eight JROTCs to progress to the final competition in Washington, D.C.
  The Texans will compete against dozens of other JROTCs from around the world in the final "super bowl" leadership competition.  The results of the Washington competition determine the best JROTC Leadership Team among all JROTCs in the United States and overseas.
  Members of the 2011-2012 Texan Battalion Leadership Team are:  Team Captain, Cadet Major Kimberly Tamez, Cadet First Lieutenant Isboset Bautista, Cadet First Lieutenant Sidney Lopez, Cadet Sergeant First Class Selena Yzaguirre, Cadet Second Lieutenant Jessica Contreras and Cadet Sergeant First Class Karla Melgar.

  Angella Gencarelli, who guided South Houston's girls basketball team to a District 22-5A co-championship with Deer Park, has been named the district coach of the year.
  Four Trojan seniors -- Dominique Davis, Jasmine Lopez, Akira Decoud and Brianna Butler -- were named first-team all-district. Also named to the first team were Dobie junior Kate Inchun, Sam Rayburn senior Aracely Gomez, Memorial junior Jessica Elkins and Memorial sophomore Kaylee Berkley.
  Dobie senior Shanequa Gaston was named the district's most valuable player. Pasadena sophomore Paola Ozuna and Sam Rayburn sophomore Sabrina Garza were named newcomers of the year.
  Pasadena ISD athletes named to the second team were Dobie senior Jazmin Guerrero, Memorial junior Desirae Ramirez, Memorial senior Tori Rodriguez, Pasadena sophomore Kierra Irvin and two more South Houston seniors, Bianca Yanez and Bella Garcia.
  Honorable mention selections included Dobie senior Nyla Vasquez , Dobie junior Kim Luu, Sam Rayburn senior Jackie Orozco, Sam Rayburn senior Alexa Martinez, Sam Rayburn junior Brianna Scott, Sam Rayburn sophomore Emilee Torres, Memorial senior Ashley Cooner and South Houston sophomore Mia Martinez.

Dobie sophomore Daryl Edwards penetrates the Bush defense in the second half.

  PEARLAND - The Dobie Longhorns got a clear look at their future on Friday night even as their district championship season slipped into the past.
  The District 22-5A boys champs fell victim to the size, depth and court savvy of state-ranked Bush, an 86-67 winner in an area round state playoff game at Pearland High School.
  Cameron Ridley, the Broncos' 6-foot-11 center and a University of Texas signee, humbled the Longhorns with a dominating performance that included 25 points, 20 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
  Still, the Longhorns played even with Bush for extended stretches, and drew strong performances from the only two non-seniors on their roster - sophomores Christian Sanders and Daryl Edwards.
  Sanders, coming off a 29-point performance in Dobie's bi-district victory over La Porte, raked Bush for 24. Edwards came off the bench to score 11, including nine in the first half.
  Bush led from start to finish, opening up an 8-0 lead and stretching it to 49-37 at the half. Still, Dobie did a good job of finding shots in the open court and maintained a sharp touch through the middle two periods.
  The Longhorns closed the Broncos' lead to nine points to start the fourth quarter. But back-to-back dunks by Ridley and Kelly Oubre, a 6-6 sophomore guard, streched the Bush advantage to 13 and sent Dobie into a final tailspin. Bush pushed its lead to as much as 22 in the closing minutes.
  Senior Darnell McCall chipped in 10 points for the Longhorns in his final game.
  Ridley and junior guard ShawnDre Jones both scored 13 points in the first half. Jones finished with 21.
  The Longhorns finished the season with a 22-14 record.

Cameron Ridley (left), the Broncos' 6-11 center, drives home a dunk at the start of the fourth quarter; (right) Dobie's Taylor Holland nails a key 3-pointer in the second half.

Dobie senior Darnell McCall pulls up for a two-point jumper during the opening quarter. 

Dobie defenders Taylor Holland (12) and Christian Sanders (15) try to block out Cameron Ridley, Fort Bend Bush's 6-foot-11 center.

Sanders drives inside for two points during first-quarter action.

Dobie Coach Kevin Cross encourages his players to pick up the pace during a second-half timeout.

Jaimie Starling, a student at Frazier Elementary, hold up a poster in support of her big brother, Dobie senior Chris Mendoza.

  Two Rayburn High School students walked away with top awards at the 14^th Annual Wells Fargo Student Visual Art Contest held in conjunction with Society for the Performing Arts and their presentation of TAO: The Art of the Drum.
  Best of show went to David Maldonado with his artwork entitled Tradition Personified. Maldonado will also be awarded with a $1000 scholarship.  Yesenia Cordova walked away with a special merit award for her piece, Honor and Tradition and will receive a $500 scholarship.
  Both students received four tickets to Friday night's performance of TAO: The Art of the Drum at the Wortham Center.
  An awards ceremony for the winners is set for Sat. March 3 at Jones Hall.

Members of the Texan Battalion stop to celebrate another big win. 

  Three years in the making, the 208 cadets of the Sam Rayburn Army JROTC Texan Battalion successfully completed the triennial Army Federal Inspection and retained the highest rating of Honor Unit with Distinction (HUD) after an afternoon of intensive inspections on Thursday.
  The Battalion scored 594 out of a possible 600, the highest score earned in the past ten years out of the eight states within the JROTC division.
  "For three years we have been preparing for this inspection," said Cadet Colonel Esthephany Garza. "It feels great to have done so well and to finally be free of the pressure."
  Five evaluators from 5th Brigade thoroughly inspected six cadet areas, including preparation and presentation of a 50-minute "State-of-the-Unit" information briefing, curriculum knowledge questions, demonstration of staff officer work, color guard performance, in-ranks uniform and grooming inspection and platoon-level precision marching.
  Cadet Colonel Garza and Command Sergeant Major Brandon Branyan along with company commanders and first sergeants from the Battalion's five companies, are credited with the Battalion's unmatched inspection results.

Who let the Longhorn loose? Dobie's Christian Sanders streaks past the La Porte defense to the hoop in the second half. PHOTOS BY AL CARTER, Pasadena ISD Communications

  DEER PARK -- Dobie sophomore Christian Sanders scored a career-best 29 points, enough to rouse the Longhorns from a dismal start to an 81-70 victory over La Porte on Tuesday night in a bi-district playoff clash at Deer Park High School.
  The Longhorns, champions of District 22-5A, will take on Fort Bend Bush in second-round action on Friday. A place and time for that game will be determined on Wednesday.
  In other playoff openers on Tuesday night, Sam Rayburn lost a late lead and fell to Channelview, 56-49, in the game preceding the Dobie-La Porte contest; and South Houston fell to Port Arthur Memorial, 66-54, in a game played at Barbers Hill.
  La Porte led the Longhorns 21-11 at the end of the first quarter, and took a stunning 25-12 edge early in the second quarter after a pair of Dobie turnovers led to breakaway layups for the Bulldogs.
  But Sanders, who committed one of the turnovers, immediately took control of the game. After scoring only two points in the opening quarter, Sanders scored 11 in the second quarter and 11 more in the third.
  The Longhorns whittled La Porte's lead to 36-30 at the half, then pummeled the Bulldogs for 51 points in the second half.
  A layup by Sanders tied the game at 39-39 midway through the third quarter and added another layup to retie it at 45-45 three minutes later.
  The Longhorns look their first lead with 36 seconds left in the quarter when Devonte Banks nailed a 3-pointer from the corner. Another 3-pointer, this one by Daryl Edwards at the third-quarter buzzer, gave Dobie a 55-50 advantage.
  Edwards' shot ignited a nine-point run by the Longhorns, who raced to an 11-point lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.
  La Porte made a brief run, closing to within four points, but Dobie's Geo Ramirez hit two free throws with 49 seconds left to put things to rest.
  Ramirez chipped in 16 points to the Dobie cause while Banks added 12.
  Rashad Washington led La Porte with 19 points.
  Sam Rayburn, the third-place team in 22-5A, led Channelview 45-43 going into the final quarter, but were outscored 13-4 the rest of the way.
  Sophomore Michael Cutler scored 16 points for the Texans. Senior Bryan Canales also scored 16 and contributed Sam Rayburn's only field goal of the fourth quarter.
  Marquise Johnson topped Channelview scorers with 15 points.
  Like Sam Rayburn, South Houston grabbed a lead only to give up its grip on a bi-district victory. The Trojans led by 11 points early in the second quarter.
  The Titans broke the game open with an 11-point run to end the third quarter.
  Calvin Mitchell led South Houston with 14 points.

Dobie's Geo Ramirez drives for two points early in the game.

Dobie sophomore Daryl Edwards (left) scans the middle over La Porte's Ruben Jimenez; Longhorn senior Taylor Holland works the top of the key.

Dobie students anxiously wait out free throws in the final seconds.

Sam Rayburn senior A.J. Espinoza rips the ball from the reach of Channelview's Robbie Miller.

Texans senior Tim DeSoto peeks inside for an open passing lane.

Sam Rayburn students erupt in cheers as the Texans make a late effort to get back in the game.  

Senior Darren Motley and herpetology instructor John Kneisler monitor the wetlands around El Franco Lee Park.

  For the past two years seniors at Dobie High have had the opportunity to make a tangible difference in their local ecosystem. Through Dobie's herpetology class, students have been able to study area populations of reptiles and amphibians.
  Students in this senior elective, led by instructor John Kneisler, make monthly trips to El Franco Lee Park, where they trek through the landscape listening for amphibious life. They collect and monitor the creatures, releasing them later in the day.
  Kneisler and his students also monitor water quality and keep track of additional species that call El Franco Lee Park home. This includes such rare species as the bald eagle, the American alligator, leopard frogs and the caracara, a predatory bird closely related to the falcon.
  Back in class, the students compile reports on their findings which are submitted to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. These reports have been invaluable recently because of the record drought conditions.
  Herpetology is a full-year senior science elective that focuses monitoring local amphibious life in conjunction with Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Houston Zoo.

Matthew Koska (top center) with his South Houston Model U.N. team: (front) Selena Barron, Hannah Arnold, Karen Cruz and Olga Trevino; (middle) Mario Gonzalez, Alan Deleon, Meet Patel and Shivam Vakil; and (top left) Ulisses Gonzalez.

  By AL CARTER
  Pasadena ISD Communications  
  If Matthew Koska's dream becomes reality, he'll soon be walking along the East River, looking up at the teal facade of United Nations Headquarters, looking for the entrance through which he'll escort a contingent of South Houston High School students.
  And in a New York minute, he'll remember to whip out his badge.
  Just five months ago, Koska never dreamed that such a dream was even possible. A Pre-AP World Geography teacher at South Houston, Koska was approached last fall by students interested in participating in the Model United Nations program, a national organization that sponsors student simulations of U.N. proceedings and competitions in resolution craftsmanship.
  Last Thursday and Friday, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, the tiny South Houston team captured top-delegation honors at the Houston Area Model United Nations conference, an event attended by 1,000 students from three dozen schools across Texas.
  The nine-member South Houston squad -- the smallest at the conference and the only Pasadena ISD entry -- earned top honors among those schools designated as smaller delegations.
  Two South Houston seniors -- Meet Patel and Alan Deleon - landed two of the three highest individual honors handed out to all students attending the conference.
  Patel received the Best Delegate Award, the highest honor presented. Deleon received the Most Heralded Delegate prize.
  "I was happy with our kids simply because they were so eager to compete," Koska says. "But to be named the outstanding delegation makes me especially proud of them."
  The list of delegations included blue-ribbon private schools like Episcopal, Second Baptist, St. Agnes Academy, St. Johns and the Westchester Academy for International Studies. Some of the public schools, like Bellaire, brought enough students to fill out seven delegations.
  South Houston had one. Much of the South Houston students' prep work was done at home. Group study sessions are crammed into after-school hours. Last Wednesday, the night before the area conference, Koska and team members sequestered themselves in a school computer lab until 10:30 p.m.
  When Koska left the building, he was approached by a Pasadena ISD police officer. The officer wanted to know what Koska was doing in the building at such a late hour. The officer also wanted to see Koska's school district ID.
  "I forgot my badge that day," Koska says. "I had to pull out my driver's license."
  Security badges, as it turned out, was just about the only U.N. procedure beyond the grasp of the Trojan team.
  Before the conference, the nine South Houston students were assembled in a single delegation and assigned the task of representing the nation of Mauritius, a tiny island in the Indian Ocean. What followed was a crash course on the geography and politics of Mauritius.
  At the conference, students participated in a series of caucuses during which ideas were presented, arguments made and resolutions crafted.
  "All I really wanted was a good experience for our kids, the opportunity to learn something new," Koska says. "But after the first day, I couldn't contain myself. I knew we had a top team."
  South Houston's quest began at the end of last school year when Deleon read about the Model United Nations program and suggested to Koska that South Houston form a team.
  Soon, Deleon wasn't suggesting. He was insisting.
  "I said, 'Koska, we're going to do this!' " Deleon recalls. " 'We can pioneer this for the rest of the district!' "
  Deleon enlisted the support of Patel, who was just as insistent.
  "The new school started and I got busy and kept putting it off," Koska says.
  It wasn't until the final week in September that Koska decided to do his own research.
  "I got on the computer to look up the information," he says. "The next day was the deadline for registering for the workshop."
  He signed his school up for the required workshop. Had he waited another day, South Houston would have been out of luck.
  Meanwhile, Deleon and Patel began to recruit other team members. The final nine included three other seniors -- Olga Trevino, Mario Gonzalez and Ulisses Gonzalez -- and four juniors: Selena Barron, Karen Cruz, Shivam Vakil and Hannah Arnold.
  When the Trojan nine walked into the first phase of the conference -- the General Assembly meeting -- most were in awe. Many schools had brought dozens of students. The designer labels on expensive clothes were as noticeable as the flags and banners.
  "We had all studied after school or at home," Trevino says. "At lot of the students there had been preparing in their AP classes. That intimidated me."
  "It was intimidating at first," Patel says. "But soon we realized that nothing was expected out of us. We could see that we were the underdogs."
  With nothing to lose, the South Houston delegation went to work in their caucus sessions and quickly caught the eye of moderators.
  "Being a small country, you have to make sure the larger counties are listening to us," says Patel, who had one advantage. He once visited Mauritius.
  Says Patel: "We had to stand up and convince people that our resolutions were right."
  And they did.
  Unfortunately, the opportunity to make their arguments heard at the real U.N. will have to wait. A national conference is held each April in Manhattan, but Koska's team doesn't have the funds to attend and the deadline for registering has passed.
  Still, Koska's dream has no expiration date. He hopes to take a team of Trojans to the Big Apple in 2013.
  "I would like to see these seniors stick with it and take part in Model U.N. activities at the collegiate level," he says.
  "And I would like to see more of these kinds of activities on our campuses. We need more activities like this that emphasize what our students can do academically."

Dobie participated in Teens for Jeans, a project to collect gently used jeans for donation to Aeropostale stores. Aeropostale distributes donated jeans to homeless shelters to help homeless youth. In three days, Dobie students collected 561 pair of jeans, the most turned into the Baybrook Mall store. (Below) Dobie students Dajah Swinton and Christopher Nickelson chip in for Teens for Jeans.

A key play in the final seconds: Dobie's Geo Ramirez (21) draws a charging foul from Trojan senior Maurice Ijeh, ending South Houston's last chance to tie the game.

  Senior Vance Leonard scored 27 points as the Dobie boys held off a furious second-half South Houston rally to beat the Trojans 72-69 at the Longhorns' gym on Friday night in a showdown game for the District 22-5A basketball title.
  The Longhorns closed to within one victory of securing their first outright district basketball championship in 23 years. Now 7-2 in district play, Dobie can claim sole possession of the title with a victory over Deer Park on Tuesday night.
  A loss by the Longhorns, combined with a South Houston victory over Memorial on Tuesday night, would leave the two teams locked in a co-championship. Dobie hasn't won so much as a co-title since 2002.
  Leonard scored 14 points in the first half as Dobie raced to a 41-29 lead at intermission. A 25-point explosion by the Longhorns in the second quarter seemed to seal the fate of the Trojans, the defending district champs.
  But South Houston fought back to within a point, at 70-69, with seven seconds left. Two free throws by Taylor Holland restored a three-point Dobie lead and the Trojans couldn't counter.
  Christian Sanders scored 16 points for the Longhorns and Devonte Banks 13.
  Sanders scored 10 of his points in Dobie's key second-quarter burst.
  Lacey Mose led the Trojans with 13. Victor Andino and Maurice Ijeh added 11 each.

Dobie senior Taylor Holland sinks the second of two free throws with seven seconds left to give his team a three-point lead.

Longhorn students celebrate at the final buzzer.

South Houston's Elton Dyer (23) fights a battle above the rim with Dobie's Geo Ramirez and gets the block.  

Dobie guard Devonte Banks works the ball in the backcourt.

(Left) Dobie's Christian Sanders (15) pushes into the lane for a first-quarter layup; (right) Lacey Mose brings the ball up for South Houston.

Dobie's Sanders works the ball down low as Bradley Deanda (3) defends for the Trojans.

South Houston's Maurice Ijeh eyes the bucket on a free throw.

South Houston's Calvin Mitchell (20) whips a pass inside for Maurice Ijeh.

Dobie's Devonte Banks shovels the ball from the top of the key.

(Left) South Houston's Victor Andino (14) tried to swipe the ball from Christian Sanders; (right) a Dobie cheerleader helps stir up the crowd.

Banks directs a pass to the wing as new Dobie Principal Franklin Moses calmly scrutinizes the action.

South Houston's Elton Dyer and Dobie's Taylor Holland vie for a critical loose ball in the closing minutes.

(Left) Dobie's Christian Sanders goes high to defend a shot; (right) Longhorns Coach Kevin Cross monitors the action on the court.

Franklin Moses, Dobie's new principal, soaks up the excitement.

Ariel Hebert, a Dobie senior, sings the national anthem before the game.

Senior night celebrants: Marcus Varron with his parents, Angelique and Marcus.

Taylor Holland, who later supplied the insurance points, poses with his mother, Michelle Holland and his brother, Reggie Wilson.

Pasadena High will be holding a spirit night fundraiser at the Chick-fil-A on Fairmont Parkway on Friday, Feb. 17. Fifteen percent of the sales from the night will be given to Pasadena High if you mention Pasadena theater during checkout. Event flyer follows.

The Eagles huddle before the start of overtime against Deer Park.

  Ivan Cifuentes scored 16 points to lead Pasadena High to a 52-50 overtime upset of Deer Park on Friday night for the Eagles' first district victory of the season.
  The shocker effectively eliminated the Deer from the District 22-5A title race, leaving Dobie, Sam Rayburn and South Houston in strong position to capture at least a share of the championship.
  Trey Williams scored 12 points for the Eagles and Corey Martin added 12.

(Left) Pasadena's Joshua Solis (3) draws a foul; (right) Corey Martin (23) and Solis pressure the Deer.

  For the past 10 years Dobie's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter has adopted families at Christmas. On the list of over 75 families and individuals adopted by the Dobie FCA this year was Juan Garcia, a former Dobie custodian who is on disability retirement.
  With the assistance of Jim McIngvale of Gallery Furniture, Garcia received new furniture for his home over the holidays. A group of students and teachers (pictured below) caravanned to Garcia's home and helped with removing old furniture and replacing it with new.
  When the FCA's "Random Acts of Christmas" program began 10 years ago, resources were available to assist only two families. That list grew to 17 in 2010 and to more than 75 in 2011, including the entire Destiny Village women's shelter complex.
  The programs also expanded internationally for the first time. Several boxes of toiletries were sent to an orphanage in a small village in Mexico.

Dobie sophomore Kevin Padilla (8) works the ball against Southlake Carroll as junior Edwin Padilla moves in to help. 

  Dobie's boys soccer team is No. 4 in the latest ESPN national rankings. The Longhorns stand 11-0-1 for the season after going 3-0-1 at the recent Round Rock Tournament.
  At the tournament, Dobie beat Round rock McNeil 2-0, which was ranked No. 10 in the state, and played defending state champ Southlake Carroll to a scoreless tie.
  Jonathan Palma scored three of the Longhorns' five goals at the event and assisted on another. Dobie has nine shutouts this season and sports a goals-against average of 0.36.

Senior Douglas Leighton presses Southlake Carroll's defense.

Pasadena High's Laura Llanes (below) placed in the Principles of Finance Event at the District 3 DECA competition at the West Galleria last weekend. Llanes will advance to state competition to be held in Corpus Christi in March. Pasadena's DECA program took six members to the district competition.

South Houston's Dominque Davis (2), Akira DeCoud (23) and Brianna Butler (24) join Deer Park players in stuffing the lane in anticipation of a rebound.

