SPORTS
High School football teams wrap up acclimatization period
The first week of high school football practices wrap up this week and for the majority of the players, their acclimatization period.
This is a five-day period every high school football player must go through nowadays before they can strap on pads.
There is only so much you can do practicing football in shorts, shirt and helmet. Tackling with any type of force is frowned upon or prohibited due to injury risks.
Lineman don’t get to practice all the hand fighting and physical play their positions require. Skill position players don’t get used to throwing and catching the football with their shoulder pads, which is always an adjustment.
The acclimatization period was not always a thing, but as people have become more aware of the dangers of heat stroke during preseason practices in football at all levels, it is now here to stay and for the better.
The most famous example was in the NFL when offensive lineman Korey Stringer died in 2001 due to heat stroke. If a professional football player could die, what about the nearly million high school football players that start practicing in August.
The deaths were few, but consistent every year as some teenagers lost their lives. Even with coaches no longer able to keep water from their players since the belief it showed weakness was proven wrong, more was needed.
Two-a-days are a thing of the past for the most part at all levels of football. Coaches now try to avoid the hottest parts of the day for at least the first week of practice.
The five-day acclimatization period is here to stay and needs to be worked around when it comes to football practice.
For a new coaching staff like Nocona Coach Blake Crutsinger’s, it is a good excuse to take things slow as there is a lot to learn.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
In its’ second consecutive playoff trip, Bowie’s volleyball team gave it a valiant effort against San Angelo Texas Leadership Charter Academy. The Eagles proved to be too much with an athletic frontcourt proving too much in a 3-0 win (25-20,25-21,25-18) Oct. 29 at Breckenridge High.
Bowie led midway though all three sets but the Eagles were able to come from behind and pull out the win.
The Eagles got out quickly with a 5-0 lead in the opener. The Lady Rabbits showed some gumption and stormed right back with a Taelyn Webb dink breaking serve. Junior Molly Enlow rolled off four points to knot the game at five. KP Rutherford’s kil kept the drive alive.
Olivia Stewart’s kill set the stage for Serenity Klump’s three-point string. Frontcourt work by Ellie Mowery and Stewart allowed Bowie to take a 10-9 lead. Bowie maintained the lead thanks to dinks by Abby Reneau and Stewart, which forced the Eagles into a timeout.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
In its first playoff game of 2026, Saint Jo took control after a slow start and wound up cruising past Garner 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-16) in a Class A area round game Nov. 2.
The Lady Panthers will face Strawn, which swept Crowell in the area round, next. No further details were available as of press time.
The Lady Longhorns showed they were ready to play in the early going, getting out to a 9-4 lead in game one. Saint Jo broke serve and used a pair of Kamron Skidmore points, aided by Savannah Hill kills on both points to get within one.
Garner led by six midway through the set before Hill’s five-point serving run, helped along by a Skidmore kill to draw within 13-14. A Skidmore kill was followed by two Skidmore points, including an ace, to tie the game at 19.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Several county schools will have runners at the state cross country meet Nov. 7 at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.
Bowie, which qualified for regionals with a 3rd place finish at the District 6-3A Meet, will have both Brayden Willett and Kellen Rater, who finished in the top 10 individually. Willett finished 3rd in the Class 3A Region I Meet in Lubbock with a time of 16:17.20. Kellen Rater finished 10th with a time of 16:51.60.
Other Rabbits competing were Hayden Cox with a time of 18:56.30, Hayden Sutton in 19:41.60, Taven Melton in 19:59.20. Coleman Holloway in 20:26.80and Jaxon Castro in 20:56.10.
The top 10 individuals and top four teams from each region qualify for State.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News
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