The Cougar ClawTomball High School

Oct. 2013 Vol. 57, Issue 1THSCougarClaw.com

Diplomais about to get a lot more

complicated in new system.

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How you get your

HomecomingWeek has a’50s feelComplete schedulePage 3

The Cougar ClawTomball High School

Oct. 2013 Vol. 57, Issue 1THSCougarClaw.com

Diplomais about to get a lot more

complicated in new system.

Page 2

How you get yourHow you get your

HomecomingHomecomingWeek has aWeek has a

Complete scheduleComplete schedule

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Can’t take the heat? Stay out of their way.

Students get a jump on careers as fi refi ghters.

Albert Einstein said: “Everybody is a ge-nius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to

climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Critics have accused public schools of taking this approach. Students have been forced to take classes that they feel are useless in relation to their future careers. Some students want to be writers. Others, doctors. Some want to be welders.

So why would an aspiring writer need to spend even a semester in a pre-cal class? Why would a future welder need two years of a for-eign language?

Some students feel they are fish being forced to climb trees just to graduate high school, and the Texas legislature seems to be taking note.

House Bill 5, passed in the Texas Senate this year, is due to go into effect next school year. This bill will drastically change graduation requirements.

HB5 has also changed the number of EOC subject tests from 15 to just 5, which will affect this school year’s standardized testing as well as years to come.

Starting with next year’s freshmen, gradua-

tion requirements will consist of a minimum of 3 years of math, science, and social studies, and 4 years of English, in addition to electives and an “endorsement.”

Students will choose what discipline of study they would like to focus on, much like a major in college, and can take more classes in that particular subject to prepare themselves for future careers.

Students can choose one of five “endorse-ments” to focus on, including: Science, Tech-nology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM); Business and Industry; Public Services; Arts and Humanities; and Multidisciplinary.

Current underclassmen will be allowed to

opt into the new plan as well. However, the classes that will be accepted have yet to be determined. The state is scheduled to meet in January to work out details.

For many underclassmen, it will be best to stay on the old graduation requirements. But for others, once classes are determined, it’s worth at least looking at the new options.

Future veterinarians won’t feel like fish trying to climb trees when they are spending more time in their aquatic and equine science classes while taking AP biology, nor will as-piring writers feel out of place in their creative writing, newspaper and advanced English classes.

“Personally, this bill really speaks to me,” said senior Faith Clause. “As a prospective neu-rosurgeon, I would have loved the opportunity to take as many science courses as possible.”

The unique thing about the new graduation requirements, though, is that it doesn’t only focus to prospective college students.

“This bill gives students the opportunity to explore other fields,” said Dietta Colbertson, spokesperson for the Texas Board of Educa-tion.

Diplomais about to get a lot more complicated.

How you get your

Story by

Leanne Haas

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What are Endorsements?

In addition to the required classes to graduation, students will add an “endorsement” or specialty by earning 4 credits toward a specialized focus. Options for Endorsements include:

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathemat (STEM)

Business & Industry

Public Services

Arts & Humanities

Multidisciplinary Studies

Any time (students) have more choices that f it their interest, they have more tie-in to the school.

- Superintendent Huey Kinchen

More vocational classes are expected to be established to accommodate the new gradu-ation plan – classes in addition to the current woodshop, dentistry, welding or HOSA classes.

Th ese are classes that students can take to be certifi ed and get a job in that fi eld without going to college.

TISD Superintendent Huey Kinchen be-lieves that HB5 will hopefully encourage stu-dents to stay in school rather than drop out.

“Any time (students) have more choices that fi t their interest, they have more tie-in to the school,” he said.

House Bill 5 is appealing to some students who would otherwise drop out because it allows a cut-back on what some feel are un-necessary classes which have been required for graduation in the past. Th is allows more room for vocational classes and takes stress off of

students who are not so academically inclined in every subject.

Along with a cut to core class requirements, foreign language will undergo a major change. While still required, students may have options such as computer programming to meet that requirement.