  DEER PARK -- South Houston's surging Lady Trojans positioned themselves for a breakthrough championship in the District 22-5A basketball race with a 48-43 road upset of Deer Park on Tuesday night.
  The Lady Trojans received balanced scoring from their senior-laden lineup and led the Lady Deer from the early minutes of the first quarter.
  The victory lifted South Houston into a first-place tie with Deer Park. Both stand 6-2 in district play with only two games to play. The Lady Trojans close with Sam Rayburn and Pasadena High. The Lady Deer have remaining games with Pasadena and Memorial High.
  Should the Lady Trojans win their remaining games, the worst they can achieve is a co-championship with Deer Park.
  Senior Akira DeCoud led the Lady Trojans with 12 points, including four in a tense fourth-quarter stretch. South Houston led 44-37 with three minutes left, but Deer Park scored five straight points to pull within two.
  A layup by DeCoud with 1:28 left gave the Lady Trojans a four-point lead and some breathing room. South Houston's defense held the Lady Deer scoreless over the final minute.
  Seniors Dominque Davis and Jasmine Lopez added 10 points each for the Lady Trojans.
  Deer Park senior Tabitha Hawthorne led all scorers with 16 points, including 10 in the second half.
  South Houston is now 17-12 for the season.

South Houston's Akira DeCoud comes up with a key steal in the final minutes of the game.

Angella Gencarelli gives her Lady Trojans a timely pep talk during a timeout in the second half.

South Houston's Jasmine Lopez works the ball upcourt against Deer Park's Lyndsie LeBlanc.

South Houston's Dominque Davis pulls up and sinks a key 3-pointer as Deer Park's Michelle Linton (14) defends.

(Left) DeCoud sets a roadblock on Deer Park's Lyndsie LeBlanc; (right) Brianna Butler fights for a rebound with Deer Park's Tabitha Hawthorne.

DeCoud hits a baseline jumper in the second half.

DeCoud gets set to sink a free throw.

Dobie microbiology students last week took a field trip to the Blue Bell Creamery in Brenham -- for a tour, a presentation on product safety and, of course, some ice cream. The students (pictured below) visited with staff microbiologist Andy Coleman, who explained the day-to-day lab processes the he and his team of technicians perform to ensure the safety of Blue Bell ice cream. The students were able to take their knowledge of microbiological techniques learned in the classroom and apply it to the real world in the food industry.

  Pasadena High sophomore Diana Martinez took home stock show gold at a recent Southwestern Livestock Exposition in Fort Worth. Martinez and her heifer took home the Champion Junior Brahman and the Reserve Champion Overall Brahman Heifer award at the show, beating out more than 250 competitors across the state of Texas. She holds the coveted title of the first in the history of Pasadena ISD to win this award. 
  Martinez raised the heifer as a calf and competes in area competitions including the San Antonio, Houston and Austin Livestock Show and Rodeo.  
  She also took home $1,750 in cash and plans to use that money for furthering her education. Martinez plans to attend college and pursue a career as a veterinary technician.
  The FFA program, which is currently available at four of the five district high schools, incorporates student leadership, responsibility and management skills needed for agriculture professions. Event photo follows. 

  Memorial's Angela Bledsoe (pictured below) won the "B" Girls singles championship at the Alvin ISD tennis tournament last weekend.
  Other Memorial results:
  "A" Mixed Doubles: Brandon Ybarra and Astrid Torres, reached the semifinals in the main draw
  "A" Girls Doubles: Dorothy Burington and Savannah Opreh, reached the round of 16
  "B" Girls Doubles: Andrea Esquivel and Fabila Medina, reached the quarter-finals in the main draw
  "B" Mixed Doubles: Huan Vo and Joanna Hoang, finalists in the consolation draw
  "A" Girls Singles: Pauly Danh, reached the semifinals in the consolation draw
  "B" Boys Doubles: Logan Davis and Jonathan Bae, reached the round of 16 in the main draw
  "B" Boys Singles: Matthew McNabb, reached the first round of 32

George Gonzales and Jacqueline Cardenas (pictured below) were crowned as Emerald Queen and King at Pasadena High's 50th Annual Emerald Pageant last month.

  Aracely Gomez, Sam Rayburn's senior foward, reached a milestone last week when she posted her 1,000th career rebound in a game against Deer Park. Gomez is a three-year starter for the Lady Texans.

Dobie students collected over 8,000 items during the recent Great Dobie Food Drive. The items collected were donated to the Pasadena Salvation Army and the South Belt Leader's Good Samaritan program. Below: Dobie assistant principal Franklin Moses and Dobie Principal Steve Jamail look over the mountain of donated items in the school lobby.

Dobie teamed up with Bayway Lincoln in last fall's Drive Smart for Your School. For every adult who came to Dobie and drove a car, Dobie earned $20 from the dealership. The school earned over $2,700 during that event. Below: Franklin Moses, Dobie assistant principal; Dobie Principal Steve Jamail; Linda Wischnewsky, vice president for Bayway Lincoln Volvo; and Stefanie McKinney, Dobie's GEAR UP coordinator.

The Dobie High Drama Department will stage "Godspell" Jan. 25 through Jan 29. Tickets are $10 for both students and adults. Groups of 20 or more are eligible for $7 tickets. To purchase tickets or for additional information, call Stephanie Patrisso at 713-740-0370, Ext. 04348. Tickets will also be sold at the school during lunch.

David Sell, a Pasadena High coach and government teacher, isn't as easy to spot as he used to be. Sell entered a contest, sponsored by Precision Nutrition, to see who could lose the most weight through body transformation. He lost about 80 pounds and won the contest. Sell was presented with a check at school for $10,000. Below: Sell (on the left) with his fitness coach, Jason Bonn.

Members of the Pasadena High Eagle Escort participated in the Sea World Winter Spectacular Dance Contest recently. Yolisma Magana took home first place in solo and a $150 scholarship. Mirza Reyes placed second and Kristina Cervantes placed third. Pictured below: Magana, Reyes and Reyes with their trophies.

  Sam Rayburn's Texan Battalion captured the grand championship of the "Battle in the Piney Woods" JROTC Invitational Drill and Military Skills Meet last Saturday. The competition was sponsored by New Caney High School's Soaring Eagle Battalion.
  The competition included units from 11 school districts and 125 members of the Sam Rayburn battalion. Competitive events included armed and unarmed drill, male and female color guard, male and female physical fitness, an orienteering relay, a Ranger swim relay, a field-leaders reaction course, academics and individual "knock-out" drill and marching. Sam Rayburn earned the highest overall score based on placement in each event.
  Winning individual awards were Alicia Salvador, for Best Unarmed Drill Commander; Sergio Garcia, for Best Armed Drill Commander; Darnell Thompson, for Best Male Color Guard Commander; Miriam Zaragoza, for Best Female Color Guard Commander; Delyla Sanchez, for most female curl-ups; Isamar Espitia, for most female push-ups and best flexed-arm hang time; Omedi Hernandez, for Iron Woman; and, Brandon Reavis, the winner of individual "knock-out" marching competition.
  The Texan Battalion's next major competition will be next month at the San Antonio Raider National Championships.
  Below: Members of the Texan Battalion with trophies won at New Caney.

Members of the Sam Rayburn Texan Band marched through the neighborhoods of Parkview Estates and Sam Rayburn Heights this week playing Christmas music and spreading the spirit of Christmas. Event photos follow.

Jairo Cordova, a student at Sam Rayburn High, win first prize in a recent Christmas Card art contest sponsored by Automated Logic. Cardova's pencil depiction of Santa Claus earned him a $200 gift card to Best Buy. His winning entry was announced last week at a performance by the Sam Rayburn orchestra at the Administration Building. Below: Cordova and his winning Santa sketch.

Texans Drill Officers were on hand Thursday to help serve Sam Rayburn's Christmas luncheon to the faculty and staff. Pictured are Capt. Jessica Cano, Col. Alyssa Calderon, Lt. Natalie Cavazos, Lt. Col. Gabby Vasquez and Lt. Claribel Ruiz.

Dobie thespians journeyed to the state convention recently and earned a trip to nationals in Group Acting. Advancing to nationals are Paris Nichols, Lauren Dryden and Amber Cardenas (pictured below). The Longhorns earned either superior or excellent ratings in all three performance categories. A fourth Dobie student, senior Laura Gutierrez, auditioned for colleges to study technical theater. She received one acceptance notification and several other scholarship offers.

Marketing and health science technology students at Pasadena High were recently treated to an interactive workshop called "What Now Grad?" The workshop presented a four-step strategy to help students begin planning the future. Below: Pasadena High students Diana Mendoza and Desi Guerra display the iPods used in the workshop while chatting with Ryan Cirilo, the high-school coordinator the Everest Institute of Houston. 

Sam Rayburn's Blue Infinity Color Guard (pictured below) took part in a holiday celebration with a performance in the Holiday Showcase for fourth-graders.

Varsity players for South Houston cut up with their Australian guests as a day of international camaraderie comes to an end.

  A touring basketball team from Australia took a liking to Mexican food at lunch but found South Houston High's home-cooked brand of basketball a bit unpalatable Friday night.
  Maurice Ijeh led the way with 12 points as the Trojans enjoyed a Matilda-like waltz against the HSE Kangaroos, winning 76-27 before a festive crowd in the South Houston gym.
  The Kangaroos' 16-and-under team won the opening game 42-38 against the Trojans' sophomore squad.
  The Kangaroos, sponsored by Horizon Sports Events of Sydney, enjoyed a catered Mexican food lunch in the Trojans' Reinartz Center before the game.
  The Australians began their U.S. tour on Monday in Los Angeles and finish up next week with additional games around Texas.
  Students in Australia are currently on their summer break. Touring teams are usually randomly assembled pickup squads, made up of players eager to travel and play a slate of games against teams in other countries.
  Competing against the Kangaroos' 18-and-under squad, the Trojans bolted to a 46-10 halftime lead.
  Elton Dyer and Bradley Deanda finished with 11 points each for South Houston.
  Matt Younri led the Kangaroos with eight points while Isaac Berghan-Smith added six.

South Houston's Maurice Ijeh (34) battles for a offensive rebound surrounded by Kangaroos, including Isaac Berghan-Smith (24). Trojans Kenneth Marshall (35), Elton Dyer (23) and Victor Andino (14) close in.

Elton Dyer (23) gets off a baseline shot for South Houston as Aussies Kyle Plant (20) and Gerarden Kennedy (25) move in for a possible rebound.

Mika Jones, a junior at South Houston, holds up a sign welcoming the visiting Kangaroos. 

South Houston's Felipe Salinas (4) leads a break down the court flanked by teammates Maurice Ijeh (34), Elton Dyer (23) and Kenneth Marshall (35). Kangaroos defenders are Steven Shaw (50), Shawn Atkins (14) and Peter Nichols (11). 

South Houston guard Byron Hodges makes a cut off the point in the second half. 

South Houston senior Kenneth Marshall (right) shakes hands and shares a laugh after the game with the Kangaroos' Peter Nichols. 

Kalena Lopez, a senior cheerleader for the Trojans, and Shawn Atkins, who lives in Echuca, Victoria, Australia.

South Houston senior cheerleader Lydia Montero and Peter Nichols, who lives in Logan City, Queensland, Australia.

Trojan cheerleaders gather around their Australian guests for a big sendoff. 

Friendly foes show off their posing skills for an army of friends and family armed with cameras. 

Noted Texas Highways magazine photographer Griff Smith answers questions from Memorial photography students during a visit to campus on Wednesday.

  Students at Memorial High, chosen exclusively by the Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio for a culture documentation project, received instructions in visual journalism from one of the state's best on Wednesday.
  Griff Smith, the photo editor for Texas Highways magazine and one of the state's most acclaimed geography and culture photographers, spent the entire day talking about his craft to Memorial students participating in the project.
  Smith's photographs are currently on exhibit at the Institute of Texan Cultures, a component of the University of Texas at San Antonio. The exhibit, "Griff Smith's Texas: A Retrospective through the Lens and Images of Texas Highways," features 58 photographs of subjects ranging from natural landmarks to food dishes to Texas music legends.
  As many as four dozen Memorial students will have their photography and artwork displayed at the museum, as well, beginning next spring.
  Memorial was selected by the museum to conduct a project examining the culture of Pasadena through the artistic expression of student. Art students, photography students and those enrolled in Pre-AP Geography at Memorial will take part in the project.
  Museum officials plan to select two to three dozen photographs for display and a dozen or more art submissions. The Memorial display is planned for March of 2012, likely during spring break.
  "Concepts of 'culture' and 'place' are essential in geography," said Ashlie McKenzie, an education specialist with the Institute of Texan Cultures and a former Memorial history teacher.
  "With Griff Smith as a mentor and inspiration, we hope that the students will take these concepts from the classroom and apply them in a creative and rigorous real-world application. Geography will come to life through their work."
  Smith showed students a slideshow of his work and answered questions on a variety of subject, most related to photography.
  Memorial students will incorporate Smith's lessons into their documentation assignment. Photographs will include related captions and writing assignments analyzing land use, language, education systems, religions and customs that define Pasadena.
  The Pasadena project is based on a similar effort the museum undertook last year with Moreno Middle School in Beeville. Dr. Ricardo Romo, the president of UTSA and a noted historian, instructed Moreno sixth-graders on a project documenting the cultural aspects of their town.
  Lupita Barrera, the director of education and interpretation at the Institute of Texan Cultures, said there is great educational value in having students document and express their perspectives of the places they live.
  "We hope to continue offering challenges like this to schools across the state, as we engage more communities in telling the stories of Texas and Texans," Barrera said.

Smith explains how he used the blazing sunlight at high noon to create a striped effect on a photograph of a Native American woman in her adobe house.

Patrick McCoy, head basketball coach at South Houston High, earns the applause of his players as he receives good news from Pasadena ISD Education Association representatives about the first of his two successful mini-grant applications.

  PASADENA ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION MINI-GRANTS 
  Applicants: Patrick McCoy, Drew Bell, Casey Jones
  Mini-Grant Name: Community Connections
  Abstract: The South Houston boys basketball team is looking to build its core foundation and its fan base by utilizing current technology. This technology will allow us to instantly analyze our performances and provide the program with instant feedback. We will be able to expand our reach into the community by providing highlight clips to the Pasadena Channel as well as providing to family members all over the world. The grant will also allow us to provide the intermediate schools with demonstrations of drills which will not only help them build their programs, but ours as well.
  Amount: $950
  Sponsor: Ben and Janice Meador

  Applicant: Patrick McCoy
  Mini-Grant Name: Fun Fitness
  Abstract: An epidemic of obesity is compromising the lives of millions of children. Problems reveal how much more vulnerable young bodies are to the effects of fat. In ways that are only beginning to be understood, being overweight at a young age appears to be far more destructive to well-being than adding excess pounds later in life. With one in three children in this country overweight, the health and productivity of an entire generation could be in jeopardy. For those children ages 6 to 19 the rate of obesity has not just doubled, but has more than tripled in the last 30 years.
  Amount: $1,250
  Sponsor: Pearson Digital Learning

  Applicant: Lee Anne Aluotto
  Mini-Grant Name: "The Game of Real Life"
  Abstract: The CASE (Cooperative for After School Enrichment) program is designed to provide students (primarily those labeled at-risk) with opportunities not offered to them during the regular school day. The vision of the program is to keep these students away from harmful situations and encourage involvement in other beneficial areas. This ultimately leads to better grades, a greater focus on career goals, increase self-estreem and positive social skills. The four components this program covers are academics, enrichment, parent/family involvement and college/career readiness. Adding "The Game of Real Life" class would assist with enhancing the Career and College portion of the program.
  Amount: $1,500
  Sponsor: Kalman Marshall Engineering

McCoy receives congratulations from Ben and Janice Meador, sponsors of his "Community Connections" mini-grant.

Pasadena ISD Education Foundation representative Bob Gebhard presents McCoy with a second check to fund his "Fun Fitness" program.


Members of the Trojan basketball program join the check-presentation ceremony, with sponsors Janice and Ben Meador standing with McCoy front and center. Other Pasadena ISD Education Foundation representatives are Max Johnson, Frank and Pat Braden, Patti Bodkins, Randy Drake, Darrell and Deborah Williams, Liz Olivares and Chris Bezdek, with South Houston Principal Dr. Steve Fullen behind Bezdek on the far right. 

Bob Gebhard makes a check presentation to McCoy on behalf of Pearson Digital Learning. 

Paula Ballew, an assistant principal at South Houston, accepts a mini-grant check on behalf of Lee Anne Aluotto, who was away at a conference. On the right, making the presentation on behalf of Kalman Marshall Engineering, is Pasadena ISD Education Foundation representative Liz Olivares. Others pictured are Bob Gebhard, Darrell Williams, Patti Bodkins, Deborah Williams, Chris Bezdek, South Houston Principal Dr. Steve Fullen, Janice and Ben Meador, Pat and Frank Braden, Max Johnson and Randy Drake.

Bill Barmore (left), president of the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation, makes a check presentation to Sam Rayburn teacher Adam Lewis (third from right).

  PASADENA ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION MINI-GRANT 
  Applicants: Adam Lewis, Grace Blasingame
  Mini-Grant Name: Rayburn Star Children
  Abstract:  Last year Sam Rayburn's astronomy teacher began a series of night sky-viewing using small telescopes. The students and parents enthusiastically met to view planets and constellations. Now these star gazers, Rayburn Star Children, seek to expand their capability to observe the moon and stars by expanding their astronomical equipment. As Rayburn Star Children meets twice monthly for a minimum of eight nights, this program will provide 160 Rayburn students, 25 parents, 25 family members and younger siblings with astronomy hands-on and real-time learning, thus increasing student interest in the sciences. Sam Rayburn's seniors will also mentor intermediate students who attend.
  Amount: $3,000
  Sponsor:  CIG Engineers-Houston

Jack Bailey, president of the Pasadena ISD Board of Trustees and co-sponsor of the mini-grant, presents a check to Pasadena High assistant principal Aldo Prado while Pat Sermas, the district's director of advanced academics and guidance, and Pasadena High teacher Armando Morales offer congratulations.

  PASADENA ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION MINI-GRANT 
  Applicants: Patricia Cain, Patricia Sermas
  Mini-Grant Name: Advanced Placement Fee Supplements
  Abstract: Prior to the 2010-11 school year, all Pasadena ISD high schools were able to reduce the cost of the Advanced Placement exams from $57 to $20 per exam through the use of their own budgets and money awards from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation for math, science, and English exams. This past year, the Dell foundation granted only $1,000 for four schools for exam costs. This request is for funds to aid the five high school campuses to continue to reduce the cost of the AP exams to students not qualifying for fee waivers from the College Board.
  Amount: $5,000 
  Sponsor: Jack and Kathy Bailey

Surrounded by students, mini-grant recipient Chris Ferguson accepts congratulations from Pasadena ISD Education Foundation members Jay Bain, Wayne Landin, Steve Cote, Elizabeth Harris-Lindberg and Wayne Adams; and also Dobie Principal Steve Jamail and Dobie Science Department chairman Jeanne Parlangeli.

  PASADENA ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION MINI-GRANT 
  Applicant: Chris Ferguson
  Mini-Grant Name: Community Night Watch Astronomy Events
  Abstract: The world comes to life through the real-world application of classroom concepts. The Night Watch Star Party will bring classroom concepts to Dobie students, staff and community. Emphasizing Earth/Space Science for elementary students, Dobie will collaborate with Moore Elementary to include the use of telescopes to track celestial objects via computer programs. Students will operate the telescopes and make presentations. Students will practice public speaking by sharing earth science knowledge and promoting earth science to younger students.
  Amount: $4,880 
  Sponsor: Post Oak Bank

  Memorial High junior soccer standout Itzel Guajardo has been selected to participate in a training camp that could earn her a spot on the Mexico Football Federation's Under-17 National Team.
  Guajardo will leave later this week to attend the training camp in Mexico City. She will compete for a chance to play in an exhibition game against Canada's Under-17 team in April.
  As a sophomore last year, Guajardo led District 22-5A in scoring and was named the district's offensive MVP honors.
  She is a five-year veteran of the Albion Hurricanes club team.

The Dobie boys swim team continues to string together promising results with dual-meet victories against La Porte, Fort Bend Bush and Fort Bend Ridge Point. Recently, four Longhorn swimmers traveled to the TISCA Corpus Christi zone meet to compete against some of the top swimmers in the region and state. Both the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard free relay teams finished in the top 25. Individually, freshman Kevin Nguyen placed nine overall in the 100-yard breaststroke after winning his consolation final heat. Pictured below: Coach Bradley Nguyen, junior Michael Henderson, freshman Kevin Nguyen, senior Brandon Gonzalez and senior Joe Cavazos.

