Jayton’s Jace Chisum admits she’ll likely feel nervous when competing in her final state track meet Saturday.
The senior has earned silver medals in the Class 1A 3,200 and 1,600 the past two seasons in Austin. When Chisum lines up for the 3,200 that morning, it’ll mark her eighth state track race in four years.
But Chisum isn’t anxious because she’s diligently prepared for moments like this.
Ballinger coach Nathan Riggan spent the summer worrying about who was going to replace three-year starter Matilda Galvan at point guard.
The answer came about a week before school started when he got called down to the front office to meet Ballinger’s new student.
Ysée Le Borgne was a 6-foot-1 foreign exchange sophomore from France. Not only had she played basketball since she was 3 years old, but both her parents played and coached at a high professional level.
“Once she came out on the court that first day and I saw her handling the ball, I said, ‘There’s my point guard,’” Riggan said. “She’s everything for us. She’s our best defender, shooter, she can shoot from outside and she averages 3.4 blocks per game. She’s everything you’d want in a basketball player.”
Mike Reed didn’t get into coaching to win awards.
But the Gordon athletic director was honored to receive a prestigious honor last week when the National Federation of High School Coaches Association named Reed the 2024-25 Coach of the Year for boys track and field.
Of the 24 coaches across the country that were honored, Reed was the only one hailing from Texas. And he said it meant a lot to him because Reed feels like he’s been a supporter for small schools during his time at Rule, Throckmorton and Gordon.
Leading Cisco’s girls and boys basketball teams are hard-working coaches’ kids.
But it’s a unique situation in Eastland County for the Hearne and Kilpatrick families as both standouts play for the other’s father.
On a typical Tuesday night, boys coach Kevin Hearne can watch his senior daughter Pearson play for about three quarters before turning his full attention to the Loboes.
Gordon is one victory away from history.
Winners of 43 straight games, the Longhorns can capture their third consecutive state championship when they play at 11 a.m. Wednesday against Rankin at AT&T Stadium.
Gordon coach Mike Reed remembers the last time a Big Country team was attempting a three-peat at the Class 1A Division I level. Westbrook had a chance to pull off that feat in 2023, but instead a sophomore-heavy Longhorns squad overwhelmed the Wildcats 70-20.
Gordon hasn’t been tested in the two years since, but Reed cautioned that Rankin shouldn’t be overlooked now.
With 1,505 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns, it’s fair to say that Stephenville running back Zyler McClendon is having a special junior season.
Just don’t expect Yellow Jackets’ coach Sterling Doty to say he’s surprised by McClendon’s output.
“He got some good burn last year and he had a really good offseason,” Doty said as Stephenville prepares to face defending state champion Celina in the 4A Division I semifinals. “Sawyer (Wilkerson) graduated so he knew he had an opportunity to start and compete for carries.”
ALEDO — Graham may not have the playoff experience that it’s enjoyed in the past, but the Steers looked like a team peaking at the right time in a 32-0 victory over Godley Friday night.
By scoring on their first five possessions and limiting the Wildcats to seven first downs, Graham made sure there would be no late-game drama or upset inside Bearcat Stadium.
“We’re definitely going to enjoy this one,” Graham quarterback Jace Gill said. “You know, a lot of people are doubting us and some people didn’t even think we’d make the playoffs so it’s good to come out here and show they can do it under the Friday night lights in playoff time.”
Photos provided by Tommy Hays
Holt Frazier’s success as Brock’s starting quarterback isn’t a surprise to his head football coach.
After all, Billy Mathis watched the Eagles’ junior signal-caller have a great spring season of track. Which carried over into a strong summer that included 7-on-7 and never missing a workout.
But Mathis admits there was still a little bit of uneasiness until the action in August heats up.
“Once you start the season with a new quarterback, you just never know until you get in a game situation how the guys are going to respond,” he said. “We put him into the fire pretty quickly in scrimmages with Springtown and Stephenville.
Haegen Pinkerton isn’t a one-man show for Haskell’s football team.
But the junior quarterback is many things for the Indians this season. He’s a dual threat. He’s one of the best athletes in 6-2A Division II – if not the best.
