Highlighted by West Brook ex Jay Bruce hitting a playoff-clinching walkoff home run for the Cincinnati Reds, it was an amazing week for former Southeast Texas schoolboy stars. Bridge City’s Matt Bryant got things rolling by kicking a 46-yard, game-winning field goal to lift Atlanta over defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans in overtime. Memorial’s Jamaal Charles had another remarkable day on limited touches for Kansas City, ripping off 97 rushing yards on only 12 carries and catching three passes for another 57 yards to help the Chiefs rip San Francisco. West Orange-Stark’s Earl Thomas grabbed not one but two interceptions for Seattle, as the Seahawks shredded San Diego. Impressive stuff at the highest level for four guys who grew up within 25 miles of each other . . . The numbers Charles is putting up in Kansas City are amazing, even for him. He’s averaging a ridiculous 7.0 yards per carry, making him one of only 12 NFL players in the last 40 years to average 7 or more yards, with a minimum of 30 attempts,  through the first three games of a season. Despite just 34 carries in three games, he’s fifth in the AFC and seventh in the NFL in rushing yardage. And he’s tied with Houston’s Arian Foster (65 carries) for  No. 1 in the league in the number of runs over 20 yards (4). Makes you wonder what might happen if everybody in the stadium, starting with opposing defensive coordinators, didn’t know Jamaal’s probably going to get the ball when the Chiefs get around to putting  him in the game.

    No matter how the 2010 season plays out for area high school teams, the deaths in successive weeks of West Orange-Stark’s star QB Reggie Garrett and Newton’s outstanding coach Curtis Barbay are going to leave a lingering sadness that will trump any on-field accomplishments. The odds are extremely long against one death during a high school season, but two in back-to-back weeks is staggering. Concerning Barbay, I hope everybody reading this read Tom Halliburton’s terrific tribute to him in Thursday’s PA News. If you missed it, please check it out at www.panews.com . . . One of the interested spectators at the Nederland-PNG game Friday night was a fellow named Joe Nick Patoski. Joe Nick is the guest curator for the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, with the special task of showcasing the history of Texas High School football. He picked up some Jimmy Johnson and Little Joe Washington memorabilia from the Museum of the Gulf Coast and is constantly scouting for anything that will enhance his display due to open in July of 2011. One result of Patoski’s trip to Southeast Texas was a visit with Orangefield superfan Bennie Cotton, who is going to be spotlighted in the BullIock Museum. If you think you have anything that would add to the exhibit, particularly from the early years, Patoski can be e-mailed at footballexhibit@thehistoryoftexas.com . . . Patoski, by the way, could have attended all 87 games in the Mid County Madness rivalry and arguably never have seen a better, more entertaining one than the latest version. Count me among the multitudes who didn’t think Nederland had much of a chance. An unexpected victory like that over an arch-rival should certainly silence some of the sniping toward head coach Larry Neumann.

    Although it should have come in the season opener against Washington, or the following week against Chicago, it was neat in a way that Wade Phillips matched his dad’s NFL win total of 82 games in Houston, the city where Bum Phillips created so much excitement and so many great memories. It was also a really nice touch on the part of FOX Sports to have a shot of Bum and Wade, from their days together with the Oilers, ready to flash on the screen when the Cowboys victory over the Texans was secure. Too bad, though, that when FOX showed Wade’s post-game speech to his team, Jerry Jones was mugging for the camera in the background . . . Speaking of Jethro, Forbes Magazine’s latest list of the 400 richest people in America underscored the wealth he’s acquired through owning the Cowboys, and having Arlington taxpayers help him build a luxurious stadium. Jones is up to No. 182, with Forbes estimating his personal fortune at $2 billion. He’s one of 11 NFL owners — Houston’s Bob McNair is No. 290 at $1.4 billion — in the top 400. Remember that when these guys start dishing their propaganda about needing a bigger slice of the pie in negotiations with the NFL Players Association . . .  Jones, by the way, is nowhere near the NFL’s wealthiest owner. That distinction goes to Seattle’s Paul Allen at $12.7 billion. Miami’s Stephen Ross ($3.1 billion) and Tampa Bay’s Malcolm Glazier ($2.6 billion) also have deeper pockets  than Jethro. And Mark Cuban claims the distinction of being the wealthiest owner of a professional sports team in Texas. Cuban weighed in at No. 144 on the Forbes list at $2.5 billion. The Astros Drayton McLane was No. 288 at $1.45 billion. Meantime,  let’s all hope the socialistic Democrats don’t roll back tax breaks for fat cats. They obviously need the extra money.

    With Chris Stroud sitting squarely on the PGA Tour’s Q School bubble — No. 125 with $611,069 in official earnings — entering the closing stretch of five fall tournaments, it’s interesting to note how high the money-winning bar has been raised. Twenty five years ago, Stroud’s 2010 winnings would have ranked No. 1. And, as recently as 10 years ago, it took only $391,075 to finish in the top 125. That, of course, was before the full impact of Tiger Woods on the PGA’s television contracts. It’s why every player making a good living on the tour should appreciate what Tiger made possible for them. Stroud, incidentally had a phenomenal five-hole stretch Friday enroute to a 65 that thrust him into the top 10 at the Viking Classic. Starting on No. 3, Chris reeled off four consecutive birdies, then followed with an eagle . . . Now that Jimmy Johnson’s been booted off Survivor, I would expect his cohorts on FOX NFL Sunday to work him over pretty good when the show airs at 11 a.m. today on Channel 4. Although it seemed downright stupid to eliminate somebody with JJ’s intelligence and leadership skills, his team probably did him a favor. Jimmy was starting to look old, frail and haggard, and probably didn’t need another week of that existence . . . Congratulations to Kelly High School quarterback Dakota Eddins. Eddins was selected on of the six statewide Built Ford Tough schoolboy players of the week, after completing 23-of-29 passes for 429 yards and four touchdowns against Anahuac.

    Besides having to sweat out Boise State and TCU complicating the selection process for the BCS national championship game, college football elitists are now fretting having enough winning teams to fill a ridiculous 35 bowl games. Under current rules, a team must win six games to qualify for a bowl, and five of them must come against schools from Division 1s top level. In a year in which mediocrity is running rampant, the crawfishing has already begun. There’s talk that special waivers may be given to 5-7 teams, or to 6-6 teams with two wins over schools at the 1-AA level. What a joke. A 5-7 team in a bowl game ? ? ? Stanford’s Owen Marecic, the amazing two-way starter who is a throwback to another era in college football, authored an astonishing feat last weekend against Notre Dame. Marecic, who plays both fullback and inside linebacker — two of the game’s most physical positions — scored on a 1-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter,  then, on game’s next play from scrimmage, returned an interception 20-yards for another TD. In the span of 13 seconds, he accounted for as many touchdowns as Notre Dame’s entire team could must in 60 minutes. . . . It’s nice to see UT athletic director Deloss Dodds  is continuing to beef up the Longhorns future football schedules. Texas has added New Mexico for 2012, New Mexico State for 2013, North Texas for 2014 and Rice for 2015. Guess the Longhorns didn’t get the word that Boise State is willing to travel, without the benefit of a return game.

    Sports editor Bob West can be e-mailed at rdwest@usa.net