Texas
Vote: Who should be Texas Defensive High School Football Player of the Week? (11/10/2024)
Another week of Texas high school football is officially in the books, and there were plenty of standout performers across the Lone Star State.
Here are SBLive/SI’s Texas Defensive Football Player of the Week nominees for Nov. 7-9. Scroll down to read about this week’s list and cast your vote in the poll below. Voting remains open until Sunday, November 17, at 11:59 p.m. Central time.
If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email andy@scorebooklive.com.
Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll are intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes who receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.
Bourassa blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown as Richardson defeated Irving MacArthur, 37-7.
Bradley picked off two passes as Prosper Rock Hill clinched a playoff berth for the first time in program history with a 21-14 victory over McKinney. The senior returned his first interception 26 yards to the end zone.
Brinson led the way with 10 tackles in a 48-28 win over South Grand Prairie.
Ervin tallied three sacks in a 57-0 shutout of Mesquite.
Holley piled up 11 tackles, a sack and a pass breakup in a 31-7 victory over Cedar Park.
Jenkins had a 57-yard pick-six in a 49-34 win over Weatherford.
Johnson had six tackles (three for loss) and a sack as Longview shut out Royse City, 30-0.
Michalewicz paced Wall with 11 tackles in a 57-7 victory over Stanton.
Montion picked off two passes and recorded nine tackles in a 42-28 loss to East Lake.
Olofson tallied 11 total tackles in a 34-33 win over Vista Ridge.
Oviedo, a nose guard, returned an interception 38 yards to the end zone in a 49-21 rout of Kerrville Tivy.
Taylor had a pick-six in Graham’s 49-3 win over Eagle Mountain.
Wayne recorded a pair of sacks as Haltom downed Sam Houston, 42-8.
Whistler had seven tackles and a blocked punt as Guyer defeated Braswell, 41-20.
White-Tinsley intercepted three passes and had eight tackles in a 45-14 win over Hereford. The junior also ran for 91 yards and a touchdown on offense.
Williams led the way with 14 tackles in a 21-18 victory over Permian.
Wilson had four tackles and a 90-yard interception return as Cypress Falls dominated Cypress Ridge, 56-32. It was the senior’s fifth pick of the season and third defensive touchdown.
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— Bob Lundeberg | @sblivesports
Texas
What Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said about Arkansas
What Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said about Arkansas
Arkansas football continues its 2024 season against No. 3 Texas in just four days at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, and Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian spoke to the media Monday to preview the matchup.
In their debut SEC season, the Longhorns have dominated most competition besides a 30-15 loss to Georgia and a 27-24 nail-biting win against Vanderbilt. Texas has defeated teams like Michigan, Mississippi State, Oklahoma and Florida handily.
Under Sarkisian’s leadership, Texas has accumulated a 33-15 (17-10 Big 12, 4-1 SEC) overall record with a 12-win, College Football Playoff season a year ago. This season, the Longhorns boast the No. 9 total offense (465.2 YPG) and No. 10 passing offense (301.1 YPG) in the country.
This will mark the 80th meeting between the two teams, as Texas leads the series 56-23. The Razorbacks have won the last two matchups, with the most recent coming in 2021, a 40-21 victory in Fayetteville.
Here’s everything Sarkisian had to say about Pittman, the Razorbacks and his team:
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On Arkansas’ 2021 win over Texas being an eye-opener:
Sarkisian: “In going back, I always try to revisit some of those games even from years past just to get a sense and a feel. The frustrating part of that game more than anything is, we didn’t play great. But then you look up and you watch the game, you forget it’s the middle of the third quarter and it’s 16-7 and we were playing hard, we just weren’t playing great.
“I think it’s two-fold, yeah we obviously wanted to upgrade as best we could the roster, especially from a depth perspective. And then as the game wore on, a couple explosive plays kind of kicked into play, unfortunately we didn’t make some of our own. But the competitiveness of our team, I thought we fought in the game. But naturally, okay, what do we need to do? I thought it was good, not only for myself but for the staff and for our players to say, ‘okay, that’s an SEC team.’
“At the time, they weren’t at the top of the SEC, there were some pretty good teams still there. So we had a hill to climb to get where we wanted to get to, so it feels pretty good knowing that we’re going in there this year with what we think is a little better roster. A little better understanding from a coaching staff perspective of what’s going to be needed in that environment. It’s a very tough environment. But what’s going to be needed from an emotional and mental standpoint, but also from a physical standpoint.”