Some students, however, believe learning a second language is essential.

“Being bilingual will help you get a real job,” said junior Michael Rodriguez, though he admits he feels he has been “cheated” having to take two years of a foreign language, just for the requirement to be changed.

Even if a class is not required, it likely would still be available, and in some cases students may fi nd it helpful.

Senior Ryan Yockey, having taken algebra 2 the previous year, believes the class is necessary because “a lot of students will fi nd it harder in classes like Pre-cal or Physics”.

For now, few details of the new plan are available, nor will they be for some time. Th e task of preparing and educating students about their options will be in the hands of the coun-selors, who must guide students in making wise choices when they go to choose their classes for these coming years.

Old Plan

English Language ArtsFour credits: English 1, English 2, English 3, English 4

MathematicsFour credits: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, 1 additional credit

ScienceFour credits: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, 1 additional credit

Social StudiesFour credits: World History, World Geography, U.S. History, Government (1/2), Economics (1/2)

PE: One Credit

Foreign Languages: Two credits in the same language

Fine Arts: One Credit

Speech: Half-credit

Electives: Five and a half credits

Recommended Degree PlanEnglish Language ArtsFour credits: English 1, English 2, English 3, English 4 or any advanced English course

MathematicsThree credits: Algebra 1, Geometry, 1 additional credit

ScienceThree credits: Biology, IPC or an advanced science course, any additional advanced science course

Social StudiesThree credits: World History OR World Geography OR a combined class, U.S. History, Government (1/2), Economics (1/2)

PE: One Credit

Foreign Languages: Two credits in the same language OR computer programming languages OR other exceptions

Fine Arts: One Credit

Speech: Not required

Electives: Five credits PLUS any Endorsement for an additional four credits

New Plan

As a prospective neurosur-geon, I would have loved the opportunity to take as many science courses as possible.

- senior Faith Clause

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Rally for the anti-pep rally

With the new school year in full swing, many changes are evident as well. One that surprised many is the end of the uno� cial “anti-pep rally” – which allowed students who didn’t want to attend football pep rallies to sit in another gym and study and talk quietly with friends.

Many students are upset with the decision, and are asking why the change was made.

Should students be forced to show school spirit? Some students and faculty may really enjoy the pep rally and get into the spirit of the event, but it’s unre-alistic to expect every student to feel the same way.

For those who want to skip out on the pep rally, the reasons are endless – wanting to avoid the crowd, the noise level, fatigue of watching the same old she-nanigans. For some, dealing with the crowd and noise can cause serious – and unnecessary – stress.

For those who preferred the “anti-pep rally” it became an escape of sorts. It was a chance to study for a big test or � nish homework before leaving for a job a� er school.

While the school’s desire for all students to be proud of the athletic program’s accomplishments is understandable, and while it’s true that with a smaller school it’s an opportunity to � t all students into the gym as once, the school should immediately recon-sider its abandonment of the pep rally alternative.

Staff

Editor-in chief: Leanne Haas

Sports Editor: Leandra Carty

News Editor: Jynn Schubert

Feature Editor: Micaela Lapeer

Online Editor: Adam Bergeron

Video Editor: Drew Gilman

Staff Writers: Julian Gite, ValentinaMunoz, Maria Ramirez, Wendy Salazar

Design by Bailey Swanson& Tyler Swanson

Editorial Cartoonist: Drew Gilman

For more on theCougar Claw staff, checkout our online edition atTHSCougarClaw.com

Letters to the EditorPolicy: The Cougar Clawpublishes letters to theeditor in both print andonline editions. These

can come from students,parents,faculty/staff andothers with an intrestin school. Letters will

be edited for grammarand length, but the

author’s intent and pointof view will never be

compromised. All lettersmust be signed.