He’s a three-year starter. He’s a hard worker and a leader. He makes an impact in multiple sports. And he’s motivated to lead Haskell to the playoffs after the Indians came up short last season.
More than anything, quarterback Tyler Jackson just feels comfortable running Hico’s offense.
The senior gained confidence during the Tigers’ state-qualifying 7-on-7 campaign and learned from playing the position the past two years.
But the game has slowed down now for Jackson, who is a key reason why Hico is entering district with a 4-1 record and averaging 40 points per game.
Gordon coach Mike Reed admits he may have bitten off more than he can chew this time.
The two-time defending state champion Longhorns are taking a break from six-man football this week.
Gordon is used to being a heavy favorite these past two years, but it’ll be an underdog Friday night when the Longhorns travel to Thorndale to play 11-man football.
When Craig Slaughter took over at Wall less than two years ago, he knew what needed to happen.
The Hawks had some special players coming through their football program. And Slaughter wanted those guys to get the ball in space.
While quarterback Landon York has generated his fair share of headlines, York has benefitted from a strong collection of receivers led by seniors Reid Robertson, Kellen Oliver and Hagyn Barbee.
Football holds a special place in the Dearth family’s heart.
James Dearth played in the NFL for more than a decade mostly with the New York Jets, specializing as a long snapper but also catching a few passes as a tight end.
His oldest son Kendall was a standout offensive lineman who played at Tarleton State. And now his youngest son is beginning his senior season as one of Stephenville’s key starters.
Dublin will rely on 15 seniors on its high school football team this season.
But don’t get the impression that the Lions’ success will solely be determined by upperclassmen.
That’s because Dublin will also rely on six sophomores to play pivotal roles in 2025 after most of them earned varsity snaps as freshmen.
Control what we can control.
That’s one of the messages Dublin coach Greg Hardcastle always preaches to his players no matter what the situation.
Last year the Lions lost their first seven games and had some injuries, but they were resilient enough to make the playoffs.
While a freshman playing football at Friends University in Kansas, a guest speaker challenged Brennan Whitaker to write out a few goals on a notecard.
Whitaker scribbled down that he wanted to be a head football coach before he turned 30 years old.
That notecard spent time in his dorm room, at his parents’ house and in his wallet, but it now can be found framed on a shelf in Whitaker’s coaching office at De Leon High School.
Brennan Whitaker has seen the magazine clippings and high school football predictions.
The first-year De Leon coach is well aware his Bearcats are highly ranked and expected to be a regional title contender.
But Whitaker also wants his players to know they shouldn’t buy into the hype. That’s why he sent them a video from a 2017 Nick Saban press conference where he compares the media’s hype to rat poison.
Changing from the spread to the wing-T takes time for every offensive player.
But it’s even more of a transition for the offensive linemen who must fire off the ball after being so used to pass protecting.
Second-year Bangs coach Colton Buzzard doesn’t hesitate in pointing out what needs to be better for the team to succeed this fall. And he has complete faith in his offensive line to take the next steps.
Colton Buzzard saw some good things during his debut season at Bangs.
But Buzzard also saw some missed opportunities as the Dragons finished with only two victories and went winless in District 5-2A Division I.
“We lost four close games last year, and to me, that’s a culture thing and a mindset thing,” Buzzard said. “We weren’t doing the right thing when we were tired. Our record could have been totally different.
The switch had already been made.
After spending his sophomore season as Goldthwaite’s starting quarterback, Aidyn Lee was looking forward to thriving in a new role as the Eagles’ slot receiver.
The move wasn’t a demotion — Lee had earned first-team all-district honors in leading Goldthwaite to a 7-5 season.
Andy Howard has seen Goldthwaite’s growth for some time.
But it wasn’t until the Eagles put together the program’s best season in a decade that Howard’s players could also realize the hard work had paid off.
Goldthwaite won seven games a year ago, including throttling then-No. 1 Mart 46-0 to end the regular season. The Eagles knocked off Maud in bi-district before falling to Grapeland in the area round.
HOLLIDAY – Hannah Wells’ prolific high school career is ending the only place it was meant to end.
