They meet Feb. 6 at ultra-modern Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In the here and now, it will be a matchup of quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers and Aaron Rodgers of the Packers and two standout defenses. But the game also will echo with the glories of NFL decades past.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin likes to refer to the club's six Super Bowl trophies, which he passes every day on his way to his office, as the "Lombardis." Pittsburgh's competition for another Lombardi Trophy will come from the Packers, coached to victory in the first two Super Bowls by Lombardi himself and now intent on bringing the next glistening, silver trophy back to Lombardi Avenue in Green Bay.

Though the Steelers began their season without the suspended Roethlisberger, a two-time Super Bowl winner, they earned a trip to their eighth Super Bowl by defeating the New York Jets 24-19 here Sunday in the AFC title game. Eight Super Bowl appearances will match the Dallas Cowboys for most ever. Pittsburgh's six titles already is a record.

"Just thanking the Lord," Roethlisberger said. "We've been through a lot as a team and personally. It just feels good."

Green Bay, which began the playoffs as the sixth and bottom seed in the NFC, clinched its fifth Super Bowl berth earlier Sunday with a 21-14 victory against the Chicago Bears for the NFC title. Bodog.net favors the Packers by two points in the Super Bowl.

"The journey is the sweetest part," Rodgers said. "… This is what I've dreamt about as a kid growing up in Northern California watching Joe Montana all those years and Steve Young when Joe moved on. This is what I've always wanted to do."

The Packers had to do it the hard way, going 3-0 on the road as a playoff wild card. Now, they're looking to win one more, just as Pittsburgh did in the 2005 season when it won the Super Bowl as a sixth seed.

Pittsburgh won four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s behind its "Steel Curtain" defense led by Greene and an offense anchored by Bradshaw. Sticking to its formula of building primarily through the draft and playing rugged defense, it has won two more in the past five seasons.

Now, they will try for their seventh Super Bowl title. Roethlisberger wears No. 7. Some Pittsburgh fans are calling this game the "Stairway to Seven."

"We kind of limped home, but we aren't going to complain about style points," said Tomlin, at 38 on his second trip to the Super Bowl in four seasons as Steelers coach. He credited his team with overcoming adversity.

"It's kind of been our story this year. … All of these journeys are like that."

statesman.com

When the high school football season kicks off across Central Texas later this month, count on these players to be front and center. The 24 players on the American-Statesman's annual preseason All-Centex team come from 19 high schools in the area, ranging from Belton in Bell County to Seguin in Guadalupe County and various points in between. The esteemed group also includes 14 players who have committed to major-college programs.

Offense

QB — Michael Brewer, Lake Travis

RB — Kenny Williams, Hendrickson

RB — Michael Sorrells, McCallum

WR — Cayleb Jones, Austin High

WR — Brandon Wilkerson, La Grange

WR/TE — Jonathon Henderson, Leander

OL — Spencer Drango, Cedar Park

OL — Joseph Cheek, Seguin

OL — Taylor Doyle, Lake Travis

OL — LeRaven Clark, Rockdale

OL — Stephon Spence, LBJ

K — Eduardo Alexander, Bowie

Defense

DL — Cameron Smith, McNeil

DL — Jordan Wade, Stony Point

DL — Cory Gould, New Braunfels

LB — P.L. Lindley, Stony Point

LB — Chet Moss, Cedar Park

LB — Derek David, Rockdale

LB — Austin Williams, Lake Travis

DB — Connor Sheehan, Anderson

DB — Alex Matlock, Pflugerville

DB — Campbell McCrea, Westlake

DB — Josh Ware, Thorndale

P — David Ash, Belton

1. Westlake (39-7)

Chaparrals have advanced to Class 5A title match for three straight years, losing to Amarillo each time.

2. Lake Travis (46-4)

After reaching regional final last year, Cavaliers enter 2010 season ranked atop Class 4A state poll.

3. Bowie (31-16)

Bulldogs will battle Westlake in district play after reaching 5A playoffs last season.

4. Wimberley (33-13)

Lady Texans won six state titles from 1999-2007 and reached Class 3A semifinals last year.

5. Georgetown (39-10)

A year ago, Eagles emerged from challenging Region II playoff bracket to reach 5A state tournament.

6. Regents (33-9)

After state runner-up finish in '09, perennial TAPPS power eyeing fourth straight berth in final four.

7. Stony Point (24-19)

With five starters back, Tigers primed for breakout season and first trip to the playoffs.