On the Arkansas-Texas rivalry being underrated:
Sarkisian: “I think it might be underrated nationally. I don’t know if it’s going to get the same exposure that it would nationally. But I would tell you, internally it’s getting the same amount that’s needed, that it deserves. This rivalry has been going on for a long, long time. I was joking with the team this morning, I don’t know what Darrell Royal did to Arkansas back in the day, but they absolutely hate our guts and I think we learned that the first time around when we went there.
“You watch some of the clips of the end of that game and Joe Tessitore is talking about Arkansas hates Texas more than they like themselves, and he might be right. So, I think from our perspective, internally, we understand and value this rivalry. It’s great to have back, great for the state of Texas, great for the state of Arkansas.
“I wish nationally it probably got the exposure that this thing deserves. There’s been some great games historically that these two teams have butted heads on. Obviously we’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
On Sarkisian’s first time facing a Bobby Petrino offense in 1996:
Sarkisian: “Man, you know what I remember in that game? And this might take a minute. So in that game, at the end of the first half, we were kind of in one of those situations where, how much time is on the clock? There might have been 15 or 20 seconds, we were out of timeouts. We took a timeout, we’re on the sideline.
“Here’s myself, here’s Norm Chow, our offensive coordinator, Robbie Bosco, everyone’s trying to decide what to call. There can be no aggreance on what was happening. And LaVell Edwards, rarely would he step in on the play calls, he’s very CEO-like. He said, ‘Well Sark, what do you want to run?’ And I can’t remember what I said, then he goes, ‘Well that’s what we’re running.’ Then he walked off and so it was the first time I got to call a play in my life.
“But the value in that, what I do remember is like, when you can really start to trust your players and the players feel your trust as a coach, you start to get more out of them.”
On Arkansas QB Taylen Green:
Sarkisian: “First of all, he’s huge. A guy his size and can run the way that he runs, sometimes you don’t think he’s covering as much ground as he is, but the stride length is so long that he’s able to cover ground. The explosive plays that he uses with his legs, his ability to make all the throws down the field.
“Coach Petrino is an elite offensive play caller and offensive schemer, so they put him in really good positions when they’re in the zone-read game, the quarterback run game. They put him in really good positions for the shots down the field and the dropback pass game, so you have to defend a lot of offense. Then when you get a guy like him running it, it can be extremely challenging.”
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Texas
The Top Restaurants In Texas, According To The Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide came to Texas for the first time on Monday night to award Michelin stars to 15 restaurants in four Texas cities at an invitation-only ceremony at 713 Music Hall in Houston. In addition, two Texas restaurants earned Michelin Green Stars (for leadership in sustainable dining), with 45 Bib Gourmands (offering excellent quality for good value), 57 Recommended Restaurants (exemplars of the high Michelin standard) and four Michelin Special Awards, for a total of 117 outstanding Texas eateries honored by Michelin this year. It’s been a long time coming.
The Lone Star State–renowned for its stellar BBQ, Tex-Mex and tacos–has now officially been recognized as an international culinary hub and incubator for talented chefs. After the Michelin Awards ceremony last night, there is certainly no shortage of Michelin-level BBQ in Texas, but the awards also represent a total of 26 diverse cuisines. The newly minted Michelin chefs celebrated the honor—and each other’s accomplishments—with a Texas-sized explosion of enthusiasm and joy onstage in a spirit of true community and camraderie.
“We monitor the evolution of the culinary landscape closely, and Texas has been on our radar for a few years,” says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director, Michelin Guide. “A Michelin Star is a worldwide benchmark awarded to restaurants offering the highest quality food. From a culinary perspective, Texas deserves to be put on the international travel map. The food culture and authenticity makes it worth traveling here because it’s really unique and deserves worldwide recognition,” he continues.
According to the Michelin Guide, each restaurant is visited several times per year and there are five criteria for awarding stars: quality products; the harmony of flavors; the mastery of cooking techniques; the voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine; consistency between each visit.
“Each of you set a new bar for Texas,” says Poullennec, addressing the new Michelin Star recipients at the Awards ceremony, “and tonight we celebrate the quality, creativity and passion of these chefs. It’s not only an award,” he continues. “It’s an encouragement to raise the bar, become even more daring and dream even bigger.”
Here is a full list of the winners, with remarks from the Michelin Inspectors.
