Category: Anson Tigers

by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jaybird takes our final award for 2025 with remarkable effort

In helping the Jayton Jaybirds to a second-straight state title last week, senior running back Bode Ham not only produced the top game in our coverage area, but his performance will likely remain part of six-man lore forever. 

With Jayton topping Richland Springs 99-54, Ham’s numbers were nothing short of shocking, with 430 yards rushing and a state championship record 10 TDs on 28 carries. 

For good measure, he was 3 of 4 through the air for 118 yards and an additional three scores, giving him 548 total yards and a direct hand in a state championship-record 13 touchdowns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

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Carter Toof
by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cisco guard captures award with amazing week

If you were told that the Big Country had a possible boys basketball star in the making, where would you guess he was from? 
Jim Ned? Eula? San Saba? 

While those choices often make sense, there is a rising star on the block from an area that is seldom attached with basketball greatness. His name: Carter Toof, a junior from Cisco where pigskin has served as the athletic identity of the school for more than two decades. 

Named as our Big Country Player of the Week for the week ending Dec. 13, Toof, a gifted guard, earned our accolade with a performance that bordered on scary. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Graham senior Jace Gill takes this week’s accolade

Not only is our Big Country Preps Player of the Week holding down the top spot with big numbers, but his performance in Graham’s 35-28 area round win over Lubbock Cooper Liberty was a virtual seminar on poise. 

Helping the Steers (9-3) to overcome three separate deficits, senior QB/kicker/punter Jace Gill was 15 of 28 for 239 yards and three TDs. He also rushed 12 times for 118 yards and another score. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Abilene High’s Henry takes award after record-setting performance

You have to love a great all-around performance and in the case of Brayden Henry, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, his effort in last week’s 84-25 bi-district win over El Paso Bel Air was a record-setter.

Aside from going 6 of 7 through the air or 56 yards and one TD, he also rushed five times for 137 yards and three more scores.

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 11 REPORT: Cisco, Anson, Hawley all headed for the playoffs

Cisco 56, Olney 24 — Colby MciLroy threw for 143 yards and two TDs and Cody Gayle rushed for 96 yards and another score to help Cisco (9-1, 5-0) to a lopsided win over Olney.

Colbin Harrison was McilRoy’s top target, hauling in two catches for 89 yards and two scores.  

Cisco improved to 9-1 with its ninth straight win over Clyde in Week 1.

Olney fell to 3-7 and 1-4.

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 10 REPORT: Cisco, Stamford, Hawley continue their winning ways

Cisco 35, Anson 14 — Colby McIlroy rushed for 169 yards and one score and threw for 95 yards and another TD to lift Cisco to a district-clinching win over Anson. 

Leading 21-14 at the break, the Loboes iced the game with a pair of unanswered touchdowns in the second half. 

The Loboes improved to 8-1 and 4-0 with the win; Anson fell to 6-3 and 1-3. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall quarterback Landon York snags this week’s accolade

What more can be said about the performance of Wall senior Landon York last week other than it was a model of efficiency?
Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week shredded Grape Creek in a 48-0 district win to clinch the District 4-3A DII championship.

Along the way, York connected on 18 of 21 throws for 246 yards and get this: seven touchdowns. That means one out of every three throws resulted in points. 

How good of a night did he have? How about a ridiculous quarterback rating of 294.1?

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 9 REPORT: Anson snaps losing skid, Cisco rallies to stop Hawley, Stamford tops TLCA

Anson 54, Olney 15 — The Tigers snapped a two-game losing streak with a lopsided win at home over the Cubs. 

Hunter Teichelman threw for 334 yards and five scores and added one rushing touchdown to pace Anson (6-2, 1-2) which put itself in an excellent position to earn a playoff spot with the win. 

Alex Lozano (four catches, 136 yards, two TDs) and Malachi St. John (seven catches, 114 yards, two TDs) were Teichelman’s targets of choice. 