But Wells and her Coahoma teammates had to play twice Saturday to ensure a trip to Austin would occur after S&S Consolidated snapped the Bulldogettes’ 90-game winning streak.
How would Coahoma respond after suffering its first defeat in more than two years? With complete domination.
Roscoe girls basketball coach Shella Arnwine admits it can be difficult for her to convey into words what these past few months have meant to her family.
Arnwine’s Plowgirls are having one of their best seasons in recent memory. They’ve already beaten Sonora and Smyer in the Region I-2A Division II playoffs and will face No. 10 Clarendon in the regional semifinals.
It’s been a hard last few months for Comanche’s J’Lee Salinas.
First there was the torn PCL in her knee that kept Salinas from playing the sport she loves all summer.
Then toward the end of volleyball season, the 5-foot-11 junior suffered a high ankle sprain that kept her out for more than a week.
But the icing on the cake was when Salinas’ back began hampering her once basketball season started.
Comanche basketball coach Diana Salinas, who also doubles as her mom, said it was a bulging disc that kept J’Lee from looking like the all-state player that she is.
Toby Goodwin never would have dreamt he would become a six-man football coach.
In fact, when Goodwin made his debut leading Ira’s football program in 1997 fresh out of college, it was only the second time he’d ever witnessed a six-man football game in person.
Goodwin never left Ira, amassing 237 victories in those 28 seasons. He also reached the pinnacle last baseball season when the Bulldogs captured the 1A state championship.
And now Goodwin has only one semester to add more coaching memories as he announced his retirement this week.
A coaching staple in the Big County is retiring after a 33-year career in the profession.
Mitch McLemore is stepping down from Haskell after a four-year run with the Indians that included three playoff appearances. McLemore has also spent time coaching in area towns Knox City, Big Spring and Stamford, where he helped win two state titles as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator.
“I’m going to be 59 in March, and 50 of those years I’ve either been a coach’s son, player or doing this,” McLemore said. “Half a century of my life has been associated with athletics and education in some sort of form and fashion.”
Photos by Kael Duncan
MINERAL WELLS – Graham is headed to the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2020.
The Steers have many reasons why they’re going to be playing in December, but the biggest reason is a defense that took some punches but held high-powered Glen Rose to three second-half points.
That enabled Graham to close out a 38-27 victory over the Tigers at a packed Ram Stadium. The Steers (12-1) advance to face Brock (12-1) for the Region I-4A Division II title, while the Tigers finish at 10-3.
Photos by Kael Duncan
MINERAL WELLS — It just wasn’t Tolar’s afternoon Friday in its Region II-3A Division II semifinal against Holliday.
The Rattlers couldn’t stop the Eagles’ high-powered offense. Neither could they run the ball against Holliday’s defense.
Tolar fared better in the second half after falling behind by 36 points, but it couldn’t make up the difference in a 46-20 loss.
GRAHAM – No. 2 Albany has a likely date circled with No. 1 Muenster next week.
But Denney Faith’s Lions weren’t going to overlook Archer City Thursday night at Newton Field.
Four touchdowns in an eight-minute span during the second quarter put the Lions in complete control as they eliminated the Wildcats 48-14.
Albany (10-2) will either face Muenster or Wheeler next week in the Region II-2A Division II semifinals, while Archer City finishes its season at 8-4.
“We weren’t going to look past Archer City. We needed to make sure we took care of this one,” Faith said. “They’re a little beat up, but so are we. We told our kids all week long, there’s no excuses now.”
GRAHAM — Sweetwater picked a poor time not to play its best.
The Mustangs got off to a slow start and struggled offensively as Vernon ended their season with a 28-9 decision Friday night at Newton Field.
The Lions (7-4) advance to face Amarillo River Road in the Region I-3A Division I area round, while the Mustangs drop their second straight game to finish at 6-5.
GRAHAM — Graham was dominant in the Big Country Preps Game of the Week from beginning to end.
From the time they drove the field on their first possession until Ozzy Trejo drilled a 50-yard field goal in the waning minutes, the fifth-ranked Steers left no doubt who the better team was in a 38-0 dismantling of No. 2 Brock.
