SPORTS

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: With heavy hearts, Nocona beats Alvord

Published

11 years ago

09/02/2015

From Staff Reports

With heavy hearts, the Nocona High School football team prevailed over Alvord 26-18 in the season opener for both schools.
“I think the town went through a whole lot (on Friday),” said Nocona head coach Brad Keck, referring to the death of Luke West due to cancer. “The kids knew of Luke, and they knew he was one of us.”
West played fullback and linebacker at Nocona in the 2000s. In 2009, Keck’s first year as Indians’ head coach, West was a senior on the team.
It seems everyone in North Texas was affected by West’s death. Luke’s uncle, Daylon, is the defensive coordinator at Bowie. Luke’s cousin Brent West is the head coach at Cisco, where uncle Kelly serves as the superintendent.
Fred West, Luke’s grandfather, was the head coach at Nocona from 2002-05. Luke passed away from leukemia at 23 years old.
West is the son of Dr. Randy and Sabrina West.
Nocona snapped a 13-game losing skid behind a poised sophomore quarterback in Jeremy James and an offensive line featuring Brendan Ramsey, Juan Mancilla, Barkley Hayes, Zach Boyd, Mack Hill and Peyton Crabtree.
“I think we blocked better, that was the whole key to it,” said Keck as the Indians generated 413 yards in total offense. Keck said James made few mistakes when in the pocket and Emmanual Gayton was able to see the hole, run through it and break tackles for extra yards. Read more, and see the complete boxscore, in the mid-week Bowie News.

The Nocona High School football team, coaches and cheerleaders gather around the No. 7 worn by deceased Luke West, a former Indian fullback and linebacker. West died last week from leukemia at the age of 23. (Courtesy photo by Todd Peterson)

SPORTS

Saint Jo volleyball opens with victory

Published

2 days ago

08/20/2026

bowienews

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.

SPORTS

Lady Indian VB falls in semis at Brock Tourney

Published

2 days ago

08/20/2026

bowienews

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.

SPORTS

Area teams hit gridiron for scrimmages

Published

2 days ago

08/20/2026

bowienews

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.