  A motivated group of South Houston High students set the pace as volunteers from across the district participated in the annual bike-building marathon sponsored by ABC Dental. The program provides hundreds of bicycles to children in Pasadena.
  The South Houston group, named Nexus of Zenith, built over 200 bikes in a two-hour span, more than any other assembly group. The group also organized a warehouse full of assembled bikes.

Left: South Houston student Jonathan Hernandez puts the finishing touches on his 12th bike of the day. Right: Joaquin Reyes works on his first bike.

Left: Sponsor Matthew Koska celebrates the group's first completed bike. Right: Nexus of Zenith members join Koska in cheering a full day of hard work.

SEE BELOW FOR POOL PLAY PHOTO ALBUM LINKS!

Dobie guard Taylor Holland races by his coach, Kevin Cross, and his teammates after stealing the ball against Houston Chavez.

  Sophomore guard Christian Sanders scored 20 points in each game on Friday, leading the Dobie boys team to victories over Flower Mound and Houston Chavez and a spot in the Division 2 Silver championship game of the McDonald's Texas Invitational.
  The Longhorns will face Atascocita for the championship at 6 p.m. on Saturday in the Sam Rayburn High gym.
  Dobie's advance marks the second year in a row for a Pasadena ISD boys team to reach the title game in Division 2 Silver. South Houston got as far last year before falling to Manvel.
  No Pasadena ISD team -- boys or girls -- has won a title higher than the Bronze level since 2004, when Dobie won the girls championship in a 16-team girls format. This year's tournament features 48 boys teams and 32 on the girls side.
  Another Pasadena ISD team - the South Houston girls squad - also has a chance on Saturday to bid for a Division 2 Silver title, but the Lady Trojans will need to win twice. South Houston earned a spot in Saturday's semifinals with a 55-52 victory over Houston Yates.
  The Lady Trojans will take on La Porte in semifinal action on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the South Houston gym. A victory would send South Houston to the title game against either Cy-Creek or Pearland Dawson. That game is set for 3 p.m. at Deer Park's Auxiliary Gym.
  Sanders was one of five Dobie players in double figures in the Longhorns' victory over Flower Mound, played at the Longhorns' gym. Dobie survived on a flurry of free throws, 11 of which came from Sanders on 15 trips to the line.
  Darnell McCall added 14 points to the Longhorn cause and Taylor Hollard scored 13.
  Playing in Deer Park, the Longhorns jumped to a 20-point lead over Chavez in the first half. Holland backed Sanders' 20 points with 12 of his own. Devonte Banks added 10.
  The Memorial boys will play for the Division 2 Bronze title on Saturday against Sharyland. Game time is 6 p.m. at the South Houston gym.
  On the girls side, Memorial and Sam Rayburn will play semifinal games in Division 2 Bronze. With victories, the two will meet in the 1:30 p.m. title game at South Houston.

Left: Taylor Holland tries to regain his balance as he battles for a rebound with Demun Mercer. Right: Dobie's Donte Morris goes high for a rebound.

Longhorns guard Darnell McCall motors past Chavez's Ryan Otis on his way to an easy layup.

Waiting out a flood of free throws: Dobie's Gee Ramirez fights for position with Flower Mound's Jacob VanNattan.

Dobie's Chris Mendoza (13) tangles with a pair of Houston Chavez players for a rebound.

Stephanie Gale, a junior for the Memorial girls team, presses Brazoswood's Gabrielle Millan during the Lady Mavs' final pool play game on Friday.

POOL PLAY PHOTO ALBUMS (Click on link)
Pasadena Boys...
Pasadena Girls...

South Houston Boys...
South Houston Girls...

Sam Rayburn Boys...
Sam Rayburn Girls...

Dobie Boys...
Dobie Girls...

Memorial Boys...
Memorial Girls...

SEE BELOW FOR POOL PLAY PHOTO ALBUM LINKS!

Dobie sophomore Daryl Edwards dishes the ball to the perimeter during second-half action.

  Dobie sophomore Christian Sanders scored 20 points for the third game in a row, but it wasn't enough to prevent the Longhorn boys from falling to Atascocita in the Texas Invitational's Division 2 Silver title game on Saturday night.
  The Eagles took advantage of 14 Dobie turnovers to claim a 45-40 victory at the Sam Rayburn gym.
  The loss in the Division 2 Silver title game was the second in a row for a Pasadena ISD school. South Houston fell in the Silver championship contest last year to Manvel. The Trojans, however, went on to win the District 22-5A title.
  The Longhorns played the game without senior guard Devonte Banks, who suffered an injured thumb earlier in the tournament.
  Straped for scorers, Dobie closed a 16-7 gap at the end of the first quarter as Sanders picked up the pace. The Longhorns trailed by just a 24-23 margin at halftime, but lost control of the ball again in the third quarter.
  The Eagles build a safe lead late in the game with the help of a three-pointer by Nolan Bilbo and timely put-back by William House.
  Alex Douglas led Atascocita with 12 points. Bilbo added 10.
  The Trojans were trying to become the first Pasadena ISD team in seven years to win a title outside of the bronze division.
  District schools managed one bronze title on Saturday when the Memorial girls beat Dickinson 35-34. The Lady Mavericks went 4-1 in the tournament.
Dickinson beat Sam Rayburn 56-46 in the semifinals.
  The South Houston girls fell to La Porte in their bid to reach the Division 2 Silver title game.
  The boys teams from Memorial, Sam Rayburn and South Houston all played in the Division 2 Bronze semifinals. The Mavericks beat the Texans 57-53, but lost to Sharyland, 47-41, in the title game.
  Sharyland ousted the Trojans in the semifinals, 61-56. Sam Rayburn turned around and beat South Houston, 66-54, in the third-place game.

Dobie's Paul Tran comes up to defend Atascocita's Nolan Bilbo.

Darnell McCall tries to penetrate the Eagles' defense, but Atascocita's Brian Doyle puts up a road block.

Dobie's Daryl Edwards goes eyeball-to-eyeball with Atascocita's Nolan Bilbo.

POOL PLAY PHOTO ALBUMS (Click on link) 

Pasadena Boys... 
Pasadena Girls...

South Houston Boys... 
South Houston Girls...

Sam Rayburn Boys... 
Sam Rayburn Girls... 

Dobie Boys... 
Dobie Girls...

Memorial Boys... 
Memorial Girls...

  The Dobie Lariaettes recently honored their 2012 seniors, 18 members strong, at a recent home football game.
  Pictured above are (front) Lt. Colonel Rachel Moore, Vice President Layla Brown, Lieutenant Karena Duran, Spirit Leader Cassandra Velasquez, Asst. Director Mysha Corb, Colonel Alaina Burns, Director Lori Alexander, Kayla Smith, Shante McGill and Monique Lewis; and (back) Blanca Garza, Victoria Gomez, President Briana Harper, Secretary Kameko Bryant, Anissia Bell, Marina Sanchez, Phyleesha Daigle, Party Girl Katie Tyer, Feliss Goree and Breyonna Milton.

For the third year in a row, the Sam Rayburn Texan Battalion participated in the annual Veterans Day fundraising event at the San Jacinto Monument and Museum. Special guests included Sen. John Cornyn, former Pasadena Mayor John Manlove and the great grandson of Gen. Sam Houston. Below: Members of the Sam Rayburn JROTC All-Female Color Guard meet Sen. Cornyn. Members are Alma Contreras, Julie Centeno, Jessica Contreras and Miriam Zaragoza.

Memorial High theater arts students, assisted by 35 "Munchkins" from Memorial's feeder schools, performed "The Wizard of Oz" earlier this month. Below are photos from the production:

Main cast members for "The Wizard of Oz." 

Students from Memorial's feeder schools join in the cast.

Cast members pose backstage just before the curtain rises. 

"Munchkin Mayor" Michelle Loya poses with "Toto" backstage.

Role reversal: Dobie offensive tackle Treg Spigner (79) clings to the leg of North Shore defensive back Jacoby Walker, preventing a touchdown after Walker intercepted a Longhorn pass midway in the third quarter.

MUSTANGS START FAST, LEAVE HORNS IN WAKE 

  HOUSTON -- North Shore quarterback Micah Thomas ran for three touchdowns and teammate Jacoby Walker intercepted three Dobie passes as the Mustangs ousted the Longhorns from the Class 5A Division I playoffs with a 34-14 first-round victory Friday night at Galena Park ISD Stadium.
  Thomas scored on TD runs of 27 and 9 yards to give his team a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and force Dobie to play catchup, a dilemma for the run-oriented Longhorns.
  Dobie quarterback Deandre Bolden cut the Mustangs' lead in half with a 35-yard TD pass to Kyle Lohse late in the first quarter. And Bolden added a second TD strike - a 7-yard toss to Vance Leonard - late in the third quarter.
  But Walker picked off three of Bolden's passes, robbing the Longhorns' offense of any chance to keep pace with the speedy Mustangs.
  Andrew Robinson, District 22-5A's leading rusher, was held to his lowest total of the season, just 37 yards on 14 carries. Robinson was averaging 158 yards a game through 10 regular-season contests.
  As a team, the Longhorns netted only 47 yards on the ground to go with Bolden's 165 yards through the air.
  Thomas was merely one-half of a North Shore quarterback combo that bore a resemblance to what the Longhorns once had in Blake Jackson -- before the Dobie senior was sidelined with an ankle injury early in the season.
  Tyrone Newsome handled most of the quarterback chores for the Mustands, running for 84 yards and completing 10 of 14 passes for another 125. Thomas had the honor of capping three drives with his quick feet.
  The Mustangs extended their 14-7 lead by three when Enrique Perez kicked a 27-yard field goal to end the half. A 20-yard TD run by Thomas in the third quarter and a 21-yard field goal by Perez gave North Shore a 27-7 lead.
  The Longhorns fought back stubbornly with a drive capped by Bolden's 7-yard TD pass to Leonard.
  But with 8:19 left in the game, North Shore running back Davonte Milton settled the issue with a 69-yard dash to the end zone. Milton led all rushers with 111 yards on 12 carries.
  Dobie finished the season at 7-4. North Shore will take an 8-3 record into the second round of the playoffs.

Dobie's Vance Leonard draws cheers as he hits the end zone after catching a 7-yard TD pass from Deandre Bolden late in the third quarter. The Longhorns used the score to pull within 27-14.

Dobie's Fabian Davalos takes down North Shore quarterback Micah Thomas short of a first down in the third quarter. The stop forced the Mustangs to settle for a field goal.

Andrew Robinson tries clearing the right side in his final game for the Longhorns.

Dobie defenders Vaughn Leonard (21), Daryl Edwards (40) and Jessy Cedeno (36) close in on North Shore's Derrick Gillis after a second-quarter reception. Cedeno made the tackle.

North Shore defensive lineman Justin Provost (59) drags down Dobie's Kelton Bailey.

Dobie's Chris Stockman (19) breaks up a pass intended for North Shore's Kevin Alexander (15).

GAME ALBUM

Memorial running back Nick Hernandez (24) gets caught in a maze of La Porte defenders while teammate Taylor McCoy (64) tries to rip open a hole.

BULLDOGS APPLY BATTERING RAM IN 35-7 VICTORY

  DEER PARK -- A stable of La Porte rushers patiently worn down Memorial's thin defense Friday night, providing the Bulldogs with 35-7 victory over the Mavericks in a Class 5A Division II first-round game at Abshier Stadium.
  Quarterback Josh Vidales teammed with backs Keith Whitely, Johnathan Lewis and Taejon Wearen to account for 331 yards on the ground - although none of the four had more than 88 yards.
  All four players scored touchdowns as the Bulldogs extended a 14-0 halftime lead to 35-0 midway through the fourth quarter.
  The Mavericks avoided the shutout with 2:13 left in the game when backup quarterback Jordan Wyatt scored from 14 yards out.
  Memorial received only light support from its leading rusher, senior Chris Cargile, a 1,000-yard contributor this season. Cargile injured an ankle two weeks ago and his limitations were evident in the Mavericks' loss to South Houston last week and again against the Bulldogs.
  The Mavericks finished the season with a 3-8 record, two of the victories coming in district play and providing just enough margin to make the playoffs.
  La Porte, the District 21-5A champion, advance with a 10-1 mark.
  Nick Hernandez led the Memorial offense with 92 yards rushing on 11 carries.
  Whitely led the Bulldogs with 88 yards on eight carries. Wearen tacked on 87 yards, Lewis 80 and Vidales 76.
  Whitely ran 50 yards for a score less than two minutes into the second half as La Porte staked out a 21-0 lead. Less than four minutes later, Vidales scored his second TD of the game on a 25-yard run. He earlier scored from 11 yards out.

La Porte defenders Hoza Scott (20) and Cameron Whilley (45) put the brakes on Memorial's Reggie Turner after a short gain. 

Memorial quarterback Greg Gallardo scans the field in search of a receiver.

La Porte running back Johnathan Lewis clears right end and heads for the sideline as Memorial's Aaron Robinson (11) gives chase.

Mavericks defensive back Jordan Wyatt breaks up a deep pass intended for La Porte's Aaron Nance-Garrett inside the Memorial 10-yard line.

La Porte quarterback Josh Vidales scrambles for short yardage after fielding a botched snap.

Memorial's Adrian Boutte finds a crease inside of a pancake block by Dorian Johnson (left) and a roll block by Ahrmon Mcleod (27).

Mavericks receiver Brandon Thomas squirms for a first down after catching a pass and turning upfield.

Mavericks' high-water mark: Memorial's Chris Cargile is stop short of a first down on a four-and-one play deep in La Porte territory midway through the second quarter. The Bulldogs quickly doubled their 7-0 lead before the half and never looked back.

GAME ALBUM

South Houston defensive back Brian Columbus sets sail in pursuit of Port Arthur Memorial's Terrence Singleton, who breaks free on the sideline during the first half.

REQUENO PASSES FOR 326, FOUR TDS IN FINAL GAME  

  HOUSTON -- Port Arthur Memorial quarterback Terrence Singleton led his team to 35 first-half points as the Titans stormed past South Houston 56-28 on Saturday in Class 5A Division II first-round action at Galena Park ISD Stadium.
  The Trojans rebounded with four touchdowns in the second half, but it wasn't enough to offset the damage wrought by the Titan tempest in the first two quarters.
  The outcome wrapped up the football season for Pasadena ISD schools. Two other playoff qualifiers -- Dobie and Memorial -- lost in first-round games on Friday night.
  South Houston finished the season with a 3-8 mark.
  Rudis Requeno, a three-year starter playing his final game for the Trojans, completed 33 of 55 passes for 326 yards. He threw four TD passes to account for all of his team's trips to the end zone. And he was not intercepted.
  Toree Daniel, a South Houston junior who finished the season as one of the leading receivers in the Houston area, caught 16 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns.
  But none of it proved unsettling for the Titans, who rang up 587 yards of offense against a Trojan defense that gave up 152 points in its final three games.
  Three Memorial runners cracked 100 yards on the ground. Darius Lemora gained 146 yards on 11 carries. Kenneth Mayfield rushed for 142 on 15 carries. Singleton carried 18 times for an even 100 yards.
  Lemora and Singleton scored twice. Singleton chipped in a 41-yard strike to John Leday for the Titans' final TD in their 35-0 first-half blitz.
  Memorial's Jhajuan Seales set the pace by returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a TD. Singleton followed with TD spurts of 8 and 12 yards to make it 21-0 not quite two minutes into the second quarter.
  The Trojans returned from the locker room a different team. Requeno found Daniel for a 7-yard scoring pass and then hooked up with Dequan Moore from 23 yards out. But the Titans managed to trade blows.
  Matthew Romar scored on a 7-yard run for the Titans. Requeno came back with an 8-yard TD pass to Erick Henriquez, but Lemora answered with a 73-yard romp to the end zone.
  Requeno spotted Daniel again for a 3-yard TD flip, but Titans reserve Ricky Fisk scored from 23 yards out in the final two minutes.
  Pasadena ISD football teams will now await redistricting decisions by the University Interscholastic League that could dramatically alter the competitive landscape for district squads next season. District schools could stay in a six-team league with Deer Park or move into another configuraton that could include additional area schools.

Port Arthur Memorial's Jhajuan Seales cuts across the field enroute to a 96-yard return of the opening kickoff.

South Houston quarterback Rudis Requeno wings a pass downfield. 

South Houston receiving standout Toree Daniel prepares to cut inside of Titans' linebacker Elandon Roberts (44) after making one of his 16 catches in the game. 

South Houston defenders battle the passing talents of Terrence Singleton from above and below -- but can't prevent this completion to John Leday (8). 

Singleton cuts around right end and scores from 12 yards out early in the second quarter to help propel Port Arthur Memorial to a 21-0 lead. 

South Houston's Byron Hodges runs into the clutches of two Titan defenders, including Darius Lemora (28), on a failed attempt to convert a fourth down late in the first half.

GAME ALBUM

  Students and staff members at South Houston paid tribute to our nation's veterans by lining the halls with stars to honor veterans among the faculty and other veterans with ties to faculty, staff and students.
  Students created more than 50 stars, including stars for 13 South Houston faculty and staff members who have served our country, including Principal Dr. Steve Fullen and Assistant Principal Harvey Zuniga.
  "This was a fun way to remember the soldiers who help keep our way of life free," said freshman Victoria Perez, who made a star for her father, Rick, a 1986 South Houston graduate.
  Freshman Jocelyn Aguilar created a star for 2004 graduate Jonathan Collins, a Marine medic currently serving in Afghanistan.
  "We wrote to soldiers last year in English class, and he wrote me back and we've kept in touch," Aguilar said. "I'm going to send him a picture of his star."
  Senior Alexis Shanklin made a star simply to show her appreciation for our troops.
  "I don't have anyone in my family who is in the military, but I made a star out of respect for what they've done for us, just a way of saying thanks,"
Shanklin said.

Selena Reyna signs with Ball State surrounded by well-wishers (front) her mother, Susie Reyes, and sister, Andrea Lopez; and (back) South Houston Head Coach Jonathan Garcia and Assistant Coach Kim Cook.

  South Houston senior Selena Reyna signed a softball letter of intent on Wednesday to play for Ball State University in Indiana.
  "This is really exciting," Reyna said. "I have worked really hard for this and I'm excited that all my hard work has paid off."
  Reyna was named first team all-district last spring as a junior. She earned second-team all-district honors her freshman and sophomore seasons.
  "Selena came in and hit the ground running as a freshman," South Houston Coach Jonathan Garcia said. "She made an immediate on our team and has steadily gotten better every year."
  Reyna was joined at the signing by Garcia and Assistant Coach Kim Cook; her mother, Susie Reyes; and younger sister Andrea Lopez, also a student at South Houston.
  "I think Selena's signing says a lot about the softball program at South Houston," Garcia said. "I think this will have a positive impact on her teammates as well, showing them that you can get a scholarship to play softball while at South Houston, if you're willing to be dedicated and put in all the hard work as she has."
  "The past four years on the team have been unforgettable," Reyna said.

Eaves with Memorial head baseball coach Terry Garza, Memorial athletics director John Snelson and Memorial assistant baseball coach Kevin Etchberger after signing his letter of intent.

  Memorial shortstop Cody Eaves signed a national letter
of intent on Wednesday to play baseball for TCU. Eaves
hit .395 last season as a junior with four home runs.
Family, friends, teammates and coaches held a signing
party for Eaves at the school on Wednesday.

Eaves with his coaches and family members.

  Two Dobie Lariaette alumni are still dancing their hearts out at the college level. Aimee Cessna, former Dobie Lariaette Colonel, and Aracely Perez, former Dobie Lariaette Lt. Colonel, are both freshmen at Texas State University and members of the Texas State Strutters dance team.
  As members of the Strutters, the girls perform at all home football games, various events throughout the community, across the state and nation, and even internationally. The Strutters also put on an annual spring show every April.
  (Below) Cessna and Perez strike a pose following the Strutters' performance at Texas State's football last Saturday (Nov. 5).

South Houston defensive back Calvin Mitchell heads for the goal-line after intercepting a pass in Memorial territory late in the third quarter. Mitchell returned the ball to the Mavericks' 2-yard line, setting up a touchdown plunge by Byron Hodges.