Restaurants Awarded One MICHELIN Star
Austin
Barley Swine (Contemporary cuisine) “The room is decidedly casual, and diners are welcome to come as they are, but there’s no mistaking the passion of this kitchen. Chef/owner Bryce Gilmore makes deft use of local ingredients with a distinctly Southwestern palette of flavors that draws from Mexican and Southern traditions, while maintaining a contemporary, global sophistication. The tasting menu is carefully attuned to the seasons, and refinement is balanced with a sense of whimsy.”
Craft Omakase (Japanese cuisine) “Discreetly tucked away in Rosedale, Craft Omakase has a lounge up front with a dining room and counter in back. It is here where guests wisely place their faith in the hands of Chefs Charlie Wang and Nguyen Nguyen who dole out an impressive procession of nigiri and other bites. Their creative omakase doesn’t shy away from embellishment, yet it’s done with restraint and allows the fish to shine.”
Hestia (American cuisine) “Push past the glass door of this restaurant in the heart of downtown and you’ll immediately get the drift—quite literally, as wood smoke perfumes the air. This hot spot is all about live fire cooking, as evidenced by the 20-foot hearth in the open kitchen. Contemporary cooking is on display in both the à la carte and chef’s tasting menu, and Texas produce and proteins take center stage. From savory to sweet, nearly everything is kissed by the flames or scented with smoke.”
InterStellar BBQ (Barbecue) “The mark of a good place is when a line starts forming before they’ve even opened, and at InterStellar BBQ, it’s long before they’ve swung open the door. Everyone is here for a taste of pitmaster John Bates’s barbecue, done low and slow over post oak.”
la Barbecue (Barbecue) “Founded by the late LeAnn Mueller and now run by her wife, Ali Clem, la Barbecue’s massive, custom-built pit in the backyard is the rarified workshop in which meaty miracles are realized. Inside, it’s a simple space enlivened with bright colors and a disarming playlist with Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton.”
Leroy and Lewis Barbecue (Barbecue) “What started as a food truck in 2017 can now be enjoyed in a spacious brick and mortar location in Garrison Park. The moniker refers to the duo of married couples who run this enticing operation where the spacious setting gives off mid-century vibes with its glazed brick exterior and peak-roofed dining area. The excellent barbecue menu isn’t built around brisket, although that beloved item is available as a daily special at the end of the week.”
Olamaie (American cuisine) “With its white clapboard and black shutters, Olamaie, named for the chef’s grandmother, mother, and daughter, is a charming spot north of downtown Austin, Expect southern cuisine that’s been given a contemporary polish… the chicken pressé is a novel take on chicken and dumplings and rounds out a bill of fare that also includes blackened dayboat fish, gumbo, and red rice with Gulf shrimp.
Dallas
Tatsu Dallas (Japanese cuisine) “With just 10 counter seats, the greatest challenge is securing a reservation at this sushi restaurant within the renovated Continental Gin Building – but perseverance will be rewarded because this is the genuine article. The omakase contains around 14 pieces and follows the Edomae tradition, so expect fish that gets steadily stronger in flavor as dinner progresses.”
Houston
BCN Taste & Tradition (Spanish cuisine) “Tucked away off Richmond Avenue, this restaurant, housed in a 1920s white stucco bungalow and managed by some of the most personable staff in the city, cooks with both flair and familiarity. Seafood is a highlight, as in brilliantly tender slivers of sea cucumber set on lobster rice, or thinly sliced octopus paired with potato purée and a striking smoked paprika. Chef Luis Roger knows his way around land, too, and his Iberian suckling pig arrives with a crackling crust, meltingly tender meat and a rich red wine sauce.”
CorkScrew BBQ (Spring; Barbecue) “You have a choice: Arrive before doors open at 11 or go eat somewhere else. In the tiny town of Spring just north of Houston, this barbecue sensation has drawn long lines ever since it opened in 2015. The kitchen is known to sell out fast, and it’s easy to see why: Will and Nichole Buckman smoke some of the finest brisket and beef ribs in the state.”
Le Jardinier Houston (French cuisine) With locations in Manhattan and Miami, Chef Alain Verzeroli also shares his verdant, stylish cooking with Houston. The location couldn’t be more apt: The Museum of Fine Arts matches his colorful dishes that are both beautiful and satisfying. Accomplished sauces, seasonal vegetables, and thoughtful cocktails tell a story in line with the restaurant’s name and design.”
March (Creative/Mediterranean cuisine) “This ambitious atelier sets its sights on a culinary exploration of the Mediterranean, studiously delving into individual regions one by one, from the Maghreb in Northwest Africa to Murcia and Andalusia in Southern Spain, to Greece, with a tasting menu and beverage program inspired by each cuisine in turn. But if all that sounds a bit precious, rest assured that the experience itself is utterly disarming, with a winning sense of hospitality that makes for a meal that is both engaging and luxe.”