8. Elgin (32-15)

Tall, talented Wildcats reached 4A playoffs last year after winning first outright district title since '91.

9. Fredericksburg (35-8)

District rival Wimberley won regional showdown last year, keeping Battlin' Billies out of state tournament.

10. Dripping Springs (35-6)

Michael Kane, former coach at St. Michael's, takes over Tigers after area-round loss to Seguin in 4A playoffs.

Note: Record from 2009 in parentheses

TO THE POLLS

The top-ranked teams in the preseason state polls released by the Texas Girls Coaches Association:

Class 5A

1. Amarillo

2. Westlake

3. Cypress Woods

Class 4A

1. Lake Travis

2. Houston Stratford

3. Richardson Pearce

Class 3A

1. Lucas Lovejoy

2. Wimberley

3. Monahans

Also: 7. Fredericksburg

Class 2A

1. Poth

2. White Oak

3. Peaster

Class A

1. Louise

2. Normangee

3. Bronte

MAROONS RANKED #8 IN THE WESTERN U.S.
 
With two weeks remaining on the regular season schedule, the Austin High Maroons Boys Lacrosse team sits alone atop of the Central District Standings as the only undefeated team with a cool 7-0 mark.  The Maroons ran their overall record to 10-2 this past week as they scooped up another set of wins over Cedar Park and crosstown rival Bowie.  The Maroons held on to their #3 State Ranking and the two additional wins boosted them up two spots as the #8 Ranked Boys Lacrosse team in the Western United States.  
 
The week began with the Maroons on the road last Tuesday evening taking on Cedar Park.  Austin High was without the offensive services of sophomore middie Jake Hiebert for the first half, and in his absence, Co-Captain Will Merritt, Walker Moran and Win Scott fought hard to win the face off battles.  Austin High bombarded the Timberwolves goalie with 50 shots on goal.  Senior Deron Turner led the scoring attack with help from Billy Bedillion (who also led the team with 9 ground balls and four assists), Will Schuhmacher, Colin Pierce, Connor Christian, and Jake Hiebert. The Maroons defense stood stout the entire evening as Sophomore goalie Bass Barfield posted his first shut out of the season closing the book on Cedar Park by a score of 10-0.  The game saw a combined 20 minutes worth of penalty time and Head Coach Andy Garrigan said "it was hard to settle into any sort of rhythm."
 
 This past Friday evening was a beautiful night for Lacrosse as the Maroons returned home to House Park for the first time this season for an always intense matchup with the Bowie Bulldawgs.  The Friday night lights of House Park took awhile to warm up, as did the Maroons, and Bowie jumped out to a lightening fast 3-0 lead in News 8 Sports "HIGH SCHOOL GAME OF THE WEEK."  Head Coach Andy Garrigan called a quick time out to rally the troops and the Maroons responded with 2 goals to end the first quarter down 3-2.  The Bulldawg faithful and sidelines were full of hope and enthusiasm, but the Maroon train was just beginning to roll.  With 1 minute and 4 seconds gone in the second quarter, Austin High's Junior Co-Captain Will Merritt put the ball in the back of the net to tie the game at 3 apiece.  The Maroons continued their crushing attack tallying 7 straight goals to take a 7-3 lead as the yellow flags were raining down on the green turf.  A "heated" matchup would be an understatement as during one possession, the referee threw his first flag, threw his second flag, and then with empty pockets, grabbed his hat and flung it high in the air for a third penalty.  The battle continued throughout the night as 22 yellow birdies hit the ground for a combined 19 1/2 minutes of penalty box time,  creating countless man up and down situations.  And speaking of, Bowie scored man up with 8:19 left in the 3rd quarter to draw a bit closer at 7-4.   Austin High's Merritt then countered with his second and third goals of the game to make it 9-4  , and then 10-4 as Deron Turner found pay dirt with  8:40 left on the clock.  Bowie then managed their final goal of the evening to make it 10-5 with 6:12 left in the contest.  Maroon Co-Captain and long stick defender George Schuhmacher then grabbed his game leading 6th ground ball of the night, held it high in the air, evading numerous Bowie attackers, and took it 3/4 of the length of the field and promptly placed it where Coach Garrigan suggested.  Goal.  Game.  Evening.   Maroons win 11-5. 
 