SOHO'S RUN GAME (WHO KNEW?) SINKS MEMORIAL; BYSTANDER PASADENA KNOCKED OUT OF PLAYOFF MIX

  Of the many surprises unveiled at Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday night, by far the biggest was South Houston's ability to run the football.
  So shocking was the development, it came as almost an afterthought that the Trojans managed to beat one team and bounce another out of playoff contention -- all in just four quarters. But these four quarters won't soon be forgotten by the Trojan faithful.
  Byron Hodges, alternating with passing whiz Rudis Requeno at quarterback, ambushed Memorial with 174 yards rushing and two touchdowns as South Houston secured what had been an imperiled state playoff berth with a 49-40 victory, just the third of the season for the Trojans.
  The South Houston tsunami was powerful enough to sweep the Pasadena Eagles -- mere bystanders -- out of the playoff picture in District 22-5A and bring an abrupt halt to the postseason bidding process by district teams.
  The Trojans' victory -- their first over Memorial since 2004 -- enabled them to tie the Maverisk for third place in the district standings, each with a 2-3 record.
  The Eagles were banking on a South Houston loss that would have enable them to claim the fourth and final playoff spot with a victory on Saturday over Sam Rayburn, winless in league play.
  Now, even with a victory over the Texans -- even with a bump up to a 2-3 mark that would technically tie Pasadena with South Houston and Memorial -- the Eagles will still find themselves out of the playoff lineup next week for the 15th year in a row.
  Even at 2-3, Pasadena would lost a tie-breaker formula that calculates point differentials in games between three or more tied teams. The Eagles' lopsided 55-24 loss to Memorial last week mathematically precludes them from finishing first or second in a three-team tie-breaker with the Trojans and Mavericks.
  The only small bit of suspense still remaining is whether South Houston or Memorial will fill the higher Division II spot in the playoffs.
  District champ Deer Park and runnerup Dobie - as the two largest schools in the district - move into the Division I bracket. If Pasadena loses on Saturday, South Houston will get the top Division II nod because of the Trojans' victory over the Mavericks.
  If the Eagles win, Memorial will finish as the district's top Division II team because of a plus-9 point differential in games against South Houston and Pasadena.
  The Trojans' point different is plus-4. Paadena's is minus-13.
  The Trojans' celebration was long and loud, not only because of the victory but because of their near-complete mastery on the offensive side of the ball.
  Requeno, averaging 246 yards per game through the air, threw for only 88 this time. But that was good for two TDs. And he ran for another.
  It was Hodges, reassigned from the receiver ranks, who gave Memorial fits with his dashes from wildcat formation and finally iced the game with a 5-yard TD run in the final two minutes. 
  Memorial, also 3-7 for the season, had little luck compensating for an injury to leading rusher Chris Cargile. The senior hauled in a 15-yard TD pass from Greg Gallardo to opening the scoring, but quickly retreated to the bench unable to play through an ankle sprain he suffered last week.
  Nick Hernandez picked up some of the slack with 83 yards on eight carries. Adrian Boutee added 78 yards on 11. But Memorial couldn't muster the kind of haymakers that South Houston seemed to keep in surplus.
  Key to the Trojans' victory formula were two huge plays not manufactured by the offense. The defense supplied one and special teams the other.
  After a 14-14 halftime tie, the Trojans clung to a 21-20 lead late in the third quarter. That's when the game took one of several dramatic turns down the stretch.
  Trying to pass deep in his own territory, Gallardo was intercepted by Calvin Mitchell who returned the ball 40 yards to the Memorial 2. Hodges punched it in for a 28-20 Trojan edge.
  Reggie Turner countered for the Mavericks with a 12-yard TD run, leaving Memorial behind 28-26 going into what turned out to be a 35-point scoring spree by both teams in the final 12 minutes.
  Erick Henriquez helped put the Trojans ahead by nine with a 5-yard TD run. Dorian Johnson answered for Memorial with a 7-yard TD catch of a Gallardo pass. But again, for the fouth straight time following a TD, the Mavericks failed to post any conversion points. Memorial trailed 35-32 with 7:50 left.
  The came the backbreaker. Toree Daniel, the district's top receiver, grabbed the ensuing kickoff and raced 77 yards, cutting to one sideline and then the other, to the end zone. South Houston's lead blossomed to 10 points.
  Trailing by two scores, the Mavericks claimed one not quite two minutes later when Reggie Turner bolted 25 yards for a TD. A two-point pass from Gallardo to Brandon Thomas made it 42-40 with 5:57 left.
  But the Trojan offense blasted its way back into Memorial territory and reclaimed the TD on a 5-yard TD run by Hodges with 1:45 remaining.
  Requeno's two TD passes came on a 20-yard toss to Elton Dyer, enabling the Trojans to forge the 14-14 halftime tie, and a 2-yard pass to Daniel to open the scoring in the second half.

Toree Daniel wins the race to the sideline and then prepares to cut all the way across the field enroute to a 77-yard touchdown on a kickoff return that lifted the Trojans to a 10-point lead with 7:35 left in the game.

Byron Hodges, running out of shotgun formation, follows the blocking of receiver Elton Dyer (12) and bolts 28 yards into Memorial territory late in the game.

Chris Cargile, Memorial's leading rusher, turns the corner early in the game.

Cargile scores the game's first points on a 15-yard pass-and-run midway through the first quarter. Cargile left the game later in the first half because of recurring problems with a sprained ankle and did not return.

Trojan quarterback Rudis Requeno breaks into the Memorial secondary late in the first quarter. Later in the drive, Requeno scored his team's first points with a 2-yard run.

Toree Daniel readies a stiff-arm as he tries to turn the corner after a reception.

South Houston linebacker Kenneth Marshall (2) marks the end of the play for Memorial running back Reggie Turner.

Trojan tight end Dequan Moore steps inside of an attempted tackle by the Mavericks' Reggie Turner after catching a pass in the first half.

South Houston defensive back Shaquille Bowman throws a shoulder into Memorial's Reggie Turner at the goal-line -- but not in time to prevent Turner from adding six points to the scoreboard.

South Houston's Erick Henriquez (3) barrels into the end zone from four yards out early in the fourth quarter.

Reggie Turner completes a 25-yard dash to the end zone with 5:57 left in the game as his team pulled to within two points.

South Houston Coach C.L. Whittington congratulates his players on the victory.

GAME ALBUM

South Houston defensive back Calvin Mitchell heads for the goal-line after intercepting a pass in Memorial territory late in the third quarter. Mitchell returned the ball to the Mavericks' 2-yard line, setting up a touchdown plunge by Byron Hodges.

SOHO'S RUN GAME (WHO KNEW?) SINKS MEMORIAL; BYSTANDER PASADENA KNOCKED OUT OF PLAYOFF MIX

  Of the many surprises unveiled at Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday night, by far the biggest was South Houston's ability to run the football.
  So shocking was the development, it came as almost an afterthought that the Trojans managed to beat one team and bounce another out of playoff contention -- all in just four quarters. But these four quarters won't soon be forgotten by the Trojan faithful.
  Byron Hodges, alternating with passing whiz Rudis Requeno at quarterback, ambushed Memorial with 174 yards rushing and two touchdowns as South Houston secured what had been an imperiled state playoff berth with a 49-40 victory, just the third of the season for the Trojans.
  The South Houston tsunami was powerful enough to sweep the Pasadena Eagles -- mere bystanders -- out of the playoff picture in District 22-5A and bring an abrupt halt to the postseason bidding process by district teams.
  The Trojans' victory -- their first over Memorial since 2004 -- enabled them to tie the Maverisk for third place in the district standings, each with a 2-3 record.
  The Eagles were banking on a South Houston loss that would have enable them to claim the fourth and final playoff spot with a victory on Saturday over Sam Rayburn, winless in league play.
  Now, even with a victory over the Texans -- even with a bump up to a 2-3 mark that would technically tie Pasadena with South Houston and Memorial -- the Eagles will still find themselves out of the playoff lineup next week for the 15th year in a row.
  Even at 2-3, Pasadena would lost a tie-breaker formula that calculates point differentials in games between three or more tied teams. The Eagles' lopsided 55-24 loss to Memorial last week mathematically precludes them from finishing first or second in a three-team tie-breaker with the Trojans and Mavericks.
  The only small bit of suspense still remaining is whether South Houston or Memorial will fill the higher Division II spot in the playoffs.
  District champ Deer Park and runnerup Dobie - as the two largest schools in the district - move into the Division I bracket. If Pasadena loses on Saturday, South Houston will get the top Division II nod because of the Trojans' victory over the Mavericks.
  If the Eagles win, Memorial will finish as the district's top Division II team because of a plus-9 point differential in games against South Houston and Pasadena.
  The Trojans' point different is plus-4. Paadena's is minus-13.
  The Trojans' celebration was long and loud, not only because of the victory but because of their near-complete mastery on the offensive side of the ball.
  Requeno, averaging 246 yards per game through the air, threw for only 88 this time. But that was good for two TDs. And he ran for another.
  It was Hodges, reassigned from the receiver ranks, who gave Memorial fits with his dashes from wildcat formation and finally iced the game with a 5-yard TD run in the final two minutes. 
  Memorial, also 3-7 for the season, had little luck compensating for an injury to leading rusher Chris Cargile. The senior hauled in a 15-yard TD pass from Greg Gallardo to opening the scoring, but quickly retreated to the bench unable to play through an ankle sprain he suffered last week.
  Nick Hernandez picked up some of the slack with 83 yards on eight carries. Adrian Boutee added 78 yards on 11. But Memorial couldn't muster the kind of haymakers that South Houston seemed to keep in surplus.
  Key to the Trojans' victory formula were two huge plays not manufactured by the offense. The defense supplied one and special teams the other.
  After a 14-14 halftime tie, the Trojans clung to a 21-20 lead late in the third quarter. That's when the game took one of several dramatic turns down the stretch.
  Trying to pass deep in his own territory, Gallardo was intercepted by Calvin Mitchell who returned the ball 40 yards to the Memorial 2. Hodges punched it in for a 28-20 Trojan edge.
  Reggie Turner countered for the Mavericks with a 12-yard TD run, leaving Memorial behind 28-26 going into what turned out to be a 35-point scoring spree by both teams in the final 12 minutes.
  Erick Henriquez helped put the Trojans ahead by nine with a 5-yard TD run. Dorian Johnson answered for Memorial with a 7-yard TD catch of a Gallardo pass. But again, for the fouth straight time following a TD, the Mavericks failed to post any conversion points. Memorial trailed 35-32 with 7:50 left.
  The came the backbreaker. Toree Daniel, the district's top receiver, grabbed the ensuing kickoff and raced 77 yards, cutting to one sideline and then the other, to the end zone. South Houston's lead blossomed to 10 points.
  Trailing by two scores, the Mavericks claimed one not quite two minutes later when Reggie Turner bolted 25 yards for a TD. A two-point pass from Gallardo to Brandon Thomas made it 42-40 with 5:57 left.
  But the Trojan offense blasted its way back into Memorial territory and reclaimed the TD on a 5-yard TD run by Hodges with 1:45 remaining.
  Requeno's two TD passes came on a 20-yard toss to Elton Dyer, enabling the Trojans to forge the 14-14 halftime tie, and a 2-yard pass to Daniel to open the scoring in the second half.

Toree Daniel wins the race to the sideline and then prepares to cut all the way across the field enroute to a 77-yard touchdown on a kickoff return that lifted the Trojans to a 10-point lead with 7:35 left in the game.

Byron Hodges, running out of shotgun formation, follows the blocking of receiver Elton Dyer (12) and bolts 28 yards into Memorial territory late in the game.

Chris Cargile, Memorial's leading rusher, turns the corner early in the game.

Cargile scores the game's first points on a 15-yard pass-and-run midway through the first quarter. Cargile left the game later in the first half because of recurring problems with a sprained ankle and did not return.

Trojan quarterback Rudis Requeno breaks into the Memorial secondary late in the first quarter. Later in the drive, Requeno scored his team's first points with a 2-yard run.

Toree Daniel readies a stiff-arm as he tries to turn the corner after a reception.

South Houston linebacker Kenneth Marshall (2) marks the end of the play for Memorial running back Reggie Turner.

Trojan tight end Dequan Moore steps inside of an attempted tackle by the Mavericks' Reggie Turner after catching a pass in the first half.

South Houston defensive back Shaquille Bowman throws a shoulder into Memorial's Reggie Turner at the goal-line -- but not in time to prevent Turner from adding six points to the scoreboard.

South Houston's Erick Henriquez (3) barrels into the end zone from four yards out early in the fourth quarter.

Reggie Turner completes a 25-yard dash to the end zone with 5:57 left in the game as his team pulled to within two points.

South Houston Coach C.L. Whittington congratulates his players on the victory.

GAME ALBUM

Memorial's Jessica Elkins hammers a shot over Clements defenders Kayla Kuhn (11) and Erin Taylor (15).

  PEARLAND - Fort Bend Clements used nine kills from team kills leader Summer Kisner to roll past Memorial in three games Friday night in second-round action of the state Class 5A playoffs at Pearland's Dawson High School.
  The Lady Rangers, who won the District 23-5A title with an 18-0 record, dominated the Lady Mavs from the opening minutes. Clements won with scores of 25-15, 25-21 and 25-13.
  Senior Andee Turner and junior Jessica Elkins led the Lady Mavs with six kills each.
  Memorial finished the season with a 16-12 record. Clements advances with a 32-6 mark.
  Two other Pasadena ISD playoff teams, Dobie and Sam Rayburn, were eliminated in first-round action earlier this week.

Memorial sophomore Gwen Christ lobs a shot over Clements' front line.


Mavericks sophomore Kaylee Berkley pitches the ball over the top of Clements' Taylor Nguyen. 

Texans quarterback Freddy Sevilla leaps through a hole in the Pasadena line for big yardage in the first quarter.

SEVILLA LEADS CHARGE WITH 168 YARDS, THREE TDS

  Sam Rayburn quarterback Freddy Sevilla ran 70 yards for a touchdown on the game's first play, setting the tone for yet another surprise on the final weekend of District 22-5A play at Veterans Memorial Stadium and pacing the Texans to a 34-12 victory over Pasadena.
  The Texans leaned on their neighborhood rivalry with the Eagles to earn their first victory in district play.
  Pasadena, which harbored serious playoff hopes until South Houston's surprise takedown of Memorial on Friday night, landed in a tie with Sam Rayburn for fifth place, both at 1-4.
  Sevilla rushed 20 times for 168 yards and scored three TDs. He added a 2-yard TD run in the second quarter as the Texans stormed to a 24-6 halftime lead. He scored again on a 7-yard run in the third quarter as Sam Rayburn hit a high-water 31-6 advantage.
  Had South Houston lost to the Mavericks on Friday night, the Eagles would have been in position to end a 15-year playoff drought with a victory over the Texans. That dream died when the Trojans posted a 49-40 victory.
  The Texans, versed all week on the stakes involved, arrived at full throttle.
  With the running game working so well, Sam Rayburn tried only seven passes, completed just one and Sevilla hauled that one in. Eric Aldava, who opened the season as the Texans' starting quarterback, threw it and Sevilla took it 40 yards.
  Sam Rayburn's defense kept Julian Nance, the Eagles' standout rusher, in check until the game was effectively out of reach. Nance carried 17 times for 110 yards -- 60 of that coming on a TD burst shortly after Sevilla's 7-yard TD run early in the third quarter.
  Pasadena quarterback Nick Bernal found Gabriel Hill for a 12-yard TD strike and the Eagles' first points of the game late in the first quarter. But Bernal was intercepted three times.
  Sam Rayburn's Alex Manjarrez ended the first half with a 40-yard field goal and tacked on a 17-yarder late in the fourth quarter to account for the final score.
  The loss evened Pasadena's record for the season at 5-5. The Texans finished at 4-6.
  The Sam Rayburn victory settled the placement of South Houston and Memorial in the Class 5A Division II playoff bracket. Because Pasadena failed to make it a three-way tie for third place in the district standings, the Trojans earned the higher spot because of their victory over the Mavericks.

Sevilla sets sail on a 70-yard TD romp on the first play of the game.

Sam Rayburn defensive back Tim DeSoto (24) steps up to hold Pasadena's Julian Nance to a short gain.

Sam Rayburn's Alec Canas splits two Eagles defenders as he looks for running room. 

Gabriel Hill receives congratulations from his teammates after scoring on ann 11-yard pass from Nick Bernal late in the first quarter.  

GAME ALBUM 

Texans quarterback Freddy Sevilla leaps through a hole in the Pasadena line for big yardage in the first quarter.

SEVILLA LEADS CHARGE WITH 168 YARDS, THREE TDS

  Sam Rayburn quarterback Freddy Sevilla ran 70 yards for a touchdown on the game's first play, setting the tone for yet another surprise on the final weekend of District 22-5A play at Veterans Memorial Stadium and pacing the Texans to a 34-12 victory over Pasadena.
  The Texans leaned on their neighborhood rivalry with the Eagles to earn their first victory in district play.
  Pasadena, which harbored serious playoff hopes until South Houston's surprise takedown of Memorial on Friday night, landed in a tie with Sam Rayburn for fifth place, both at 1-4.
  Sevilla rushed 20 times for 168 yards and scored three TDs. He added a 2-yard TD run in the second quarter as the Texans stormed to a 24-6 halftime lead. He scored again on a 7-yard run in the third quarter as Sam Rayburn hit a high-water 31-6 advantage.
  Had South Houston lost to the Mavericks on Friday night, the Eagles would have been in position to end a 15-year playoff drought with a victory over the Texans. That dream died when the Trojans posted a 49-40 victory.
  The Texans, versed all week on the stakes involved, arrived at full throttle.
  With the running game working so well, Sam Rayburn tried only seven passes, completed just one and Sevilla hauled that one in. Eric Aldava, who opened the season as the Texans' starting quarterback, threw it and Sevilla took it 40 yards.
  Sam Rayburn's defense kept Julian Nance, the Eagles' standout rusher, in check until the game was effectively out of reach. Nance carried 17 times for 110 yards -- 60 of that coming on a TD burst shortly after Sevilla's 7-yard TD run early in the third quarter.
  Pasadena quarterback Nick Bernal found Gabriel Hill for a 12-yard TD strike and the Eagles' first points of the game late in the first quarter. But Bernal was intercepted three times.
  Sam Rayburn's Alex Manjarrez ended the first half with a 40-yard field goal and tacked on a 17-yarder late in the fourth quarter to account for the final score.
  The loss evened Pasadena's record for the season at 5-5. The Texans finished at 4-6.
  The Sam Rayburn victory settled the placement of South Houston and Memorial in the Class 5A Division II playoff bracket. Because Pasadena failed to make it a three-way tie for third place in the district standings, the Trojans earned the higher spot because of their victory over the Mavericks.

Sevilla sets sail on a 70-yard TD romp on the first play of the game.

Sam Rayburn defensive back Tim DeSoto (24) steps up to hold Pasadena's Julian Nance to a short gain.

Sam Rayburn's Alec Canas splits two Eagles defenders as he looks for running room. 

Gabriel Hill receives congratulations from his teammates after scoring on ann 11-yard pass from Nick Bernal late in the first quarter.  

GAME ALBUM 

Dobie's Andrew Robinson tries to keep a promising Longhorn drive alive on third down late in the first half, but he gets tangled up by Vincent Vega (22) and then runs into Deer Park's Juan Adame (93), who holds him to a yard gain and forces a field goal.

RANIER RAINS MISERY ON ERROR-PRONE HORNS, LEADS DEER TO FIRST DISTRICT CROWN IN 16 YEARS

  Deer Park quarterback Austin Ranier unhinged Dobie through the air in the first half, then mopped on Longhorn errors in the third quarter as the Deer rolled to a surprisingly lopsided 41-16 victory Thursday night in a much anticipated District 22-5A showdown at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  The victory gave the Deer their first district title since 1995 and prevented the Longhorns from nailing down a second-straight 22-5A crown.
  Both teams will advance into the Division 1 state playoffs. Deer Park stands 9-1 for the season after finishing district play at 5-0. Dobie is 7-3 after wrapping up district play at 4-1.
  The Longhorns, who came in riding a streak of five games with at least 42 points scored, were held to just a field goal until the final five minutes of the contest. Two late Dobie touchdowns took some of the sparkle off a Deer Park lead that peaked at 41-3.
  Dobie's Andrew Robinson, the district's leading rusher and scorer, gained 115 yards on 18 carries. But Robinson contributed to a series of ball-handling disasters early in the second half that allowed the Deer to score 17 points in a span of 76 seconds and put the game away.
  The contest was a stark reversal of Dobie's 34-13 victory over the Deer in 2010 in what was also a showdown for the district title.
  Ranier turned in a brilliant performance, completing 10 of 18 passes for 176 yards against what some had considered to be a suspect Longhorn secondary.
  The Deer Park senior hit Daniel Demond on a 31-yard scoring strike not quite three minutes into the game. Late in the first quarter, Ranier connected with Josh Rutherford, who raced 58 yards to the end zone as the Deer took a 14-0 lead.
  Dobie's best drive -- while the game remained close -- ended at the Deer Park 8 late in the first half when Robinson was stopped on third down after just a one-yard gain. Douglas Leighton salvaged a 25-yard field goal for the Longhorns to prune the Deer lead to 14-3 at the half.
  The start of the second half was a nightmare for Dobie.
  Deer Park took the kickoff and immediately stormed into Longhorn territory, the big play a 51-yard run by Justin James. Dobie's defense stiffened, leaving the Deer with only a 39-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez.
  But the Longhorns muffed the ensuing kicking, took possession at their 3 -- then gave it up on a fumble by Patrict Hurst. Juan Adame recovered for the Deer at the Dobie 1 and Demetrius Banks punched it in.
  After the kickoff, Robinson fumbled and Casey Westmoreland recovered for the Deer. That set up an 11-yard TD run by James and opened up a 31-3 Deer Park lead.
  Barely three minutes after that, Banks scored on a 67-yard run. Gonzales added a 33-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter as both coaches moved reserves into the game.
  Tyler Wolfe replaced Deandre Bolden at quarterback for the Longhorns and hit Chris Stockman with a 9-yard TD pass with 4:41 to play. Wolfe added a second Dobie TD on a 1-yard run with just eight seconds left.
  Deer Park piled up 398 yards behind a balanced offense. Dobie posted 340 yards, but completed only five passes in the game.
  Banks, the district's No. 2 rusher, topped Robinson's total with 140 yards on 18 carries. James finished with 83 yards on 10 carries.

