SPORTS
Coaches react to Texas Football district predictions
The Dave Campbell Texas Football magazine is on stands now.
Affectionately called “The Bible” for its all encompassing preview of Texas High School football, along with team previews for every school there are also district predictions.
With it being the first year of district realignment, some districts are more shaken up than others. Along with the breadth of trying to cover the whole state, district predictions are surface level at best.
Of all the teams in Montague County, Saint Jo has the most positive expectations. The Panthers are not only picked to win their district, but also were ranked 15th in the state in 1A division I.
Coming off a trip to the state quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Blum, Saint Jo lost a lot of starters to graduation.
Still, the team returns some great players that has kept expectations high.
“I kind of figured going in what everyone had returning it would be us and Bryson,” Coach Mark Stevens said. “We have (Logan) Brawner and Chance Bennett returning so that gives us a good place to start. Obviously we are thrilled, but after being picked to finish last last year, it just shows we are gaining some respect around the state.”
Other teams in the county district predictions are not quite as glowing, though most coaches are seeing it as a positive tool to use for motivation among the players.
“Our kids have worked hard and they know we are better than last place in the district,” Bowie Coach Cory Mandrell said. “It ticks you off, but hopefully we can use it to prove people wrong. You can’t blame them though. We went winless last year.”
“I am fired up about it,” Nocona Coach Rick Weaver said. “It is bulletin board material. I can hang it up in the locker room and say how no one is believing in us. Our goal is to make the playoffs.”
“I don’t normally put a lot of stock into that,” Forestburg Coach Trey Cumby said. “I am more focused on what we are doing in our program. We were not picked to do well last year and we won the district. It might be some good motivation for our guys.”
Its county and district opponent Gold-Burg is picked to finish fourth after the young team struggled to a winless season last year.
With almost the full team returning, the team can try build on the end of last season when a couple of competitive games rounded out the year.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
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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