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: Stamford tops Anson; Hawley and Cisco coast

Stamford 28, Anson 21 — Stamford entered this game as an underdog in the view of many, but left as the victor after forcing four Anson turnovers. 

Limited to only 185 yards in total offense for the night, the Bulldogs (4-3, 1-1) still managed to build a 28-6 first-half lead before hanging on for the win. 

Despite piling up 371 yards in total offense and outgaining Stamford by nearly 200 yards, Anson (5-2, 0-2) dropped its second straight game after a 5-0 start. 

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 7 REPORT: Hawley, Olney, Cisco open district play with wins

Hawley 32, Anson 26 — Aiden Romo threw for 214 yards and four scores to lead Hawley (4-2, 1-0) to a huge win over previously unbeaten Anson in the district opener for both clubs. 

Hunter Teichelman led Anson (5-1, 0-1) with 314 yards passing and two scores. 

Anson will face Stamford (3-3, 0-1) in a crucial matchup next Friday; Hawley will travel to Olney on the same evening. 

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 6 REPORT: Olney wins while the rest of the league enjoys a night off

Olney 33, Crosbyton 0 — The Cubs (2-3) were the lone districts member to hit the field on Friday and came away with a win over struggling Crosbyton.

Tucker Cortinez threw for 343 yards and four scores to lead the Cubs.

The victory was the second in succession for Olney, which travels to Abilene TLCA next Friday.

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 5 REPORT: Cisco, Hawley, Stamford, Anson all collect wins

Cisco 65, Frenship Memorial 13 — The Loboes rolled up 500 yards in total offense including 321 on the ground in a lopsided win over Memorial. 

Noah Hernandez rushed for 108 yards and one score on four carries and Colby Mcilroy threw for 179 yards and three scores to led Cisco (4-1), which charted its fourth straight win. 

Memorial dropped to 3-2. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Anson remains unbeaten behind defense, St. John

ANSON — Friday’s Big Country Preps Game of the Week was expected to be a street fight of sorts, pairing off Albany and Anson —two of the more physical small school teams in the area. 

It didn’t disappoint. 

Anson (5-0), behind a top-notch defensive effort and a big night from Malachi St. John, shut down an Albany rally attempt in a 20-6 win to remain unbeaten. 

Led by Shawn Keen’s 60 yards rushing and one score, Albany slipped to 3-2.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Anson plays host to Albany in 2A showdown

LAST WEEK: 38-10, .791
SEASON TOTAL: 199-56, .780

ALBANY (3-1) AT ANSON (4-0)

Nothing stirs my interest early in the football season more than having a surprise team square off with an established powerhouse. 

So when selecting our Big Country Preps Game of the Week for Sept. 26, Albany’s visit to Anson (4-0) was a big blip on the area radar screen. 

Albany (3-1) a perennial power coming off a loss to unbeaten Coahoma, will now face an Anson club that some believe is the biggest surprise in the Big Country thus far. 

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 4 REPORT: Comanche, Jim Ned, Breckenridge and Clyde notch wins

Comanche 36, Tolar 33 — Ladainian Smith rushed for 141 yards and three scores and Zaden Tello rushed for 103 yards and another TD to help Comanche even its record at 2-2. 

Tolar (2-2) was led by Briton Rice, who threw or 259 yards and three scores. 

Comanche will next see action when it travels to Early next Friday.  Tolar will play host to Breckenridge on the same evening. 

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 3 REPORT: Hawley, Anson and Cisco pick up victories

Hawley 51, Merkel 34 — This was projected to be a shootout and those in attendance were treated to exactly that. 

Jesse Nieto threw for 249 yards and five TDs to lift Hawley (2-1), which held off the Badgers after building a 37-13 third-quarter lead. Brycen

Stofel was another key contributor for Hawley with 170 yards rushing on 20 carries. 

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by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

FEATURE: Freshman QB Feagan has turned Anson’s biggest question mark into strength

Coming off an 8-4 2024 season that represented the best campaign at Anson in nearly a decade, Tigers’ coaches, players and fans alike were cautiously optimistic that an even better fate might lie ahead this fall.