Deer Park quarterback Austin Ranier settles into the pocket and finds Daniel Demond (81) on a slip screen pass that develops into a 31-yard touchdown, the game's first.

Deer Park defensive back D.J. Lasua (14) steps in front of Dobie's Kyle Lohse for a first-quarter interception.

Ranier escapes pressure from Dobie defenders Todd Baumann (42) and Jonathan Jones (99), then pogo-sticks over Kerry Henderson (66) to complete a pass for a first down during first-half action.

Ranier takes advantage of strong protection from his offensive line to wing a completion downfield near the end of the first quarter. Ranier teammed with Josh Rutherford on a 58-yard pass-and-run TD on the next play.

Dobie receiver Vance Leonard (11) hauls in a pass from Deandre Bolden good for 24 yards late in the first half.

A long line of leaping Deer fails to knock down Douglas Leighton's 25-yard field goal late in the first half.

Deer Park's Justin James (5) takes off on a 51-yard romp that helped set up a Deer field goal early in the second half.

Deer Park's Juan Adame (93) eludes the chaos in the line to recover a fumble by Patrick Hurst (25) at the Longhorns' one-yard line early in the second half. The Deer scored on the next play.

Deer Park linebacker Casey Westmoreland (42) makes a diving recovery of a fumble by Dobie's  Andrew Robinson (22) early in the second half. 

Dobie defenders Jonathan Jones (93), Anthony Simmons (33), Kerry Henderson (66) and Todd Baumann (42) team up to stop Deer Park's Clay De La Garza after a short gain in the third quarter.

GAME ALBUM

Sam Rayburn's Charlie Murphy with an example of his sidewalk artwork.

  Sam Rayburn High student Charlie Murphy has earned a spot in the Apprendista artist lineup for the 2011 Houston Via Colori Street Painting Festival on Nov. 19-20.
  The festival will showcase the artistry of 14 of the city's best emerging high-school age artists. Murphy and the other 13 art students have agreed to volunteer their time and talent for the event, which is intended to increase public access of art.
  Via Colori attracts thousands every year with its distinctive and massive colorful chalk murals, celebrating the art of creativity and benefiting children with hearing impairments. The event benefits awareness goals for The Center for Hearing and Speech.
  Over 200 participating artists will transform the pavement of downtown Houston into an unconventional art gallery. Festival attendees can talk to the artists and listen to live music from more than a dozen local bands.

Costumes and sets are the key to any successful stage production, and "The Wizard of Oz," being staged this week at Memorial, is no exception. (Below left) Nayelli Delafunete creates costumes for cast members; (right) Jason Hartenstein, Armando Rodriguez and Matthew Kostelnik construct Aunt Em's farm house for the show.

  Sam Rayburn science teacher Grace Blasingame and senior Mario Cisneros visited the Johnson Space Center on Wednesday to present details of the Pasadena ISD's Solar Initiative to members of the Innovation Speaker Forum.
  After the presentation, Blasingame and Cisneros were given a tour of several NASA facilities and were able to met with JSC staff.
  (Below left) Mario Cisneros tries out the historic Mission Control room; (right) Cisneros with Mike Coats, the director of JSC and a former astronaut; Grace Blasingame; and Pete Mathey, the CEO of Ignite Solar.
  (Bottom left) Vincent Watkins, deputy director of Safety and Assurance at NASA; Mathey; Blasingame; Bill McArthur, a former astronaut and current director of Safety and Assurance; and Cisneros; (right) Cisneros, Blasingame and Mathey pose next to a poster announcing the solar presentation.

  Dobie's speech and debate team (pictured below) won another sweepstakes trophy recently, this time at the Kingwood Tournament.
  The Longhorns finished second in the team rankings behind a late surge. Keys to the rally were Brian To, whose quarter-finalS appearance placed him fifth in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Noah Escamilla and Ben Salazar, third-place semifinalists in Public Forum Debate; and the Novice Public Forum Debate Team of Patrick Sears and Roger Lizama, who placed second.
  Of the five tournaments Dobie has participated in so far, the Longhorns have captured three sweepstakes prizes.
  Other Dobie highlights inclulded the Duo Interpretation Team of Jekale Williams and Maurice Robinson, whose second place finish earned them a berth in the state tournament in March. The same pair placed second in Duet Acting, just ahead of fellow Longhorns Charly Rodriguez and Reese Selman.
  Three of the finalists in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking were Dobie students. Allison Hall placed first, Patrick Sears fifth and Mai Thao Nguyen sixth.
  Christopher Nickelson placed seventh in Humorous Interpretation and reached the semifinals in Congressional Debate. Aidee Alfaro's superior performance in Novice Poetry earned her a first-place finish.
  Khan Pham and Brian To were undefeated in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate. In Original Oratory, Clyde Blackwell advanced to the sem finals, as did Reese Selman in Dramatic Interpretation and Daisy Dinh in Poetry Interpretation.

Memorial teammates Kirbee Bowman (1), Jessica Elkins (6), Amy Fuller (7) and Andee Turner (9) let their emotions fly after securing the winning point in the fifth and final game against Channelview.

  Memorial High's volleyball team survived two elimination points in the fifth game of a frantic state playoff opener against Channelview Tuesday night at Phillips Field House and advanced to the next round on an otherwise calm tip at the net by senior Amy Fuller.
  The Lady Mavs scored seven of the final eight points in the contest -- including the final four points -- to steal what looked like a sure victory for the Falcons.
  Memorial will face Ft. Bend Clements in second-round play today at 6 p.m. at Dawson High School in Pearland.  
  Trailing 13-9 and then 14-12 in the 15-point fifth game, Memorial staged a closing kick that resulted in the Lady Mavs claiming the game, 16-14, for a 3-2 match victory.
  After the two teams swapped 25-23 victories, Memorial appeared to take control with a 25-10 pounding of the Falcons in the third game. But Channelview bounced back to take the fourth game in a 28-26 nailbiter.
  Jessica Elkins led the Lady Mavs with 15 kills while Fuller added 13.
The Lady Mavs, runners-up to Deer Park in the District 22-5A race, were the only Pasadena ISD team to survive the first round. Third-place Dobie fell to Baytown Sterling 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-14) in the match preceding the Memorial-Channelview contest.
  Fourth-place Sam Rayburn lost to North Shore on Monday night.


Memorial sophomore Kaylee Berkley flips the ball over Channelview's front line.

Sophomore Gwen Christ scores on a tap over Channelview defenders Malicia Fluellen (5) and Shelby Campbell (7).

Andee Turner (9) and Kirbee Bowman position themselves for the next point.

Memorial junior Kirbee Bowman counters the Falcons' net charge with a soft volley.

Christa Wells (3) Kaylee Berkley (12), Jessica Elkins (6) and Kirbee Bowman perform their volleyball ballet after winning a point.

Dobie sophomore Bre'Shaun Franklin (11) lifts the ball over Baytown Sterling defender Raegan Guidry (12) during the Lady Longhorns' three-game loss to the Lady Rangers.

Dobie senior Courtney Franklin (12) slams the ball home.

Dobie's Amber Nguyen (17), Bre'Shaun Franklin (11) and Sobia Bhatty (4) celebrate a point.

  Sam Rayburn's TexAnns drance team enjoyed a busy fall, highlighted by appearances in the Pasadena Rodeo Parade, football games and homecoming festivities. Captain Jessica Cano represented the organization as a Miss Roundup homecoming candidate.
  (Below) The TexAnns Dance Officers for 2011-2012, including Miss Roundup candidate Jessica Cano (center), and (bottom) the TexAnns during their Pasadena Rodeo Parade appearance.

Dobie senior Andrew Robinson leaves behind a posse of South Houston defenders on a 22-yard TD jaunt down the sideline that gave the Longhorns a 27-7 lead late in the first half.

5-TD BURST GUIDES HORNS TO SHOWDOWN WITH DEER

  Andrew Robinson, District 22-5A's premier offensive weapon, exploded for five more touchdowns Friday night to lead Dobie to a 56-14 romp over South Houston and into a winner-take-all contest next Thursday night against district rival Deer Park.
  Robinson dazzled a wind-chilled Veterans Memorial Stadium crowd with his familiar stop-and-start, change-of-direction dashes to the end zone.
  The shortest of his scoring bursts was 19 yards. The longest from scrimmage was 30 yards. His longest tote was 89, that coming on the second half kickoff.
  His breakaways not only tormented the Trojans, they roused his Longhorn teammates, who arrived a bit uninspired and departed with their highest point total of the season.
  Dobie, the defending 22-5A champion, will take a 7-2 record and 4-0 district mark into Thursday night's showdown with Deer Park, also 4-0 but with a slightly more glamourous 8-1 record. The teams will kick off at 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  South Houston fell to 2-7 and 1-3 in district, on the verge - unless the Trojans can beat Memorial next Friday night -- of missing the playoffs.
  A victory over Memorial would leave South Houston in either a two- or three-way tie for third place and with a likely points tie-breaker edge. The top four teams advance to the playoffs.
  Robinson carried only 12 times, but collected 148 yards, giving the senior 1,490 for the season. Robinson's season TD total soared to 24.
  South Houston quarterback Rudis Requeno threw for 208 yards with a 22 of 39 effort. Toree Daniel, the area's top receiver, caught nine passes for 90 yards.
  The Trojans appeared primed to make a game of it in the opening minutes. Robinson broke the ice with a 30-yard TD run, but South Houston roared back and took a7-6 lead with the help of a 27-yard TD strike from Requeno to Daniel.
  But Robinson forced his team to pick up the pace. He scored on a 19-yard blast late in the first quarter. The Trojans' swoon became official when the Longhorns posted three TDs in the final two-and-a-half minutes of the half.
  Patrick Hurst scored from 24 yards out on a twisting, tackle-shattering run. South Houston fumbled away the ensuring kickoff and that led to a 22-yard TD run by Robinson.
  The Trojans lost a fourth-down gamble in their own territory on their next possession. Dobie quarterback Deandre Bolden promptly connected with Dominque Bilbo for a 35-yard TD strike and a 35-7 haltime lead for the Longhorns.
  Dobie's TD rampage didn't end until early in the fourth quarter when Demetris Green intercepted a Requeno pass and returned it 55 yards for another score.
  Requeno collected a second TD pass in the remaining time, the finale a 25-yard toss to Elton Dyer.
  DEER PARK 31, SAM RAYBURN 0
  DEER PARK -- Austin Ranier ran for one touchdown and threw for another as the Deer shut down the Texans at Abshier Stadium to secure a showdown next Thursday night with Dobie.
  Now 8-1 and 4-0 in district play, Deer Park held Sam Rayburn to only 92 yards of offense and eight first downs. The Deer scored a TD in every quarter and added a 32-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez in the third.
  The Texans, 3-5 and 0-4 in district play, remain mathematically alive for a playoff spot next week. Sam Rayburn would have to beat Pasadena next Saturday but even then the point differential stemming from a 38-3 loss to South Houston two weeks would likely sideline the Texans.
  Demetrius Banks led the Deer with 125 yards on the ground. Sam Rayburn's offensive leader, Michael Boyd, gained only 29 yards.

Dobie junior Patrick Hurst turns in the best run of the night, a 24-yard TD blast around right end late in the first half.
(Top) Hurst cuts between South Houston defenders Shaquille Bowman (8) and Isaac Garza (26). Garza catches up with
him at the 5-yard line (middle), but runs into interference from Michael Hookfin (75), trailing the plan. Hurst uses that bit
of leverage to spin free and topple over the goal line (bottom).

Robinson scores the game's first TD, a 30-yard romp around right end.

South Houston's Toree Daniel (20) finds a crease between Dobie defenders Jordin Harrison (30), Chris Uzoma (28) and Jessy Cedeno (36) and streaks 27 yards for a TD after catching a pass from Rudis Requeno in the first quarter.

Dobie defensive back Demetris Green (2) barely misses an interception on a deep pass intended for James Davis (10) early in the second quarter. Green later returned an interception 55 yards for his team's final TD.

Robinson strikes again, this time on a 19-yard TD run late in the first quarter.

Dobie's Caleb Wiechman clears a rugby-style punt from his own end zone as South Houston's Brian Columbus applies backside pressure.

Byron Hodges, a junior wide receiver who took several direct snaps for the Trojans, breaks into the Dobie secondary, where Demetris Green (2) awaits.

Dobie quarterback Deandre Bolden fires a jump pass in the direction of Vance Leonard (11). Leonard caught the ball for a short gain.

GAME ALBUM

Dobie senior Andrew Robinson leaves behind a posse of South Houston defenders on a 22-yard TD jaunt down the sideline that gave the Longhorns a 27-7 lead late in the first half.

5-TD BURST GUIDES HORNS TO SHOWDOWN WITH DEER

  Andrew Robinson, District 22-5A's premier offensive weapon, exploded for five more touchdowns Friday night to lead Dobie to a 56-14 romp over South Houston and into a winner-take-all contest next Thursday night against district rival Deer Park.
  Robinson dazzled a wind-chilled Veterans Memorial Stadium crowd with his familiar stop-and-start, change-of-direction dashes to the end zone.
  The shortest of his scoring bursts was 19 yards. The longest from scrimmage was 30 yards. His longest tote was 89, that coming on the second half kickoff.
  His breakaways not only tormented the Trojans, they roused his Longhorn teammates, who arrived a bit uninspired and departed with their highest point total of the season.
  Dobie, the defending 22-5A champion, will take a 7-2 record and 4-0 district mark into Thursday night's showdown with Deer Park, also 4-0 but with a slightly more glamourous 8-1 record. The teams will kick off at 7 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  South Houston fell to 2-7 and 1-3 in district, on the verge - unless the Trojans can beat Memorial next Friday night -- of missing the playoffs.
  A victory over Memorial would leave South Houston in either a two- or three-way tie for third place and with a likely points tie-breaker edge. The top four teams advance to the playoffs.
  Robinson carried only 12 times, but collected 148 yards, giving the senior 1,490 for the season. Robinson's season TD total soared to 24.
  South Houston quarterback Rudis Requeno threw for 208 yards with a 22 of 39 effort. Toree Daniel, the area's top receiver, caught nine passes for 90 yards.
  The Trojans appeared primed to make a game of it in the opening minutes. Robinson broke the ice with a 30-yard TD run, but South Houston roared back and took a7-6 lead with the help of a 27-yard TD strike from Requeno to Daniel.
  But Robinson forced his team to pick up the pace. He scored on a 19-yard blast late in the first quarter. The Trojans' swoon became official when the Longhorns posted three TDs in the final two-and-a-half minutes of the half.
  Patrick Hurst scored from 24 yards out on a twisting, tackle-shattering run. South Houston fumbled away the ensuring kickoff and that led to a 22-yard TD run by Robinson.
  The Trojans lost a fourth-down gamble in their own territory on their next possession. Dobie quarterback Deandre Bolden promptly connected with Dominque Bilbo for a 35-yard TD strike and a 35-7 haltime lead for the Longhorns.
  Dobie's TD rampage didn't end until early in the fourth quarter when Demetris Green intercepted a Requeno pass and returned it 55 yards for another score.
  Requeno collected a second TD pass in the remaining time, the finale a 25-yard toss to Elton Dyer.
  DEER PARK 31, SAM RAYBURN 0
  DEER PARK -- Austin Ranier ran for one touchdown and threw for another as the Deer shut down the Texans at Abshier Stadium to secure a showdown next Thursday night with Dobie.
  Now 8-1 and 4-0 in district play, Deer Park held Sam Rayburn to only 92 yards of offense and eight first downs. The Deer scored a TD in every quarter and added a 32-yard field goal by Zane Gonzalez in the third.
  The Texans, 3-5 and 0-4 in district play, remain mathematically alive for a playoff spot next week. Sam Rayburn would have to beat Pasadena next Saturday but even then the point differential stemming from a 38-3 loss to South Houston two weeks would likely sideline the Texans.
  Demetrius Banks led the Deer with 125 yards on the ground. Sam Rayburn's offensive leader, Michael Boyd, gained only 29 yards.

Dobie junior Patrick Hurst turns in the best run of the night, a 24-yard TD blast around right end late in the first half.
(Top) Hurst cuts between South Houston defenders Shaquille Bowman (8) and Isaac Garza (26). Garza catches up with
him at the 5-yard line (middle), but runs into interference from Michael Hookfin (75), trailing the plan. Hurst uses that bit
of leverage to spin free and topple over the goal line (bottom).

Robinson scores the game's first TD, a 30-yard romp around right end.

South Houston's Toree Daniel (20) finds a crease between Dobie defenders Jordin Harrison (30), Chris Uzoma (28) and Jessy Cedeno (36) and streaks 27 yards for a TD after catching a pass from Rudis Requeno in the first quarter.

Dobie defensive back Demetris Green (2) barely misses an interception on a deep pass intended for James Davis (10) early in the second quarter. Green later returned an interception 55 yards for his team's final TD.

Robinson strikes again, this time on a 19-yard TD run late in the first quarter.

Dobie's Caleb Wiechman clears a rugby-style punt from his own end zone as South Houston's Brian Columbus applies backside pressure.

Byron Hodges, a junior wide receiver who took several direct snaps for the Trojans, breaks into the Dobie secondary, where Demetris Green (2) awaits.

Dobie quarterback Deandre Bolden fires a jump pass in the direction of Vance Leonard (11). Leonard caught the ball for a short gain.

GAME ALBUM

Memorial senior Nick Hernandez is off to the races on a 77-yard TD run midway through the second quarter.

CARGILE, TWO MATES POST LONG-DISTANCE TD RUNS

  Memorial's multi-pronged ground game restored a degree of normalcy to the fevered District 22-5A football race Thursday night with a rushing bonanza that flattened playoff hopeful Pasadena and provided the Mavericks with a solid claim on the district's No. 3 playoff spot.
  Three different Memorial backs -- Chris Cargile, Nick Hernandez and Reggie Turner -- contributed touchdown runs of 74 yards or longer as the Mavs left the Eagles wind-burned in a 55-24 victory at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  Memorial amassed an astonishing 615 yards of total offense, 558 of it coming on the ground.
  Although just 3-6 overall, the Mavs won that all important second district game, normally all that's required to make the district's four-team playoff roster. Memorial can lock up a playoff spot next week with a victory over South Houston.
  Pasadena, 5-4 overall and 1-3 in district, still has an opportunity to nail down a playoff spot next week. The key to a happy ending for the Eagles remains a victory over Sam Rayburn to end the regular season on Nov 5.
  Cargile finished with 209 yards on 17 carries after scoring on runs of 36 and 85 yards.
  Hernandez scored on runs of 77 and 36 yards en route to 159-yard rushing performance. He carried the ball only four times.
  Turner cracked a 74-yard TD run just 20 seconds into the game. He finished with 123 yards on eight carries.
  The Mavericks led 55-10 in the third quarter before the Eagles rebounded for the game's final two TDs -- a 70-yard run by Julian Nance and a 20-yard blast by Gabriel Hill.
  Nance, who scored earlier on a 23-yard run, rambled through Memorial's defense for 184 yards on 25 carries.
  Mavericks quarterback Greg Gallardo had a hand in two of his team's eight TDs. Gallardo threw a 14-yard pass to Dorian Johnson to end the scoring in the second quarter and found AhRmon Mcleod for a 30-yards strike for the first TD of the third quarter.
  Mcleod earlier scored on an eight-yard run.