Questions, commentsor concerns, contact

adviser Jerry Fordyce at:jerryfordyce@tomballisd.net

phone: (281) 357-3220fax: (281) 357-3248

The Cougar Claw NewspaperTomball High School

30330 Quinn Rd.Tomball, TX 77375

Adam Bergeron

Getting into the spirit of homecoming

Let’s say football isn’t your thing. You’d rather spend a Friday night playing the latest game or catch-ing a movie. � at’s � ne.

But homecoming is special. And here’s why.First, there’s the parade on Wednesday night down

Main Street. If your club or team is invited to par-ticipate, you should de� nitely take advantage. Why? Because here’s a news � ash: When you get out of high school, odds are pretty good you won’t be invited to march in a parade again. So don’t miss out.

� en there’s the dress-up days this week. � is is a chance to stretch the boundaries of dress code, to

express your personality and have a little fun with fashion. Again, this is a limited opportunity.

And then there’s the game Friday. � e game itself is secondary to the social aspect. It’s a see-and-be-seen kind of moment. And you don’t want to miss seeing the homecoming queen crowned at hal� ime.

Finally, there’s the dance on Saturday. � is is the � rst big dance of the year, a chance to dress up in your � nest and enjoy yourselves. If you’re a senior, this is particularly important, as this will be your last homecoming dance. Don’t make the mistake of skipping out, even if you don’t have a date. Go with friends and hang out. You won’t be the only single there.

It’s all about opportunities. Don’t miss this one.

Sta� Commentary

Drew Gilman

School still has history on its side

Since the opening of Tomball Memorial, we have found ourselves asking again and again; what separates us from them? What keeps us on the map, against our neighbors with a brand new campus, brand new stu-dents (and more of them), and brand new everything? � e answer is simple.

Tradition.Ask anybody out on Main Street what the

local High School is, and the � rst that comes to mind is almost always the time-honored Tomball High. Walk into the student publi-cations room and you’ll see framed up on the wall our � rst ever issue from 1964 and the � rst yearbook from ’46, and many issue in-be-tween.

Walk into the Band Hall and take a look at the years and years of awards, pilling up over time from growing excellence, every season better than the last.

� e fact of the matter is, Tomball High has played a prominent role in Tomball History. Next time you think about Memorial’s shiny new campus, just think about the stories we have that they won’t have for decades- the rich variety of alumni that have walked through these halls.

So as Memorial prepares for their � rst graduating class, remember the more than 100 years of students our school has sent out into the world, working hard every day to make us, Tomball High School, � e Pride of Texas.

Our view

GUEST COMMENTARY

Depression, bullying go hand-in-hand

Schools need to address mental health

Bullying and suicide.We all assume that they are connected in every case

involving teens. What some people don’t realize are the many other possible reasons behind suicide, rather than just bullying.

� e Hu� ngton Post published the article “Bullying and Suicide: � e Dangerous Mistake We Make” on Feb. 2, 2012, by Katherine Bindley. To be honest, I’m very surprised more people aren’t talking about this.

It’s important to know not only for our school sys-tems and sta� , but for parents of kids in high school.

� is article tells the stories of multiple teens in high school who committed suicide, and their reasons behind it. Many of the parents blamed everything on bullying. But studies have now proven that bullying may not be the only reason.

Depression, anxiety and stress are all major issues that school systems and teachers seem to forget about, including parents. Bullying is an important aspect, and should not be ignored. But it also shouldn’t be put as the main cause of the suicide.

Nicole Cardarelli, 27, admits that killing yourself be-cause of bullying was easier to understand; she believed that for years a� er her brother Greg’s suicide in 2004. In high school, Greg had met a “girl” online that he thought was serious. It turned out that it was two of his friends playing a prank on him.

Hours later, he had killed himself. At the time, Nicole didn’t see the signs that Greg was

already troubled. But in recent years, she has thought about his behavior in the few months before he died. “I

believe he was depressed,” she said recently.Even though suicides o� en prove to have many

di� erent factors, most experts still say that bullying can be harmful and worsen depression, and increase suicide risk, and its seriousness shouldn’t be minimized.

