La Porte (Texas) High School halfback Kendrick Perkins leaps over a Madison defender.

A trying, yet surprising, season has come to an end.

On Saturday, La Porte High School's football team lost to the defending Texas 5A Division 2 State Champion Katy Tigers, 42-0.

I'm sure it was still a momentous occasion in my hometown as it was only the third time the Bulldogs had reached the regional finals, and the first since 1993.

After starting the season 1-4, including a game that was canceled because of the devastation Hurricane Ike brought to the area, the "Dawgs" reeled off four straight district victories to nab the third, and final, playoff spot out of District 22-5A.

The final two victories over Pasadena and South Houston, by a combined score of 83-0 propelled the team into the playoffs, although they were expected to lose early like they had so many times before.

However, La Porte became the "Cinderella" by defeating Port Arthur Memorial, former district rival Clear Brook and Madison, 56-28, 49-27 and 27-17, respectively.

While they were trounced by Katy, which has won three state championships and appeared in another state final since 2000, the season was definitely a successful one.

The Bulldogs were led by junior halfback Kendrick Perkins, who is establishing himself as a workhorse back.

On the season, Perkins rushed for 1,752 yards and 25 touchdowns, but he really turned it on in the playoffs.

In the four playoff games, Perkins (6'3, 210 lbs.) carried the ball 108 times for 712 yards (6.59 ypc) and 11 touchdowns.

With another year left in his high school career, Perkins surely has put himself on the radar of many major college programs.

Perkins and fellow junior quarterback Ryan Williams hopefully will help my alma mater return to the regional finals, if not further.