Memorial defensive back Adrian Boutte (9) jars the ball from the grasp of Pasadena's Christian Moreno (left) after a reception in the second quarter. (Right) With the ball on the ground, Mavericks linebacker Andrew Garza (32) dives into the fray and makes the recovery.

Memorial running back Ahrmon Mcleon (27) becomes the rope in a human tug o'war. As Pasadena's Albert Castro (10) tries to pull the ball out and other Eagles defenders try to pull Mcleod down, his teammate, lineman Anthony Garza (79) tries to push him forward another yard or two.

Eagles quarterback Nick Bernal fires a pass downfield in the first half.

One of the few that eluded the Mavericks: Memorial wide receiver Brandon Thomas can't quite catch up to deep pass from Greg Gallardo on the final play of the first half. The ball glanced off his fingertips.

Pasadena's Julian Nance follows the protection of linemen Armando Chavana (77) and Ozzy Martinez (59) as he breaks tackles and gains big yardage early in the second half.

GAME ALBUM  

Memorial senior Nick Hernandez is off to the races on a 77-yard TD run midway through the second quarter.

CARGILE, TWO MATES POST LONG-DISTANCE TD RUNS

  Memorial's multi-pronged ground game restored a degree of normalcy to the fevered District 22-5A football race Thursday night with a rushing bonanza that flattened playoff hopeful Pasadena and provided the Mavericks with a solid claim on the district's No. 3 playoff spot.
  Three different Memorial backs -- Chris Cargile, Nick Hernandez and Reggie Turner -- contributed touchdown runs of 74 yards or longer as the Mavs left the Eagles wind-burned in a 55-24 victory at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  Memorial amassed an astonishing 615 yards of total offense, 558 of it coming on the ground.
  Although just 3-6 overall, the Mavs won that all important second district game, normally all that's required to make the district's four-team playoff roster. Memorial can lock up a playoff spot next week with a victory over South Houston.
  Pasadena, 5-4 overall and 1-3 in district, still has an opportunity to nail down a playoff spot next week. The key to a happy ending for the Eagles remains a victory over Sam Rayburn to end the regular season on Nov 5.
  Cargile finished with 209 yards on 17 carries after scoring on runs of 36 and 85 yards.
  Hernandez scored on runs of 77 and 36 yards en route to 159-yard rushing performance. He carried the ball only four times.
  Turner cracked a 74-yard TD run just 20 seconds into the game. He finished with 123 yards on eight carries.
  The Mavericks led 55-10 in the third quarter before the Eagles rebounded for the game's final two TDs -- a 70-yard run by Julian Nance and a 20-yard blast by Gabriel Hill.
  Nance, who scored earlier on a 23-yard run, rambled through Memorial's defense for 184 yards on 25 carries.
  Mavericks quarterback Greg Gallardo had a hand in two of his team's eight TDs. Gallardo threw a 14-yard pass to Dorian Johnson to end the scoring in the second quarter and found AhRmon Mcleod for a 30-yards strike for the first TD of the third quarter.
  Mcleod earlier scored on an eight-yard run.

Memorial defensive back Adrian Boutte (9) jars the ball from the grasp of Pasadena's Christian Moreno (left) after a reception in the second quarter. (Right) With the ball on the ground, Mavericks linebacker Andrew Garza (32) dives into the fray and makes the recovery.

Memorial running back Ahrmon Mcleon (27) becomes the rope in a human tug o'war. As Pasadena's Albert Castro (10) tries to pull the ball out and other Eagles defenders try to pull Mcleod down, his teammate, lineman Anthony Garza (79) tries to push him forward another yard or two.

Eagles quarterback Nick Bernal fires a pass downfield in the first half.

One of the few that eluded the Mavericks: Memorial wide receiver Brandon Thomas can't quite catch up to deep pass from Greg Gallardo on the final play of the first half. The ball glanced off his fingertips.

Pasadena's Julian Nance follows the protection of linemen Armando Chavana (77) and Ozzy Martinez (59) as he breaks tackles and gains big yardage early in the second half.

GAME ALBUM  

 The Department of Theater at Memorial High School will present "The Wizard of Oz" Nov. 3-5 on the school's Mainstage.
  Curtain time each of the three nights is 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 each and may be purchased at the door.
  The production features a cast of more than 80 performers, including 40 children from Memorial's feeder schools.
  Leading cast members include Marissa Dominquez as Dorothy Gale, Nathan Schweitzer as the Scarecrow, Jason Hartenstein as the Tin Man, Alexis Vargas as the Cowardly Lion, Deni Nikolova as the Wicked Witch of the West, Brach Bolton as Glinda the Good Witch, Nayeli Delafuente as Aunt Em and Armando Rodriquez as Uncle Henry.
  Freshman Anthony Martino will play the role of the Wizard of Oz.

  Dobie orchestra students turned in their best regional showing in memory on Saturday at the Region 19 audition at Memorial High, landing 28 All-Region selections.
  The region consists of all orchestra students in Grades 9-12 in the Pasadena, Deer Park, Humble and La Porte school district as well as private schools in the area. The region orchestra is an all-star group of the best players from these schools.
  Fourteen percent of all Dobie orchestra students earned All-Region recognition and 48 percent of those who auditioned made it.
  All family, faculty, staff and administration are invited to attend the region concert to be held Jan. 21, 2012, at 4 p.m. at Deer Park High. Admission is free.
  DOBIE'S ALL-REGION SELECTIONS
  Violins
  Audrey Beyer, junior, Symphony, 2nd violin; Victoria Blackmon, freshman, Philharmonic, 1st violin; Judy Dang, freshman, Symphony, 2nd violin; Samantha Gomes, senior, Symphony, 2nd violin; Vincent Gonzalez, freshman, Symphony, 1st violin; Aaron Lariviere, junior, Symphony, 2nd violin; Sarah Merrill, junior, Symphony, 2nd violin; Cindy Nguyen, freshman, Symphony, 2nd violin; Giaan Nguyen, freshman, Philharmonic, 1st violin; Tri Nguyen, senior, Symphony, 2nd violin; Phuong Pham, freshman, Philharmonic, 1st violin; Tracie Phan, freshman, Symphony, 2nd violin; Angela Rosales, freshman Philharmonic, 2nd violin; Leah Weaver, junior, Symphony, 1st violin.
  Violas
  Zachary Fernandez, freshman, Symphony; Elissa Nguyen, freshman, Philharmonic; Kenny Nguyen, senior, Symphony; Nhubinh Nguyen, freshman, Philharmonic; Edwardo Rios, junior, Symphony Alexis Rodriguez, freshman, Philharmonic; Tyson Salinas, freshman, Philharmonic; Ngoc-Que Tran, junior, Symphony.
  Cellos
  Hernan Campa, freshman, Symphony; Celina Rabe, freshman, 1st Alternate to the Philharmonic Orchestra; Marcela Reina, freshman, Philharmonic; Cristian Vargas, freshman, Symphony.
  Bass
  Carlos Amaro, freshman, Symphony; Ira Lanza, junior, Symphony.

Tara Cole, a junior on the Memorial High junior varsity, kicks off in a recent game.

  By BRITTA GAMINO
  Pasadena ISD Communications
  The school bell rings and the day is done. Streams of students wander out the doors of Memorial High, some to their cars and others to after-school rehearsals. But not all the activity follows the traditional high-school script.
  A girl with fiery red hair is making her way to sports practice. In a football helmet and football pads. Tara Cole, the placekicker and punter for the Mavericks' junior varsity squad is headed for football practice.
  Cole, a junior who moved to Memorial just last year, splits her time between club soccer, track, the Memorial girls' varsity basketball team -- and this season, football.
  "I've always loved football," Cole said. "I actually started playing football in seventh grade when I tried out for the team in Pearland."
  At Memorial, she approached John Snelson, the Mavericks' head football coach, about getting a shot to make the team. He promptly issued her jersey No. 18.
  "Although she's our first girl on our team, she fits right in," Snelson said. "She works hard and doesn't want anyone to treat her any different."
  Cole said her prospects for kicking for a football team even caught her by surprise.
  "One day I just decided to kick field goals and kickoffs," she said, "and it turns out I was pretty good."
  But being the only girl on a football team isn't always glitz and glamour. Teammate Gabe Medellin noted that sometimes good sportsmanship is not always highly regarded by opponents.
  "While the idea of having a girl on the team is not something new to us, some of the other teams point and joke on the field," Medellin said. "I find that degrading -- that's not what sports is about."
  Medellin's idea of taking action against the naysayers is simple.
  "We try to show it in our actions," Medellin said with a smirk. "She's really good -- better than most of the boy kickers that were out there. So we leave it all on the field."
  For Cole, getting her parents to accept the idea of their little girl roughing it on the football field required some work.
  "My mom at first didn't really like the idea," Cole said, "but she came around. My dad was all for it. He played a little football himself. I know they are both really proud of me now."
  Cole insists that other than the fact that she plays football, she's just a normal girl.
  "I like doing things everyone else likes to do, watching movies and reading," she said. "I'm actually kind of a nerd."
  Cole plans to apply for the Naval Academy soon. She has her sights set on another goal -- making the varsity football team as a senior. She even has a bit of advice for other girls thinking about playing football.
  "I'd like to tell them not to be afraid," she said. "Try out and see what happens."
  Snelson said he has no objection to having another girl player on the team next year.
  "I'm open to it," he said, "if she is good enough."

In this photo sequence, Cole makes her approach and boots home an extra point in a recent contest.

  The Theater Department at Sam Rayburn High School will present "Dracula" four nights this week, beginning on Tuesday.
  Additional performances will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Curtain time each night is 7:30 p.m. in the school auditorium. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door.
  The production, featuring a cast of 25, is based on Bram Stoker's famous vampire novel.
  Cast members include Blake DeLaCruz as Renfield, Dalyn Velazquez as Lucy, Nicole Gonzales as Mina, Jorge Garza as Harker, Tony Luna as Seward and Roberto Sanchez as Van Helsing.
  Junior Lazlo Zoppe will play the role of Dracula.
  For more information, contact the school's front office at 713-740-0330.

Pasadena's Gabriel Hill gets an angle on South Houston defenders Thomas Bennett and Calvin Mitchell (21) and sets sail 18 yards for the end zone after catching a pass from Nick Bernal on the first play of the second quarter.

  Pasadena High defensive back Francisco Rodriguez intercepted a potential game-winning pass at the goal-line as time expired Friday night to preserve a 26-21 Eagles upset of South Houston and dramatically shake up the state playoff picture in District 22-5A.
  The Eagles celebrated homecoming at Veterans Memorial Stadium in stunning fashion, securing their first victory in a district game in nearly four years.
  The victory promises to vault Pasadena into the playoffs and keep the Trojans out, depending on results the next two weeks.
  Now 1-2 in district play and 5-3 overall, the Eagles can likely sew up a playoff spot by beating either Memorial or Sam Rayburn in their final two games.
  The Trojans, 2-6 overall, fell to 1-2 in district with games remaining against Dobie and Memorial.
  South Houston, fresh off a 38-3 romp over Sam Rayburn, were jolted in the first half by the Pasadena rushing combination of quarterback Nick Bernal and Julian Nance, and by Bernal's ability to sustain drives through the air.
  The Eagles jumped to a 12-7 halftime lead, the big play a 18-yard touchdown strike from Bernal to Gabriel Hill on the first play of the second quarter. The TD gave Pasadena a 9-0 lead.
  The Trojans wiped out the deficit and took a commanding 21-12 victory on two second-half TDs, one a 27-yard pass from Rudis Requeno to James Davis and the other a 30-yard run by Deion Francis.
  But Bernal came back with two fourth-quarter TD strikes to Lemus, the first a 39-yard toss to Armando Lemus and the second a 27-yarder with 1:09 left in the game. In between, Nance scored on a two-point conversion run.
  Still, the Trojans nearly pulled the game out in the closing seconds. Requeno completed three passes and ran for another 11 yards to move South Houston to the Pasadena 14 with only 12 seconds left.
  Requeno tried two passes in the remaining time, the first an incompletion. The second was swiped by Rodriquez at the goal-line, setting off a wild Eagles celebration.
  Lemus caught three passes in the contest for 99 yards. 

Pasadena's Devan Canas (9) trips up South Houston's Erick Henriquez after a short gain.

Eagles quarterback Nick Bernal runs out of the pocket with Trojans defender Isaac Garza (26) in pursuit.

South Houston's Toree Daniel, the district's leading receiver, spins away from Eagles defender Francisco Rodriguez and heads upfield after a reception in the first quarter.

South Houston quarterback Rudis Requeno falls into a sack trap set by Eagle defenders Noe Munoz (30) and Juan Salinas (66).

Pasadena's Albert Castro (10) prepares to stick South Houston receiver Dequan Moore (87) on a key fourth-down play late in the first half. Castro's stop forced the Trojans to turn the ball over on downs.

GAME ALBUM

Pasadena's Gabriel Hill gets an angle on South Houston defenders Thomas Bennett and Calvin Mitchell (21) and sets sail 18 yards for the end zone after catching a pass from Nick Bernal on the first play of the second quarter.

  Pasadena High defensive back Francisco Rodriguez intercepted a potential game-winning pass at the goal-line as time expired Friday night to preserve a 26-21 Eagles upset of South Houston and dramatically shake up the state playoff picture in District 22-5A.
  The Eagles celebrated homecoming at Veterans Memorial Stadium in stunning fashion, securing their first victory in a district game in nearly four years.
  The victory promises to vault Pasadena into the playoffs and keep the Trojans out, depending on results the next two weeks.
  Now 1-2 in district play and 5-3 overall, the Eagles can likely sew up a playoff spot by beating either Memorial or Sam Rayburn in their final two games.
  The Trojans, 2-6 overall, fell to 1-2 in district with games remaining against Dobie and Memorial.
  South Houston, fresh off a 38-3 romp over Sam Rayburn, were jolted in the first half by the Pasadena rushing combination of quarterback Nick Bernal and Julian Nance, and by Bernal's ability to sustain drives through the air.
  The Eagles jumped to a 12-7 halftime lead, the big play a 18-yard touchdown strike from Bernal to Gabriel Hill on the first play of the second quarter. The TD gave Pasadena a 9-0 lead.
  The Trojans wiped out the deficit and took a commanding 21-12 victory on two second-half TDs, one a 27-yard pass from Rudis Requeno to James Davis and the other a 30-yard run by Deion Francis.
  But Bernal came back with two fourth-quarter TD strikes to Lemus, the first a 39-yard toss to Armando Lemus and the second a 27-yarder with 1:09 left in the game. In between, Nance scored on a two-point conversion run.
  Still, the Trojans nearly pulled the game out in the closing seconds. Requeno completed three passes and ran for another 11 yards to move South Houston to the Pasadena 14 with only 12 seconds left.
  Requeno tried two passes in the remaining time, the first an incompletion. The second was swiped by Rodriquez at the goal-line, setting off a wild Eagles celebration.
  Lemus caught three passes in the contest for 99 yards. 

Pasadena's Devan Canas (9) trips up South Houston's Erick Henriquez after a short gain.

Eagles quarterback Nick Bernal runs out of the pocket with Trojans defender Isaac Garza (26) in pursuit.

South Houston's Toree Daniel, the district's leading receiver, spins away from Eagles defender Francisco Rodriguez and heads upfield after a reception in the first quarter.

South Houston quarterback Rudis Requeno falls into a sack trap set by Eagle defenders Noe Munoz (30) and Juan Salinas (66).

Pasadena's Albert Castro (10) prepares to stick South Houston receiver Dequan Moore (87) on a key fourth-down play late in the first half. Castro's stop forced the Trojans to turn the ball over on downs.

GAME ALBUM

Dobie junior Kelton Bailey cuts inside of a screen from teammate Dominque Bilbo (5) to score from 11 yards out early in the second quarter. Manuel Tarango (8) defends for Sam Rayburn.

  Paced by another short but sizzling rushing performance by Andrew Robinson, the Dobie Longhorns on Saturday turned Sam Rayburn into a shortcut to a much anticipated District 22-5A showdown with Deer Park, now just 12 days away.
  Robinson, the district's leading rusher, carried 10 times for 149 yards and scored three touchdowns in a half-game performance as the Longhorns easily disposed of the Texans 45-3 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  Both Dobie and Deer Park stand 3-0 in district play with two games left. The Longhorns take on South Houston next Friday while Deer Park plays host to Sam Rayburn the next night.
  The Longhorns, 6-2 overall, and Deer, 7-1, will square off on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  Deandre Bolden, starting his second game at quarterback for the Longhorns, unveiled a passing touch to go with his breakaway mobility. He stung the Texans for two first-quarter TD passes, one to Robinson for a 20-yard score and the other a dramatic 19-yard toss to Chris Stockman in the corner of the end zone on a fourth-and-3 call.
  After that, Dobie's ground game put the issue to rest. Kelton Bailey scored from 11 yards out and Robinson followed with runs of 9 and 54 yards to lift Dobie to a 35-0 halftime lead.
  The Texans' only points came midway through the third period when Alexis Manjarres kicked a 20-yard field goal.
  Dobie answered with a 25-yard field goal by Douglas Leighton and then a 70-yard TD run by Jordan Williams with 7:01 left in the game. Williams finished with 101 yards rushing on just four carries.
  The Longhorns piled up 490 yards of offense, 417 of it on the ground. The Texans, 0-3 in district and 3-5 overall, completed only two passes and posted only 114 yards of offense.

Dobie's Patrick Hurst takes a short pass from Deandre Bolden (top) and breaks outside for a 19-yard gain (bottom) to set up the Longhorns' third touchdown.

Andrew Robinson cuts inside of Sam Rayburn defensive back Francisco Jimenez to turn a swing pass from Deandre Bolden into a 20-yard TD and Dobie's first score.

Texans quarterback Freddy Sevilla rolls out in search of a receiver. He kept the ball for a short gain.

Andrew Robinson is upended by Sam Rayburn defensive back Tim DeSoto after trying to sweep the right side.

Sam Rayburn's Alec Canas finds a crease on a punt return in the first quarter. Teammate Alexis Manjarrez (9) provides some running room by sealing out Dobie's Jessy Cedeno.  

Sam Rayburn linebacker Eric Aldava (14) puts the brakes on Dobie quarterback Deandre Bolden.

Dobie's Chris Stockman lines up behind a wall of blockers, led by Andrew Robinson (22) and Dominque Bilbo (5), for a jaunt to the end zone after latching on to a short pass from Deandre Bolden. The play was wiped out by an illegal block but the Longhorns scored anyway a few plays later.

GAME ALBUM

Dobie junior Kelton Bailey cuts inside of a screen from teammate Dominque Bilbo (5) to score from 11 yards out early in the second quarter. Manuel Tarango (8) defends for Sam Rayburn.

  Paced by another short but sizzling rushing performance by Andrew Robinson, the Dobie Longhorns on Saturday turned Sam Rayburn into a shortcut to a much anticipated District 22-5A showdown with Deer Park, now just 12 days away.
  Robinson, the district's leading rusher, carried 10 times for 149 yards and scored three touchdowns in a half-game performance as the Longhorns easily disposed of the Texans 45-3 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  Both Dobie and Deer Park stand 3-0 in district play with two games left. The Longhorns take on South Houston next Friday while Deer Park plays host to Sam Rayburn the next night.
  The Longhorns, 6-2 overall, and Deer, 7-1, will square off on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  Deandre Bolden, starting his second game at quarterback for the Longhorns, unveiled a passing touch to go with his breakaway mobility. He stung the Texans for two first-quarter TD passes, one to Robinson for a 20-yard score and the other a dramatic 19-yard toss to Chris Stockman in the corner of the end zone on a fourth-and-3 call.
  After that, Dobie's ground game put the issue to rest. Kelton Bailey scored from 11 yards out and Robinson followed with runs of 9 and 54 yards to lift Dobie to a 35-0 halftime lead.
  The Texans' only points came midway through the third period when Alexis Manjarres kicked a 20-yard field goal.
  Dobie answered with a 25-yard field goal by Douglas Leighton and then a 70-yard TD run by Jordan Williams with 7:01 left in the game. Williams finished with 101 yards rushing on just four carries.
  The Longhorns piled up 490 yards of offense, 417 of it on the ground. The Texans, 0-3 in district and 3-5 overall, completed only two passes and posted only 114 yards of offense.

Dobie's Patrick Hurst takes a short pass from Deandre Bolden (top) and breaks outside for a 19-yard gain (bottom) to set up the Longhorns' third touchdown.