This Tuesday evening, April 13th, 8:00pm at House Park, Austin High hosts McNeil and will celebrate Senior Night during the halftime break.  Head Coach Andy Garrigan recalls that "our game against McNeil has been a close one the last few years, and I expect this one to be another dog fight.  You can throw the State and District rankings right out the window when you get to this point in the season.  We get everyones best game, and we need to be prepared for teams to match our intensity." 
 
The final week of the regular season comes the following week.  On Friday, April 23rd at House Park, RIVALRY WEEKEND kicks off as Austin High will face Westlake in what could possibly determine the District Championship, and State Playoff seedings.  For more information on Austin High Lacrosse, contact club President Julie Merritt at jmerritt60@austin.rr.com , or visit www.austinhighlax.com .

Austin Junior Dan Brodnax breaks into the open with ball firmly in net.

-Gazette: Travis Atkins

Travis Atkins 07.APR.10

Chalmers Field near Austin High was lit up Tuesday night - fans packed the bleachers, and players were decked out in full pads, ready to lay that crushing blow to any offensive player that came into their territory.

Texas? Lights? Testosterone? Yes, football season ended in the fall, but lacrosse season is in full swing and this scene is becoming more and more common around the Lone Star state.

The Austin High Maroons Lacrosse Club is ranked #3 in the state and they beat Anderson 13-8 Tuesday night.

Junior midfielder Will Merritt had two goals and four assists. As the Maroons celebrated their victory, Merritt was no doubt pleased with the decision he made back in fourth grade.

"I played baseball until my friends told me that I got to get out and play lacrosse," Merritt said. "It was the new thing and it was a lot of fun, so I got out and quit baseball immediately."

Lacrosse's roots date back to the Iroquois Indians. It was known as "baggataway" and was played with 12-15 players per team and the goals 120 feet apart. Now, each team has ten players: a goalie, three defensemen, three midfielders and three attackmen.

The defensemen and goalie have to stay on the defensive half of the field. Much like soccer, the players pass the ball to one another and try to score the ball into the goal. Instead of using their feet to pass the ball, they have sticks with nets on the end. As the players run up and down the 300-foot field, they have to always be alert of defenders, as hitting is allowed.

After four, 10-minute quarters where the clock stops when the ball goes out of bounds, the team with the most goals wins.

Along with hockey, lacrosse is the national sport of Canada and has been popular in the northeastern U.S. for some time. It has made its way down to Texas and taken off in recent years.

Back in 1989, the first year of Austin High's Lacrosse Club, four lacrosse teams existed in Texas. Now there are 75.

Long-time lacrosse supporter and former team president Dave Hamill was in the crowd Tuesday. "Lacrosse is the second-fastest growing high school sport in the United States, except for bowling, if you can believe that," Hamill said.

As a club sport, lacrosse lacks the school sponsorship that other sports enjoy.

"It's all funded by the parents," Hamill said. "The downside to that is it is predominantly a sport that flourishes where there is disposable income."

Hamill is the former Central Texas Central Division coordinator for lacrosse and is currently working on a project called the New Horizons Lacrosse Fund, which promotes lacrosse in East Austin.

So far they have held clinics staffed by Division I lacrosse players and coaches and have raised $8,000. The goal is to eventually get some teams started.

"The program over there has not really been a success this year, but we hope with the nucleus of two or three kids that have gotten interested this year, we will be able to build our program," Hamill said.

According to Austin High Head Coach Andy Garrigan, the key in the lacrosse boom has been the development of youth programs that get kids interested in the sport at an early age. Garrigan is also the head of the West Austin Youth Association. WAYA has lacrosse teams with kids as young as 6 years old.

Garrigan said the youth programs are thriving. "There is easily three to four thousand kids playing right now in Austin."

Dallas has the top two teams in the state in Highland Park and St. Mark's. Garrigan coached at both of these schools before coming to Austin in 2004. While there are more teams in Dallas and Houston, Austin has the most teams per capita of any city in Texas.

With similar aspects, lacrosse has had crossover appeal to high school football players. Garrigan thinks it is a great cross-training sport and has the support of Austin High Head Football Coach and Athletic Director L.D. Williams.

"It was something they figured out in Dallas a long time ago, and they're starting to figure out in Austin now," Garrigan said. "With lacrosse, the kids aren't sitting around eating Ding Dongs in the spring. They're being physical, they're banging around and they are in far better shape."

