SPORTS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Nocona, Gold-Burg return to field
By ERIC VICCARO
sports@bowienewsonline.com
Nocona’s Jack Crain will be packed Friday for the triennial Homecoming celebration, and Holliday will bring a strong contingent with them too.
Essentially the population of Nocona will double on Friday night as the Indians and Eagles square off in the District 5-3A-II opener.
Nocona coach Brad Keck said Holliday will be a tough team to deal with because the Eagles run the deceptive Wing-T and a solid odd-man front that’s yielded just 99 points through five games.
“The biggest thing is we are going to have to be disciplined on defense,” Keck said, “because there’s so much misdirection. We can’t be sucked in by their fakes.”
Jett Johnson, the son of head coach Frank Johnson, is the Holliday quarterback. Other players to watch are leading tackler Kyle Bowman at linebacker and junior safety Kade Patterson.
Keck said the break was good for Nocona.
“We shortened practices and gave the players time off here and there,” Keck said.
Luis Rico and Zach Boyd are questionable to play versus Holliday.
Keck said the game is important because it will set the tone for how district will play out. And there’s the question of whether Homecoming will motivate or distract the Indian players.
Gold-Burg at Bryson
Gold-Burg plays at Bryson on Friday as the Bears face a Cowboys’ squad that has outscored opponents 327-138 this season.
“They execute well,” Gold-Burg head coach Jay Johnson said. “They run everything from a tight shotgun to a spread. On defense, they are athletic and use a 2-3.”
Johnson said it was beneficial for the Bears to have two weeks to prepare for imposing Bryson. Many of the players also competed in the Rabbit Run at Bowie, which helped them with conditioning.
Brayden Houser paces Bryson’s offense with 874 yards passing, including 18 TD. Houser has also rushed for 310 yards. The Cowboys are averaging 393.6 yards per contest. Read more, and see standings, in the Oct. 5 Bowie News.
Nocona assistant coach Nathan Alling talks with Luis Rico (55) and Logan Barnes during a timeout. (News file photo by Eric Viccaro)
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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