I know this wasn’t entirely on bullying. But I felt like people need to know this. In the Hu� ngton Post article, it says something that stands out to me: “Clayton Cook, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Washington, argues that because mental health issues are o� en a common thread running through bullying and suicide, schools should not have a narrowly focused solution.”

� is is what I want to change in schools, including THS. Bullying is an important factor, don’t get me wrong. But we shouldn’t train all of our focus on that. We should open up to our students.

Surprisingly enough, a lot of teens have depression. And I feel like we don’t do enough to help.

Doing more school activities, and talking about cur-rent events, could help many teens of both bullying and depression status.

I’m not saying I’m entirely right, but I’m not entirely wrong either.

Megan McGlynn

If you or someone you know needs help, call the TeenLine at

713-529-TEENIt is a 24-hour hotline staffed by

volunteers trained to help with any problem, big or small.

Your view

We encourage readers to share their opinion, either

through letters to the editor or submitted guest commentaries.

Please drop off any letters or commentaries in Room 1201, or

e-mail them to us atjerryfordyce@tomballisd.net.

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dSenior Prom and soot-covered � re

gear. Most of the time, these two sub-jects shouldn’t be in the same sentence.

But it’s all relative to senior Sydni Bradley, a “junior � re� ghter” for the Plantersville Fire Department.

Sydni got her start over the summer af-

ter her step-mom, a volunteer of � ve months, convinced her to give it a try. And she loved it.

“A� er seeing me do it for a while she had been eager to join,” said Jennifer Bradley, Sydni’s step-mother.

She quickly developed a bond with the all-volunteer-based department, earning the nicknames “Red” and “Wild� re,” de-pending on the day.

And when the senior arrived to a meet-ing one day during the week trying to sell her fellow � remen heavy duty trash bags to raise money for prom tickets, they told her to keep the bags. � ey all pitched in 8 bucks each, and that was the end of it.

Two weeks later, a junior � re� ghter named Harry asked her to prom, and she said yes.

A timid Sydni admits that he didn’t make a big deal asking her to the dance.

“He was quite quiet about it, which I’m grateful for,” she said.

But the job isn’t always � u� y. You have to get down and dirty - and you can’t af-ford mistakes.

“It’s constant training on calls because you always learn something new,” Brad-ley said. “Every Tuesday she does two hours of hard core training, and some-times on weekends.”

Sydni feels that although training is rigorous, especially while trying to bal-ance schoolwork in between, it is worth it in the end. And when she needs to use her skills learned in training, “it just comes natural,” she said.

“I try not to worry about Sydni being a junior � re� ghter, because it doesn’t do me or her any good to worry” said Kelly Hancock, Sydni’s mom.

Sydni has been trained to take safety precautions, taking into account the con-dition of her surroundings, wind, possi-ble exits, and humidity levels.

Because Sydni is under 18 years old, however, she is not allowed to enter structurally-unsound buildings. But she is constantly behind the scenes, wheth-er it be � ling reports or handling equip-ment that could pose a real threat if not handled carefully.

“� ere’s so much to learn,” said Sydni, “Like not knowing how to use an air pack could easily become fatal.”

Just a few months ago, Sydni wasn’t sure what she wanted to do in life. She found her senior year quickly approach-ing, with little direction.

“I think this experience has opened doors for Sydni that otherwise she wouldn’t have had, and I am glad that her step-mom asked her to be a part of it,” said Kelsey Bradley, Sydni’s mom.

Sydni’s department has o� ered to pay for her to take forestry classes at Texas A&M next summer.

Currently, she is looking forward to graduation fearlessly and con� dently.

“I’m really excited because this is go-ing to be my life.”

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Sydni Bradley (le� ) was drawn into � re� ghting by her step-mom, Jennifer Bradley.

“Dylan, get the cornstarch!” his father yelled as Dylan Parker

ran back into the house he had le� just minutes before, unexpectedly to the rest of his family, a� er waking up to a � re started by an alarm clock, consuming his bedroom wall.

