Langham runs to regional final; sets up 17-6A rematch with Cy-Fair
Regional Finals Rematch
Thomas Bingham
04 December 2017
Originally appeared on Vype.com.
The run game was a big part of the Lobos’ start, as well as their continued success. It started with Chris Herron’s 40-yard scamper on the opening drive, which set up his first of two touchdown passes before the second quarter. The first connection found Devin Lawrence on a 4th-and-10 pass, and the other was a 51-yard bomb to Golden Eke.
The Lobos continued to run, and finished the first half with 182 rushing yards on 16 carries. That included two scores by Corien Azema, and one by Herron and Chris Mehn.
Another good sign for the Lobos, going into next week’s rematch with 17-6A foe Cy-Fair, is the way their defense played in the first half. The unit shutout Kingwood, had two blocked punts courtesy of Tucker, and allowed 80 yards.
Even though the game was out of hand heading to the second half, Kingwood kept fighting, like it had in the months since Hurricane Harvey. The displaced Mustangs, who’ve been attending Summer Creek since the storm, also overcame an 0-3 start to play December football for the first time in 27 years.
Their ability to not give up resulted in a second half they can hang their hats on. They gave up an early 60-yard scamper to Tucker, but scored on back-to-back drives in the third quarter. It started with Matt Slayton’s 40-yard scoring connection to Nolan Powell, and continued with Connal Fisher’s 27-yard field goal. Slayton wrapped up the afternoon with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Trey Gould in the fourth.
“The second half was another opportunity to show who we are at Kingwood,” said Mustang head coach Barry Campbell. “That’s tough, determined, hard-working kids that are going to play hard no matter what, do the best they can, and have something to be proud of when everything’s said and done.”
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How Astros surging ace raises key questions about Houston's short, long-term rotation moves
Jul 25, 2024, 5:39 pm
It's no secret to Astros fans that the ascension of Hunter Brown is one of the primary reasons the team was able to rebound from a disastrous start to the season.
Astros manager Joe Espada has seen enough from Brown to start throwing around the word “ace” when talking about him.
Joe Espada on Hunter Brown: "He's having that ace feeling to him. We are expecting him to go out there and deliver what he just did. We knew all along that is in him and now he's starting to turn the corner. He's starting to have that swag where he knows 'my team needs a win.'"
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 24, 2024
And it appears the biggest key to Brown's turnaround was mixing in a two-seam fastball to keep right-handed hitters honest. Brown needed a pitch that could command the inside of the plate, which allows his other pitches to be more effective.
We learned just recently, from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, that Alex Bregman was the one that suggested the addition of the two-seam fastball to Brown's arsenal.
Come to find out, Bregman often shares advice on how to attack hitters. Or he'll ask pitchers why they chose a certain pitch in a specific situation.
This just goes to show that veteran leadership can make a big difference. Especially on a team with so many young pitchers and catchers. Bregman was able to help Brown when no pitching coach could.
For Brown, this small tweak could be the catalyst that changes the course of his career. And the Astros season for that matter.
However, some will say the difference in Brown is more about confidence than anything else. But confidence only builds after repeated success. Nobody knows where Brown would be without the two-seam fastball.
Looking ahead
If the Astros do make the playoffs, where will Espada slot Brown in the playoff rotation? Framber Valdez has the playoff experience, so he'll probably be penciled in as the number one starter.
Justin Verlander (neck) still isn't facing live batters, so it's hard to count on him. Ronel Blanco has been an All-Star level pitcher this season, but he doesn't have any experience pitching playoff games for the Astros.
So it wouldn't be surprising at all if Brown is the team's number two starter. In all likelihood, whoever is pitching the best at the end of the season may get the nod. But it's fun to discuss in the meantime.
Finally, how does Hunter Brown's arrival impact the Astros' plans at the trade deadline? And how could that affect Justin Verlander's future with the club?
Be sure to check out the video above for the full conversation!
Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