Andrew Robinson cuts inside of Sam Rayburn defensive back Francisco Jimenez to turn a swing pass from Deandre Bolden into a 20-yard TD and Dobie's first score.

Texans quarterback Freddy Sevilla rolls out in search of a receiver. He kept the ball for a short gain.

Andrew Robinson is upended by Sam Rayburn defensive back Tim DeSoto after trying to sweep the right side.

Sam Rayburn's Alec Canas finds a crease on a punt return in the first quarter. Teammate Alexis Manjarrez (9) provides some running room by sealing out Dobie's Jessy Cedeno.  

Sam Rayburn linebacker Eric Aldava (14) puts the brakes on Dobie quarterback Deandre Bolden.

Dobie's Chris Stockman lines up behind a wall of blockers, led by Andrew Robinson (22) and Dominque Bilbo (5), for a jaunt to the end zone after latching on to a short pass from Deandre Bolden. The play was wiped out by an illegal block but the Longhorns scored anyway a few plays later.

GAME ALBUM

Memorial senior Chris Cargile plunges into the middle of the line a step ahead of Deer Park's Nolan Camp (11). Cargile finished the night with 201 yards on the ground.

  A 201-yard rushing performance by Memorial's Chris Cargile Thursday night couldn't keep pace with Deer Park's stampede toward an apparent District 22-5A showdown with Dobie.
  Deer Park running backs Demetrius Banks and Justin James combined for 327 yards on the ground as the Deer erupted in the second half for a 48-23 victory over the Mavericks at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  In avenging a home loss to Memorial last year, the Deer stayed on track for a district title shootout with the defending champion Longhorns on Nov. 3 at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Deer Parks stands 3-0 in district play with two games remaining and 7-1 overall.
  The Mavericks slipped to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in district play.
  For much of the first half, it appeared that Memorial might be poised for an upset and a leap back into title contention. Midway through the second quarter, Cargile scored from 16 yards out to give the Mavericks a 13-10 lead.
  But the Deer answered with three straight touchdown runs by James, one in the second quarter and two in the third. James scored a fourth TD on a 17-yard run - his longest TD blast of the night - midway through the fourth quarter, part of a 31-point second half for the Deer.
  Cargile carried 22 times for his 201 yards. Banks gained 193 yards on 24 carries and scored two TDs. James carried 16 times for 124 yards.
  Memorial outgained the Deer 459 yards to 443.
But for the third straight game, the Mavericks surrendered at least 43 points.
  Greg Gallardo, Memorial's quarterback, tossed two TD passes into the mix, an 11-yarder to Derek Lee in the first quarter and a 22-yarder to Brandon Thomas with just seven seconds left in the game.

Memorial running back Ahrmon Mcleod leaps over the line on his way toward a collision with Deer Park linebacker Tyler Butterfras (46).

Mavericks quarterback Greg Gallardo escapes the pocket under a heavy rush from Deer Park's Shaquelle Alexander (96).

Deer Park linebacker Casey Westmoreland (42) closes in on Memorial running back Reggie Turner (3).

Deer Park's Justin James scores the third of his four touchdowns, a 15-yard scamper late in the third quarter. 

GAME ALBUM

DECA officers at Pasadena High recently participated in "The O Factor," a leadership forum sponsored by the Vince Young Foundation. "The O Factor" emphasizes the message: "Experience Your Opportunity." (Below) DECA officers Jorge Cisneros, vice president; Maria Jimenez, secretary; Starlynn Welch, president; Laura Llanes, reporter; and Leroy Charles, treasurer.

  Sam Rayburn cheerleaders participated in the "Lights On Afterschool" celebration on the deck of the Battleship Texas Thursday night. The program is part of the After-School Alliance, which works to ensure that all children have access to affordable, quality after-school programs.
  (Below left) Cheerleaders are (back) Amanda Leal, Dariana Unruch, Alex Sumney, Jack Draper, Ashley Glover, Sabrina Ayala, Joy Snyder and Miss Nancy Rodriguez; (middle) Shelbie Swilley, Cellissa Perez and Monica Chapa; and (front) Ashley Baltazar, Kelsey Davis and Desiree Jerez. (Below right) Cheerleaders perform on the deck of the battleship.

Memorial cheerleaders visited the Rise School in Houston last week and staged a pep rally for the children there, complete with free plastic footballs. The Rise School provides services for babies and toddlers with disabilities. Assistant Principal Kevin Blain accompanied the cheerleaders for what turned out to a very emotional and uplifting experience. Event photo follows.

  Forty-two Dobie art students have been selected to represent the school in the 37th Annual Fire Prevention Poster Contest.
  Winning posters will be on display at "FireFest" this Saturday at the Houston Fire Department Jahnke Training Academy, located at 8030 Braniff, near Hobby Airport.
  Participants chosen are: Alexis Calderom, Carolina Herrera, Linda Ly, Gabino Morales, Linh Thai, Oscar Espinal, Faria Akhter, Thuan Vuong, Ana Cavazos, Emily Cleveland, Jacob da Silva, Dyana Galvan, Allison Hall, Osiel Juarez, Thuyen Le, Chassity Moreno, Dana Nguyen, Kaitlyn Schuetz, Melissa Sosa, Chukwuemeka K. Uchendu, Britny Vanek, Triet Pham, Uyen Pham, Francisco Rangel, Rosa Velazquez, Tu Anh Le, Anthony Martinez, Samuel Martinez, Alysse Williams, Karina Contreras, Lisa Gill, Karina Gonzalez, Vanessa Guerrero, Jasmine Ibarra, Sabrina Juarez, Cristyan Medina, Jonathan Tamez, Jeccika Torres, Kim-Lynn Tran, Angela Mills, Vivian Vu and Melissa Sosa.

  New Caney High School claimed the "Battle of the Bayou" on Saturday at the Texan Battalion JROTC Invitational Military Skills Meet hosted by the Sam Rayburn High JROTC.
  Livingston finished second in the competition with Summer Creek taking third.
  Over 800 cadets from 14 schools and 10 area school districts competed in the event, symbolically referred to by the Sam Rayburn JROTC as the "Battle on the Bayou" because of the school's proximity to Little Vince's Bayou and the role it played in the Battle of San Jacinto.
  The Texan Battalion entered all-freshman teams, which were coached by upperclassman cadets.
  The Texan Battalion's next military skills competition will be in December at New Caney.
  (Below) Sam Rayburn's Texan Battalion Cadet Command Sergeant Major Israel Barajas shows the crowd the Ceremonial Trophy.

Sam Rayburn High's solar project was featured on the Pasadena ISD Solar Tour Day last Saturday. Student volunteers from Sam Rayburn and Memorial High helped guide visitors. Event photos follow.

South Houston's Toree Daniel hauls in a first-quarter pass from Rudis Requeno and races 54 yards for a touchdown.

  South Houston senior Rudis Requeno launched four touchdown passes, three coming in the first quarter, as the Trojans treated a sprawling homecoming crowd to a 38-3 romp over Sam Rayburn at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday night.
  The Trojans used the victory to snap a four-game losing streak and stake a convincing claim as playoff contenders.
  South Houston is 1-1 in District 22-5A play and 2-5 over all. Sam Rayburn fell to 3-4 overall and an 0-2 mark for district slate that still includes Deer Park and Dobie.
  The victory was the Trojans' most lopsided over a Sam Rayburn team in 22 years.
  Requeno completed 22 of 33 passes for 324 yards. The Texans, one week after scoring 43 points in a loss to Memorial High, were held to just a field goal by the Trojans' surprisingly stout defense.
  Freddy Sevilla, who ran for 227 yards in his starting quarterback debut last week for the Texans, was held to just 35 yards on 10 carries against the Trojans. Michael Boyd carried the rushing load for Sam Rayburn with 112 yards on 25 carries.
  The contest was selected as Channel 13's Game of the Week after a record on-line voting response from both schools and strong push by South Houston alums, who turned out in force for homecoming activities.
  Requeno was electric in the opening minutes. He dropped a 28-yard TD strike into the arms of Elton Dyer barely four minutes into the game.
  The Texans answered with their only points of the night -- a 30-yard field goal by Eric Aldava.
  Requeno counted with a toss to Torre Daniel, the district top receiver, who broke free for a 54-yard pass and run play. Less than two minutes later, Requeno connected with Dequan Moore for a 10-yard TD strike.
  A 30-yard field goal by Jorge Pineda in the second quarter gave the Trojans a 24-3 halftime edge.
  Just 91 seconds into the second half, Requeno hit Dyer again from 25 yards out. Requeno capped the Trojans' TD splurge with a 1-yard run midway through the fourth quarter.
  Daniel caught eight passes for 126 yards. Dyer caught four for 96 yards.
  The Texans produced 317 yards of offense but were hurt by three lost fumbles and an interception.
  DEER PARK 58, PASADENA 7
  The Deer spotted the Eagles a touchdown in the opening four minutes, then roared back with 58 unanswered points to claim a lopsided victory at Abshier Stadium.
  Deer Park improved to 2-0 in District 22-5A play and 6-1 overall. Pasadena fell to 0-2 and 4-3.
  Julian Nance helped stake the Eagles to a 7-0 lead with a 2-yard TD run early in the first quarter.
  The Deer needed just 27 seconds to tie the score on a 39-yard pass from Austin Ranier to Josh Rutherford. Deer Park quickly bolted to a 28-7 lead and a 30-yard interception return by John Lopez with 55 seconds left in the half made it 35-7 at intermission.
  Nance led all rushers with 124 yards on 22 carries.

South Houston's Erick Henriquez takes a hard spill after a short gain. Sam Rayburn's Zach Purvis (99) arrives to finish off the play .

South Houston's Elton Dyer gets a pat on the back from Sam Rayburn's Francisco Jimenez (4) after a catch.

Toree Daniel takes off again in the second quarter after catching a short pass from Rudis Requeno (15).

GAME ALBUM

















 

South Houston's Toree Daniel hauls in a first-quarter pass from Rudis Requeno and races 54 yards for a touchdown.

  South Houston senior Rudis Requeno launched four touchdown passes, three coming in the first quarter, as the Trojans treated a sprawling homecoming crowd to a 38-3 romp over Sam Rayburn at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday night.
  The Trojans used the victory to snap a four-game losing streak and stake a convincing claim as playoff contenders.
  South Houston is 1-1 in District 22-5A play and 2-5 over all. Sam Rayburn fell to 3-4 overall and an 0-2 mark for district slate that still includes Deer Park and Dobie.
  The victory was the Trojans' most lopsided over a Sam Rayburn team in 22 years.
  Requeno completed 22 of 33 passes for 324 yards. The Texans, one week after scoring 43 points in a loss to Memorial High, were held to just a field goal by the Trojans' surprisingly stout defense.
  Freddy Sevilla, who ran for 227 yards in his starting quarterback debut last week for the Texans, was held to just 35 yards on 10 carries against the Trojans. Michael Boyd carried the rushing load for Sam Rayburn with 112 yards on 25 carries.
  The contest was selected as Channel 13's Game of the Week after a record on-line voting response from both schools and strong push by South Houston alums, who turned out in force for homecoming activities.
  Requeno was electric in the opening minutes. He dropped a 28-yard TD strike into the arms of Elton Dyer barely four minutes into the game.
  The Texans answered with their only points of the night -- a 30-yard field goal by Eric Aldava.
  Requeno counted with a toss to Torre Daniel, the district top receiver, who broke free for a 54-yard pass and run play. Less than two minutes later, Requeno connected with Dequan Moore for a 10-yard TD strike.
  A 30-yard field goal by Jorge Pineda in the second quarter gave the Trojans a 24-3 halftime edge.
  Just 91 seconds into the second half, Requeno hit Dyer again from 25 yards out. Requeno capped the Trojans' TD splurge with a 1-yard run midway through the fourth quarter.
  Daniel caught eight passes for 126 yards. Dyer caught four for 96 yards.
  The Texans produced 317 yards of offense but were hurt by three lost fumbles and an interception.
  DEER PARK 58, PASADENA 7
  The Deer spotted the Eagles a touchdown in the opening four minutes, then roared back with 58 unanswered points to claim a lopsided victory at Abshier Stadium.
  Deer Park improved to 2-0 in District 22-5A play and 6-1 overall. Pasadena fell to 0-2 and 4-3.
  Julian Nance helped stake the Eagles to a 7-0 lead with a 2-yard TD run early in the first quarter.
  The Deer needed just 27 seconds to tie the score on a 39-yard pass from Austin Ranier to Josh Rutherford. Deer Park quickly bolted to a 28-7 lead and a 30-yard interception return by John Lopez with 55 seconds left in the half made it 35-7 at intermission.
  Nance led all rushers with 124 yards on 22 carries.

South Houston's Erick Henriquez takes a hard spill after a short gain. Sam Rayburn's Zach Purvis (99) arrives to finish off the play .

South Houston's Elton Dyer gets a pat on the back from Sam Rayburn's Francisco Jimenez (4) after a catch.

Toree Daniel takes off again in the second quarter after catching a short pass from Rudis Requeno (15).

GAME ALBUM

HOMECOMING ALBUM

Dobie's Andrew Robinson breaks free on a 37-yard TD run in the first quarter for the Longhorns' first points of the game. Memorial's Ray Lopez (78) gives chase.

  Dobie changed quarterbacks for the second time this season and in doing so changed Memorial's ability to write a happy ending on an offensive free-for-all.
  Deandre Bolden, the talented backup to Dobie rushing star Andrew Robinson just a week ago, made the switch to quarterback Thursday night and teammed with Robinson to overpower the Mavericks 49-37 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  The Longhorns, the defending champs of District 22-5A, posted their second-straight 40-plus point performance. The Mavericks did the same -- but unlike their 45-43 victory over Sam Rayburn last week, this shootout found Memorial short of the ammunition required to fully counter the Longhorns' super-charged ground game.
  Dobie is now 2-0 in district play and 5-2 for the season. The Mavericks fell to 1-1 in district and 2-5 overall.
  Bolden replaced Tyler Wolfe, who a month ago inherited the quarterback job when senior star Blake Jackson was lost for the season to an ankle injury. Playing in the same backfield for the first time, Bolden and Robinson combined for 372 yards on the ground and four touchdowns.
  Bolden led the way with 187 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He attempted only three passes, but completed two of them -- one a 24-yard TD pass to Vance Leonard that lifted the Longhorns to a 28-12 second-quarter lead.
  Robinson, the district's top rusher, cracked the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 185 yards on 19 carries.
  Mavericks quarterback Greg Gallardo tried to match Dobie's offensive pace through the air. He threw for 345 yards, competing 22 of 37 and firing two TDs, both 29-yard strikes, one to Brandon Thomas in the first quarter and one to Derek Lee in the second.
  The TD toss to Lee was one of two Memorial scores in the final four minutes of the first half. Ahrmon Mcleod scored from seven yards out with 41 seconds left in the half to pull the Mavericks to within 28-24.
  Mcleod scored again on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter for the final TD of the game. Strangely, Memorial was 0-for-5 on conversion attempts until Miguel Taboada booted an extra point following Mcleod's final TD.
  Patrick Hurst gave the Longhorns a third 100-yard rusher in the contest. Hurst rolled up 110 yards and scored on an 11-yard run late in the third quarter to help elevate Dobie to a commanding 42-30 lead. Bolden iced it with an 8-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
  Dobie piled up 521 yards of total offense, 491 yards of it on the ground. The Longhorns did not punt in the game, but lost the ball three times on fumbles.
  The Mavericks lost only one fumble, but the one they coughed up proved costly. Dobie's Chris Uzomah returned it 46 yards for a second-quarter TD.

Memorial receiver Brandon Thomas (12) goes high to try to snag a pass from Greg Gallardo, but Vaughn Leonard (21) breaks up the play for Dobie.

Dobie's Robinson breaks into the open field again on his way to topping the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

GAME ALBUM

Dobie's Andrew Robinson breaks free on a 37-yard TD run in the first quarter for the Longhorns' first points of the game. Memorial's Ray Lopez (78) gives chase.

  Dobie changed quarterbacks for the second time this season and in doing so changed Memorial's ability to write a happy ending on an offensive free-for-all.
  Deandre Bolden, the talented backup to Dobie rushing star Andrew Robinson just a week ago, made the switch to quarterback Thursday night and teammed with Robinson to overpower the Mavericks 49-37 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  The Longhorns, the defending champs of District 22-5A, posted their second-straight 40-plus point performance. The Mavericks did the same -- but unlike their 45-43 victory over Sam Rayburn last week, this shootout found Memorial short of the ammunition required to fully counter the Longhorns' super-charged ground game.
  Dobie is now 2-0 in district play and 5-2 for the season. The Mavericks fell to 1-1 in district and 2-5 overall.
  Bolden replaced Tyler Wolfe, who a month ago inherited the quarterback job when senior star Blake Jackson was lost for the season to an ankle injury. Playing in the same backfield for the first time, Bolden and Robinson combined for 372 yards on the ground and four touchdowns.
  Bolden led the way with 187 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He attempted only three passes, but completed two of them -- one a 24-yard TD pass to Vance Leonard that lifted the Longhorns to a 28-12 second-quarter lead.
  Robinson, the district's top rusher, cracked the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 185 yards on 19 carries.
  Mavericks quarterback Greg Gallardo tried to match Dobie's offensive pace through the air. He threw for 345 yards, competing 22 of 37 and firing two TDs, both 29-yard strikes, one to Brandon Thomas in the first quarter and one to Derek Lee in the second.
  The TD toss to Lee was one of two Memorial scores in the final four minutes of the first half. Ahrmon Mcleod scored from seven yards out with 41 seconds left in the half to pull the Mavericks to within 28-24.
  Mcleod scored again on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter for the final TD of the game. Strangely, Memorial was 0-for-5 on conversion attempts until Miguel Taboada booted an extra point following Mcleod's final TD.
  Patrick Hurst gave the Longhorns a third 100-yard rusher in the contest. Hurst rolled up 110 yards and scored on an 11-yard run late in the third quarter to help elevate Dobie to a commanding 42-30 lead. Bolden iced it with an 8-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
  Dobie piled up 521 yards of total offense, 491 yards of it on the ground. The Longhorns did not punt in the game, but lost the ball three times on fumbles.
  The Mavericks lost only one fumble, but the one they coughed up proved costly. Dobie's Chris Uzomah returned it 46 yards for a second-quarter TD.

Memorial receiver Brandon Thomas (12) goes high to try to snag a pass from Greg Gallardo, but Vaughn Leonard (21) breaks up the play for Dobie.

Dobie's Robinson breaks into the open field again on his way to topping the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

GAME ALBUM

  The Dobie Speech and Debate Team earned its second team sweepstakes last weekend, placing third at a tournament at South Houston High School.
  Thomas Ray Trevino earned a place in the State Forensics Tournament in March by placing second in Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking. Ngoc-Que Tran and Lan Tran also earned a berth in the state tournament after placing first in Duet Interpretation.
  Jekale Williams and Maurice Robinson's third place finish in Duet Interpretation leaves them very close to qualifying for the State Tournament.
  Tran and Brianna Herman placed first and second in Impromptu Speaking, respectively. Dana Nguyen placed fifth in Poetry Interpretation.
  The Public Forum team of Trevino and Herman reached the quarter-finals. Both earned gavels for having the highest speaking scores in preliminaries.
  Christopher Nicholson, competing in his first tournament, placed ninth in Congressional Debate and reached the semifinals in Humorous Interpretation. Khan Pham, also competing in his first tournament, finished third in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate. The Novice Public Forum Team of Paul Jasso and Patrick Sears reached the quarter-finals in their first competition, too.
  Dobie students reaching the semifinals were:
  Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking: Anh Pham and Michael Baez.
  Dramatic Interpretation: Brianna Herman and Reese Selman.
  Original Oratory: Anh Pham, Lan Tran and Brianna Herman.
  Prose Interpretation: Tessa Andrade and Aidee Alfar.

Memorial junior Miguel Taboada (top) bangs home the game-winning 27-yard field goal out of the hold of Jordan Wyatt while under a heavy rush from Sam Rayburn's Francisco Jimenez (4). (Bottom) Mavericks Dorian Johnson (45) and Adrian Boutte (9) go airborne in celebration as Taboada (14) looks on and the Memorial bench erupts.

