SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Plenty of time for Nocona to prepare
By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@gmail.com
The Nocona High School football team spent its bye week getting a crash course on Henrietta.
The course deals with finding ways to stop Riley Watson, the Bearcats’ dangerous quarterback who guided the team to a recent 30-26 victory over Bowie.
“The bye is right where we want it, before district,” Nocona head coach Brad Keck said. “It gave us a chance to get healed up.”
Unlike last year, Nocona has remained healthy, and the full compliment of players should be available as the Indians begin District 2-3A-II play at Henrietta at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
Nocona has been working on the fundamentals and making sure the defense makes the right reads, especially when dealing with Watson.
“Henrietta is a good football team and the kids are excited about the game,” Keck said.
Henrietta runs a spread offense and plenty of Bearcats will get touches with the ball. Keck said it all begins with stopping Watson.
“We have to contain him because he makes their whole offense click,” Keck said.
Nocona also will contend with a Henrietta defense that enjoys stunting and blitzing. The Indian offensive line has been working on blitz pick-up while running Henrietta’s scout team. Read more, including other game previews and summaries, in the mid-week Bowie News.
Nocona’s Jeremy James scampers to the outside on a run during the Indians’ game at Ponder from Sept. 11. The team had two weeks to prepare for Friday’s game at Henrietta. Click on the image itself for the complete photo. (Courtesy photo by Todd Peterson/Nocona Independent School District)
In its first match since last year’s state semifinal appearance, Saint Jo hosted Bryson Aug. 11 and took a 25-13, 25-12, 25-21 win over the Cowgirls.
The Lady Panthers lost some talent to graduation but have five seniors ready to have a successful season. Savannah Hil, one of the five, got Saint Jo rolling offensively with a four-point serving string, including a pair of aces. Abby Carter’s kill and Kamron Skidmore’s block helped put the Lady Panthers up 5-2 in game one.
Hadleigh Moore added a four-point string of her own to extend the lead to 10-3. Tatum Morman’s pair, helped by a Hill kill, gave Saint Jo a 14-5 lead. Bryson got within five before a Hill 3-pointer, with help by a Carter kill, put the lead back at 18-10.
After an Olivia Johnson kill broke serve, Jordyn O’Neal served up the final five points, with Johnson providing a kill to move things along.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Despite being the smallest school in the Brock varsity classic volleyball tournament, the Lady Indians finished 4th out of the eight teams there.
After losing to the host team in its first pool play match Aug. 14 18-25, 14-25 and also to Class 3A Wall 12-25, 8-25, Nocona rebounded to close out pool play with a 20-25, 25-23, 25-20 win over Christoval. Sy Parker had 16 kills and 7 blocks in the three matches. Raylea Bowles had 12 kills, 17 digs and served up three aces. Maddyn Bowles had seven kills and 14 digs while Paige Davis had seven kills and 15 digs. Baylee Thomas added 11 digs.
From the setter spot, Kasi Castro had 20 assists, served up five aces and contributed 14 digs. Leah Meekins added 18 assists and six digs during the three matches.
To open Saturday’s bracket play, the Lady Indians posted a 25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 25-19 win over Fort Worth Christian. Castro staked Nocona to a 2-0 lead in game one. Kills by Parker set up pairs of points from Raylea Bowles and Leah Meekins helped Nocona negate an early deficit and take a 10-9 lead.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
County football teams had their first scrimmage of the season Aug. 14 with mixed results.
Forestburg hosted Azle Christian and Victory Christian. Under a new system with new head coach Cori Hayes, the Longhorns looked pretty good in the coach’s eye.
“The first team looked good,” Hayes explained. “Overall we need to work on our pace and blocking assignments and blocking assignments. Overall we looked good for the new regime.”
Forestburg hits the road to scrimmage Newcastle Aug. 21.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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