Welcome to the 2009 TXHSSports.com Podcast.  This is your preview to the football season for fall 2009.  We only have one article to share this evening but more will be coming soon.  So to start out, Friday night, in the fall, in Waco, what do you do?

Many think of Waco as being a very small “town.”  To others, Waco is thought to be a large “city.”  As students rush down the stairs to leave their home on Friday nights, many of them are in search of fun throughout the city of Waco.  

The question is: where will they go?  In the Waco area, there are several activities including many sights and sounds that people of all ages can enjoy.  Several students never learn about these events.

One of the most enjoyable activities that people of all ages enjoy is high school football.  Within 10 miles of Baylor, one special state runner-up team will play under the Friday night lights.  This team is Waco Midway.  Another state runner-up team, Waco La Vega, will play under the Friday night lights in the Waco area this fall.

At Waco Midway, two really big events will be going on throughout the season.  Last year to get the title game, Kent Bachtel had victories over such schools as Highland Park 41-36, Texas High 35-10 and Forney 35-12.   Expect to see a rebirth this year at Waco Midway as many key starters return to the field for the Panthers.

Head Coach Kent Bachtel will be retiring after 25 years as head coach of Midway.  During this dynasty, Bachtel has battled cancer, led his team to the state championship, and this year been named the Super Centex Coach of the Year by the Waco Tribune-Herald.  
The second big event at Midway this year is the building of their new football stadium.  Beginning this fall, the Midway Panthers will be building a new football stadium to get ready for the next year’s football season.  This has forced the Panthers to locate all of their home games off-site this year to Baylor’s Floyd Casey Stadium.

Midway’s first home game will be this Friday at Floyd Casey Stadium with a 7:30 P.M. kickoff.  Be sure to come early to the stadium to enjoy a pre-kickoff celebration.  

The Panthers are sure to bring a great crowd and competitive spirit.  Last season, several games had to be moved to Floyd Casey Stadium due to the lack of seating at Midway’s old Panther Stadium that sat 10,000.

Down the street at Waco La Vega High School another wonderful team will hit the field under the Friday night lights. Coming off a season with a 12-3 record, La Vega was second place in the state for Class 3A Division 1 football in the state of Texas.  Last year La Vega won their games easily with a 20 point edge over their opponents and all losses were within seven points.
  	
La Vega will be playing at their stadium for home games this fall.  The atmosphere at a home game is one that is unmatched for the area in class 3A football.  For a great game, attend the Abilene Wylie game at home on September 19 or the Waco Connally game on October 17.  Both teams bring a strong fan base to maximize the competitive spirit.  

From the personal experience of the staff at TXHSSports.com, the best hamburger and chili cheese fries at a high school football stadium resides at Waco La Vega. 

To find out more information and get directions to these games, please navigate to  TXHSSports.com each week as Midway and Waco La Vega progress throughout the season.  

This has been your preview to the fall 2009 football season, check back next week as we have interviews and a lot more.  Thank you very much for listening.