Musaafer (Indian cuisine) “Dinner in a shopping mall doesn’t sound promising, unless you’re headed to Musaafer. The sheer scale of this grand hall, with its arches, towering windows, labyrinth-like layout, and elaborate patterns, feels like a palace of its own. The setting is as thrilling as the cooking.”
Tatemó (Mexican cuisine) “The famous idiom about not judging a book by its cover couldn’t be more applicable than to this tortilleria-turned-tasting menu. In an empty strip mall with little around except for a brewery and a doughnut shop, Chef Emmanuel Chavez delivers a beautifully pitched and portioned experience that celebrates heirloom corn from across Mexico.”
San Antonio
Mixtli (Mexican cuisine) “This trailblazing restaurant is from the visionary minds of Chefs Diego Galicia and Rico Torres. The acclaimed duo has fine dining chops but it’s a shared reverence for Mexican cuisine that is the real driving force behind this endeavor. Tasting menus shift often, focusing on a different part of Mexico and may offer up cutting-edge interpretations of Oaxacan specialties or a meal focused on the cuisine of “Tierra Caliente.”
MICHELIN Green Star Award Winners
The Green Star Award honors restaurants at the forefront of practices committed to a more sustainable gastronomy.
Austin
Dai Due (American cuisine) “A focus on locally sourced produce; seed oil-free cooking; recycling and composting program; locally sourced wine and beer from Texas; ethical harvesting of meat products; minimize food waste through reuse; fermentation program.”
Emmer & Rye (American cuisine) “Sustainability initiatives include sourcing menu ingredients from local Texas farms and the restaurant’s partner farm that is no-till and organically fertilized; exclusive use of whole animals and fish; wide use of vegetable scraps and composting food waste for farm soil; bar program features cocktails containing house-made vinegars, preserved local bar cherries and bitters made from local Texas ingredients.
Michelin Special Awards
Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award, Julian Schaffer, Rye, Austin, TX
Michelin Sommelier Award, Stephen MacDonald, Pappa Bros. Steakhouse, Houston, TX
Michelin Outstanding Service Award, Hailey Pruitt & Lauren Beckman, Mixtli, San Antonio, TX
Michelin Young Chef / Culinary Professional Award, Edgar Rico, Nixta Taqueria
Michelin Bib Gourmand
The Bib Gourmand is a designation given to restaurants that offer exceptionally good food at great value and are often personal favorites among Michelin inspectors when dining on their own time.
Austin
Briscuits
Cuantos Tacos
Dai Due
Distant Relatives
Emmer & Rye
Franklin BBQ
Kemuri Tat-suya
KG BBQ
La Santa Barbacha
Micklethwait Craft Meats
Nixta Taqueria
Odd Duck
Ramen del Barrio
Veracruz Fonda & Bar
Bellaire
Blood Bros BBQ
Dallas
Cattleack
Gemma
Lucia
Một Hai Ba
Ngon Vietnamese Kitchen
Nonna
Fort Worth, TX
Goldee’s
Houston, TX
Ema
Kau Ba
Killen’s
Mala Sichuan Bistro
Nam Giao
Nancy’s Hustle
Nobie’s
Pinkerton’s BBQ
The Pit Room
Street to Kitchen
Theodore Rex
Truth BBQ
Rosie Cannonball
Lockhart
Barbs BQ
Pearland, TX
Killen’s BBQ
San Antonio, TX
Cullum’s Atta Boy
The Jerk Shack
Ladino
Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery
Seguin
Burnt Bean Co
Spring
Belly of the Beast
Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q
Tomball, TX
Tejas Chocolate
Michelin Recommended Restaurants
These are restaurants that meet the high standards of the Michelin Guide, embodying Texas’ food culture with a worldwide standard.