“I still have no idea why or how I woke up,” he said, recalling waking up to � nd

his wall on � re, minutes before the smoke alarm

went o� .“Dad, there’s a � re in my room,” he

hu� ed.“I’ll deal with it later…” his father, a

truck driver with a wild sleep schedule, mumbled before fully awakening from his dream state to take action.

� e family evacuated the house.“It wasn’t that exciting, actually, like it

is in the movies,” Dylan recalled.He was told to stay and wait outside,

but his eleven-year-old mind told him it would be a good idea to go back into a burning house.

He searched in the kitchen for a mo-ment, but the common household ingre-dient couldn’t be found.

No cornstarch? I guess this � re extin-guisher will do.

He probably wouldn’t have found an extinguisher if it wasn’t for the fact that his dad, a fuel-truck driver, had just got-ten a new one for his truck, and had le� it in the house.

Six years later, senior Dylan Parker is still helping to extinguish � ames, though it doesn’t do him much good search-ing for the corn starch when there’s a � retruck behind him.

He was introduced to the Tomball Fire Department while volunteering for ROTC in 2011 when the state was expe-riencing a drought, and Magnolia’s � elds and forests were ablaze.

Dylan quickly realized the ful� llment he found in helping his community over-

come a trying situation, and he wanted to become a part of the team that sacri� ced their time and safety for others.

“He’s always just loved to help people, and I like to think I’ve helped him to be responsible and honest,” said Karen Aus-tin, Dylan’s mother, “I think that he got a lot of those traits from his dad, also.”

Dylan was 12 years old when his father passed away.

It started on a bright summer’s day. Dylan woke up, ate breakfast, and watched cartoons like any other kid would do. He didn’t bother to wake up his dad when he failed to awake early that morning, his dad having recently injured his leg in an accident.

“I thought, ‘good, he’s getting some much-needed rest’,” he recalled.

But he kept checking on him, think-ing his father was still sleeping. Dylan checked on his father again when he realized it was noon.

“Dad, wake up” he pleaded.He was unresponsive. Dylan realized

his eyes were not shut. � ey were wide open.

He didn’t know it at the time, but his father had entered a coma. Dylan called an ambulance.

He passed away Nov. 9th, 8:24 pm.Dylan’s father inspired him to become

a � re� ghter. He wanted to save lives.“I never wanted to feel like that again,”

he said, recalling the bitter feeling of helpless confusion that came over him that day.

In July, Dylan became a certi� ed EMT, having been a junior � re� ghter for nearly two years.

And it was only a few weeks later a� er receiving certi� cation that Dylan wit-nessed a dump truck � ip onto its side on the freeway. He pulled over to help.

Is the driver conscious? Can he feel pain? Yes? Good. � at means his spine is in tact.

He goes through the process he

learned in training over and over in his mind, constantly telling himself, “I have to check for…”

Grabbing his hand and supporting his shoulder, Dylan pulled the driver, who came out of the accident uninjured, out of his truck.

He then blocked o� the accident with orange cones that he has kept in his truck wherever he goes since receiving his cer-ti� cation, and called for backup.

� ough he wasn’t on call that day, Dylan believes the incident shows that because of his training as an EMT he can be even more prepared for situations he � nds himself in, whether he is on call or o� -duty.

“� e more training, the more prepared you are for anything,” he said.

Dylan has seen many things over the past two years as a junior � re� ghter; car wrecks, wild� res, burning buildings, and hysterical witnesses. � at’s when his training kicks in, and his instincts take over.

“It’s second-nature,” he said, “You don’t have time to freeze and say ‘wow’.”

Dylan doesn’t consider himself as some fearless hero, though. He simply enjoys helping people, and it’s the reason he loves what he does.

Leanne Haas

He’s always just loved to help people.“”

www.sevenapples.netPhoto by: Justin Ulmer

Dylan Parker is a volunteer junior � re� ghter with the Tomball Fire Department.

