Notre Dame Prep & Orange Lutheran to Play in Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Series

by Jeff Fisher
California High School Football Huddle

The Dallas Cowboys new home will play host to a high school football quadruple-header on Monday, September 7th as part of the Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Series.

As I mentioned earlier in the week on The High School Football Huddle, the showcase game will pit 2007 Texas 5A Division I champ Euless Trinity against Utah power Bingham. Bingham, which lost in the state's 5A championship game in 2008, is led by junior running back Harvey Langi, who was third in the state in rushing last year with 1,371 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. The Texas/Utah showdown will kick things off at noon with the game being broadcast nationally by ESPN.

The other interstate match-up is between Klein Oak (TX) taking-on Notre Dame Prep from Sherman Oaks, California. Notre Dame is led by one of the top junior quarterbacks in the country. Ryan Kasdorf (6-2, 205) was named the state's Gatorade Player of the Year after passing for nearly 3,300 yards and 36 touchdowns.

“Intersport is proud to team with Burger King, Fox Sports Net, and Kirk Herbstreit to once again bring you the best high school football in the nation,” said Intersport, Inc. Event Manager Joseph Salituro. “We look forward to having the new Cowboys Stadium as our host. We are excited for the players, coaches, and fans to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity. The four matchups that we have provided will be a great introduction of high school football to this wonderful facility.”

Here's the schedule for the day, plus the Ohio match-ups that were released earlier this year:

Texas Games at Cowboys Stadium
September 7, 2009

Noon - Euless Trinity (TX) vs. Bingham (UT)
2:30 P.M. - Klein Oak (TX) vs. Notre Dame Prep (CA)
5:00 P.M. - Colleyville Heritage (TX) vs. Irving MacArthur (TX)
7:30 P.M. - Mansfield Timberview (TX) vs. Mansfield Summit (TX)

Ohio Games at Ohio Stadium
August 29, 2009

Noon - Upper Arlington (OH) vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (FL)
3:30 P.M. - Hilliard Davidson (OH) vs. Westville South (OH)

August 30, 2009

Noon - Olentangy Liberty (OH) vs. Dublin Coffman (OH)
3:30 P.M. - Orange Lutheran (CA) vs. Pickerington Central (OH)

Former Dorsey High Head Coach Glenn Bell Passes Away

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

Last year I had a chance to meet Dorsey High head coach Paul Knox, who has coached the Dons since 1985. I was at the legendary south LA school for a check presentation ceremony that kicked-off improving the practice facility at Dorsey, which isn't in great shape.

What I learned in the 30-minutes I spent with Coach Knox is that he's a no-nonsense guy that has seen a lot through the years!

Today, I read in the LA Times about the death of Knox's predecessor Glenn Bell, who passed away on Monday. It was interesting to learn about Bell, who, according to the report, put grades ahead of games.

Teaching in south LA is an under-appreciated job, and people like Coach Knox and Coach Bell need to be saluted for their dedication to the cause, no matter how bleak it looks at times!

Click here to read the LA Times story on Bell's death.

A-11 Offense Shutdown

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

It appears as though there won't be an appeal to the February decision by the National Federation of State High School Athletic Association to ban the use of the controversial A-11 offense, invented by Piedmont High School in 2007, that made every player an eligible receiver.

Earlier this week, the Contra Costa Times reported that the California Interscholastic Federation's Football Advisory Committee decided against moving forward with a pilot program to study the effects of the A-11. Click here to read the Contra Costa Times story.

Below is video from a story last year in the Chicago Tribune about Riverside-Brookfield's use of the wide-open offense.

California Looking to Grow Playoffs

by Jeff Fisher
The High School Football Huddle

The California Interscholastic Federation will vote on May 8th on whether to add an additional regional playoff round for the 2010 season.

The proposal would push-up the start of the season by own week, which means games would begin before the opening of the school year. In addition, the sections would have to end their playoffs by the first weekend in December.

Yesterday, according to a report in the LA Times, the Southern Section council voted against the proposal, which comes on the heels of the Los Angeles City Section voting for it. To read that story, click here.