Defensemen Wayne Foster and Isaac Blackmore are both offensive lineman for the football team. During the Anderson game, Garrigan, always animated on the sideline, got on his team for not executing plays properly. "Sometimes when we play teams that don't have the same talent as we do, we tend to lose a little focus," Blackmore said. "In games where we are more evenly matched, we play better, we are focused and there's not this arguing."

Senior midfielder Deron Turner led the team with four goals and junior Billy Bedillion and senior attacker Max Roach each had two goals.

The Maroons got the win, but throughout the game, Garrigan got on his players for not executing as well as they could have on offense.

After beating Anderson, Austin High took on St. Stephen's on Thursday. In a much lower-scoring match, the Maroons got the win 6-3, improving their record to 8-2.

Austin High plays Cedar Park on Tuesday at 8 P.M. Expect another football-like scene.

"It's ridiculous this year," Garrigan said. "We've got a lot more people at the games. People put stuff online and our kids read everything. So we're kind of like, 'alright fellows, you've got to focus.'"

It looks like the football players might have to share the 'Big Men on Campus' title... at least until the fall. - Oak Hill Gazette

SMA CONTINUES IMPRESSIVE TRACK SEASON

NEW BRAUNFELS, TX – The Bears of San Marcos Academy knew after their impressive performance last week at Bandera that hopes would be high entering the Cougar Relays at New Braunfels Canyon High School.  The team met expectations with a great outing that impressed even Head Coach Kelia Price of the Bears.

The Cougar Relays is regarded as one of the better meets in the area showcasing teams from nine of the area’s top track programs, including Canyon, Dripping Springs, Floresville, Buda Hays, Lockhart, New Braunfels, Smithson Valley, and Trinity Christian Academy.

The Bears started the relays off well with Senior Brady Wickersham placing second overall in the high jump with a jump of 6 feet. The 4x100 relay team of Michael Latham, Anthony Richardson, Mark Hamm and Josh McIntyre raced to a 45.28 mark for a second place finish.

Not to be outdone, the 4x400 relay of Wickersham, McIntyre, Latham and John Nealon would take a third place finish in the Cougar Relays. But the team would save the best for last, as McIntyre gave the Bears a first place finish in the hurdles.

“I am so proud of how our kids and how they competed,” Head Coach Kelia Price said. “The way our private school kids are winning against very strong UIL programs is amazing. As long as our kids remain positive and continue their strong work ethic, we will continue our run of success into the district meet.”

The Bears track team will compete next in the San Antonio Christian meet on April 10 followed by the district meet on April 23, also in San Antonio.

MAROON LACROSSE NOTCHES TWO MORE WINS
Bill Koen
 
It was another strong week for the Austin High Maroons Mens Lacrosse team, as once again, the traveling bandwagon of friends, family and fans loaded up and took to the road for two away games seeing the #3 State Ranked Maroons come away with two more exciting wins. 
 
Without the services of senior attackman Max Roach, the Maroons traveled to St. Andrews this past Tuesday and used a "score by committee" approach to net a 16-6 victory.  Sophomore Jake Hiebert and Junior Will Merritt led the way by controlling numerous face offs and turning them into quick offensive production.  The rivalry between the two schools always produces a physical and hard fought contest, and last weeks match was no different than in the past. 
 
Next up for the Maroons was a Thursday night contest at Westwood.  With History and Math exams looming early the next morning at Austin High, the Maroons passed an early district test of their own in one of this young seasons most exciting contests to date.  With Texas High School Lacrosse League Officials and coaches and players from numerous area teams gathered in the stands to see this showdown and do a little scouting, the Maroons and Warriors took a double overtime sudden death game deep into the evening with the Maroons coming out on top 12-11.  The Warriors opened the game with a 4 goal explosion taking the early lead of 4-0 after one quarter.  Head coach Andy Garrigan settled his team down and the second quarter saw the Maroons rally for 5 straight goals to take a 5-4 lead, only to see Westwood come right back and tie the game at 5 apiece with 5:30 left in the energetic 2nd quarter.  This would be the story line for the next two and a half quarters as the two teams traded goals like heavyweight boxers trade punches until the final bell.  The Maroons closed out the first half with two goals as Colin Pierce fired a long shot with 4:30 left, only to be followed by a Max Roach goal set up by a Jake Hiebert face off with 4:14 left in the 2nd quarter.  And the first half came to a close with a 7-5 Austin High lead.
 