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Charleigh Gallagher (sophomore)

Damaniq Phillip (junior)

Lauren Petcittinatti (junior)

Katherine Strohmann (senior)

Waylon Seber (sophomore)

What are you doing instead of the game?

“I’m probably going to sleep.”

What are you going to eat before the dance?

“Steak”

Are you going to homecoming this year?

“No I’m going to Klein’s homecoming.”

What are you most excited for? “The theme!”

What spirit day are you most excited for?

“50’s day!”

What music do you hope they’ll play at the dance?

“Anything from Naked & Famous. Basically anything indie.”

How did you ask/get asked to homecoming?

“We were on my roof and our song came on. We started dancing and then he asked me.”

What are you doing instead of the homecoming dance?

“I might study.”

What are you most excited for?“To have fun. I’m excited for the game because

I’m in football.”

What spirit day are you most excited for?

“Cancer awareness colours because I had aplastic anemia when I was three.”

What spirit day are you most excited

for? “School spirit day”

Where are you get-ting your dress?

“Dillards or Macy’s”- Lauren Petcittinatti (junior)

What are your plans for the busy week ahead?We went out and asked stu-dents what they were planning for homecoming week. Here’s what you told us!

Concert calendar

Selena Gomez Nov. 2, Toyota Center

Buzzfest XXXI Nov. 2, Cynthia Woods

Two Door Cinema ClubNov. 5, Bayou Music Center

August Burns RedNov. 9, House of Blues

Rhianna Nov. 11, Toyota Center

DrakeNov. 13, Toyota Center

Twenty One PilotsNov. 15, House of Blues

Kate NashNov. 15, Fitzgerald’s

Mackelmore & Ryan Lewis Nov. 27, Reliant Arena

Justin TimberlakeDec. 5, Toyota Center

The Story So Far, Stick to Your Guns, Such Gold, Rotting Out, Heart to Heart Dec. 6, Fitzgerald’s

Kanye West Dec. 7, Toyota Center

Beyonce Dec. 10, Toyota Center

Jay Z, Magna Carter Dec. 19, Toyota Center

Trans-Siberian OrchestraDec. 27, Toyota Center

Homecoming Weekschedule

Tuesday, Oct. 15Show your support for cancer surviviors!

Examples: Yellow- all survivors; Pink- breast cancer; Melanoma- Black; Th yroid - Tur-quoise; Lung- white; pancreatic - purple.

Wednesday, Oct. 16“S’port your school”

Wear you favorite team colors! Thursday, Oct. 17“Nerd Day”

THINK GEEK - Who let the nerds out?Friday, Oct. 18

Show your school spirit! Mum’s the word!

HOMECOMING PARADE:Wednesday

Main Street from Tomball Intermediate to Train Depot6:30 - 7p.m.

COMMUNITY PEP-RALLY:at Historic Train Depot

7-7:45 p.m.HOMECOMING GAME:

Friday7p.m. Kickoff

HOMECOMING DANCE:Saturday

8-11 p.m., THS

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A� er starting the varsity volleyball season o� 2-6 they come back and are 3-1 in district. � ey also plan to work their way up the ladder to make playo� s.

“� e season is going pretty good, we beat Memo-rial the � rst time we played them which was exciting and hopefully we can keep winning and make it to playo� s,” Allie Harman said. “We’re gonna do better than ever.”

� e Lady Cougars still

have a long way to go, but remain con� dent.

“We get better and better every time we play, and I fully expect to go to the playo� s and win,” teammate Katie Boehnke said.

Boehnke wasn’t the only one expecting greatness out of her team.

“We practice hard and we all get along pretty well, and have good sportsmanship,” Harman said. “We expect great things from our players, and our coaches to teach them and help them work their way to the top.”

Leandra Carty

Playoffs still in reach for volleyball squad

A� er an exhausting game, the Lady Cougars discuss their winning moves. � e team is 3-1 in District 22-4A play and in good shape for the playo� s.

