SPORTS
Saint Jo Panthers fall to Gordon in the bi-district
The Saint Jo Panthers lost to undefeated, state-ranked Gordon on Thursday night to end their season in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
The Longhorns won 64-14, winning by mercy-rule in a game that looks on paper like a repeat of last year’s playoff loss against the same program.
Still, there were positives to take away from the game despite the final score.
Saint Jo came in as big underdogs against undefeated Gordon.
The Panthers knew the matchup was a big possibility if they did not win the district title which is why Coach Mark Stevens placed such on emphasis on their district game against eventual district champion Union Hill.
Still, Saint Jo was determined to give the Longhorns their best shot.
Unfortunately, the game started about as bad as a coach could hope.
After a tackle for loss on defense, the Panthers allowed Gordon to get loose for a long touchdown run on the second play of the game.
Then on offense, Saint Jo threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown on its first play.
The Panthers offense then was stopped on their next drive before the Longhorns took the ball down and scored fast to make it 24-0 after only four minutes of game action.
It was heading towards the 45-point mercy-rule kicking in at halftime with that type of pace, but Saint Jo rallied heading into the second quarter.
The Panther offense put together a scoring drive with Devin Stewart running for a 24-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 24-8.
Saint Jo almost scored again before halftime, but it was called back on a holding penalty. The Gordon led 40-8 at halftime.
After the Longhorns scored to start the second half, the Panthers scored on special teams when Stewart returned the kick-off back 77 yards for a touchdown.
Gordon picked up their intensity and scored three more times, with the last one coming with four minutes left in the game.
The Longhorns won by mercy-rule 64-14.
To read the full story, pick up a copy of the mid-week 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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