Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Series Announces Texas Games

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

The Dallas Cowboys new home will play host to a high school football quadruple-header on Monday, September 7th as part of the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Series.

As I mentioned earlier in the week, the showcase game will pit 2007 Texas 5A Division I champ Euless Trinity against Utah power Bingham. Bingham, which lost in the state's 5A championship game in 2008, is led by junior running back Harvey Langi, who was third in the state in rushing last year with 1,371 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. The Texas/Utah showdown will kick things off at noon with the game being broadcast nationally by ESPN.

The other interstate match-up is between Klein Oak (TX) taking-on Notre Dame Prep from Sherman Oaks, California. Notre Dame is led by one of the top junior quarterbacks in the country. Ryan Kasdorf (6-2, 205) was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year after passing for nearly 3,300 yards and 36 touchdowns.

“Intersport is proud to team with Burger King, Fox Sports Net, and Kirk Herbstreit to once again bring you the best high school football in the nation,” said Intersport, Inc. Event Manager Joseph Salituro. “We look forward to having the new Cowboys Stadium as our host. We are excited for the players, coaches, and fans to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity. The four matchups that we have provided will be a great introduction of high school football to this wonderful facility.”

Here's the schedule for the day, plus the Ohio match-ups that were released earlier this year:

Texas Games at Cowboys Stadium
September 7, 2009

Noon - Euless Trinity (TX) vs. Bingham (UT)
2:30 P.M. - Klein Oak (TX) vs. Notre Dame Prep (CA)
5:00 P.M. - Colleyville Heritage (TX) vs. Irving MacArthur (TX)
7:30 P.M. - Mansfield Timberview (TX) vs. Mansfield Summit (TX)

Ohio Games at Ohio Stadium
August 29, 2009

Noon - Upper Arlington (OH) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)
3:30 P.M. - Hilliard Davidson (OH) vs. Westville South (OH)

August 30, 2009

Noon - Olentangy Liberty (OH) vs. Dublin Coffman (OH)
3:30 P.M. - Orange Lutheran (CA) vs. Pickerington Central (OH)

High School Football's Active Win Streaks

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

With South Panola (MS) and Maryville (TN) losing on back-to-back days last December, Smith Center of Kansas owns the nation's longest active high school football win streak. South Panola's streak, which is the third longest all-time in high school football ended at 89, while Maryville ended at 74.

Next month, you'll be able to learn a lot more about the Smith Center Redmen when New York Times write Joe Drape's book Our Boys comes out on August 18th. Drape moved to his family to the small town of 1,931 to do the book. You can learn move about Drape's book at www.joedrape.com.

After plenty of research, here is the most accurate active win streak list I could come-up with...if I missed a team, please feel free to email me at jeff@blitzgroupllc.com.

1. Smith Center (KS) - 67 straight wins
2. Wayne Hills (NJ) - 52 straight wins
3. Plymouth (NH) - 44 straight wins
4. Timpview (UT) - 36 straight wins
5. Saguaro (AZ) - 33 straight wins
6. Lake Travis (TX) - 30 straight wins
7. Soldotna (AK) - 29 straight wins
8. Skyline (WA) - 28 straight wins
8. River Hill (MD) - 28 straight wins
10. Jupiter Christian (FL) 27 straight wins
10. Solon (IA) - 27 straight wins
12. Centennial (AZ) - 26 straight wins

Where Was the Spread Offense Born?

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

We all know that Texas high school football teams love to toss the ball around and light-up the scoreboard. Click here to read a good story on the origin of the spread offense in the Lone Star State from ESPN Rise.

Headlines Inside The Huddle

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

The High School Football Huddle network of blogs continues to grow and reach more-and-more fans.

Right now we're closing in on 600,000 page views as we start our third season! Thanks to everyone for visiting us on a regular basis, and I promise you bigger-and-better things in '09.

For those of you that are new to The High School Football Huddle, I'll take a few sentences to explain what you'll find within the network.

First, The High School Football Huddle is actually 52 blogs in all...one for each state, plus the District of Columbia. Each state Huddle can be accessed by going to the link section on the right side. Each state, plus DC is listed there...example Alaska Huddle, Florida Huddle, Wisconsin Huddle, etc. Just click on the link and you'll be taken to the state you desire.

My overall goal is to put stories that have a universal interest on The High School Football Huddle, the rest of the stories go on to the respective state websites.

To help Huddle fans, at the end of each day, I'll post on the main site, the headlines of the day that will include a link to the stories.

We'll start with yesterday's headlines...

