It's game time
Dawgs usher in season with Livingston Friday
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy JASPER SENIOR BRANDON MCQUEEN breaks into the open field during last Friday's scrimmage with Nederland. McQueen saw his first action of the pre-season after sitting out with an injury.

Last year, the Livingston Lions came into the 2006 season opener on a mission. They wanted to do away with a 51-game losing streak.

They did just that.

This year, the Bulldogs of Jasper want to start a new one for the Lions.

Jasper will get their chance to avenge last year's opening loss when they host the Class 4A Lions at The Bone Yard Friday, Aug. 31.

"That was a big win for us last year," said Livingston Head Football Coach Randy Rowe. "The last time we beat Jasper was in 1951 and my father played on that team. But to me, this year's Jasper team looks like some of the Jasper teams of old."

Rowe said he doesn't put much faith in the motivation factor when it comes to last year's streak-busting win by Livingston.

"Last year was last year," Rowe said. "It was nice to get that win but this is a new year with new expectations. We didn't make the playoffs last year so I kind of want to forget last year. We had a winning season but we didn't get where we wanted to be."

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan JASPER OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR TY QUICK goes over a play with players during a recent practice.

Brooks, though, believes he might be able to use the memory of last year's stinging defeat to motivate his team this year.

"You could use it as a motivation thing as you talk about how much you have dominated the series - anything that motivates the players, you should use it," Brooks said.

An even bigger issue comes with confidence.

Since Brooks' arrival in Jasper, momentum has been building in the Jasper football program. People in the community are talking about Jasper football once again but the wind could be taken right out of the sails of this momentum with a loss to Livingston and Brooks knows the importance of keeping that momentum going.

"I don't know how the team would react to losing this game," Brooks said. "I think it is important that we win it for our confidence level. And also to let the community and everyone know that we are better and that we will be competitive this year.

"I think it means a lot to the kids to see people in the stands," Brooks said. "They can say what they want, but it means a lot to have people cheering and supporting you. I can guarantee how many wins we will have but I can say that our kids will play hard and the coaches will coach hard and give everything we can for this community."

Rowe also believes getting the season off to a good start is vitally important to his squad as well.

"Just like Coach Brooks, we want to be 1-0 on Saturday too," Rowe said. "It helps you set the tempo for your season. I have started the season 0-4 and made the playoffs but it sure is easier the other way."

Brooks knows that the Dawgs will have their work cut out for them when they take the field against the bigger Lions.

"They are big," Brooks said. "I went to see them scrimmage Hardin- Jefferson Saturday and it seemed like when they hit the field, the field tilted to their side. They have huge linemen and some tall skilled guys and some good running backs."

Brooks said that offensively, the Lions would run a lot of misdirection plays with more one-back, shotgun formations.

"They really have two different offenses," Brooks said.

Brooks said that defensively, the Lions do not look as big upfront as their offensive line.

"They are quick and they try to get penetration with their front people but I think that we can be successful against them," Brooks said.

Rowe used the victory over the Dawgs last year to propel his Lions a bit further in their football climb to success. But this year, Rowe says the Lions are far from where they need to be with opening weekend on the horizon.

"It may sound like a cliché, but we are a long ways from where we need to be," Rowe said. "We are working hard because we have set some real high goals for us. We have real high aspirations and we know it takes a lot of hard work to get where we need to get."

Rowe said he is looking forward to re-visiting the Bone Yard this Friday.

"I'm sure the Dawg House will have smoke coming out of it and the stands will be packed as usual," Rowe said. "It's going to be fun."

Brooks is also looking forward to seeing how his Bulldogs face off against an up-and-coming Class 4A football program.

"Some may look at it like they are a 4A school and you're not supposed to beat them but I don't look at it like that," Brooks said. "I look at it like we're Jasper and we have dominated this series for a long time and we don't want to be the team that loses. There are two good teams going at each other."

Brooks pointed to the program up the road in Newton where the Eagles face off against some of the area's best in their non-district schedule.

"They play anybody and they expect to do well against them," Brooks said. "That is the way that we need to be. It don't matter what A they are, we just want to play them and we expect to win."

Brooks said he feels good about his team's chance against Livingston in the season opener.

"I think this team is capable of doing some good things," Brooks said. "I call them like I see them, and I think this team is capable of some good things."

DAWG POUND: Friday's contest with Livingston begins at 7:30 p.m.