I'll admit it: I was wrong about the Badgers
Jeremy Heath

Jeremy Heath is the Dispatch Record's sports editor. His column appears Fridays. He can be contacted via e-mail at jheath@lampasas.com.

I've got a great marriage.

One reason is because I found a wife who is smart enough to neutralize my often-stunning stupidity yet apparently not smart enough to realize she's too good for me.

Another reason -- and this is a biggie -- is because I've learned to admit when I'm wrong.

Last week, I used this space to question whether or not the Lampasas football team would have enough courage to close out the season with a strong effort against Dripping Springs.

In my heart, I didn't think they would. I fully expected that group of kids to go through the motions on Friday. When the team got down 21-0 early in the second quarter, I assumed the players would roll over, take their beating and close out an 0-10 season with absolutely no pride.

I was wrong.

The Badgers fought.

They fought hard enough to pull back within a touchdown and give themselves an opportunity to tie the game on a fourth-quarter drive. They fought long enough to give the fans a reason to stick around for four quarters and to stand with pride when the band played the school song.

Senior running back Melvin Batiste sheds a tear after Friday's loss. PHOTO BY GABE WOLF

Perhaps most importantly, they fought with enough energy and passion to set an example for future Badger football players.

Let's grade the Dripping Springs game:

Offense, B: Overall, the offense moved the ball effectively for four quarters but was hampered by four turnovers.

Sophomore quarterback Vann Millican came into his own on Friday. He threw for 170 yards despite two drops on well-thrown deep balls. The first of his two interceptions was on a tipped pass, and the second came after a holding penalty put the Badgers in a long-yardage situation on the final drive. If Millican lives up to the high expectations head coach Ryan Bailey has for him, he can look back at this game as an important piece of his progression.

Senior utility player Jarrod Bowen competed like a kid is supposed to in his final high school game. He ran without regard for his body and showed tremendous focus in his routerunning and receiving. It's hard to play under the weight of high expectations. On Friday, Bowen was, quite simply, the star everyone expected him to be.

Sophomore running back Brode DuBose did what he does almost every week. He ran with anger. Because of a stellar effort from the big boys up front, that anger translated into two touchdowns.

Defense, A-Minus: For the first time in six weeks, this unit was somewhat healthy, and it played like it.

The defense allowed just 21 points -- the Tigers returned a fumble for the other -- and did not allow a point in the second half.

Defensive tackles Gabe Sanchez and Jesse Tobar played like animals, and linebackers Stephen Eskola, Coleton Lucas and Reese Vann were aggressive and smart. Travis Jordan made timely plays, and the secondary limited big plays.

Special Teams, B: The blocked punt this unit allowed hurt, but the field-goal team redeemed the special teams by drawing an encroachment penalty -- on a designed play -- and setting up a DuBose score.

Sam Barbero nailed all three of his extra-point attempts.

In looking back, 0-10 is 0-10. I'll leave it at that because there's no reason to rub these kids' noses in it.

In looking ahead, the biggest question reverts to my earlier statement that the team played with enough passion Friday to inspire future Badger gridders. The question is simply: Will it?

A peek at the potential of the 2008 team reveals some hope.

The biggest losses to graduation will be Bowen, Lucas, Eskola, Jordan and defensive back Jeremy Brown.

Key returners include Millican; DuBose; quarterback Ryder Brown; receivers Jonathan VanLiew, Seth Fry, Cole Ball and Aaron Reyna; Vann, Tobar, Sanchez; and defensive backs Ryan Abbott, Cory Summers and Adrian Castillo.

If you couple who's coming back with an incoming junior varsity team that has the coaching staff excited, the groundwork for improvement is there.

What makes the JV team special is its continuity. Receiver Zach Radenz is the only player with true star potential, yet the JV went 3-3 against district opponents and did not get blown out in any game.

Anyone interested in knowing why the JV was successful this year needs only go to the school and watch the sophomore class work out during its offseason period. These kids move the weights around, and they have fun doing it. They push each other. They motivate each other. They root for each other. They stand up for each other.

If this group of sophomores is able to matriculate to the varsity level with success, look back at this time next year and credit the coaches. Bailey's staff made a commitment to keep this group together all year. Had depth problems not risen at the varsity level, Bailey would have kept DuBose, Millican and Reyna with their classmates to enhance the afore-mentioned continuity.

I've watched this group of kids play, and I've watched them work out. I'm going to go out on a limb and say with no hesitation: The Badgers will win at least four games next year. Here's the kicker: Two of them will be district games.

The 2007 Badgers proved me wrong on Friday night. I hope the 2008 Badgers don't do the same.