2018 - Lake Travis vs Converse Judson

Saturday in San Antonio. . .  Start with with some great barbecue from The Granary 'Cue and Brew.  Then finish the day with a fourth round playoff game between the Lake Travis Cavaliers and the Converse Judson Rockets.  Here's my video of this adventure:

I went to San Antonio to see a fourth round playoff game between Lake Travis and Converse Judson.  They have developed quite a rivalry, this being their fourth meeting in three years.  Converse won both regular season meetings, but was eliminated by Lake Travis in the second round of the 2017 playoffs.

Hank Carter is the head coach of Lake Travis.  The Cavs entered the game with a 12-1 record on the season, their only loss coming at the hands of Westlake back in October.  Sean McAuliffe is the head coach of Converse Judson.  The Rockets claimed their district title hand have a perfect 12-0 record.

While it was cold, wet, and windy outside, the game was played indoors at the Alamadome.  Weather would not be a factor.

These two teams are both power houses of Texas high school football.  Each has claimed six state championships.  Hank Carter has won three at Lake Travis, the last being in 2016.  The Cavs only loss that season was in week 1, to Converse Judson.  Sean McAuliffe is still looking for his first title.

Before I recap the game, let me show you the barbecue I had.

The Barbecue

Since I would be in San Antonio for football, I needed to find myself a place to get some good barbecue.  I pulled out my copy of the June 2017 edition of Texas Monthly and scanned their Top 50 list.  I had been to 2M Smokehouse before, but not The Granary ‘Cue and Brew, so I figured I would give them a try.  Being close to the Alamodome was a bonus.

Located at 602 Avenue A, The Granary resides in a remodeled nineteenth-century house, just across the street from the brewery building in the historic Pearl development.  The walls are lined with dark wood paneling.  At night, The Granary is a regular full service restaurant.  At lunch, they serve market style barbecue.  They also brew their own beer.  The nice young lady at the bar took my order: moist brisket and a couple of pork ribs.  I got myself some iced tea and found a cozy place to eat.

 

The barbecue was excellent.  Smoked over oak, I got thick slices of brisket that were very moist and tender, easily cut with a fork.  It had a nice outer bark and a deep smoky flavor.  The ribs were big and meaty with a smoky sweet taste.  Really good.  There was a big bottle of sauce on every table.  It too was a little sweet and paired well with the meats.  The homemade pickles were also a treat.

I had a chance to talk with the cutters before I ate.  They recommended I stop by on a Friday when they serve Rueben sandwiches: smoked pastrami, homemade rye bread and sauerkraut.  I was staring at my brisket and ribs, but thinking just how good some of those sandwiches might be.

The Pearl development is full of shops, repurposed buildings, and restaurants.  Definitely a place I will want to explore with my wife on a future trip to San Antonio.  The delicious barbecue and friendly people at The Granary is yet another reason to go back.  Their spot on the Texas Monthly Top 50 list is well deserved.  Besides, I need to sample some of their sandwiches and try some of that beer they brew.

I rate this barbecue two Hook ‘Ems!

The Game

Midway through the first quarter, Converse was forced to punt.  But Rashad Wisdom took the snap and ran for a first down.  A face mask penalty put the ball on the Lake Travis 19.  Sincere McCormick ran to the 1, then scored on a toss to make it 7-0.  

Later in the first, Lake Travis tied the game on a 15 yard burst up the middle by Bryan Wilkins.  In the second quarter, Hudson Card connected with Garrett Wilson to give the Cavs a 14-7 lead.  

Mike Chandler threw over the middle to Anthony Shelton.  Shelton’s great cut back freed him for a 48 yard touchdown that knotted the score at 14 all.

Converse took possession of the ball with under two minutes to play in the second quarter.  On fourth and 3, McCormick carried to the Lake Travis 1 yard line.  Only two seconds before half time, the Rockets chose not to kick a field goal that could have given them the lead.  Chandler and De’anthony Lewis fumbled the handoff and the Cavs recovered.  The teams went to half time tied at 14.

Lake Travis got the third quarter kickoff and drove 73 yards, scoring on a pass from Card to Wilson that put the Cavaliers up 21-14. 

Mike Chandler’s pass was intercepted by Copeland Gothard at midfield.  Hudson Card was hit by Demarvin Leal as he tried to pass.  Corey Parks scooped up the ball and was off to the races, but the play was ruled an incomplete pass.  The Cavs connected on a 37 yard field goal to extend their lead to 24-14.

The teams exchanged possessions as the game moved into the fourth quarter.  After a pass interference penalty on the Cavs, Chandler lofted the ball deep to Shelton for a touchdown.  The extra point cut the lead to 24-21 with 8:53 left to play.

Facing third and 9 from their own 36 yard line, Card threw to Kyle Eaves.  The defensive back went for an interception and missed.  With no one behind him, Eaves outraced the defense for a 64 yard touchdown.

On the ensuing kickoff, Aniyah Spencer fumbled and the Cavs recovered.  Card threw deep to Wilson for another touchdown.  The extra point made it 38-21 with 6:49 left in the game.

The Rockets could not move against the Cavaliers defense.  Strong runs by Card moved the chains for Lake Travis and ate up what time remained.  With the 38-21 win, Lake Travis had eliminated Converse from the playoffs for the second year in a row. 

2018 - Midlothian Heritage vs Carthage

Friday fun in Frisco. . .  A great third round playoff game between the Midlothian Heritage Jaguars and the Carthage Bulldogs.  Plus a look at the barbecue served at Hard Eight Pit BBQ in The Colony.  Here's my video from this adventure:

Once again I was at the Ford Center in Frisco, part of the Cowboy Star facility, the new world headquarters for the Dallas Cowboys.  I was there to see a third round playoff game between Midlothian Heritage and Carthage.

