SPORTS
Saint Jo’s gridiron slate will present challenges
By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net
Since dropping down to 6-man football, Saint Jo High School has qualified for the playoffs in five of six seasons.
However, the Panthers have only one playoff win to show for their hard effort.
Head Coach Chad Tallon and his senior-laden team have loftier goals this season, but a tough district slate awaits the Panthers.
“It’s a tougher district than we have been in the past,” Tallon said, “but, that’s going to make for some better football.”
Newcastle joins District 9-1A Division I this season, with new coach John Eli taking the reign of the Bobcats alongside veteran quarterback Ryan Hardin. During the 2013 campaign, Hardin amassed 644 yards and 14 total touchdowns.
“Newcastle has made some deep playoff runs,” Tallon said.
Tallon said Bryson will have plenty of speed in the backfield with the running tandem of Ethan Chambers and Marc Shafer. Tioga enters University Interscholastic League play this season, after spending last year as an independent.
The district opener is Oct. 24 at Tioga, followed by a home clash with Newcastle and the Panthers finish the season on the road at Bryson.
The schedule features games with Montague County rivals Gold-Burg on Sept. 12 and at Forestburg on Oct. 3. The contest versus Gold-Burg will serve as the Panthers’ homecoming.
“It’s rivalry football,” Tallon said. “It’s good for our program and for the county that we play each other. These small communities get behind their kids and support them.”
Tallon said he wanted to get a variety of looks to defend during the August scrimmages. See more on this story and a complete Saint Jo schedule in the mid-week edition of The Bowie News.
Saint Jo Panthers
Nocona’s volleyball team headed to Bowie for a three-team scrimmage with the host team and Ponder Aug. 7.
Each team played the other two for 30 minutes in the Lady Rabbit gym. Lady Indian Coach Sandy Langford said she thought things went well for a first scrimmage.
“Just like any young team that is trying to find itself in a first scrimmage, We looked really good at times and at others not so much,” Langford said. “We’re forming a new team after losing a lot of seniors.”
Langford said the squad would have one thing go wrong and it would explode into several things. That will need to stop for a successful year in Langford’s mind.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Bowie’s tennis team is now 3-3 for the non-district campaign with a 1-2 week.
In the Rabbits’ home opener Aug. 5 against Graham, Bowie posted a 13-6 match win with the girls completing a 9-0 sweep.
Jessi Mayfield and Angeles Alvarez won 9-8 (7-4) while Payton Goodwin and Maddie Schwarz were 8-1 winners as were Avery DeWeber and Avery Bonham.
In girl’s singles Willow Seibert won 8-2 in No.1 1 singles. Goodwin and Mayfield were each 8-5 winners. Alvarez posted an 8-1 win. Schwarz won 9-8 (8-5) with Deweber taking an 8-2 decision.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Two major portions of Nocona’s 2023 bond issue are very close to being completed.
The new high school gym should be complete in time for the volleyball team to begin practice there Aug. 1, according to Superintendent Dr. David Waters. Ground on the 22,000 square foot facility was broken on Oct. 18, 2024.
Waters said a punch list meeting with the construction manager was scheduled for earlier this week with final touchups expected shortly afterwards. Fans should be able to enjoy the facility for the volleyball team’s season opener Aug. 11.
Fans will enjoy the new gym from entering the facility which has glass walls, enabling fans to watch the game from the foyer. Once inside the gym itself, there is stadium, chair back seating on the home side allowing for a much more comfortable experience.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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