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KTBS 3 Sports and Jeff Harper present the #3Fever Point-After Podcast, a local show highlighting high school football in the ArkLaTex. Alex Anderson and Red River Head Coach Jeff Harper give you a weekly look at teams to watch, interviews with some of our area's top recruits, and all the information you need to be prepared for the Friday night lights . Join us every Thursday morning wherever you get podcasts for the KTBS #3Fever Point After Podcast.
Welcome
to another episode of The Three Fever,
Pulling out after podcast,
the hour long edition of Friday Football
Fever has come and gone for this year,
but we still have football
to play in Louisiana,
which means we still have a show.
By we, of course, I mean my co-host
and I back at the central offensive
coordinator Jeff Harper, or should I say
Friday football Fever co-host Jeff Harper.
Coach got his first real taste
of the fever last Friday night.
That's where we'll start.
What did you think of the year,
the big show.
And you guys do a great job.
It's definitely different when it's like,
yeah, the fact that you're in the studio
and you got, you know,
you kind of everybody sits there
and watches the news and,
you know, what's
what would it be like to heparin
in the teleprompter
and all this kind of stuff?
Somebody in your ear,
It was just a cool experience.
I enjoyed every minute of it.
Well, we definitely have to have you back.
We've gotten rave reviews.
Everyone's enjoyed hearing
what Coach Harper had to say on the show,
and I certainly enjoyed
having somebody there with me.
It makes it a little more fun
and we kind of ran out of time at the end.
But look, we'll clean that up as we go
along and we'll have some.
That was our first rep.
So plenty of rest still to come there.
Coach,
the reason I wanted you to do a show
this week is because we have some games
to play,
three state championship
games that involve Arklatex area teams
starting this Thursday
when Haynesville takes on Oak Grove.
You know, you were sitting there with me
Friday night when we talked about that
Haynesville game.
We watched the highlights.
I mean, they really went down to
Logansport and just took care of business.
Yeah.
I mean, I've even gotten some reports
just from people that were there
that that Haynesville just showed up and,
you know, played a really good game.
And it was it was intense.
And, you know,
you have to really strong football
programs going against each other
that have a history.
You know, it goes back to
that great state championship
game in 2016.
And so, you know, from every
everything that I've heard, Haynesville
just, you know, played a really good game
and they scored
offensively it's ability and
and then they turn around
and they get a turnover.
So you know,
they block a punt, get a turnover.
And so they they had a
they had that night that everybody wants
is just a complete ballgame.
And something else we kind of
talked about a little Friday is Coach
Franklin and Daniel.
When he got back later on that evening,
I was still posting some web stuff
and he sat down. I was like, Man,
I got to show you this video.
And and it's just we're seeing
a different side of of head coach
David Franklin there for the tour's
a little more outspoken side.
He was even kind of getting on some people
that were that were chirping him
a little bit out there and reminding them,
you know,
we've been doing this for a hundred
something years, blah, blah, blah.
You don't really see that side of Coach
Franklin.
But to me it seems like he's identified
that this is a different era
of a football player, that he's coaching
and he's kind of changed things up
a little bit.
I don't know,
maybe if you've noticed that at all.
Well, I
mean, we were at the southern Arkansas
ball game
last weekend and, you know,
one of the one of the guys that's that
that's on a Southern Arkansas
roster with my son,
you know, sit there
talking to the dad and just said, hey,
you know, what happened in the ballgame
and the things that he told me
make sense of why Coach Franklin was,
you know, a little different when it comes
to, you know, his responses and things.
And it was a very heated environment.
And I think that he was kind
of been disrespected by the programs.
And, you know, he's right.
They've been doing it a long time.
They're one of the best programs
in the state in all classifications
when it comes to just historic,
you know,
wins in state championships
and all that kind of stuff.
And so, you know, I know that
if Coach Franklin has something to say,
people need to stop and listen
and there's a reason that he's saying it.
And so
this this state championship game
that they have this week is is a big one.
I know that they want it.
Yeah. We're going to talk about that
just a minute.
I did want to clear one thing up.
I've obviously seen all the comments
on our Facebook page from fans
that were at the game.
We we understand that
there was some rough stuff
there at the end
and we did have video of it.
We just felt
and we talked about it that night.