Katie Boehnke (5) taps up what will become the game’s � nal score as Addie Davis (7) moves in to assist as the Lady Cougars post another key district victory. Photo by Jessica Sagstetter.

Katie Boehnke (5) and Hope Forsythe (14) watch as Lady Cougars teammate Holly Jones chases a� er the ball during a home game this season. Photo by Jessica Sagstetter.

� e Lady Cougars attack the volleyball at the net while on a road match this season. � e Lady Cougars are 3-1 in district play, their only loss to Memorial.

Cross country gaining confidence

Sophomore Ewan Walker ran a personal best of 18:49.8 as the Tom-ball Cross Country team went to Bear Branch Park to compete at Nike South recently.

� e varsity girls also ran a very good race with Alyssa Vigil � nishing in 5th with a time of 13:31.7 on the 2-mile race.

� e JV girls had two people medal with Madison Mills in 2nd place with a time of 14:34.8, and Candy Cleland in 4th with 14:55.4.

In the boys JV Division, freshman Ja-cob Beacham � nished in 10th place with a time of 19:46.4 securing his place on varsity for the upcoming District Meet at Spring Creek Park.

� e Cougars hope students come out to Spring Creek on Oct. 22 to support them at the district meet.

Oscar Wright maintains his pace in a recent meet. � e team earned only one medal but came away pleased. Photos by Julian Gite

Jacob Beacham was satis� ed a� er earning a medal at the Moonlight Madness Meet with his time of 11:56. He also medaled at the Nike South meet.

Julian Gite

Key matchups...

These are key games if the Cou-gars want to earn a playoff spot. The top four teams in district ad-vance, and Tomball is currently tied for fourth place with Marshall, but since we lost to them, they own the tiebreaker advantage. Tomball still plays two of the four teams ahead of it. It would greatly help if we beat Willowridge last Friday, after our publication.

10/18 (Homecoming): vs. Spring Woods (0-5. 0-2)A must-win for Tomball if it hopes to make the playoffs.

10/26: at Ridge Point (4-1, 2-0)Winning this would be very diffi cult but an upset would put Tomball in the running for one of the top two spots.

11/1: vs. Stratford (3-2, 2-0)The team to beat in district, Strat-ford and Ridge Point are likely to claim the top two spots. But if Tomball can upset one of these two teams, the Cougars are in good shape heading into the fi nal week of the season.

11/8: at Memorial (2-3, 0-2)Yes, that’s correct - AT Memorial. That’s because we’re considered the visiting team at “Tomball Sta-dium” for the fi nal game. But be nice to our cross-town rivals: If they beat Marshall the week before, they could put Tomball in position to be playing for that fi nal playoff spot the fi nal week of the season. As if there wasn’t enough riding on this game already.

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If things go right, the Cougars could face Memorialwith a playoff spot on the line for the winner.

Cougar players walk o� the � eld a� er claiming their � rst win of the season. � e Cougars are 2-3, 1-1 in District 22-4A. Photo by Tommy Flanagan.

Cougar receiver Jacob Richerson helps throw a block in Tomball’s 27-14 victory against Mayde Creek. � e Cougars have four games le� and need victories in at least two of them to have a shot at the playo� s. Photo by Tommy Flanagan.

What is the team saying?

Blake Arias (senior) RB/OLB “Our o� ensive line has really gotten better, and people play smarter; � e younger guys have really stepped it up; they practice hard and they’ve gotten a lot better.”

Xavier Powell (senior)RB/S“I’m not happy about losing the � rst two games but I do see big time improvement in the team and with a con� -dence boost we will be expecting to go to playo� s.”

Weston Shattuck (captain, senior) QB/CB“We have de� nitely improved, and gotten a lot closer as a team. We have improved a lot in our maturity and that makes us better all together.”

Coach Danny Ramsey “Oh goodness, getting to the playo� s we can’t look too far ahead, and we obviously have to put in the e� ort and know who we need to beat. We also have to play as one, and be uni� ed as a team.”