The rout clinched the district title for Graham, which extended its scoreless streak to 22 quarters. Meanwhile, it was the Eagles’ worst loss in their brief 13-year history.
WICHITA FALLS — Feed Julius Laine. Feed Laine again. Then feed the Wylie junior tailback some more.
As Wylie and Wichita Falls Memorial kept swapping touchdowns Friday night in a crucial District 2-5A Division II contest, the Bulldogs’ strategy became obvious. Put the ball in the hands of its 220-pound bruiser and let a worn-out Maverick defense try to stop him.
The approach worked as Laine rushed for 268 yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries, the last of which moved the Bulldogs into scoring range. Kicker Noah Rehburg did the rest, drilling a 26-yard field goal at the buzzer to give Wylie a thrilling 45-42 victory on the road at Memorial Stadium.
WICHITA FALLS — Aaron Roan’s message to his Cooper football team after Friday night’s 24-7 loss against Wichita Falls Memorial was straightforward.
It’s still early in the 2-5A Division II race. And Roan still believes his Cougars are a good football team, better than their 1-4 record indicates.
The story of Cooper’s district opener at Memorial Stadium started and ended with missed opportunities. The Cougars drove into the red zone five times against the Mavericks, but they came away with only one touchdown.
Photos courtesy of Kael Duncan
ARCHER CITY – Anson’s start was definitely rough Friday night against Archer City.
The Tigers allowed two touchdowns in less than four minutes and were about to be punting from deep inside their territory.
That’s when Anson quarterback Corey Layne made a play, scrambling out of the Wildcats’ pass rush to convert a third-and-27.
Dublin coach Greg Hardcastle believes his Lions have something to prove this season.
After only winning three games over the past two years, Hardcastle knows Dublin won’t be appearing in any state rankings or at the top of district prediction lists.
But Hardcastle is only worried about what the Lions can control.
When Bangs wins its first football game of the 2024 season, it’ll mark the first victory in Colton Buzzard’s head coaching career.
He won’t have to look very far to celebrate with family, either.
That’s because Colton enticed his father Rusty Buzzard out of retirement, hiring the former Coleman head coach to be his offensive coordinator.
BANGS — Bangs will have its third head coach in the past three seasons, but that’s not the only thing new with the Dragons.
First-year head coach Colton Buzzard is bringing the Wing-T to Bangs as it looks to bounce back from a two-win season a year ago.
“We’re going to run more of a smashmouth, heavy-run type of offense,” said Buzzard, who was coaching defense at Gregory-Portland before landing his first head job. “It’s basically learning a whole new language, but they’ve been doing a good job.”
Buzzard played in the Wing-T offense growing up for his dad at Coleman, and he’d decided that when he became a head coach, that’s the offense he wanted his program to operate from.
BALLINGER — Jaylen Hernandez can feel the different mindset surrounding Ballinger’s team this year.
The strongside linebacker is one of several seniors leading the charge as the Bearcats get ready for life as a Class 2A program.
“I think we have a pretty big opportunity this year and have been working really hard,” Hernandez said. “We have a different mindset, and we have a chance to show people what we can really do.”
Goldthwaite coach Andy Howard mentions all the time how success can breed more success.
The Eagles’ success this fall hinges on an offensive line that returns four senior starters looking to return Goldthwaite to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Left tackle Jacob Ross, left guard Edmond Martinez, right guard Daniel Barrera and right tackle helped Goldthwaite finish second in Class 2A during the annual state lineman challenge over the summer.
GOLDTHWAITE — Andy Howard saw growth in his second season at Goldthwaite.
After a winless debut, the Eagles won three times last fall and were more competitive in a difficult district.
With 17 starters returning and a drop to Class 2A Division II, Howard is ready to unlock the next stage of his program’s rebuild.
“It’s a process. You’re going to see progress and then there’s days where you feel like you’re not advancing,” Howard said. “You have to stay in it day by day. It’s time for the process to start paying off some more.”
GRAHAM — It took Brock almost five innings to score in Thursday’s opener against Jacksboro.
With the Eagles’ season on the line Friday night in Game 2 of the Region I-3A championship series, Brock erupted for six runs in the first inning.