We felt that we would
maybe take away a bit
from Haynesville moment
if we focused heavily
on what we saw at the end and it was like
it was a non-factor at the end of things.
Coach McGee knows how to handle that
kind of stuff and I know he will handle it
appropriately.
And the most important story
that night was, was Haynesville is win,
and that's what we wanted to showcase.
But now the story flips.
They're taking on Oak Grove
back in the Superdome for the first time
since 2016.
I don't know
if you've gotten to see any of Oak Grove.
I mean, I do know that they're always
a force to be reckoned with.
Yeah, I mean,
I got to watch them last year in the Dome
and they were really good.
And I've seen film of them this year,
you know, they're big,
they're fast, they're Oak Grove.
I mean, you know, they have the, the skill
guys and big, you know, up
front on both sides of the ball.
They can run it, they run it well.
And oh, by the way,
you know, the Jackson Bradley kid
who plays quarterback is really good.
And so, you know,
they can throw it to their they're a very,
you know, balanced team when it comes
to, you know, Oak Grove.
And people traditionally just see them
as a lineup in the eye and pound the rock.
But they can do that
and they can, you know, spread you out
and throw it around a little bit.
So, you know, this
is this going to be a big game
in in
both teams are familiar with each other.
And so you're going to have
that aspect as well.
I mean, there's familiarity between
both programs and they played before.
And so you throw all that out,
doesn't matter at this point.
Now it comes down to
what happens for the next four quarters
between the white lines
and under the big lights.
In the last game of the season
at the Superdome, which everybody
dreams of playing in that game.
And so it's I'm
going to be there. You know,
either I'm going to be there in person
or I'm going to be there watching in FHC
one of the two, because that's going to be
that's going to be an incredible game.
Yeah. Daniel is going to head down there.
He's heading down there on Wednesday,
so he'll catch up with the tornado
and and our other teams.
That brings us to the next game.
We'll see.
We'll have to wait until Saturday
to get another Arklatex game.
It's Calvary
taking on Saint Charles
Catholic, the Cavs.
You know,
I feel like we've had this conversation
about them all year,
particularly at the beginning
when they had that tough schedule.
It seemed like regardless of what team
they were facing, the
what was going on in the game,
the momentum swings, whatever,
they just don't seem fazed by anything.
I mean, you look at that Newman game,
you were there.
You know, you have that one handed
catch in the end zone.
Newman's answering Calvary every time
but again, it just the Cavs unraveled
and as the game progressed
they were the better team in the second
half something that's always been
a concern with the Cavs not this year.
Well, I mean, I think
that's just a testament to their coaching.
I mean, you know, Coach
Kevin and his guys,
they really did do a good job
of preparing the
the boys for what
they're going to see week in and week out.
And then they challenge them.
I mean, they they
they don't duck competition.
They're going to play,
you know, whoever wants to play them.
The best of the best.
And so that's why you see the
out of district schedule
that Coach Q and puts out every year.
It's it's loaded and it's twofold.
Number one, it prepares your guys.
It shows where you're deficient, things
that you need to improve upon.
You know, it gives you a challenge
so that, you know,
you're playing the best competition
that you could get on your schedule.
Plus it helps you with your
your potential playoff seeding and power
rating and all that stuff.
And so you get to this point right now
that you have to battle tested
ball clubs that have played,
you know, top competition
and you're talking about number one
and number two in the state
respectively all year
you're both undefeated.
Both are really good
on both sides of the ball.
I've seen Calvary,
you know, in person in that
I've watched them film, you know,
quite a bit of film of of Saint Charles,
you know, just getting to see what they do
and I got to see them
in the dome last year, man,
They're they're really, really good there.
They're going to throw a bunch
of different coverages that at Calvary
and they're going to do everything
they can to take away the pass game.
And, you know, I think that may be,
you know, a mistake thinking that they can
just, you know, have a light box or not
and still be able to stop the run.
I don't believe that
that's going to be as easy as anybody,
you know,
could could think down their side,
Charles, because you've got you've got,
you know, the.
Simon the Simon Brothers,
big, big Simon back there.
And he can take the rock
and then you throw in the,
you know, the other back and Julius Myles
and you get the two headed monster
you got to deal with. And so
the match up and the game plan
is going to be interesting
to see how it plays out
because, you know,
Calvary on Defense is really, really good.
