By Michael V. Hannigan
Four Henderson County football teams went into the bi-district weekend still playing, but only two came out the other side.
Congratulations to bi-district champions Athens and Malakoff.
And even though they lost Saturday, congratulations also go to Brownsboro and Athens Christian Preparatory Academy for great seasons that ended in playoff berths.
Here are some observations as we move toward the Area round.
1. In football, style isn’t as important as execution. The two remaining teams could not be any more different in their offensive philosophy. Malakoff employs a spread offense that at times goes at a breakneck pace and almost never huddles, while Athens leans on a smash mouth running game and Hornet quarterback Brandon Boyd runs to the sideline every down for the play call and then runs back to the huddle. Malakoff sometimes throws the ball more in one series than Athens throws in the whole game.
Still, the radically different offenses combined for 100 points on Friday night (Athens scored 59, Malakoff 41). The reason is that both teams are very good at doing what they do best and the coaches put their players in the best position to be successful.
2. Speaking of coaches, the two who are left are the longest tenured football coaches in the county. Without digging up the dates, I’m pretty sure both Athens coach Paul Essary and Malakoff coach Jamie Driskell have been at their respective schools for seven years. Both are also their school’s athletic director and winning has become a way of life throughout the athletic program in both places.
3. Successful, long-term coaches also have successful staffs. Both Essary and Driskell have key assistants who help make the whole program click and who came up big this past weekend. In Athens, Offensive Coordinator Craig Brown put together a game plan that saw the Hornets score the most points Princeton allowed all season. In Malakoff, Defensive Coordinator Brent Watkins had his guys ready to play and the Tigers shut out Buna in the first half and allowed the Cougars second lowest output of the year.
4. Things get harder as the playoffs move foward. Athens and Malakoff will both play the No. 4 team in their respective classifications. Athens will face Kennedale on Friday, Nov. 20 in Ennis, while Malakoff will take on Cameron Yoe on Friday, Nov. 20 in Waco.
5. And on a personal note, I like the turkey sausage at the Holiday Inn Express in Nacogdoches but not matter how many times I give it a try, I’m not a Burger King guy.