With the last two meetings between these two teams ending in sudden death overtime, everyone on the field, sidelines, and in the stands had a feeling as to what was coming in the second half.  Prior to the game, Head Coach Andy Garrigan was heard saying, "I really don't want to stay here all night playing another overtime game with these guys."  Well coach, you better dig in for the evening!  The second half started with the same electricity that we saw in the first.  It did not take long for the Maroons to find the back of the net as long stick junior defender George Schuhmacher weaved in and out of the Warriors traveling the entire length of the field before perfectly passing to senior attackman Max Roach who promptly fired the ball into the net with only 35 seconds gone in the quarter.  The end of the third quarter saw Westwoods second offensive explosion of the evening.  Trailing 9-5 and in a "man up" penalty situation, the Warriors were able to capitalize by scoring the first of four straight goals with 3:15 left in the 3rd.  Westwood then stepped on the gas scoring three more goals within a 78 second span, the first with 2:24 left to make it 9-7, the second with 1:52 left to make it 9-8, and finally with 1:06 left to make it 9-9, ending the wildly exciting 3rd quarter, and setting up the final round of this heavyweight fight. 
 
Tied at 9, Austin High got the ball rolling as what was thought to be the final period of the evening got underway.  With 10:16 remaining in the 4th, Junior Billy Bedillion found Max Roach for a Maroon goal and a 10-9 lead.  With 8:42 left, the Maroons hit pay dirt again as Junior midfielder Will Schuhmacher put the Maroons up by two, 11-9.  Approximately six and a half minutes went by as fans of both teams were beginning to wonder if this brawl was finally winding down.  The answer to that would be a great big NO!  With 2:03 left in regulation, the Warrior fans came back to life as Westwood scored a goal that brought them to within one at 11-10.  Austin high won the ensuing face off and had control of the ball, the clock, and what appeared to be the game.  But with 37 ticks left on the clock, the Warriors got possession of the ball and  called a timeout 8 seconds later to set up one final play.  When play resumed, Warrior midfielder Pierce Ingram moved upfield by about five steps, ran 5 seconds off of the clock and pulled the trigger on a screaming shot that managed to get by Austin High goalie Bass Barfield.  Nearly two hours later, and with a mere 20 seconds left on the game clock, the two teams found themselves exactly where they were when the game began.  All even.  Only this time they both had eleven goals. 
 
And so for the third meeting in a row, fourty eight minutes of fierce action wasn't enough time to settle this contest, and the #3 State ranked Maroons, and #5 State ranked Warriors were heading back to familiar territory-sudden death!  With 1:47 left in the first sudden death period, Austin High went "man down" after being called for a cross check.  This again brought the Warrior fans to their feet.  But for the 12th time of the evening, Sophomore goalie Bass Barfield made probably his biggest save of the night, by just barely stopping a Warrior shot, allowing the Maroons to kill the penalty and advance to the second sudden death period.  And it was then, with 3:31 on the second sudden death clock, 52 minutes and 29 seconds of game clock later, that the Maroons Will Merritt cleared the most important face off of the evening, fired a pass to Billy Bedillion, who once again found fellow attackman Max Roach for the game winning, night ending, knock out punch!  After the game, Coach Andy Garrigan said "this was a great district win for us.  To fight back from a 4-0 deficit, on the Warriors home field, showed a lot of guts and determination by our players.  Unfortunately, it doesn't get any easier from here on."  
 
Look for the Maroons to hold on to their #3 State ranking and #10 Western U.S. Ranking when the new polls come out this week.  Austin High takes on Anderson at Chalmers Field, Tuesday, March 30th, at 7:30 p.m., St. Stephens at St. Stephens, Thursday, April 1st, at 8:00 p.m., and Cedar Park at Cedar Park, Tuesday, April 6th, at 8:00 p.m..  For more information on Austin High Maroon Lacrosse, please contact club President Julie Merritt at jmerrit60@austin.rr.com, or go to www.austinhighlax.com .
 


Key to Attachments:
JakeBilly--Billy Bedillion (#13) blocks a defender as Jake Hiebert (#11) scoops the ball.
BassSave--Goalie Bass Barfield prepares to stop a shot.
BrewJames-- Brew Houston (#3) and James Sayers (#17) take the ball away against St. Andrews.
WillCarterGeorge-- Will Merritt (#21) and Carter McNeil (#27) close in on an opponent as George Schuhmacher (#7) looks on.
DanJustin-- Dan Brodnax (#23) and Justin Jones (#12) prepare to get that ground ball.