The 2025 team, after all, was set to return a bevy of talented skill players and all but two of the starting offensive linemen that helped Anson surge two rounds into the playoffs last December. Just as noteworthy: Every projected returning regular in the defense started at one point a season ago.

There was just one question with which the Tigers were expected to grapple, but it was a huge one: How was Anson going to fare sans the team’s best player, Corey Layne?

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Wall, Jim Ned have “value game” approaching

Craig Slaughter

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.
Continue reading “BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Wall, Jim Ned have “value game” approaching” →

by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 2 REPORT: Stamford, Anson, Cisco all victorious in Week 2

Stamford 33, De Leon 20 — Trailing 20-14 at the end of three quarters, Stamford rallied with 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to beat the Bearcats.

Mason Mueller threw for 213 yards and two scores and Brayden Jimenez rushed for 121 yards and another TD to lead the Bulldogs (1-1). 

Heston Jobe led De Leon (1-1) with 140 yards passing; Lane Couch rushed for 118 and two scores.

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I REPORT: Tigers open with big win over Hamlin

Anson 49, Hamlin 6 — The Tigers rolled up 431 yards in total offense, including 377 yards through the air to hand Hamlin a lopsided loss. 

Grayson Feagan was the top gun for Anson, throwing for 349 yards and five scores. Alexander Lozano and Malachi St. John were his top targets. Lozano finished with three catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns while St. John had nine catches for 99 yards and two more scores. 

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by Evan Ren

EVAN REN: Top games worth traveling for during the 2025 football season

Got the truck started yet?

Ready to jump on one of those farm-to-market roads to watch high school football into the late hours on a Friday night?

You’re not alone.

And, as tradition would have it, I tip my cap to those of you who will be hitting the trails each week in search of pigskin. My method: a preseason menu of sorts.

Each week for the next 11 weeks, Big Country Preps will be searching for its Game of the Week, and we’re already looking ahead. We now present our preliminary list of Big Country Games worth traveling for, but keep in mind: the following list is subject to change as surprises and disappointments emerge.

And as we all know … surprises and disappointments always emerge.

So, without further delay, here is our list of Big Country games worth traveling for in 2025.

I’ll see you on the road.

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by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

ANSON FEATURE: Senior Lozano set to take on larger role in final season for Tigers

Buoyed by an 8-4 season that saw Anson advance two rounds into the playoffs last fall, the Tigers sport even loftier’ aspirations in 2025.

The goal certainly isn’t unrealistic. In addition to establishing a winning attitude, Anson won with an attitude last year. The Tigers scored 449 points and recorded three shutouts. And they return the lion’s share of the talent — on both sides of the ball — that helped elevate the program from “hunter” to “hunted” status in District 4-2A Division I.

During the first week of preseason camp, as first-year coach Kyle Wheeler began to assess how he and his staff can build on that kind of success, he made an important personnel decision.

He named his best defensive player one of the principals on the offense, as well.

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by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

2025 ANSON FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Tigers poised to repeat last year’s success in Wheeler’s first season

Sometimes in football, regardless of the names on the roster, the best player is named “Mo,” as in “Momentum,” which should be in ample supply this fall at Anson.

The Tigers finished 8-4 in 2024 and advanced two rounds into the Class 2A Division I playoffs. And with 14 starters coming back this fall, Anson should again be a formidable Big Country force, with old “Mo” leading the way.

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by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2025 Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (the hardest-working baseball and softball players in the area)

OTHER 2025 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS TEAMS

  • ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS BASEBALL Superlative Awards (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc)
  • ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS BASEBALL: First-Team Selections
  • ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS BASEBALL: Second-Team Selections (plus honorable mention)
  • ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS SOFTBALL: Superlative Awards (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc)
  • ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS SOFTBALL: First-Team Selections
  • ALL BIG COUNTRY PREPS SOFTBALL: Second-Team Selections (plus honorable mention)

Our All-Big Country Preps Softball and Baseball Teams, released Saturday and Sunday, respectively, are in place to honor those who achieved the most on-field success in 2025. It is off the field, however, where character, grit, and work ethic are often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team that we wish to honor those players, male and female, who were (simply put) the hardest-working, best teammates in the area this spring. 