Arlington
Smoke’N Ash BBQ
Austin
Apt 115
Birdie’s
Comedor
Con Todo
Dipdipdip Tatsu-&a
Discada
Este
Ezov
Garrison
Jeffrey’s
Joe’s Bakery & Coffee Shop
La Condesa
Launderette
Lenoir
Ling Kitchen
Lutie’s
Maie Day
Mexta
Mum Foods Smokehouse & Delicatessen
Suerte
Tare
Terry Black’s BBQ
Toshokan
Dallas, TX
Barsotti’s
The Charles
Crown Block
El Carlos Elegante
Fearing’s
Georgie
Knox Bistro
Mercat Bistro
Monarch
Quarter Acre
Rye
Sachet
Stillwell’s
Stock & Barrel
Tei-an
Written By the Seasons
Fort Worth, TX
Birrieria y Taqueria Cortez
Panther City BBQ
Houston, TX
Baso
Bludorn
Brisket and Rice
Candente
Hidden Omakase
Late August
Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
McKinney, TX
Harvest
San Antonio, TX
2M Smokehouse
Barbecue Station
Garcia’s Mexican Food
Leche de Tigre
Little Em’s Oyster Bar
Nicosi
Signature
Texas
3 takeaways from Lamar-Texas A&M: Aggies show depth, unleash offensive barrage in win
Despite a slow start, No. 23 Texas A&M men’s basketball put on an offensive showcase with a 97-71 win over Lamar on Monday night at Reed Arena. Four players scored double digits as the Aggies got 51 points from their bench.
The game was a final tuneup before A&M plays its second power conference opponent of the season in No. 21 Ohio State on Friday. Here are a few takeaways from the Aggies’ win:
A&M shook off a slow start to take a commanding lead
In contrast to last week’s win against East Texas A&M, the Aggies took some time to get going with just nine points through five minutes of action. But when A&M found its groove, it held on to it for the rest of the night. It took a 50-29 lead into halftime and maintained that intensity through the second half.
“I thought, collectively, we were all on the same page,” coach Buzz Williams, who earned his 350th career win, said. “I thought there was great symmetry on what we’re trying to accomplish on both ends of the floor. … Pleased in many respects, for sure.”
Senior SMU transfer guard Zhuric Phelps led the team in scoring for the second game in a row with 16 points and didn’t slow down with 11 coming in the final 20 minutes. He added a team-high seven assists in 28 minutes of action. Graduate G Wade Taylor IV posted 15 points on a near-even split between both halves. The Lancaster product hit a trio of three-pointers on 50% shooting from long range.
“[Zhuric] changes our team,” graduate forward Henry Coleman III said. “Testament to him, he’s the same person every single day, so it’s not a shock to us when, right off an injury, he comes in and just is Zhuric and he’s putting up the numbers he’s putting up.
“His leadership has also helped us a lot. It’s somebody that we really need on the floor, and he makes a huge impact, not just scoring, but in other things as well.”
The Aggies stayed hot from three-point range
A&M turned up the temperature from beyond the arc and rode it to an insurmountable lead at the break. The Aggies nailed eight of their first 12 three-point attempts and finished the night going 12-of-26 from long range.
Taylor and graduate Nebraska transfer guard CJ Wilcher combined for six three-pointers on a 54.5% clip while senior forward Andersson Garcia and junior F Solomon Washington also found the net from deep. On the opposite end, Lamar hit just one of eight three-point shots in the first half.
“I think those guys that are working to make it part of their game, we call it ‘shooting with Buzz’ shots because it’s the shots that I would shoot,” Williams said. “[Garcia] and [Washington] have improved in that regard.”
After finding most of their scoring in the paint through the first two games of the season, the Aggies showed their versatility on offense from beyond the arc.
“I don’t think we go into a game thinking we’re going to score in the paint or more from three-point,” Coleman said. “I think it’s just the feel of the game. We have really good basketball players out there, so I think guys are always prepared to take the right shot and I think tonight we took the right shot and when people were open they made those shots.”
The Aggies showcased their depth down the bench
A&M’s offense didn’t end when its starters left the game as it gained 51 bench points, spurred by a career-high 15 from Garcia and 13 from Coleman. Garcia complemented his scoring with a team-high nine rebounds, while Coleman added seven boards, including five on the offensive glass. They each hit five of their seven shots.
Garcia’s previous career high of 14 points ironically came against A&M at Reed Arena in 2022 when he played for Mississippi State.
“It’s been a lot of shots that I’ve been putting up during the summer,” Garcia said. “Shoutout to the ocaches that have been trusting me and giving me the confidence to take those shots.
“I’m not trying to only help the offensive rebounding side, I’m trying to be able to provide this stuff to make good passes, making plays for my teammates and be able to provide scoring and stuff like that.”
Wilcher and senior G Manny Obaseki combined for 17 points despite Obaseki only appearing in the second half. With offensive capabilities throughout the lineup, the Aggies have options to find the basket even if it’s not someone’s night.
Find more college sports coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Find more Texas A&M coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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