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BALTIMORE LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYOFFS
Mansfield (Texas) 2013 defensive prospect George Baltimore feels great about how
the regular season played out as they prepare to make a run deep into the 5A
Division II playoffs, starting at home this weekend against Grapevine.
"I think we accomplished everything we said we would at the beginning of the
season," Baltimore said. "I am a little glad we lost early in our district
because now our heads aren't big going into the playoff. If we play our game, we
should be able to put it on (Grapevine). It just all depends on how we come
out."
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound safety is young, but has already started to make a name
for himself. Although he currently only holds one offer (from Texas Tech), he's
been gaining the attention of schools across the country.
"The schools I stay in steady contact with now are Tech, A&M, OSU, and Michigan
State, but I'm getting letters from all over," Baltimore said. "(Tech was) the
first school to take notice of me. They were the first school to offer me and
show me some love."
Baltimore has been watching Tech on the field this season, and has been
frustrated with the recent losses, but has been able to see the glass as being
half-full.
"They're young," he said. "They're decent now, but in a couple of years they
should be really good."
While Baltimore is still a ways from making a decision on his commitment, he has
been staying in contact with assistant coach Robert Prunty, and is looking to
take a couple of more visits to schools before the end of the season.
"I might be going up to OSU to watch that game against OU," he said. "And I
might be heading to A&M this weekend to watch them play Kansas. I just don't
know what I'm going to do yet."
- Cauley
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KEENAN TALKS PLAYOFFS
Last weekend Argyle (9-1) took care of Sanger (9-1) with the final score of
38-16 in the last regular game of the season. Argyle offensive linemen and Red
Raider commit Trey Keenan helped lead the way up front as his team averaged more
than five yards a carry against a previously unbeaten team.
"They were easily the best team we have faced this year and we played them
pretty well, it definitely had us believing that we can go all the way this
year," he said. "We rushed the ball much better than we have been doing this
year. I didn't allow a sack and we allowed one as a group. We blew them off the
ball, it was nice."
Keenan and his teammates hope to take their current mean streak into the first
round of the playoffs.
"I feel like that is a trend we can continue throughout the playoffs and
continue to dominate the tranches."
Keenan planned on making the trip this weekend to watch the Red Raiders host the
Cowboys of Oklahoma State but the early game time made him re-schedule. He plans
on making it to a later game or coming to Lubbock after the season.
- Hair
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NEWBOLD READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT
A week after holding the district's best wide receiver to one catch for six
yards, Lancaster (Texas) cornerback and Red Raider commit La'Darius Newbold
plans on carrying that dominance in the playoffs and next year at Texas Tech.
"I really do, it may take a little bit to get used to the skill change between
the levels of play but I know I can help Tech in a position they need help in. I
want to be the long down corner for them and I am excited to move to Lubbock and
help this team turn into a championship team."
- Hair
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DAVIS HAS MOMENTUM HEADING INTO POST-SEASON
Tenaha (Texas) wide receiver Reginald Davis has to be happy with his team's
undefeated regular season as they head into the playoffs, but they'll have to
wait another week to find out who they will play due to Dallas Christian having
to forfeit this week's game because of injuries.
"I feel pretty good," Davis said. "I think we have a good chance to win it all.
We play next Friday, but we won't know who we play until after this weekend."
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound four-star wide out says that he is still hearing from
Baylor, Oklahoma and Arkansas, but is still feeling strong about his commitment
to Texas Tech.
While Davis has been as frustrated as any Red Raider fan about the recent
losses, even calling last week's loss to Texas "awful," he feels that Tech is
capable of playing better.
"They're able to play good," he said. "They just need to start picking it up."
Davis, who committed to Texas Tech back in March, will be unofficially visiting
the South Plains this weekend.
- Cauley
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ROBINSON GEARING UP FOR POST-SEASON RUN
Memphis (Tenn.) Christian Brothers defensive end Chase Robison played his last
regular season high school game two weeks ago in a 28-7 victory over St.
Benedict that clinched second place in the region and a first-round playoff bye.
With that behind them, Christian Brothers (8-2) is gearing up for their first
playoff game against Ensworth.
"I feel pretty good about it," Robison said. "We've been watching film, and I
feel pretty comfortable that we have enough talent on our team to beat Ensworth.
We threw in some new defensive schemes this week, so I'm pretty excited about
it. I'm pretty sure we'll do good against them."
The 6-foot-4, 228-pound weakside defensive end committed to Texas Tech back in
August, but has been catching the eye of some other schools as of late.
"I've heard some from Colorado," he said. "And East Carolina offered me about
two weeks ago."
Robison has been watching Texas Tech on the field lately, and has been just as
frustrated as any Tech fan.
"It's been a bummer," he said. "The offense has been doing pretty good, but it
seems like the defense needs to get on it and step it up."
- Cauley
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GUSTAFSON RECAPS TECH VISIT
Dallas (Texas) Jesuit 2013 tight end and inside receiver J.J. Gustafson had a
great time on an unofficial visit to Tech last month despite the Red Raiders'
loss to Kansas State.
But interest has picked up in the recruitment for Gustafson. SMU has offered
him, he's unofficially visited Oklahoma and has plans to visit Texas A&M and
Baylor against Tech at Cowboys Stadium.
"My visit to Tech went really well," Gustafson said. "Coach Sam McElroy has been
talking to me quite a bit. He toured me personally around the facilities, showed
me around, got to see the game day experience and Lubbock. Got a lot of personal
attention which was a new thing."
Gustafson said the Red Raiders' loss didn't impact his perception of Tech at
all.
"You win some and you lose some," Gustafson said, "it really doesn't affect
anything at all."
The Red Raiders still haven't offered the prospect, but Gustafson is optimistic
an offer will eventually come.
"I think they're just interested right now," he said. "I suppose anything can
happen this season and anything new . It seemed he gave me a lot of personal
attention which I assume is a good thing."
Gustafson got up to Norman, Okla., last week and liked what he saw in the
Sooners' beat down of Texas A&M.
"It was pretty cool to watch," Gustafson said. "You can really tell a lot about
another team when they're blowing a team out of the water. They were still
working hard. I appreciated the fact OU kept working and didn't let up."
Gustafson's recruiting visits continue Saturday at SMU after a playoff game
against Sacshe Friday.
Gustafson said he's excited to check out the Mustangs and although he's a Dallas
resident he's never actually seen an SMU game in person before.
The prospect will visit Texas A&M with his grandfather who has tickets to the
Texas A&M-Texas game in College Station and the next day he'll be in Arlington
to unofficially see Baylor and take a second look at Tech on the field."
- Graham
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This post was edited on 11/11 12:43 AM by A. Dickens