Their sound,
they play, they play their gaps or they do
everything that Mark Miller, the defensive
coordinator, wants to do in the tackle.
Well, they're great in the secondary.
They're very athletic, fast.
You're not really going to catch them
or outflank them sideline to sideline,
but they match you.
When it comes to skill in the secondary,
they're big up front.
So you know, they're not really
overpowered by big offensive lines.
And then they have the ability to throw
a lot of different looks at you.
And St Charles is going do the same thing.
And so the one thing that Saint
Charles does really
well is they can get in spread looks
and then they can go under center
and they can go tight and wing,
then they can go out
and they go three back
and they could motion out of that
and have an empty set at or started empty
and 11 personnel look and then shift
into a tight end wing or offset
and then run power
at you, run counter at you
and then play action those in boot those.
And so they throw a lot at you offensively
and then just flip the coin
and on defense
they throw a lot of different coverages
and pressures
and you know, some of the cut ups
I was watching today,
you know, the teams that got an empty
when they were on a hash,
they brought they brought corner corner
Blitz is off the edge
and the quarterbacks usually never saw it.
So they're very good at disguising
coverage and rotating in and out of looks.
And they don't really give you the same
look every single time.
And so there's so well coached
and they've been in these big moments,
you know,
it is going to be a fantastic match up.
And I think that Calvary is the
best team that they've seen
all year.
I think they are the most complete
ballclub they played all year.
They they you know,
you have to get to this point
and your lab is really, really good.
But you lab is not throw the football
the way the Calvary does.
And so,
you know, all three phases of the game,
both teams are great and it is going to be
that is going to be a really,
really good game, a really fun matchup.
And what a bracket that is that
Calvary has been fighting.
And I mean, I feel like every really
every week they have that first round bye.
But I feel like they've been tested
at least significantly weakened in
week out this game, though.
I mean, look,
we're going to talk about Rust and Zachary
in just a minute,
but you're talking about pure matchups.
I think this is among the best
we'll see down in New Orleans this week.
And I would agree and I would say that
and this is just me.
It's my bias. So,
you know, take it or leave it.
I don't really care
what anybody thinks on this,
but I've said it from the very beginning.
I think Calvary can beat anybody
in any classification.
I felt that way last year about Manning
and I said it over and over
and over again.
And people are like, You're crazy.
And then they watched what Manning did
and under the big lights
in the dome last year and everybody's
like, Well, they may be the best team
in all classifications.
Will Calvary is is that type of team
this year They have that type of talent
and so, you know, it's
going to come down to execution.
It's going to come down to,
you know, the little things, the details,
and then the kid
staying within themself and not the moment
not being too big for women sake.
Charles has been there, done
that. They've won state championships.
So, you know, they won it last year.
I mean, they're really
good. So it's going to be
it's that game, right?
There's the one I'm looking forward
to the most this weekend.
Yep. Same here.
And that takes us to Ruston and Zachary.
The nightcap,
obviously another game of two teams
that have been so good in recent years.
Ruston making their second trip
back in a row down there.
We watched the highlights on Friday
against Mandeville
and a different kind of semifinal game.
They're kind of playing a Cinderella team
there, but man,
they left little doubt in that game and
they've really left little doubt all year.
This is exactly where Ruston belongs.
Yeah, I got to watch them last year
in the state championship game
and they fought, They fought back.
They never once rolled over and out
against Nestor hand and had a chance
in the fourth quarter
to two to win that game.
And so it was so close last year.
You heard me say it
when we've talked about Ruston.
I've said it at least once this year
that that they were they were, you know,
they had it.
It was right there in their grasp and
investor hand, you know, pulled it out.
I think that when they get down there,
they've they've been in this
big environment.
Yes I understand it's it's a new QB.
You know he still looks like ice water
the veins like a seasoned
veteran out there are a lot of times
and they're so good on defense
and they can run the ball.
Two things that you've heard me
say week in and week out,
run game and defense travel.
And it doesn't matter where you play
and if you can run the football
and you can play sound defense,
you can be in any ballgame.
And so, you know, they've got Zachary
right there, you know, squared up.
This is what they want
they've been building for.
And I think Zachary is playing good ball.
