Some people like to write off the non-district portion of their football schedules, labeling it as meaningless. Some people even like to refer to it as “preseason.”
Well, that’s a misnomer. Preseason games are known as scrimmages.
Nondistrict games count on your official record, they are part of players’ season statistics, they contribute to our state records, they influence statewide rankings and like it or not, many of them are quite important.
I’ll give you a prime example.
Friday in Tuscola, our Big Country Preps Game of the Week will feature the Wall Hawks (2-0) facing Jim Ned (2-0) in a contest that doesn’t mean a thing in terms playoff seeding. Yet it will mean a great deal for both teams to prep for what they hope will be lengthy playoff runs.
Win or lose, this is a “value game” as I call it, for both clubs.
For Wall, which might be a double-digit favorite in every game following its visit to Tuscola, this week’s game represents a chance to go four quarters under pressure – something the Hawks still haven’t tasted this year after lopsided wins over Mason and Brownwood.
To a lesser extent the game is meaningful for Jim Ned, which still has potentially close games with Jacksboro and Holliday on its plate before starting district play. Regardless, the Hawks will likely be the toughest club the Indians face during the regular season in 2025, giving them an important look at how elite clubs will attack and defend against them.
Toss in the fact that it’s a rivalry game and there’s nothing “preseason” about this thing.
“We see each other in huge moments all the time,” Wall coach Craig Slaughter said. “We play them in basketball, baseball, softball and track and we have a ton of respect for their coaches and their programs.
“I have no doubt this week that we’ll get the very best from our kids and Jim Ned will get the best from theirs.”
STAMFORD PASSES WEEK 2 GUT CHECK
Coming off a difficult 21-7 loss to perennial power Albany in Week 1, the Stamford Bulldogs could have folded the tent when trailing an explosive De Leon team last Friday.
Down 20-14 at the end of three quarters, the Bulldogs rallied with three unanswered touchdowns in the final period in a 33-20 win to even their record up at 1-1. This was a difficult moment for a team filled with new faces and one of those that the Stamford staff and players will be able to point to in the coming months as a major part of their maturing process.
Stamford’s road only gets tougher this week at Lubbock Christian (2-0), but clearly this will be a very good club once it starts clicking on all cylinders.
“I told our kids after that game that this was one of the best wins that I’ve ever been a part of,” Stamford coach Wayne Hutchinson said. “I’m just that proud of the way our kids showed grit and resilience and just basically said they weren’t going to be denied from winning that game.
“I know how good that De Leon team is. They didn’t graduate very many players from last year’s team and they gave our state finals team every bit that they could handle last year. So to come into that game and have our kids do what they were able to do (is special).
“I just can’t be more proud of our kids and coaches. It was just really a good win.”
Brady’s win at Mason is significant
After being handed a 48-7 loss by Wall in Week 1, the Mason Punchers may have been underestimated by some fans heading into last Friday. But Brady coach Jaron Roberts knew better.
Returning to the Puncher Dome for their home opener, the Punchers showed up as refocused and determined as Roberts expected, giving the Bulldogs all they wanted in a 24-22 win for Brady (2-0). This is significant, because Mason, regardless of the Wall outcome, is far better than what it showed against the Hawks.
Wall, as it will turn out, is a team with the potential to reach Arlington in Class 3A DII. Mason is a likely top 15 team in Class 2A DI, so the early lopsided loss really didn’t paint a clear picture. The Punchers will be salty in their classification and the fact that Brady went into their backyard to earn a tough win is noteworthy.
“We told our kids all week that we’d be getting the best version of Mason — a version we had not seen on film,” Roberts said. “I know they have a new coach, but they’re still Mason with a lot of tradition and a lot of pride and it was a fight for four quarters.
“We were extremely proud of our effort and our kids and it was the first time any of our kids have beaten Mason.”
HICO OUTPERFORMING EARLY PRedictions
With initial projections by most prognosticators placing Hico out of the playoffs in 2025, first-year coach Britt Hart clearly had a challenge ahead of him with only 12 returning lettermen to work with.
But there are early signs that the Tigers are better than expected. A 26-20 loss to Rio Vista as a 31-point underdog, followed by 38-6 win over Moody as a two-score favorite have gotten people’s attention.
And frankly, it should.
Closing non-district with Cross Plains (1-1), Itasca (0-2) and Florence (0-2) it’s not impossible for the Tigers to go into
District 5-2A DI with three or more wins, a bit of momentum and a shot at challenging for a playoff spot.
“I just think it’s a testament to our kids,” said Hart, who saw coaching stints at Falls City, Merkel and Stamford before coming to Hico. “They’re hungry and all the success we had in (7-on-7) carried over into the fall so far.
“Now, we’re by no means where we need to be and we have lots of improving to do. At Rio Vista, we shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times, fumbling inside the 10-yard line, or we might have been able to win that game. And last week, I thought we played well at times, but we had too many penalties. We went from having one penalty in the first week to having 10 penalties in the second week.
“So, we’re very inconsistent there and have to do a better job with a little more discipline. But not to take anything from our kids. They work extremely hard and I’ve got a great coaching staff.”
Stay tuned. This could be interesting.
ANSON NO LONGER A SECRET
While conducting our annual preseason photo tour, my stop at Anson gave me some hints about what is to come.
First-year coach Kyle Wheeler had a subtle confidence about the upcoming season that I made a mental note of before moving onto my next stop on the tour.
Now I understand it.
The Tigers (2-0) are off to a flying start with wins over Hamlin (49-6) and Archer City (56-0) and are beginning to have the look of a team that will not only challenge for a District 4-2A DI playoff spot, but also for the league title.
“A lot of our guys are returning starters from last year,” Wheeler said of the Tigers, who finished 8-4 last year. “Even though we lost (a couple of) key offensive weapons, we return every other skill guy and most of our offensive line. … We’re still growing as a team, but as for where we are after two weeks, we feel good about it.
“Our goal is to just keep improving every week and building on the confidence and success that we have from the previous week.”
Some people may scoff at that notion of Anson winning its district with the likes of Stamford, Cisco and Hawley in the mix. But thus far, the Tigers are looking as good or better than they have in more than five years.
One drawback: Anson’s crucial district games with Stamford, Cisco and Hawley are all on the road, so whatever seed the Tigers end up with, they will have earned it.