The Herald-Zeitung

FORT WORTH — Like he was during his days at Smithson Valley, Matt Pfister is used to being on the short end of a mismatch.

The Rangers’ defensive end will be playing his final high school football game tonight, as his South team takes on the North in the Texas High School Coaches Association’s all-star gala at TCU’s Amon Carter Stadium.

Pfister, a 6-foot, 190-pounder, was a late addition to the South squad, which is coached by Wimberley’s Weldon Nelms. Having played in two all-star events already this summer, he was happy when the call came to play in one more.

“I just found out about this game two weeks ago, and I was so happy because (former teammate) Joe Pawelek played in it,” Pfister said. “We saw him play in the Alamodome — he’s always been one of my heroes — and when I got the call, I couldn’t believe it. I always wanted to play in one of these games, but I never expected it.”

Because he was a late addition, he’s not even in the official game program. But Pfister will start for the South at one of the end spots, sharing time with Mart’s Landon Summers.

“I’ve been working hard the last two weeks,” Pfister said.

Pfister arrived for workouts last week and has been matched at times against North team behemoth Tray Allen. Allen, a 6-5, 310-pound machine from South Grand Prairie, is headed to play at Texas, where many believe he’ll see action as a true freshman.

“He’s the No. 3 overall recruit in the nation,” Pfister said. “It’s imposing. You try not to be intimidated by anybody, like coach (Larry) Hill used to tell us, but at the same time, it’s going to be fun.

“I’m going to be out here with guys like this, and they’re better than me, but I’ve really gotten along well with all of them. The guys on my team have gelled, and I’ve had a great time at practice. All of them have put their egos on the side and we’ve had good practices.”

Pfister led the Rangers with 86 stops last fall, when he was the lone returnee on the defense. Injuries to the defensive unit helped hold Smithson Valley to a 9-2 record that included its second straight District 26-5A championship. Pfister, however, was a first-team pick on the Class 5A all-state team and made the Herald-Zeitung’s All-Comal County elite list for the second year in a row.

“I’m also on the special teams,” Pfister said. “One thing I loved about Smithson Valley was playing on them. A lot of the guys at the bigger schools don’t play a lot on them because their scrubs do that. But coach Hill drills that stuff into us.

“When I got here, I volunteered to play. I’ll do whatever it takes for me to play, and I hope I get a lot of playing time.”

Pfister participated in the all-San Antonio all-star game in May and in a National all-star event in Arlington in June. Tonight will be his swan song as a football player, as he’s soon to enroll at Texas A&M to major in petroleum engineering.

“It’s kinda hard, when (football) has been your whole life,” Pfister said of hanging up the cleats. “Not playing in college means you have to accept not playing anymore. I’ve sort of done that. I played the game in Arlington and figured that would be the last game. Then I got the call from Mr. (Joe) Martin, who told me they needed me to play in this one.

“It’s sort of a roller-coaster — to figure I was done and then I’d get to play in this one. I cannot wait to strap these pads on one more time.”

Pfister is the fourth Ranger to play in the all-star game. He joins offensive lineman Connor Smith (who was injured and did not play in last year’s game), Pawelek (2005) and kicker Reagan Schneider (2003). Hill, this year’s THSCA president, will make presentations before and after the game, which is slated to kick off at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest.

The South has won four out of the last five games against the North, including Hill’s 21-19 victory over Denton Ryan’s Joey Florence’s North team in 2003. The South won 30-20 last year, but trails the North in the 72-game series, 38-28-6.

UIL to further study

dividing conferences

University Interscholastic League officials Monday said the proposal to divide Division I and Division II teams in each classification prior to the football season is not only being considered for Class 5A, but all conferences. If reaction is favorable, the move could be implemented in time for the 2008-10 biennial realignment in February — but the UIL said it isn’t rushing anything.

UIL athletic director Dr. Charles Breithaupt said the measure would apply to football schools only, because that is where the biggest numbers disparity occurs between schools within the same classes. For example, 5A schools with average daily memberships of 3,500 are being pitted against others with ADMs of 2,300, creating an uneven playing field. Some of it occurs in district play and the disparity can be glaring in 5A, during the playoffs.

Breithaupt and UIL director Dr. Bill Farney patiently answered media questions during the afternoon session at the Worthington Renaissance hotel. Both said the proposal is only “a study” and nothing is yet set in stone, though the issue could come up for approval by the UIL’s Legislative and Executive Councils in the coming months.

Today at the Fort Worth Convention Center the UIL will unmask a map, based on 2005 numbers, what each of the six classifications could look like should the proposal be approved. It’s only a fictional offering, officials said, to gauge reaction from the THSCA’s rank and file membership.

We’ll update that and more here on Wednesday.

TSWA poll ranks SV third

The Texas Sports Writers Association and other media covering the 75th annual coaching school selected a statewide Top 15 for each classification and also released coaches’ picks for district champions.

Smithson Valley was rated the No. 3 team in Class 5A and was also picked to win District 26-5A. Selected ahead of the Rangers in the 5A poll were perennial champ Southlake Carroll at No. 1 and Katy at No. 2. The Dragons defeated Smithson Valley in the Division II title game in 2004; Katy bested the Rangers in the 2005 Division II semifinals.

The rest of the 5A top 10, in order, are 2006 D-I titleist Cedar Hill at No. 4, followed by Spring Westfield, Lufkin, Austin Westlake, Euless Trinity, Allen and Garland. The top teams in the other classes were La Marque in 4A, Celina in 3A, Mart in 2A and Alto in Class A.

No other area team fell into the state rankings. New Braunfels was the pick to win District 26-4A; Navarro and Stockdale were the picks to share the 29-2A title.

Ford/Cowboys to honor weekly prep gridders

The Dallas Cowboys are teaming with Ford to present a high school “Player of the Week” award during the upcoming season.

During halftime of tonight’s all-star football game, the Ford Motor Co. and the Cowboys will present a $20,000 donation to the THSCA. Both entities will further discuss the program during an Aug. 4 press conference at the Cowboys’ training camp.