'Friday Night Lights': Feels Like Going Home Edition

Semifinal week in the UIL elimination derby - except for Copperas Cove, that is, who faces the Mules of Alamo Heights in the 4A Division I state title game 6pm Saturday in the Alamodome, so good luck boys - and area teams have a dog in every fight except class 1A. Provided you count the Scherz Clemens Buffs, who polished off district foe Hays last week 27-7 and tangle with the big, bad Cougars of La Marque, one of two teams from my neck of the woods, 3pm Saturday at Berry Stadium in the Cy-Fair area of Houston. La Marque used to regularly whip my alma mater Clear Brook back in the day. Once my fightin' Wolverines jumped up to 5A, that happy chore was assumed by, among others, the Pearland Oilers, who bring excellently named UT recruit Fozzy Whittaker to Texas A&M's Kyle Field 2pm Saturday to face the still-rolling Westlake Chaps, who dispatched Los Fresnos last week 45-19. Tune in KZNX 1530 AM for that one. In class 3A, Liberty Hill hopes last week's controversial hit on Giddings QB Brock Fitzhenry that, let's be frank, probably meant the difference in their 35-28 quarterfinal, hasn't screwed up their karma for Saturday's 4pm Division II semifinal against the formidable Hondo Owls. Hear it on KHLE 106.9 FM. Finally, as UT emergency quarterback Quan Cosby wonders if he'll be pressed into duty in the Alamo Bowl, his alma mater Mart faces Lexington in an all-Central Texas Class 2A Division II semifinal 6pm Saturday at Temple High School. One more week before those Friday Night Lights go dark until next fall, but, take note, the similarly named NBC series moves to Wednesdays starting next month.