This team isn’t about who the best baseball and softball players were.

The All-Hustle team honors effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches wish they had in every player and upon which championships are built.

It is for that reason that this team is largely selected by area coaches and described in their own words.

Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the best team players (boys and girls) that the Big Country had to offer during the 2025 season.

The players below are listed in no particular order. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

2025 All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: First-Team Roster

Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2025 All-Big Country Preps Baseball Team: Second-Team Roster (w/ honorable mention)

Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

2025 Big Country Preps Rising Stars Baseball Team

Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball teams. 

Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.

For the rest of this year’s baseball selections, please click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: First-team Roster

Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball Team: Second-team Roster (w/ honorable mention)

Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

2025 Big Country Preps Rising Stars Softball Team

Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball teams. 

Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.

For the rest of this year’s softball selections, please click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Anson outlasts Ballinger in thrilling three-game bi-district series

ABILENE — At the end of three thrilling at Abilene Christian School’s Hudson Wade Memorial Field, there wasn’t much separating the Anson Tigers and Ballinger Bearcats in the Region I-2A Division I bi-district series between the two squads.

In fact, none of the three contests had a larger gap than a single run at the completion of seven innings.

But after outlasting Ballinger for a 10-5 victory in a 10-inning marathon game on Friday, it was Anson that prevailed, rallying from a 6-5 Game 2 loss to clinch the series with a wild 9-8 win in Game 3.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Colorado City advances with Game 2 extra-inning win over Anson

HERMLEIGH — One of the biggest challenges in any sport is to lose a big lead along with the momentum, only to recapture both and win the game. 

The Colorado City softball team managed to pull this off on Friday to capture a Region I-2A DI area title with a 13-7 win over Anson in nine innings at Lady Cardinal Field. 

Southpaw Mia Obenhaus went the distance in the circle and was 3-of-5 with two doubles and four RBIs to lead Colorado City (24-7), which advances to face sixth-ranked Floydada (29-6) in the regional semifinals next week. 

Leading 6-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, and 7-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh, the Lady Wolves absorbed a seven-run Anson rally over the final three frames to send the contest into extra innings. There, Colorado City turned on a dime with a six-run outburst in the ninth to get the win and a 2-0 series sweep. 

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by Evan Ren

AREA BASEBALL STAT LEADERS (Final stat report for 2025)

Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through May 1.

Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Anson holds off Cisco rally to secure bi-district sweep, advance to area round

EULA — The Anson Lady Tigers punched their ticket to the area round of the Region I-2A Division I softball playoffs Thursday night, advancing past a spirited Cisco squad with a doubleheader sweep at the Eula softball field.

After surging late to pull away for a 10-3 victory in Game 1, the Lady Tigers fought off a Lady Loboes rally in Thursday’s nightcap, following a four-run Cisco seventh with a three-run top of the eighth to clinch the series with a 9-6 extra-innings win in Game 2.

Those results earned coach Mistrie Vinson and her team at least one more week together, as they’ll gear up for a second-round meeting with Colorado City, which routed Ozona 20-0 in a one-game playoff Thursday.

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by Evan Ren

Final Area Softball Stat Leaders (through April 24)

Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 24:

Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his or her email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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by Evan Ren

Area Baseball Stat Leaders (through April 24)

Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 24.

Statistics are from throughout the Big Country Preps circulation area as submitted by coaches. These lists will be continually updated as we receive more submissions. 

If your favorite team is missing, please give your head coach a friendly reminder to check his email for our weekly stat request or send Evan Ren a note at Evan.Ren@BigCountryPreps.com. 

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