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Memorial clinches state playoff berth
By ROBERT AVERY
For just the third time in the last 50 years, a Pasadena Independent School District football program has clinched back-to-back-to-back state playoff berths.
Memorial High School joined that extremely short list Thursday night when the Mavericks clinched District 22-5A’s fourth and final state playoff berth.
When La Porte defeated South Houston Thursday night 31-0, eliminating the Trojans from postseason consideration, it cleared the way for Memorial’s postseason berth. Memorial had the chance to win the spot outright with an upset victory over Deer Park, but instead, the Mavs garnered the coveted prize on points spread in head-to-head play with South Houston and Dobie. The three all finished with 3-4 district records, but Memorial’s 56-13 win over the Trojans and the need to win by more than two touchdowns on Halloween was the deciding factor.
Head coach John Snelson called the accomplishment amazing based on how hard the injury bug has hit Memorial this season.
“From spring football to now, we lose eight linebackers. For us to shuffle kids around, move safeties to linebacker, pull up JV players and got a freshman playing a bunch of defense, it’s amazing.” Snelson said.
Memorial joins Pasadena High School’s three-year postseason run from 1994-1996 and Dobie’s five-season postseason run from 1997-2001 as PISD’s only other threepeats.
“I’m just very proud of our kids. We’ve been through a lot this year with injuries and off-the-field situations. I’m very happy for the kids,” Snelson said.
At 4-5, Memorial won’t be packing the prettiest season record to the playoffs. But it won’t be the first time a PISD football team will take a losing record to the playoffs.
Dobie’s 2001 squad takes the cake in that department. The Longhorns were 0-6 going into Week 7 and eventually made the playoffs with a 3-7 record. The 2000 club also lost their opening six games only to earn a postseason berth with a 4-6 record.
Sam Rayburn earned a playoff berth in 1996 with a 5-5 record. The 1995 Pasadena squad packed a 4-4-2 record to the playoffs.
But that’s all water under the bridge now. Memorial is in the playoffs, the goal of hundreds of high school squads back in August.
As Snelson noted, half of the football players in Texas next weekend will be playing basketball or some other sport, but Memorial’s won’t.
Memorial will oppose Beaumont West Brook next Saturday afternoon at 1 at Baytown’s Stallworth Stadium
Memorial High School joined that extremely short list Thursday night when the Mavericks clinched District 22-5A’s fourth and final state playoff berth.
When La Porte defeated South Houston Thursday night 31-0, eliminating the Trojans from postseason consideration, it cleared the way for Memorial’s postseason berth. Memorial had the chance to win the spot outright with an upset victory over Deer Park, but instead, the Mavs garnered the coveted prize on points spread in head-to-head play with South Houston and Dobie. The three all finished with 3-4 district records, but Memorial’s 56-13 win over the Trojans and the need to win by more than two touchdowns on Halloween was the deciding factor.
Head coach John Snelson called the accomplishment amazing based on how hard the injury bug has hit Memorial this season.
“From spring football to now, we lose eight linebackers. For us to shuffle kids around, move safeties to linebacker, pull up JV players and got a freshman playing a bunch of defense, it’s amazing.” Snelson said.
Memorial joins Pasadena High School’s three-year postseason run from 1994-1996 and Dobie’s five-season postseason run from 1997-2001 as PISD’s only other threepeats.
“I’m just very proud of our kids. We’ve been through a lot this year with injuries and off-the-field situations. I’m very happy for the kids,” Snelson said.
At 4-5, Memorial won’t be packing the prettiest season record to the playoffs. But it won’t be the first time a PISD football team will take a losing record to the playoffs.
Dobie’s 2001 squad takes the cake in that department. The Longhorns were 0-6 going into Week 7 and eventually made the playoffs with a 3-7 record. The 2000 club also lost their opening six games only to earn a postseason berth with a 4-6 record.
Sam Rayburn earned a playoff berth in 1996 with a 5-5 record. The 1995 Pasadena squad packed a 4-4-2 record to the playoffs.
But that’s all water under the bridge now. Memorial is in the playoffs, the goal of hundreds of high school squads back in August.
As Snelson noted, half of the football players in Texas next weekend will be playing basketball or some other sport, but Memorial’s won’t.
Memorial will oppose Beaumont West Brook next Saturday afternoon at 1 at Baytown’s Stallworth Stadium
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