Roundtable: Which high school injuries have been the most disappointing?

[caption id="attachment_24343" align="alignright" width="350"]Photo by Brian Thompson La Grange RB JK Dobbins (Photo by Brian Thompson)[/caption] All right, chuckleheads. It’s time for this week’s roundtable, and we’re hitting on injuries. So far in the Texas high school football season, we’ve lost some big-time stars to injury, shifting the landscape a bit and certainly affecting playoff outlooks. It broke into the college ranks, as well, when Matt Davis went down for the year at SMU, altering their season trajectory, and casting a little doubt on what they may be capable of this season. Which injury at the high school level do you think is the most impactful, from the team the guy plays for, to the region and class as a whole? Participants: Max ThompsonGreg TepperMatt SteppMike CravenThompson: I’m rolling into Central Texas to steal the Mike Craven thunder. Losing J.K. Dobbins at La Grange was just the biggest downer imaginable. I haven’t seen the latest, but last I heard it was thought it could be season-ending. It’s not just a huge bummer for the Leopards, who are simply not the same without him, but also 4A, where there aren’t many teams that are head and shoulders above everyone else. Everyone has a shot with a hot enough run, and his senior season was supposed to be Dobbins’ hottest run ever. I hope we see him again because it will mean he’s healthy, and it will make the 4A playoffs a whole heck of a lot more interesting. Tepper: I hate to use the word “intriguing” with regards to an injury, but finding out directly from coach Max Kattwinkel yesterday on DCTF Live that star safety Ty Thomas has been banged up definitely fits that mold. I’ve been high on Lubbock Cooper for a while now, but it was always under the impression that they were at full-strength; if they’re without their best defensive player (and Thomas — an Arizona State commit — is decidedly that) and they’re still playing this well, like shutting out Frenship in their own barn? That’s impressive. Kattwinkel said he expect Thomas back at some point, and when he does, the Pirates will become extra-dangerous. Stepp: Max you stole my thunder with Dobbins at LaGrange, I think Mannie Netherley at Crosby is a big loss. I think he’ll be back but if he’s for any significant length of time it really changes the makeup of Crosby.  Netherley is a receiver at the next level but he’s a more than capable QB at the high school level (he actually throws a great ball) and his ability to make things happen with his feet is outstanding.  Crosby is still  a good team without him, but not elite. [caption id="attachment_24639" align="alignleft" width="350"]AY5E7672 Steele RB Travell Lumpkin (Photo by Mary Scott McNabb)[/caption] Craven: I'll move to 6A and take Cibolo Steele running back Travell Lumpkin. The Knights are one of four state title contenders in Region IV and a playmaker with offers from Houston and Texas Tech could swing the scales towards Steele once the playoffs start. Sophomore running back Brenden Brady was great in the first three weeks, so Lumpkin missing time early might help Steele build depth for a title run. The quickness in which Sam Ehlinger returns at quarterback of Westlake is clearly another storyline to watch in the same region. Tepper: I want to go on record as being vehemently anti-injuries. I think they are bad. I know a lot of people don’t have the courage to say that, but I do. Stepp: Tepper throwing down the scorching hot sports opinion that injuries are bad! One injury that really sucks is Ft Worth South Hills QB Tracin Wallace, second year in a row torn ACL. Really tough to hear that news, the positive is that SHHS has a capable replacement in Trey Jones so the Scorps will still be plenty dangerous. Thompson: Tepper’s always been about controversial stances with low approval ratings, like live sports on 24/7. Back to our discussion, though: One player I’m relieved to have back is Harlingen RB Leo Tienda. We came into the year excited to see what a two-man rushing battle in the Valley would look like between Tienda and Edinburg Vela’s Robert Guerra. Then we lost Tienda to a shoulder injury. He returned last week to carry the ball 22 times against San Antonio Reagan in a 41-7 loss, but the fact that he’s back and in the mix is good for him, the Cardinals, and an exciting season down south. Harlingen came into the year with a lot of hype and promise, and it hasn’t started exactly as planned. I’m very interested to see what happens from here.