Believe it or not, there is a huge difference between a 1-2 start and an 0-3 start — especially when that victory comes in Week 3.
So when a team has dropped its first two games, the players are facing a crossroads — one with momentum which is one win away from hitting the .500 mark. Or, one with an emotional hole to dig themselves out of — three games under .500 with no momentum and a battle to retain their confidence.
A number of teams in the Big Country Preps coverage area reached this crossroads on Friday, with Brownwood, Comanche, Bangs, Forsan and Winters all scoring wins.
LIONS NOTCH FIRST WIN WITH VICTORY AT GLEN ROSE
After taking it on the chin twice in losses to Abilene Wylie (25-0) and Wall (35-10), the Brownwood Lions and first-year coach Jeryl Brixey were in need of some positives to build on Friday night at Glen Rose.
They got it in the form of a 34-28 win which saw Brownwood hold off a late rally by the Tigers.
“I’ve been down that road,” Brixey said of slow starts. “And it just snowballs every week and down the road you might lose some games you could have won just because the kids have lost faith in what you’re doing. So it’s huge to get (a win) and get that taken care of.”
Now the Lions have a positive example to point to — one which illustrates that they’re capable of winning when they begin to do things correctly.
“We’re getting better every week, for sure,” Brixey said. “And defensively, I felt like our kids played really, really well. We scored two defensive touchdowns and offensively we’re getting better. Statistically, we just had our best game.”
COMANCHE REBOUNDS WITH WIN OVER EASTLAND
Coming off a pair of losses to Caddo Mills (54-24) and Llano (62-23), the young Comanche Indians were not only winless but had yet to come close to winning a game yet.
Another loss at that stage would have made a turnaround all the more difficult. But Friday night with Eastland paying them a visit, the Indians scored a 42-14 win to capture their first real taste of momentum.
“We were fortunate to get a win in our first home game,” coach Jake Escobar said. “Our kids did a great job of accomplishing some things early on.
“It wasn’t easy. (Eastland) came ready to play.”
BANGS RALLIES FOR WIN OVER GRAPE CREEK
The Bangs Dragons had fallen to 0-2 despite being competitive in losses to Early and Merkel. So when they trailed Grape Creek 20-11 after three quarters on Friday, nobody hit the panic button.
Nonetheless, the pressure was there.
“Just getting that first win takes some stress off of your shoulders,” coach Colton Buzzard said. “I’m just so proud of the kids for fighting back and getting that first ‘W.'”
Having been competitive early on, the Dragons knew things will go their way sooner or later. That moment came in a 20-point fourth quarter that saw Bangs (1-2) overtake Grape Creek for a 31-26 win.
“We got a couple of calls that helped us, but that’s how the game goes,” Buzzard said. “But the kidscame out victorious for the first time this season.”
WINTERS FIRST-YEAR COACH SNAGS VICTORY NO. 1
At 0-2, Winters had fallen to two still-unbeaten teams in Frost (45-21) and Munday (47-0). So when Sterling City (0-3) came to town on Friday, it gave WHS a physical advantage in its home opener.
Winters made the most of that with a 24-14 win to break into the win column and give first-year coach Ryan Pannell his first win. Pannell, a likeable sort who isn’t afraid to let you know how he’s feeling, was admittedly feeling a lot better in the wake of the victory.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a major relief,” Pannell said. “It’s human nature to worry about if the kids will continue to buy in if we don’t get this one done. And how will the community react if we don’t take care of our home opener?
“Those are real thoughts that I had. … I just believe in honesty and we talked about that. We had to overcome a lot of adversity and the kids really performed.”
FORSAN COMPARTMENTALIZES TWO BLOWOUT LOSSES, THEN RALLIES TO BEAT STANTON
On the subject of adversity, perhaps no team in the area was facing more of it than injury-riddled Forsan, which came out of the gate with blowout losses to Coahoma (60-8) and Post (64-6).
So when the Buffaloes trailed Stanton 33-14 at halftime on Friday, it would have been very easy for the wheels to come off and I’m sure many people expected it.
Well, it didn’t happen.
Instead, Forsan rallied with 20 unanswered second-half points for a thrilling 34-33 win to give first-year coach Casey Thompson an unforgettable first victory.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our kids and coaches,” Thompson said. “Their resiliency to continue to show up and put in the work and trust and believe in the process was (huge).”
I’ll say it was, but Thompson deserves some of the credit.
Any guy capable of getting a team to turn on a dime like this is worth keeping an eye on.