Category: Big Spring Steers

by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tolar’s Abbie Soileau takes the top spot with record-setting week

Photos provided by Melissa Carroll and Kelly Moody

There’s a great deal of excitement brewing around the Tolar volleyball team heading into postseason play and with good reason. If the Lady Rattlers (28-9, 12-1 District 8-3A) manage to knock off Comanche on Tuesday, they will set a school record for wins in a season. 

Secondly, senior setter Abbie Soileau is dishing assists like they were going out of style — including the 47 she tallied last week in wins over No. 25 Peaster and Early.  That lifted her season total to a Tolar school record 1,032 assists on the year and more 1,700 for her career.

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by Daniel Youngblood

DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. I WEEK 9 REPORT: Andrews too much for Steers; Pecos wins OT thriller over Lake View

Andrews 71, Big Spring 14 — JaeSean DeBouse caught two touchdown pass and ran for two more scores as the Mustangs piled up 433 yards rushing in a lopsided win over the Steers.

Behind DeBouse, who ran for 97 yards and received for 41, Andrews (2-6, 1-0) also got a productive rushing games from Anthony Santibanez (8-71), Beau Hudson (4-68), Leeroy Millan (7-53, 2 TDs), Merq Saiz (7-49, 1 TD) and John Brus (6-47, 1 TD) in building a 57-7 lead by halftime.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Loboes play host to Hawley in Big Country Preps Game of the Week

LAST WEEK:  41-10 .803
SEASON TOTAL: 367-108, .772

Football season doesn’t feel complete without at least one visit to Chesley Field in Cisco. And Friday night, the Big Country Preps Game of the Week will stop by for a crucial District 4-2A DI matchup between the Loboes (5-2, 1-1) and Hawley (7-0, 2-0). 

For Hawley, a win here will keep open the possibility of an unbeaten regular season. For Cisco, a victory would signal the beginning of a climb back into area prominence. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. I WEEK 7 REPORT: Big Spring rallies past Kermit; Lake View blasts Brownfield

Big Spring 49, Kermit 20 — The Steers rallied from an early 20-0 hole with 49 unanswered points to turn a three-score deficit into a lopsided win.

Quarterback AJ Yanez fueled the comeback, running for four touchdowns, including three in the first half to help Big Spring to a 29-10 halftime lead.

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by Daniel Youngblood

DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. I WEEK 6 REPORT: Big Spring falls to Fort Stockton as league goes 0-4

Fort Stockton 44, Big Spring 20 — Kasch Norman, Gerry Diaz and Landon Havins all topped the 100-yard rushing mark as the Panthers piled up 384 yards on the ground in a comfortable win over the Steers.

Norman ran for 112 yards and a TD, while Diaz added 105 yards and two scores and Havins had 103 yards and one touchdown to help Fort Stockton increase a 23-14 halftime lead to 44-14 by the start of the fourth quarter.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Graham volleyballer takes Player of the Week with a Noble effort

Overwhelming. If there were a one-word description for last week’s performance by six-foot Graham senior Lillian Noble, that would be it. 

Noble, a four-year varsity player who has already committed to Oklahoma Baptist, was far and away the most dominant player in both a 3-1 win over Wichita Falls Memorial and a 3-1 loss to Glen Rose last week. 

Her combined totals: 54 kills, 23 digs and 12 blocks — making her the most effective two-way player the area saw on both sides of the net last week.

“Lillian has become a true utility player for us this season,” coach Marci Faulk said. “It’s exciting to see her embrace this new role and have so much success doing so!”

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by Daniel Youngblood

DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. I WEEK 5 REPORT: Big Spring outlasts Snyder for thrilling win

Big Spring 43, Snyder 36 — Marcus Rios passed for 268 yards and four touchdowns and added 101 yards on the ground to fuel to the Steers to thrilling win over the Tigers.

After racing out to a 15-0 first-quarter lead, the Big Spring (2-3) found itself down 28-22 early in the third quarter and trailing 36-29 early in the fourth. But the Steers rallied to tie the game with about two minutes to play before turning a late interception into the game-winning score with less than a minute remaining.

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by Daniel Youngblood

DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. I WEEK 4 REPORT: Big Spring routs Bel Air for first win

Big Spring 40, El Paso Bel Air 21 — The Steers raced out to a 27-0 lead and took care of business from there to break into the win column with a three-touchdown victory over the Highlanders.

AJ Yanez passed for 189 yards and a touchdown, while Jeremy Minter ran for a pair of scores and Kaine Valenzuela had 90 yards and a touchdown receiving to lead Big Spring (1-3)

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Anson’s Layne earns this week’s accolade

Versatility is a definite advantage for nominees in our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column. And for Anson senior quarterback Corey Layne it was enough to put him in this week’s top spot. 

Leading the Tigers (3-0) to a 49-28 over Dublin, Layne connected on 18 of 27 throws for 284 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed eight times for 65 more yards and two additional scores. 

