By ERIC VICCARO
bnewssports@sbcglobal.net

Bowie High School head coach Dylan Stark is preparing for Battle on Friday. That’s Wichita Falls Hirschi running back Cedric Battle to be more precise.
“They run a spread offense,” Stark said. “They have a lot of good athletes and speed.”
Stark said Battle isn’t the only quality running back Hirschi has, despite the fact Battle is coming off a sensational season running for 1,571 yards and an eye-popping 21 touchdowns. He added 258 more yards receiving.
There was some question this summer whether Battle would transfer to DeSoto, but that never completely materialized.
Channel 6 sports director Adam Ostrow reported that Battle was practicing on Monday, and will “most likely play in some form” against Bowie.
Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium, one of the larger venues Bowie will play in this season.
Hirschi is coming off a 7-4 campaign, and the Huskies were a bi-district finalist a season ago.
On defense, Hirschi features undersized but gifted linebacker Elijah Hull, who recorded 142 tackles in 2013. The Huskies also have talented defensive end Deshawn Herley (78 tackles, five quarterback sacks).
Stark said the outcome of the game might not come down to simple offense versus defense.
“In the first game, turnovers and special teams show up the most,” he said. “In the first game, we have to play sound football. If we take care of the ball and play well on special teams, that will give us a chance.” Read the rest of the story in the mid-week edition of The Bowie News.

Are you ready for some football?
Who: Bowie at Hirschi
When: 7:30 p.m., Friday
Where: Memorial Stadium, Wichita Falls; Radio: KNTX 1410 AM.
Why it’s important: This marks the season-opening game for the Jackrabbits.

Bowie defenders did a masterful job of swarming Burkburnett’s running backs during last Friday’s scrimmage at Jackrabbit Stadium, and the team will need to do that again this Friday against Wichita Falls Hirschi. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)