They were way behind in their
in their game against Dutch town.
I think they were down
three scores at one point.
Maybe maybe two touchdowns in a
in a field goal, I'm not sure.
But that that, you know,
having to come back and play it
the next day helped it helped Zach in.
They're well-coached.
They're well-coached.
And so they pulled that thing out
and and they punched their ticket.
But here's the deal.
Rust is a different animal
than what they're used to.
Ruston is big physical runs the ball
dominant run game unbelievable play action
athletes all over the field you know
I mean I'm that's not taking anything
away from Zachary They're incredible
coach birds and does a wonderful job
and they're very very good this year and
so that's going to be a great fab matchup.
I mean, it's going to be
a really good one.
You know, I would to me, you know,
I think this is rust and year.
I just I do
I thought last year they were so close
and then they've been just dominant
all year.
And I think that that that continues.
You know this weekend.
Yeah I agree with you.
Honestly, I'm feeling
pretty good about all three of these teams
going off of what we saw Haynesville
do on Friday.
We know what we know about Calvary
and and I think we could see a
you know, a little three game
sweep here locally.
There's always a curve ball in the dome.
I think we you know,
I think this week or last week
that curveball was North DeSoto
falling to Opelousas.
I did want to mention briefly
just an incredible season
incredible two years from the Griffins.
And again, as we discussed Friday night,
that this era of success
is far from over down there.
Yeah, I mean, I was listening to Coach
Dunn's interview on KNOWN Fletch and,
you know, he said they were like 16
and with the middle school level
and eight and with their their freshman
JV, it's like, okay, man,
you know,
people want to try to say, Yeah, well,
they're done, man.
Now I'm done.
And you got you have, you know, arguably
one of the best high school coaches
that's ever coached football in our state
running that program.
And so the buy in is there.
The kids are,
you know, 100% fired up and all in on
on the way they're going to play football.
And here's here's one more thing that
I would say just about the north DeSoto.
You know, last Friday night, they
they had their chances
and they had those two fumbles
and they still fought back and in
and they nearly recovered an onside kick.
What does that say about those kids
belief that they can win?
I mean, they bought in,
they believe they trust.
They know that what they're doing works
and all they have to do is just execute.
And so, you know, congratulations to North
Solar on an incredible year to year run.
It's been fantastic
and I think it continues.
Congratulations to Opelousas
because no one gave them a no win.
You know Stonewall and knock off,
you know, the runner up last year.
So you know that
that is a it's another storyline.
I don't think people really paying
attention to is how good Opelousas is.
And I spent a lot of time last week
learning out what they do and
they execute.
They they know what they're good at
and they don't deviate from it.
And they will force turnovers
and they will they will back you up
and then they're going to take the ball
and they're going to pound it,
they're going to chew the clock
and they're going to score.
And so, you know, they they've got a tough
task, you know, this weekend
at the Dome, too, but take nothing away
from what they've accomplished.
And, you know, anybody that thinks
that north of soda is done, they're crazy.
They're not.
They're they're going to be right back
in the mix next year.
All right.
So we are obviously going a little shorter
because we don't have the nearly
the amount of games that we normally do.
So I'll ask you some not high school
questions.
First, Florida State, what do you think?
Oh, man, why did you ask me that?
I mean, everyone is talking about it.
All right.
So let me give you this.
Let me give you this answer
and then I'll let you give us your sports
director answer. Okay.
Because you're the you're the one that's
paid to have this conversation.
Here's the problem with college football.
It's it's driven by TV revenue and it's
driven by,
you know, what the networks want.
And so if you're asking my opinion,
did they get it right?
No, they didn't.
And here's the reason
why I don't think they got it right.
If you want the four best teams,
you can't tell me that
they got the four best teams
in the country in that ballgame.
You know, Ohio State was driving
and I think they had a pick
in the big
house when, you know, when they were
playing rivalry week against Michigan.
So, you know,
they lost by six on the road.
You know, Ohio State is really good
and they have an argument for it.
I get it.
If you're asking about the four best
teams, here's here's the argument.
I don't know
if you got the four best teams.
Do you have the four most deserving?
I don't know if you have
the four most deserving because
you have a big 12 champion in there
that no offense to Texas fans.
I mean, you know, look,
my mom is from Texas.