With Evan O’Connor throwing strikes, that was more than enough as the Eagles forced Game 3 with a 7-2 victory at Steers Stadium. The Region I-3A title will be decided at 7 p.m. Saturday at Weatherford College.
What impresses Brock baseball coach Koby Page more than the raw power or speed is center fielder Sawyer Strosnider’s mental approach to the sport.
“He just has this continual drive to improve. He’s constantly thinking of ways to fix something or how he can be better,” Page said. “He knows where he wants to be, has a goal set in mind and is definitely driven to get there.”
Strosnider has enjoyed the kind of success you’d expect from a TCU commit during his senior year. He enters the Eagles’ regional finals series against Jacksboro batting .537 with three homers, 49 runs and 46 RBI.
In fact, Strosnider has accumulated more extra-base hits (31) than singles (27) and has reached base an astounding 63 percent of the time. When the 2024 MLB Draft begins in a couple weeks, it’s a decent bet Strosnider has his name called.
Most Coahoma softball players only know what it’s like to end their season at the state tournament.
But not four-year varsity stalwarts Karleigh Burt and Brynn Rodgers. They were freshmen when the Bulldogettes lost in the third round of the 2021 playoffs to Jacksboro.
Knowing a trip to Austin wasn’t guaranteed, Burt and Rodgers have worked hard to ensure their senior season ended where they last two have. That’s exactly what’s happened as Coahoma (30-0) will face Whitesboro (32-7) at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Class 3A semifinals.
GRAHAM – Coahoma is headed back to Austin to defend its Class 3A title.
The Bulldogettes sucked all the drama out of the Region I-3A final with a 12-run second inning in Saturday’s winner-take-all matchup.
Coahoma is headed to the Class 3A state tournament after cruising past the Lady Hawks 12-1 in five innings. The Bulldogettes will play Whitesboro at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the semifinals.
It’s been a special year for Gordon’s athletics program.
The Longhorns captured their first state football title in more than two decades. The boys basketball team advanced to state, while both track programs won regional titles. Baseball has a chance to make a run, too.
This Saturday potentially could be the cherry on top as the Longhorns will enter as the favorite at the Class 1A Meet, while the Lady Longhorns should also be in the mix thanks to their relays.
Photos contributed by Bobby Brown
Griff Reel didn’t want a break.
A couple days after helping Jayton win its first state basketball title, Reel turned his attention to track.
Motivated by a second-place state finish in the 400 last year, Reel was looking to carry his junior season success over to the next sport.
Photos contributed by Amy Bohensky/Bronte Yearbook
Emily Jackson knows a thing or two about state track.
The Bronte senior’s trip to Austin for Saturday’s Class 1A Meet will be her fourth and final appearance.
In every year, she’s increased her state event total. After participating in both hurdles and the long jump as a junior, it’s only fitting Jackson is a five-event qualifier in her last trip.
There’s not a coach in Bangs’ girls athletic program that doesn’t get excited about the junior class.
Leading the charge on the softball diamond is Abby Wolf, who’s shaken off an early-season knee injury and helped the Lady Dragons to a district title.
Bangs (19-8) begins its postseason journey this week with high expectations as the Lady Dragons are looking to build off last season’s regional semifinal appearance.
Photos by Amanda Tabor
ALBANY — Kiana Roberson knows she can be a state champion this year.
After all, the Albany senior was close to accomplishing that feat twice last spring. Roberson was nine inches shy of gold in the Class 2A discus and a mere 2.5 inches shy in the shot put.
“When I got second last year at state, I was happy because it was better than the previous year,” Roberson said. “But with that being said, it just shows me it’s possible to win it all, and that’s my plan this year.”
As soon as Stamford’s football season came to an end, Jared Brady wanted to know when track season started.
The senior Bulldog loves track more than any sport. He’s a returning state qualifier who runs the 100 and both sprint relays. And he’s looking forward to ending his high school track career with another trip to Austin.
“This year I’ve put in blood, sweat and tears to making it this far, and I’m not done yet,” Brady said. “Medaling in Austin would mean that I’ve proven to everyone that I am a winner and that I can push beyond my limits.”