Lee Wiginton has been the coach of Heritage since 2010.  They entered this game with an 11-1 record.  The jaguars were on a seven game win streak, their last loss coming to LaVega in October.

Scott Surratt leads a Bulldog team with a perfect 12-0 record in 2018.  their last loss was also in October. . .  October, 2016.  Carthage has won thirty-eight games in a row, including the last two state championships.

More about the game in a moment.  First let me show you the barbecue I ate on the way to the game.

The Barbecue

My brother and I were tooling down the Sam Rayburn toll road on our way to Frisco for the ball game.  We couldn’t decide where to eat barbecue when we passed by Hard Eight Pit BBQ in The Colony.  We took the next exit, circled back through the neighborhood and landed at 5300 State Highway 121, at the corner of Plano Parkway.  A nice man greeted all the patrons as they walked in.  He said this particular establishment would seat 900 people and that Hard Eight would soon be opening their fifth restaurant in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex.  Hhmmmm. . .

Hard Eight was permeated by the sweet aroma of barbecue cooking.  While we were in line, we saw their pit masters loading up hot coals into one of the pits where they cooked rib eye steaks.  I got my standard order of moist brisket and some pork ribs.  I spotted some bacon wrapped shrimp that looked good, so I got a couple of them as well.  Pickles and onions, samples of both their sauces, and some iced tea and I was all set to eat. 

The brisket had a nice smoky flavor, but. . .  While it looked really juicy when it was being cut, it was kinda dry and crumbly and required more chewing than it should.  Not sure what happened between the cutting board and the table.  The ribs were tasty: tender and moist, but didn’t have a whole lot of meat on them.  They made up for that by giving me more ribs than what I normally order.  The grilled bacon wrapped shrimp was very tasty.

I hate to say it, but my brother and I were disappointed in the barbecue at Hard Eight.  It’s obvious they do a lot of business, so somebody likes what they serve, but there is much better barbecue in the Metroplex.  I think they have concentrated more on quantity than on quality.  I suspect it’s going to be a while before I stop at one of their other four restaurants.

I rate this barbecue a shaky Hook ‘Em!

The Game

If you only saw the final score of this game, you might think neither team played defense.  But they did. . .

A fumble by Carthage quarterback Gunner Capps gave Heritage the ball at midfield.  Langston Anderson picked up big yardage on a pass from Landon Ledbetter.  Ledbetter threw back to Dre Washington who then threw a jump pass to Haydon Wiginton for the first score of the game.  The extra point made it 7-0.  The Jaguars extended their lead to 14-0 on a 25 yard run up the middle by Washington.

The Bulldogs answered with a 46 yard touchdown pass from Capps to Kel Williams.  The extra point was no good leaving the score 14-6.  The Jaguars roared right back.  Anderson took a direct snap and scored from 3 yards out to make it 21-6. 

Kelvontay Dixon made an outstanding one handed catch to put the Bulldogs in the Jaguar red zone.  But Carthage turned the ball over on downs when Capps dropped a sure touchdown pass on a double reverse.

The Jaguars were on the move when Washington fumbled near midfield.  Capps threw deep to Dixon on the sideline for a big gain.  Capps connected with Roshabrus Garrett for a six yard touchdown.  The Bulldogs went for two and converted on a carry by Dixon to make it 21-14.  Later in the second quarter, the Bulldogs scored on a 50 yard pick six by De’Aundry Bowman.  The extra point knotted the score at 21-21.  

Late in the second quarter, Ledbetter connected with Jay Wilkerson for a 10 yard touchdown.  The Jaguars went to half time leading 28-21.

In the third quarter, Washington caught a shuffle pass from Ledbetter, then fumbled when he was hit.  Capps found Kaden Holcomb over the middle for a big gain.  But the Bulldogs turned the ball over on downs again when Capps backwards pass fell incomplete.

Langston Anderson made a great catch for a big gain.  Dre Washington did the rest as he scored from 37 yards out.  The Jaguars were ahead by 14 at 35-21. 

Gunner Capps threw over the middle to Baylor Colle who side stepped a defender for a 35 yard touchdown.  The extra point made it 35-28.

Here come the Jaguars.  Landon Ledbetter connected with Anderson for first and goal from the three.  Brody Greeson was stripped and the Bulldogs took possession.  Capps threw deep to a wide open Elijah Collier for a 34 yard touchdown.  The extra point tied the game again at 35-35.

Deep in the fourth quarter, Heritage started from their own 36 yard line.  Ledbetter scrambled, then threw to Jay Wilkerson for a critical first down.  Ledbetter found Carter Wilkerson alone in the end zone for a touchdown.  With the extra point, the Jaguars led 42-35 with only 4:10 left to play.

Carthage started from their own 25 yard line and moved to the Heritage 33.  Facing fourth and 3 with only one time out left, Capps threw to Kelvontay Dixon.  He slipped one tackle, avoided another, and carried the ball to the Jaguars 1.  Capps scrambled to avoid the rush and his desperation pass was intercepted.  But Heritage was penalized for a horse collar tackle and the Bulldogs retained possession with just eight seconds left.  

After two incomplete passes and only 1 second remaining, Capps threw to Kaden Holcomb.  The catch was ruled a touchdown.  The extra point sent the game to overtime.

The Jaguars took the first shot in OT.  Ledbetter found Haydon Wiginton in the end zone for six.  The extra point put Heritage ahead 49-42.

Now it’s the Bulldogs turn.  Capps scrambled to avoid the rush, this time his desperation pass was caught by Mason Courtney for a huge first down.  Courtney ran it in for a three yard touchdown to make it 49-48.  

Carthage decided to go for two and the win.  Kelvontay Dixon carried on a rocket pitch and dove into the end zone.  Carthage had their first lead of the night and won the game 50-49.