I'm not getting all that.
But they don't play anybody.
The big 12 didn't play anybody. I mean,
so you have
you have an undefeated Florida State team
that's like, well,
they lost their quarterback.
It's not their fault.
That's football.
Yeah, right. I mean,
they held Louisville multiple times
in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.
Here's the other thing.
I don't care if you like
the product or not, they're undefeated
and yet you play
the people that are on your schedule
in college football decided to go with,
you know, Vegas odds and
and what the TV ratings would be
with these four teams and you know
yeah Louisville didn't really help the the
the situation when they couldn't
score from the two yard line right.
I think it has more to do
with Florida state not
you know if Louisville's any good or not.
Yeah it was a boring game
and no point square.
I get it.
That's football.
You ask defensive coaches, they love it.
They love the low scoring.
Just punch you in the mouth,
Make it sloppy.
Florida State's defense could keep them
in the game against any of the four teams
that are in the playoff.
And let me tell you this.
I don't have a dog in the fight.
Neither. I.
I really don't.
I don't care to be honest with you.
So I'm not sitting here, you know,
you know, making noise for Florida State.
That's not what I'm doing.
I really don't care.
In fact, I think anybody
that wants to take away from what,
you know, Georgia's accomplished
the last two years and leaving them out
because they lost to Alabama is crazy.
I mean, at 29 when it's Drake. Yeah.
And they were still in that thing.
I mean, you know, God forbid that you have
one game go wrong and you're left out.
That's why the whole thing
needs to be blown up and to start over.
It's terrible.
College football, especially Division one,
cannot get it right.
Division two has it right, FCS
has it right now.
It has it right. D3 has it right.
I mean, come on, D1 football,
you can't figure it out.
I know it's it.
Please tell me
we're not driven by the bowls.
The bowl stink.
The majority of the bowl games stink.
They're terrible,
except the watch and abuse.
Right.
But, you know,
I mean, I'm never going to I'm
never going to speak
against the Independence Bowl.
It's one of the oldest bowls,
you know, that's out there.
But what I'm saying is
there are bowls that stink
and we've got teams
with more losses than wins.
And it's like we can't be driven by
the bowls.
It's got to be it's got to come down to do
we really want to find out
who the best of the best are?
Well, you got to put a real playoff in.
Here's the thing. You and I are going
have this conversation next year.
We're going to be fighting over
who should be number 12.
I know.
You know, and people are like, well,
I mean, look, she's on the outside.
I know.
This is not to do that.
I'll see you like you can take care
of business and not lose to Ole Miss and.
Right.
And and handle their business
against Alabama.
And they did all this at the beginning
of the year to beat Florida State.
I mean, that going to change everything.
I mean, look look Florida State got hosed
There's there's no doubt.
Georgia, I'm sorry.
This is what happens when you're
the defending national champions
and you haven't lost a game in 29
straight games
when you lose the last one,
that's the last thing
people are going to think of you and it's
what have you done for me lately?
Right.
And I hate that. I absolutely hate it.
Because if it was the
the roles were reversed.
Alabama's lost some some some games
and get right back in the playoffs and won
national championships
and won a champion of their division.
So you know it's a mess
it's an absolute mess.
I hate it for Florida State.
I hate it for Ohio State.
You know, I hate it for Georgia.
But I mean, I'm just
in look, Texas did what they had to do.
I mean, you know,
they did what they had to do.
They won their championship. So you have
you have conference champions.
But you left the ACC undefeated ACC
champion out.
Oh, by the way,
Clemson won a national title
with under Dabo just a few years ago
and they are an ICC team.
When was the last time
a big 12 team won a national title?
Right, Right.
I mean, I really don't know.
That's
why I'm asked. It's a genuine question.
I mean, it had to have been Vince Young,
right?
Vince Young in Texas.
That had to be it. Yeah.
I would assume, you
know, TCU was in that thing last year,
but then we saw how that group that went.
Yeah, that didn't go
well. So, you know, that's a long answer.
But at the end of the day,
I just I hate it.
I hate the format in general.
I just
I hate
you might be surprised for my sports
director as well,
because I completely agree with you.
And honestly, as taking me
out of my profession as just a fan.
I mean, this is the reason why I just
can't get into college football like I do
the NFL or like could do the NHL because
like you said, it's it's subjective.
