Author: Yale Youngblood

by Yale Youngblood

GAME STORY: Brock drops heartbreaker to Pottsboro in 3A state semis

FRISCO — For the second consecutive year, the Brock Eagles stood at the doorstep of a Class 3A state title game, only to have the welcome mat yanked from beneath them in gut-wrenching fashion.

Friday, the Pottsboro Cardinals did the dirty deed by way of a 36-35 win in a game for the ages at the Ford Center at the Star. An offensive battle that saw only two punts all night – one by each team – ultimately came down to a gem of a defensive play. Eagle running back Cash Jones’ “jump ball” pass to quarterback Jaxon Gleaton was picked off by Pottsboro’s Tyler Farris in the end zone with 45 seconds left, thus ending Brock’s season at 12-3. The Cardinals improved to 15-0 and will play the winner of Grandview and Columbus in the title game at AT&T Stadium next week.

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by Yale Youngblood

GAME STORY: Brock avenges district loss to Pilot Point, advances to state semis

BEDFORD — In a Class 3A regional final that featured a rematch between District 4 heavyweights Friday night, the Brock Eagles cashed in on their shot at revenge — pretty much literally.

With running back Cash Jones churning for 223 yards and a touchdown — and adding an interception, to boot — the Eagles avenged their only district loss by besting the Bearcats 31-21 at HEB ISD’s Pennington Field. With the win, the Eagles trumped Pilot Point’s 20-14 victory over them earlier in the year, ran their record to 12-2 and earned a spot in next week’s state Class 3A state semifinals against Pottsboro, which edged Gladewater 35-34 in overtime in another regional final Friday night. Pilot Point finished its season at 12-2.

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by Yale Youngblood

Fast start, big plays spark Haltom past Abilene High 28-14

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — Haltom’s quick-strike offense accounted for three big-play touchdowns, and that was enough to propel the unbeaten Buffalos to a 28-14 win over Abilene in a District 3-6A game Friday night that probably left the Eagles wondering, “What if …?” afterward.

Though the Buffs improved to 7-0 on the season and 3-0 in league play, Abilene High’s defense often put the clamps on a team that was averaging more than 50 points per game — and that had taken down perennial district kingpin Trinity 48-34 a week earlier.

It couldn’t stymie Haltom’s talented quarterback Michael Black three times, however, and that was pretty much the difference in a hard-hitting game. Black ran for a 51-yard score and threw a 51-yard touchdown bomb to Decorian Mitchell. At that, it was his third scoring play that showed why the Buffalos are so dangerous.

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by Yale Youngblood

Abilene High earns emotional win at Hurst Bell

BEDFORD — Sparked by big plays by the offense, defense and special teams, the Abilene High Eagles earned an emotional 28-7 win over the Hurst Bell Blue Raiders in a District 3-6A game Friday night at Pennington Field.

Just days after the passing of Coach Del Van Cox’s father, Nowlin “Corky” Cox, the Eagles struck quickly on a bomb and a blocked a field goal — and intercepted a pass at a key juncture in the game — to improve their record to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in district. Bell fell to 1-5 and 0-2.

Afterward, during Cox’s postgame speech to the squad, dozens of Eagles shouted, “We love you, Coach!” and then proceeded to give him a group hug after he congratulated them on their effort against the Raiders.

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by Yale Youngblood

Miscues cost Cooper in loss to Grapevine

DENTON — Cooper let one slip away Friday night — literally.

Taking advantage of a lost fumble, a pair of in-and-out-of-the-receivers’ hands interceptions and a slew of kicking game bobbles by the Cougars, Grapevine dealt the visitors a 31-13 loss at soggy Apogee Stadium. The venue, on the campus of the University of North Texas, served as the Mustangs’ home field because of construction on their own stadium.

Friday, it also served as a virtual rain gauge, as a steady showers sprayed the setting throughout the game, which was delayed for 30 minutes by lightening spotted in the area at the close of the first quarter.

The Cougars likely felt they had been struck by a figurative lightening bolt, as a number of potential Cooper possessions wound up with the ball on the ground or in their opponents’ hands at the most inopportune times.

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