SPORTS
FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Rabbits are set for ‘Battle’
By ERIC VICCARO
[email protected]
Bowie High School head coach Dylan Stark is preparing for Battle on Friday. That’s Wichita Falls Hirschi running back Cedric Battle to be more precise.
“They run a spread offense,” Stark said. “They have a lot of good athletes and speed.”
Stark said Battle isn’t the only quality running back Hirschi has, despite the fact Battle is coming off a sensational season running for 1,571 yards and an eye-popping 21 touchdowns. He added 258 more yards receiving.
There was some question this summer whether Battle would transfer to DeSoto, but that never completely materialized.
Channel 6 sports director Adam Ostrow reported that Battle was practicing on Monday, and will “most likely play in some form” against Bowie.
Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, one of the larger venues Bowie will play in this season.
Hirschi is coming off a 7-4 campaign, and the Huskies were a bi-district finalist a season ago.
On defense, Hirschi features undersized but gifted linebacker Elijah Hull, who recorded 142 tackles in 2013. The Huskies also have talented defensive end Deshawn Herley (78 tackles, five quarterback sacks).
Stark said the outcome of the game might not come down to simple offense versus defense.
“In the first game, turnovers and special teams show up the most,” he said. “In the first game, we have to play sound football. If we take care of the ball and play well on special teams, that will give us a chance.” Read the rest of the story in the mid-week edition of The Bowie News.
Are you ready for some football?
Who: Bowie at Hirschi
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday
Where: Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls; Radio: KNTX 1410 AM.
Why it’s important: This marks the season-opening game for the Jackrabbits.
Bowie defenders did a masterful job of swarming Burkburnett’s running backs during last Friday’s scrimmage at Jackrabbit Stadium, and the team will need to do that again this Friday against Wichita Falls Hirschi. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)
SPORTS
Saint Jo hires new boy’s basketball coach
Saint Jo will have a new boy’s basketball coach this school year.
Jacob Nocktonick is coming to the district after spending the last two years at Bland as an assistant coach. It is his first head coaching job in basketball.
Nocktonick graduated from Princeton High School in 2015 where he played and loved basektball. He graduated in 2019 from Tarleton State University and despite playing basketball up until he graduated, he did not see coaching in his future. He worked for most of three years after college at a landscape supply company, but something was missing from his life.
“I realized after being out of it for three or four years, something was missing from my life that I really loved,” Nocktonick said. “That was playing the game I love and being around people that really love to be there.”
Nocktonick did not have much experience coaching before then, but through his experience at Bland, he knows he has found his true purpose.
“I missed that passion,” Nocktonick said. “I love it and love the kids I have been working with.”
Nocktonick is especially excited in his role in shaping young men for the future through basketball.
“At the end of the day, people aren’t going to remember me for my records,” Nocktonick said. “I get to touch lives in this role. It’s a lot different than other jobs because I have a lot of kids that look up to me. Even past players from Bland still hit me up, asking for life advice and it’s just different.”
He describes himself as the type of teacher who likes to climb up on his desk and get everyone involved more than just lecture through power point presentations. That extends to his coaching as well.
“I am extremely passionate and enthusiastic,” Nocktonick said. “I want kids to know when the time is to be serious, but know we are going to have fun, bond and become like family. I am not in this for the business. I am in this for the relationships.”
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
SPORTS
Bowie cheer earn camp awards
The Bowie cheerleading team went to cheer camp on July 13-16 at Texas Women’s University.
It was a good opportunity for the team to learn new things to take into the school year, according to cheer sponsor Destanie Curry.
“They learn their job is not to just lead the crowds in cheers, but they are ambassadors of their school and community and how to fulfill that role to the best of their ability,” Curry said. “Of course, they also learn stunt safety, new stunts, new cheer material and how to incorporate all this into pep rallies, routines and games.”
It can be intense, with campers expected to eat, sleep and breathe cheerleading from morning until night, staying positive and spiritful in everything they do since councilors are always watching and looking to see who will earn extra awards.
At the end of the four days, the Lady Rabbits cheerleading team took home several team and individual awards.
The team won one spirit stick daily and one on the final day. They were awarded each night to teams who demonstrated leadership, positive attitudes, excellent class participation and who respect and encourage one another, their coaches and staff.
Bowie earned its National Federation of State High School Association’s squad credential. The group earned Stunt SAFE, which was presented to teams that displayed excellent skills in spotting and stunt technique.
The final team award was in the Game Day Championship trophy. The competition included crowd involvement with a game day chant and cheer learned at the camp.
They were judged on crowd leading effectiveness, use of props, incorporation of stunts, technique and execution of skills.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week edition of the Bowie News.
SPORTS
Nocona new press box put into place
Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.
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