TABOADA'S LAST-PLAY FG ENDS POINTS FREE-FOR-ALL

  For 47 minutes and 55 seconds of game clock Friday night, the only value the Memorial Mavericks could find in Miguel Taboada's left leg was in its ability to launch extra points and effectively cross the "t's" on touchdowns.
  That all changed with five seconds left in a crazy game that may well be remembered as a state-playoff directional sign -- for both Memorial and Sam Rayburn.
  Taboada trotted onto the field at Veterans Memorial Stadium and after a timeout -- called by his own team -- launched a 27-yard field goal on the final play, giving the Mavericks the final word in an offensive scream fest and a manic 45-43 victory that reaped homecoming heartache on the Texans.
  Trailing 43-42 with only 58 seconds left following a Sam Rayburn TD and two-point conversion, the Mavericks got just enough to squeeze out the winning field goal. Shrugging off the handicap of a holding penalty, Memorial drove 40 yards, the big play a 28-yard pass from Greg Gallardo to Brandon Thomas. That set up Taboada's winning field goal on the next play.
  The Texans, who trailed 21-7 at halftime, were saddled with yet another stumbling start in a District 22-5A opener -- despite scoring 35 points in the second half. Sam Rayburn hasn't beaten Memorial since the Mavericks' first season of varsity football in 2004.
  Yet, playing without starting quarterback Eric Aldava, the Texans roared to life in the second half with Freddy Sevilla, Sam Rayburn's star receiver, taking snaps. Sevilla punished the Mavericks for 237 yards on 22 carries.
  The Mavericks, 2-4 for the season, countered with a 161-yard rushing performance from Chris Cargile and another 120 yards on the ground from Ahmon McLeod. Gallardo threw for 142 yards, an even 100 of those going to Thomas on just three receptions.
  The teams combined for 977 yards, 36 first downs, a dozen TDs and, of course, one field goal. Their combined 821 yards on the ground was split almost evenly.
Cargile scored three TDs for the Mavericks while Michael Boyd tallied three TDs for the Texans, now 3-3 for the season.
  Sam Rayburn tied the game at 21-all by scoring the first two TDs in the second half, the first on a 5-yard pass from Sevilla to Michael Ponce and the second on an 8-yard run by Boyd.
  Cargile scored from two yards out to get Memorial back in the swing, but the Texans tied the game again on a 1-yard run by Sevilla. It was 28-28 going into the fourth quarter.
  The teams traded TDs again to start the quarter, Cargile scoring from the eight and Boyd doing exactly the same. With just under nine minutes left, the Texans got what looked like a decisive break. Ponce, playing linebacker, forced Cargile to fumble. Carlos Rios recovered for the Texans near midfield.
  But Memorial's defense picked that moment to briefly reassert itself. The Mavericks held the Texans on downs, and the teams went back to swapping TDs.
  Reggie Turner gave Memorial the lead with 2:08 left when he raced in from 25 yards out. But the Mavericks gambled with a short pooch kickoff that initially wound up in the hands of their coverage team. The Texans got the ball, instead, because of interference on a fair-catch attempt.
  Boyd scored from the four with just 58 seconds left -- and the Texans decided to go for the victory. Alec Canas skirted into the end zone on the conversion for a 43-42 Texans lead.
  But Sam Rayburn's victory wasn't to be. Taboada's field goal left zeros on the clock and emptiness in the hearts of the once hopeful Texans.

Sam Rayburn's Michael Boyd blasts into the end zone from eight yards out with 4:36 left in the third quarter. The score lifted the Texans into a 21-21 tie.

Texans linebacker Michael Ponce separates Memorial's Chris Cargile from the football with just under nine minutes left in the game, providing his team with a potentially big break that led to nothing (see below.)

Sam Rayburn's Tim DeSoto (24) celebrates a recovery by teammate Carlos Rios (90) of the fumble caused by Michael Ponce (above). The Texans were forced to turn the ball over on downs.

Memorial sophomore Reggie Turner follows the blocking of Manuel Rodriguez (75) and sets sail on a 25-yard TD run with 2:08 left in the game. 

Memorial quarterback Greg Gallardo delivers a pat on the helmet to Reggie Turner after his 25-yard TD run helped stake the Mavericks to a 42-35 lead with 2:08 remaining.

Memorial defenders Aaron Robinson (11) and Sam Barajas (40) take down Sam Rayburn receiver Alec Canas in the second quarter.

Texans defensive end Zach Purvis topples Memorial's Chris Cargile in third-quarter action.

Memorial running back Ahrmon Mcleod blasts into the red zone to help set up a third-quarter Mavericks TD.

GAME ALBUM  

Memorial junior Miguel Taboada (top) bangs home the game-winning 27-yard field goal out of the hold of Jordan Wyatt while under a heavy rush from Sam Rayburn's Francisco Jimenez (4). (Bottom) Mavericks Dorian Johnson (45) and Adrian Boutte (9) go airborne in celebration as Taboada (14) looks on and the Memorial bench erupts.

TABOADA'S LAST-PLAY FG ENDS POINTS FREE-FOR-ALL

  For 47 minutes and 55 seconds of game clock Friday night, the only value the Memorial Mavericks could find in Miguel Taboada's left leg was in its ability to launch extra points and effectively cross the "t's" on touchdowns.
  That all changed with five seconds left in a crazy game that may well be remembered as a state-playoff directional sign -- for both Memorial and Sam Rayburn.
  Taboada trotted onto the field at Veterans Memorial Stadium and after a timeout -- called by his own team -- launched a 27-yard field goal on the final play, giving the Mavericks the final word in an offensive scream fest and a manic 45-43 victory that reaped homecoming heartache on the Texans.
  Trailing 43-42 with only 58 seconds left following a Sam Rayburn TD and two-point conversion, the Mavericks got just enough to squeeze out the winning field goal. Shrugging off the handicap of a holding penalty, Memorial drove 40 yards, the big play a 28-yard pass from Greg Gallardo to Brandon Thomas. That set up Taboada's winning field goal on the next play.
  The Texans, who trailed 21-7 at halftime, were saddled with yet another stumbling start in a District 22-5A opener -- despite scoring 35 points in the second half. Sam Rayburn hasn't beaten Memorial since the Mavericks' first season of varsity football in 2004.
  Yet, playing without starting quarterback Eric Aldava, the Texans roared to life in the second half with Freddy Sevilla, Sam Rayburn's star receiver, taking snaps. Sevilla punished the Mavericks for 237 yards on 22 carries.
  The Mavericks, 2-4 for the season, countered with a 161-yard rushing performance from Chris Cargile and another 120 yards on the ground from Ahmon McLeod. Gallardo threw for 142 yards, an even 100 of those going to Thomas on just three receptions.
  The teams combined for 977 yards, 36 first downs, a dozen TDs and, of course, one field goal. Their combined 821 yards on the ground was split almost evenly.
Cargile scored three TDs for the Mavericks while Michael Boyd tallied three TDs for the Texans, now 3-3 for the season.
  Sam Rayburn tied the game at 21-all by scoring the first two TDs in the second half, the first on a 5-yard pass from Sevilla to Michael Ponce and the second on an 8-yard run by Boyd.
  Cargile scored from two yards out to get Memorial back in the swing, but the Texans tied the game again on a 1-yard run by Sevilla. It was 28-28 going into the fourth quarter.
  The teams traded TDs again to start the quarter, Cargile scoring from the eight and Boyd doing exactly the same. With just under nine minutes left, the Texans got what looked like a decisive break. Ponce, playing linebacker, forced Cargile to fumble. Carlos Rios recovered for the Texans near midfield.
  But Memorial's defense picked that moment to briefly reassert itself. The Mavericks held the Texans on downs, and the teams went back to swapping TDs.
  Reggie Turner gave Memorial the lead with 2:08 left when he raced in from 25 yards out. But the Mavericks gambled with a short pooch kickoff that initially wound up in the hands of their coverage team. The Texans got the ball, instead, because of interference on a fair-catch attempt.
  Boyd scored from the four with just 58 seconds left -- and the Texans decided to go for the victory. Alec Canas skirted into the end zone on the conversion for a 43-42 Texans lead.
  But Sam Rayburn's victory wasn't to be. Taboada's field goal left zeros on the clock and emptiness in the hearts of the once hopeful Texans.

Sam Rayburn's Michael Boyd blasts into the end zone from eight yards out with 4:36 left in the third quarter. The score lifted the Texans into a 21-21 tie.

Texans linebacker Michael Ponce separates Memorial's Chris Cargile from the football with just under nine minutes left in the game, providing his team with a potentially big break that led to nothing (see below.)

Sam Rayburn's Tim DeSoto (24) celebrates a recovery by teammate Carlos Rios (90) of the fumble caused by Michael Ponce (above). The Texans were forced to turn the ball over on downs.

Memorial sophomore Reggie Turner follows the blocking of Manuel Rodriguez (75) and sets sail on a 25-yard TD run with 2:08 left in the game. 

Memorial quarterback Greg Gallardo delivers a pat on the helmet to Reggie Turner after his 25-yard TD run helped stake the Mavericks to a 42-35 lead with 2:08 remaining.

Memorial defenders Aaron Robinson (11) and Sam Barajas (40) take down Sam Rayburn receiver Alec Canas in the second quarter.

Texans defensive end Zach Purvis topples Memorial's Chris Cargile in third-quarter action.

Memorial running back Ahrmon Mcleod blasts into the red zone to help set up a third-quarter Mavericks TD.

GAME ALBUM  

South Houston quarterback Rudis Requeno stands in the pocket and fires downfield.

  DEER PARK - South Houston quarterback Rudis Requeno passed for 317 yards, but it wasn't enough to offset four first-half touchdowns that carried Deer Park to a 35-21 victory over the Trojans Friday night at Abshier Stadium.
  The contest was the District 22-5A opener for both teams. Deer Park is 5-1 for the season. South Houston fell to 1-5.
  The Deer scored 14 points in each of the first two quarters to claim a 28-0 halftime lead.
  Deer Park quarterback Austin Rainer fired three TD passes and piled up 308 yards through the air. The Deer registered 501 yards of total offense.
  The Trojans shook off their unsteadiness in the second half as Requeno scored two of his team's three TD on the ground and passed for the other.
  Requeno scored from eight yards out in the third quarter and from two yards out in the fourth. Trailing 35-14 with 1:08 left, Requeno fired a sideline pass to Toree Daniel, who broke a tackle and raced 66 yards for the game's final TD.
  Requeno completed 27 of 46 passes for 317 yards without an interception. Daniel caught 15 passes for 241 yards.

South Houston junior Deion Francis looks for running room.

Deer Park quarterback Austin Ranier cuts inside of Trojans linebacker Nick Cross.

Deer Park's Justin James heads for the corner on his way to a 16-yard first-quarter touchdown.

South Houston defensive back Byron Hodgers wrestles down Deer Park receiver Eric Luna after a short completion.

GAME ALBUM

Students and staff at Pasadena High celebrated Spirit Day with a "Think Pink" theme for breast cancer awareness. (Below) "Think Pink" participants Coach Lori Sims, teacher Gail McCombs, principal's secretary Nell Huffman, Coach Denise Pearce, Coach Carla Fowler and (front) teacher and cancer survivor Pam Walshak. (Bottom) A "Think Pink" team photo.

Dobie receiver Vance Leonard skies over Pasadena's Francisco Rodriguez to haul in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Wolfe in the second quarter.

Robinson's Romps Make Short Work of Eagles

  Andrew Robinson scored three touchdowns the first four times he touched the football Thursday night, launching the Dobie Longhorns to a 42-0 victory over Pasadena and a successful start to their bid to repeat as District 22-5A champions.
  Robinson scored on dashes of 23, 54 and 60 yards and needed only one play into the second quarter to complete his night's work on offense. His four carries earned the Longhorns 145 yards and proved to be more than the hopeful Eagles, 4-1 going into the game, could digest.
  Robinson was replaced by Deandre Bolden, who carried eight times for 162 yards. Dobie, now 4-2, owned a 35-0 lead at the half. Bolden raced 68 yards early in the fourth quarter for the only TD in a second half puncutated by Longhorn reserves.
  The Eagles' running tandem of quarterback Nick Bernal and Julian Nanced totaled 36 carries but averaged only three yards a tote. Forced to the air, Bernal completed 13 of 25 passes for 133 yards, but was intercepted three times while fumbling once.
  Vaughn Leonard picked off Bernal twice, returning the second one 87 yards for a TD with 4:18 left in the first half.
  Bernal fumbled on the first play of the game when hit by Dobie's Kerry Henderson. On the Longhorns' first snap, Robinson skirted right end and scored from 23 yards out.
  Midway through opening quarter, Robinson broke free on the right sideline for a 54 yard TD run. On the first play of the second quarter, Robinson blasted through the right side again for a 60-yard TD jaunt.
  He left the game for good after defending the ensuing kickoff, but the Longhorns simply picked another poison. Midway through the second quarter, Dobie quarterback Tyler Wolfe connected with Vance Leonard, who made a leaping TD grab from 21 yards out.
  That proved to be Dobie's only completion of the game.
  A rare Eagles threat three minutes later ended abruptly when Vaughn Leonard intercepted a Bernal pass and returned it 87 yards for the Longhorns' fifth TD.
  Patrick Hurst contributed 86 yards to Dobie's 458 yards of rushing offense. Kelton Bailey accounted for 49.

Dobie defensive tackle Kerry Henderson hauls down Eagles quarterback Nick Bernal on the first play of the game and in the process causes a fumble, recovered by the Longhorns.

Andrew Robinson crashes the right sideline and races 23 yards for the game's first TD on his team's first play.

Pasadena's Nick Bernal finds running room on a quarterback keeper in the first quarter.

Dobie's Vaughn Leonard leaps in front of Pasadena wide receiver Alfredo Garibay to make his first interception of the game.

Eagles quarterback Nick Bernal stares down the rush of linebacker Chris Uzomah to fire a pass downfield.

Robinson rings in the second quarter with his third TD of the game, a 60-yard burst with blocking help from Deandre Bolden (16).

Reserve running back Kelton Bailey steps out of the grasp of Pasadena's Alberto Castro for a long gain in the second quarter.

Patrick Hurst break free on a dash to the end zone. An illegal block wiped out the play.

Eagle defenders Francisco Rodriguez (21) and Oscar Castillo (12) catch up with Dobie quarterback Tyler Wolfe.

GAME ALBUM 

Memorial will host its annual Open House for students and parents on Oct. 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. A baked potato dinner will be offered beginning at 5 p.m. A $5 plate includes baked potato, barbecue, toppings and a drink. Nachos will be available for $3 and Coke floats for $1. A drawing will be held for a flower gift basket.

Six Sam Rayburn AP Scholars were honored at a recent "All Fired Up About College" pep rally. Each student received a rewards check for excellence on AP tests. Pictured below are AP Scholars Gustavo Huitron, Quinten Yarbrough, Valerie Sanchez, Brenda Moreno, Nicholas Holloway and Carlos Sotelo.

Memorial's Chris Cargile is driven out-of-bounds by North Shore's Earnest Thomas in first-quarter action.

  North Shore's Davonte Milton pounded Memorial's otherwise valiant defense for 207 yards on the ground and accounted for the game's only two touchdowns as the high-powered Mustangs hammered out a 17-6 victory over the Mavericks on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
  North Shore rolled up 427 yards of offense but were limited to Milton's two TDs and a 26-yard field goal by Carlos Perez late in the game. Memorial's only points came on a pair of short field goals by Miguel Taboada in the first half.
  The Mustangs led by only a 7-6 margin until Milton blasted 32 yards to the end zone with 2:14 left on the first-half clock. The second half passed as a defensive standpoint, the only points coming on Perez's late field goal.
  The loss left the Mavericks with a 1-4 mark for non-district play. Memorial opens District 22-5A action in two weeks against Sam Rayburn. North Shore improved to 4-1.
  Memorial's efforts to keep pace offensive were hurt by an ineffective running game and four interceptions thrown by quarterback Greg Gallardo, who completed eight of 24 passes for 148 yards. Two of Gallardo's interceptions led to North Shore TD drives.
  PORT ARTHUR MEMORIAL 63, SOUTH HOUSTON 13
  Quarterback Terence Singleton and running back Nathan Holman combined for 227 yards on the ground and five touchdowns as the Titans cruised to a 5-0 record in Port Arthur.
Averaging 49.4 points a game, the Titans blasted their way to a 35-6 lead at halftime.
  Singleton scored three TDs, one on a 56-yard run. Holmes scored on a 49-yard jaunt and also caught a 39-yard TD toss from Singleton.
  The Trojans mustered little offensive beyond Rudis Requeno's short passing game. Regueno completed 20 of 29 passes for 146 yards.
  He scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter to cut the Titans' lead to 21-7, but was intercepted late in the quarter by Memorial's Matthew Romar, who returned the ball 17 yards for a Titans TD.
  The 1-4 Trojans open District 22-5A play in two weeks at Deer Park, a 34-31 overtime victim to La Porte on Friday night.

North Shore's Rodric Simmons tries in vain to haul in a pass as Andrew Garza (32) and Aaron Robinson apply pressure on the sideline.

Mavericks sophomore Bryce Elkins crashes into the North Shore secondary after catching a quick pass from Greg Gallardo on the first play of the game. North Shore's Chris Russell (3) moves in to make the stop after a long gain.

North Shore's Earnest Thomas (27) puts the squeeze on Memorial receiver A.J.Gill.

GAME ALBUM    

 
 
    
 
 

Dobie receiver Dominque Bilbo (5) skies above the Channelview secondary to haul in a 10-yard TD pass from Tyler Wolfe with 1:38 left in the first half.

  Channelview quarterback Averion Hurts passed for nearly 500 yards and Dobie's Andrew Robinson ran for over 300 in one of the wildest offensive games in the long history of Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday night, a 51-43 victory hammered out by the Falcons on the strength of 21 unanswered points late in the contest.
  With his team trailing 43-30 late in the third quarter, Hurts launched a comeback that included two long TD passes and dealt the Longhorns a disappointing loss in their final game before the start of conference play in two weeks.
  Eight seconds before the end of the third quarter, Hurts connected with Leterio Brown on a 33-yard TD pass as the Falcons sliced Dobie's lead to 43-37. With 5:12 left in the game, Channelview took a 44-43 lead on a 2-yard run by Anthony Bush and Adalverto Castenada's PAT.
  With 1:12 left in the contest, Hurts dropped a 49-yard TD strike in the hands of Stanley Wesley to ice it.
  The game featured an incredible 1,202 yards of total offense, 50 first downs and 13 TDs.
  Hurts, a senior, completed 32 of 52 passes for 493 yards. He dished out five TD passes and was intercepted only once. The Falcons piled up 680 yards of offense and 29 first downs.
  Robinson carried 22 times for 305 yards and scored three TDs. The Dobie senior  had an 86-yard TD sprint in the third quarter wiped out by a blocking penalty. His elusiveness tormented the Falcons well into the second half before Hurts seized control.
  Robinson opened the scoring with a 64-yard romp down the left sideline not quite four minutes into the game. After Channelview answered with a field goal, Robinson bolted 58 yards down the right sideline on the first play of the second quarter to lift Dobie to a 14-3 lead.
  That was the start of a 42-point second-quarter scoring explosion, shared equally by both teams.
  Channelview responded with a 43-yard TD run by Terrell Williams. Dobie took a 21-10 lead on an 18-yard TD blast by Patrick Hurst, but the Falcons counterpunched with another Williams TD, this one on a 3-yard pass from Hurts.
  With 1:38 left in the half, Dobie quarterback Tyler Wolfe found Dominque Bilbo for a 10-yard scoring strike and a 28-17 lead. But Hurts brought his team right back in the remaining time, connecting with Wesley on a 26-yard TD pass with 19 seconds left.
  A 35-yard TD pass from Hurts to Marquise Johnson lifted Channelview to its first lead, at 31-28, early in the third quarter. But the Longhorns posted the next 15 points.
  Robinson broke free again on a 50-yard TD run. Dobie added a safety and then a 7-yard TD run by Wolfe that elevated the Longhorns to a 43-30 lead with 4:45 left in the third quarter.
  But that wasn't nearly enough to hold off Hurts and the Falcons, who improved their record to 4-1. Dobie will take a 3-2 mark into its district opener against 4-1 Pasadena on Oct. 6.
  Channelview's receivers shared in Hurts' bonanza night. Wesley caught 12 passes for 251 yards. Johnson caught seven for 125.
  The Longhorns stacked up 465 yards on the ground. Hurst carried 11 times for 98 yards.

Dobie's Andrew Robinson forces Channelview's secondary into hasty retreat on a 64-yard TD run in the first quarter, the game's first score.

Channelview's  Marquise Johnson (7) reels in the face of Dobie resistence after catching a pass in the first quarter. Closing in for the Longhorns are Kalon Bailey (4), Vaughn Leonard (21) and Chris Uzomah (28).

Channelview's Marquise Johnson (7) leaps high to haul in a pass from his quarterback, Averion Hurts (2). Dobie's Jessy Cedeno (36) makes a bid for an interception.