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.
Nocona got its new press box into place this week at Jack Crane Stadium. The old press box, which was in place for more than 60 years, was taken out in early June and moved to Indian Valley Raceway. The new press box was by the Southern Bleacher Company out of Graham. Athletic Director Black Crutsinger said they looked at a lot of press boxes and decided they liked the one at Lindsay High School and went with that model. Sean Hutson operated the crane from the Hurd Crane Service that put the press box up for Nocona.
Sunset native Cason Richey (right) and his team roping partner Beldon Cox from Weatherford repeated as the International Finals Youth Rodeo champions last weekend at Shawnee, OK. Richey and Cox won the previous year and were able to complete the repeat by catching three steers in a combined time of 16.6 seconds. Richey is expected to compete attend Texas Tech University this fall and compete on the rodeo team.
The Chisholm Trail Youth Rodeo had its awards ceremony this week, giving out plaques and buckles to the top competitors throughout the summer season.
There were four age categories with five events to compete in for the young athletes.
Along with the best results in each event, at the end the overall best cowboy and cowgirl in each age division was awarded as well.
The lead line division, in which an adult helps the young competitors, saw Rylee Stewart win the first in poles, barrel racing and mystery event on her way to win top cowgirl.
Hattie Snow got the fastest time in the flags event and Lany Shupak got the fastest goat time. Riggin Bishop got named the top cowboy in the division.
In the eight-and-under division, Whitley Goins won the top cowgirl and Trell Carpenter won top cowboy. Goins got the fastest times in barrel racing, flags and mystery event. Carpenter got the fastest time in poles and goats.
In the 9-12 age division, Sage Keck won the top cowgirl while Chisum Carpenter won the top cowboy. Keck got the fastest times in four of the five divisions. Only Layna Taylor getting the fastest goat time prevented her from winning in a clean sweep.
In the 13-18 age division, Tess Egenbacher won the top overall cowgirl award.
Kiley McCracken won both the barrel racing and flags event. Emma Strahan won the poles and mystery event. Hadlee Bryan won the goats event.
There was no top overall cowboy in the age division.
To see the times for the winners of each event in all four age categories along with pictures of all of the top cowboys and cowgirls, pick up a copy of the weekend edition of the Bowie News.
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