SPORTS

Hear the pads pop

Published

12 years ago

08/08/2014

By ERIC VICCARO
and BLAKE WOOD
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net

An unrelenting, blistering heat was prevalent across Montague County during the summer of 2011, and that ultimately led to a change.
Brandon Owen, who is now Nocona’s offensive coordinator, advised head football coach Brad Keck move the first practice in pads to midnight.
The move has paid off for the Indians, who have made the playoffs every single year since.
“All week long, we put in plays,” Keck said. “I wanted to see how we would look in pads.”
Keck said the only way to tell if a player is performing aggressively or not is with pads on.
Friday at midnight marked the first time this season local teams could practice in pads, and Bowie and Nocona both participated in what’s termed “Midnight Madness” practice. Nocona’s session was inside Jack Crain Stadium and Bowie at Jackrabbit Stadium.
“It’s just a different an exciting for the kids,” Bowie head football coach Dylan Stark said. “If the kids like, then we like it, too.”
Both Stark and Keck said it was also a chance to see how the athletes would perform “under the lights” and with a crowd present.
Reportedly, the crowd was much larger in Nocona than Bowie.
“We’ve had a great response,” Keck said regarding the midnight training session.

During the first allowable practice of the season with pads on, Nocona High School worked on a drill called “Blood Alley” early Friday morning at Jack Crain Stadium in Nocona. Bowie also had a “Midnight Madness” practice. Click on the photo for the complete image. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)

SPORTS

Bowie softball team falls in area round

Published

3 days ago

05/07/2026

bowienews

Bowie softball had a historic season, where the squad made the postseason for the first time since 2019 and knocked a top seed from the playoffs, come to an end April 29.

No-4 ranked Tuscola Jim Ned got out to a quick start and took an 11-1, five inning win in the area round of the Class 3A Division I playoffs. Bowie had its season end at 19-15.

With a large crowd at Weatherford High rooting them on, Bowie took the field looking to knock out another top seed, as they did with Early last week.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.

SPORTS

Willett, Richey off to State

Published

3 days ago

05/07/2026

bowienews

Bowie will have two track athletes at the State track and field meet May 14 with top two finishes at the Region 1-3A track meet at Abilene Christian University May 1-2.

Tyler Richey finished 2^nd in the pole vault with a 15’ leap. Richey was also 9^th in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.39. Sophomore Braden Willett was 3^rd in the 1,600-meters with a school record best of time of 4:21.93. Willett was 4^th in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 9:29.71.

Several other Rabbits and Lady Rabbits competed at the regional meet. The 800-meter relay foursome of Colton Dosch, Richey, Finn Riddle and Jaxon White finished 6^th with a time of 1:30.24 while the 1,600-meter relay team of Dosch, Judah Livsey, Riddle and Blaine Leonard finished 8^th with a time of 3:30.76.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.

SPORTS

Fourteen track athletes head to State

Published

3 days ago

05/07/2026

bowienews

Saint Jo’s boys and girls track teams took top honors at the Region III-A track meet at Hewitt Midway High School May 1-2 and will send several athletes to the state track and field meet May 16 in Austin.

The boys were led by Damon Byrd who won both the long jump with a 22’9 ¾” leap and triple jump with a 45’ 10 ½”. Byrd also won the 100-meter dash with a time of 1.03 and was a member of the victorious 800-meter relay along with Trent Gaston, Barrett Johnson and Lee Yeley with a time of 1:30.80.

Yeley won the high jump with a 6’ leap. Byrd, Yeley, Dominic Luna and Gaston combined for a 2^nd-place finish in the 1,600-meter relay with a time 3:32.81. Gaston was 2^nd in the 110-meter hurdles with a tie of 16.09. Johnson was 2^nd in the 400-meter dash in 50.75, Ayden Giambruno was 6^th in the 3200-meter run in 11:05.24 with Yeley 8^th in the 200-meters with a time of 25.61.

For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.