Arizona Huddle: FOX Sports Arizona to Provide Plenty of Friday Night Lights Click here for story
Wisconsin Huddle: Reaction to Wisconsin's Proposed Statewide Realignment Click here for story
Wyoming Huddle: 2009 Wyoming High School Football Schedules Click here for story

If you have suggestions or news stories you'd like to share with others, I can be contacted at jeff@blitzgroupllc.com or of course you can reach me through the comments section located at the bottom on each posted story.

You can also keep up with me on Twitter by click on the "Follow me on Twitter " link in the sidebar below about me.

Here's to a great 2009 high school football season!!

Jeff Fisher

Powerhouse States: Texas, Florida, California...and Utah?

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

With Utah gaining more-and-more notoriety on the national college football scene, it only stands to reason that high school football in the state has something to do with the Utes rise to national prominence.

Today, the Salt Lake Tribune has a story that looks at Alta and Bingham high schools. Both teams enter the season ranked in Max Preps.com's Top 50....Bingham is 27th and Alta 31st. Alta teams will have an opportunity to show what the state's top program is made of when the Hawks face one of the top teams from Texas early in the 2009 season.

Alta faces Trinity of Euless, Texas in the Herbstreit Varsity Series. Trinity spent most of the 2008 season ranked #1 by several top national publications. However, before the September 7th match-up, Alta and Bingham have their own little squabble to settle when they square-off on August 28th.

The Alta Hawks are Utah's two-time defending 5A state champs entering the season, but didn't ascend to the top of the heap until 2007 when it finally disposed of Bingham in the state semis. Last year Alta won its second straight title by beating its arch-rival in the title game.

Click here to read today's story in the Salt Lake Trib.

For more stories from Utah, click here to go to the Utah High School Football Huddle.

America's ONLY Husband/Wife Broadcast Team Retires

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

When you spend a lot of time scouring the web for high school football news, you uncover a gem or two.

I liked this one today about the retirement of Neil & Jill Little from Maumee, Ohio, who announced they were retiring after nearly two decades of broadcasting local football and basketball games on the radio, public-access television and internet in the Toledo area.

Neither was formally trained in the biz, but looks like from the story in the Toledo Blade that the team known as "Mr. & Mrs. Friday Night" had a great following.

As one who loves the game of high school football, I give a big thumbs up to the Littles for taking the time to share their passion with others.

Click here to read the story of the retirement of the nation's only husband/wife broadcast team America.

Study Released on Concussions in High School Football

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

A report by the National Athletic Trainers' Association shows that impacts during both high school football practices and games occur more frequency and with more intensity, than at the collegiate level.

The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois at Ubana-Champaign, analyzed the biomechanics of football tackles to better understand the high risk of concussions and serious cervical spine injuries faced by high school players. One of the conclusions...coaches must teach proper tackling techniques in order to reduce the risk of those types of injuries.

Click here for the report.

Click here for a story from the New York Times.

Indianapolis Colts to Sponsor Indiana High School Football Championships

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

The news that the Indiana High School Football Championships are staying in the Lucas Oil Dome for three more years through the 2011-2012 school year comes as no surprise. However, the fact that the Indianapolis Colts will sponsor the entire state football championship tournament does.

The Colts are believed to be the first professional sports franchise in the country to partner with a high school association for this type of sponsorship.

“We are extremely pleased and appreciative of the Indianapolis Colts involvement in making sure high school football continues at Lucas Oil Stadium,” said Blake Ress, IHSAA Commissioner. “This plan has been more than a year in the making and their financial involvement will help reduce the ever-increasing expenses associated with holding the state finals at Lucas Oil Stadium. This one-of-a-kind type of sponsorship is like no other that I know of in the country. The Indianapolis Colts commitment to the local community and the community at large certainly made this type of sponsorship agreement possible.”

“The Colts organization has a long standing commitment to youth football in Indiana and our new relationship with the IHSAA is an extension of that commitment,” said Tom Zupancic, Colts Senior Vice President Sales and Marketing. “The IHSAA and the Indianapolis Colts have a common goal of developing the core values of young athletes. It is an honor to join forces with such an outstanding organization.”

“The IHSAA would also like to thank Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard for his leadership in making sure we continue to play championship high school football in Lucas Oil Stadium in front of thousands of fans,” said Ress.

Mayor Ballard understands the importance of keeping the football state finals here in Indianapolis. “It is critical that the capital city of our state remain the home of our high school championships and I am thrilled the IHSAA and the Indianapolis Colts worked together to make this happen,” said Mayor Ballard. “I continue to believe that Lucas Oil Stadium is a community gathering place for our entire state and I am pleased that we will continue to call it the home of the IHSAA Football State Finals.”

Last fall’s state championships, which were played in Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time, drew a record crowd of 40,680 to Saturday’s three games (Class 3A, 4A and 5A). Coupled with Friday’s attendance (Class A and 2A), the state finals drew an overall record total of 56,050.