Like we're deciding who the champion is
based on some dudes in the room
who decide who they want in
based on a lot of other factors
besides what we're seeing on the field.
And I think to borrow a phrase from
from a podcast,
it's a little more successful
than ours. Pardon my take.
They said this today.
Two things can be true at once.
Florida State can get hosed, while
also we can admit
that they probably wouldn't fare
well without their quarterback.
And I agree with that.
But that's not sports. Like you said.
That's just not the way it works.
Like the Jets
don't just canceled their schedule
because Aaron Rodgers
got hurt on the first drive.
I mean, that's just not the way it goes.
So, yeah, I, I see the argument
for another team that's not Florida State.
But then, like you said,
I don't think it's just for sure, Bama,
because well, here's
the other here's the flip side of that.
So we don't do that in the NFL, right?
Brock Purdy came out of nowhere.
Right? Right.
Tom Brady took over for one
Drew Bledsoe and the rest is history.
And we don't allow
for those storylines in the NFL.
Now coaches get fired in the NFL
if their starting quarterback goes down
and they can't win.
And so a college football
now wants to just kind of rewrite
like, well, it's all about storylines.
No, it's about ratings at the end
of the day, it's what it's about.
And they've got advertising.
They got ratings in a day
until they get a full blown playoff.
Then I would say more than 12 teams.
That's just where I'm at.
Well, these teams are dead
at the end of the day in I'll transfer
portal, all that kind of jump,
give it a four year window
and you're going to see more parity.
You're going to see teams
come out of nowhere
that people would never give a chance to.
And so I would rather let teams prove it
between the white lines in the reason
that there are it's called competition
and leave the human element out
as much as we can.
But I get it, and I'm one of those people.
So I'm sitting here
and I'm saying it to myself.
I want to watch the best possible
product there is.
And that's what ultimately, you know,
the people that made the decision,
I think this is going to be the best
matchups and, you know, it is what it is.
I hate the way it's working out,
but it is what it is.
Yeah, I guess that is the reason I don't
I just can't like fully dive into college
football as a fan because, I mean, what
if you're a oh,
what are you even cheering for?
Like, if you're Florida State,
you don't get upset all year.
If you're a Florida State fan,
your quarterback gets hurt.
Yeah, but you won every game
and then you don't get a chance.
I just as a fan,
I can't wrap my head around that.
Not not
even having an opportunity
to play for a national title
after going undefeated and yeah, I'm
with you with Georgia and Ohio State, too.
I mean, just because they lost recently
close games, I might add.
Does that mean that somehow lost is better
because it was late or was later in?
I don't know.
It's a it's a it's a tough one to solve,
one that we're never going to.
But 12 teams
at least it'll be a little better.
I mean, we can at least say
like this won't happen again.
But then the argument
then goes down to 12, 13, 14
and that'll be a debate for another time.
Coach, we got to just about 30 minutes.
I think we did well with only three
high school games to talk about.
And I love the love,
the passionate college football talk.
Anything else
you got to add before we sign off here?
One more state championship game
that we won't be paying
attention to is Union Union Parish,
St James.
Oh yeah.
Coach Spadafora, he's going
this is trip number four in a row
and he's been so close.
I'm hoping that they pull it out
this year.
His son's on our staff.
You see coaches, quarterbacks
and running backs for us
and so that's another,
you know, north Louisiana team
that's in the dome
the fighting farmers there in your parish.
So pulling for those guys this weekend.
And our buddies over at Kenobi,
Aaron Dietrich
and the crew will have that covered
greatly.
If you're if you're interested
in watching that game,
they are some of the best
to do it in the entire state.
So give them a check. Check them out.
If you're looking for ride of that game,
you won't find better ones anywhere else.
All right. That does it for us
here. Coach Harper, thank you. As always.
We'll be back next week to talk about
hopefully we'll have some state
champion coaches on the show
to talk about their big win Saturday.
I think we have
at least a chance to get one.
I assume you agree?
Yes, sir.
All right, Coach. Well,
we'll see you next week.
And we'll see you guys next week here
on the three favorite point after podcast.
Thanks for checking us out This week.
We have Haynesville on Thursday,
Calvary in Ruston on Saturday
will have the highlights on TBS.