Layne was equally effective from his linebacker spot, collecting 10 tackles and one interception. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. I WEEK 3 REPORT: Big Spring can’t keep pace with Borger, Lake View picks up first win

Borger 45, Big Spring 28 — The Steers outgained the Bulldogs 411-298, including a 276-195 advantage on the ground, but five turnovers were too much to overcome in a three-score loss.

Jeremy Minter ran for 160 yards and three touchdowns and added a 24-yard touchdown catch on a screen pass from AJ Yanez (10-18-1—133, 1 TD passing), but the Steers were done in by four lost fumbles and an interception.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Glen Rose visits Brownwood (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks)

LAST WEEK: 46-28, .621
SEASON TOTAL: 94-48, .661

Abysmal. 

That’s about the only adjective that comes to mind when trying to describe my Big Country football picks, which are off to the single worst start through two weeks that I’ve ever experienced in 18 years of covering area football. 

A percentage of .621 after two weeks of play is beatable by throwing darts, flipping coins, or even consulting with your local horoscope page. Yet here I sit, trying to dig myself out of the hole I’ve created. But enough of that, Glen Rose at Brownwood is our Big Country Preps Game of the Week, in a week filled with interesting matchups. 

Let’s have a look at them:  

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by Daniel Youngblood

DISTRICT 3-4A DIV. I WEEK 1 REPORT: Riverside pulls away from Big Spring in lightning-postponed opener

El Paso Riverside 49, Big Spring 21 — After a competitive first quarter, the Steers couldn’t keep pace with the Rangers in a game that was postponed to Saturday due to weather, allowing 35 unanswered points in a four-touchdown loss.

Behind a touchdown run by Isiac Martinez and a 45-yard touchdown pass from AJ Yanez to Eithan Threats, Big Spring went into the second quarter with the game tied at 14. But Riverside outscored the Steers 21-0 in the second quarter and 14-0 in the third to pull away. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Albany travels to Stamford in Game of the Week

LAST WEEK: 0-0, .000
SEASON TOTAL: 00-00, .000

Week 1 is often loaded with difficult picks and 2024 is no exception. 

Our first slate of games this year has a number of contests that could have qualified for the Big Country Preps Game of the Week. But we finally settled on Albany at Stamford for the spotlight. 

The two-time defending state 2A DII state champions, minus several key players lost to graduation, facing a Stamford club bringing back most of its skill and a ton of speed. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BIG SPRING FEATURE: Young Steers defense will lean on talented junior Gomez in 2024

Marked by youth on both sides of the football, the Big Spring Steers won’t return much production in 2024. Junior linebacker RJ Gomez is the exception.

Seeing time at both inside linebacker to defensive end a year ago, Gomez broke out as a sophomore, emerging as a true playmaker for the Big Spring defense.

Now making the move back to middle linebacker in the Steers’ new 3-3 stack alignment, the junior will need to be a leader on and off the field if coach Cannon McWilliams’ young squad hopes to accomplish its goals this fall.

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by Daniel Youngblood

2024 BIG SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Young Steers taking a positive approach despite lack of experience

On paper, it might appear that the Big Spring football team is in for a rebuilding year in 2024. The Steers return just four starters on both sides of the football and must replace almost all of their offensive production from last year’s 2-9 team.

But despite those factors and the challenges they would seem to present, coach Cannon McWilliams enters his sixth season as the BSHS head coach excited about the season ahead.

What the Steers lack in experience, he said, they make up for with a desire to compete and grow. And with so many spots up for grabs and players eager to seize them, McWilliams is choosing to view this as a season of opportunity for a still-building program.

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by Daniel Youngblood

COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Big Spring Steers … four days to two-a-days

Football is just around the corner, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Wednesday, Aug. 21. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2024 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

Today, we take a look at the Big Spring Steers.

Continue reading “COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Big Spring Steers … four days to two-a-days” →

by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2024 Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (the hardest-working baseball and softball players in the area)

OTHER 2024 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS TEAMS

Our All-Big Country Preps Softball and Baseball Teams, released Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, are in place to honor those who achieved the most on-field success in 2024. 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 the Big Country had to offer during the 2024 season.

The players below are listed in no particular order. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Snyder edges Big Spring, clinches District 5-4A title

SNYDER — It wasn’t a flawless performance, by any stretch, but at the end of the day, it didn’t have to be. 

Snyder’s gutsy 5-4 win over Big Spring at Moffett Field on Tuesday night was more about battling through enough tough situations to earn its second straight District 5-4A championship.

Kyler Groves delivered six solid innings on the mound and Anthony Luna was 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead Snyder (13-12-1, 7-2), which grabbed an early 3-0 lead and held off a Big Spring rally to get the win. 

Big Spring (14-13-1, 6-3) was led by RJ Gomez, who was 1 for 2 with a solo homer and two walks. 

“Kyler is a story this year,” coach Shane Stewart said. “He has pitched so well for us. He ran through every team in our district and is 5-0 in district.  He competed for us. It wasn’t always pretty, but he always gave us a chance. 

“He’s thrown so many strikes and has been ahead of the hitters.  They got to him a little bit and hit him (tonight) a couple of times, but we were able to weather the storm.” 

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by Daniel Youngblood

REGION I-4A TRACK RECAP: Stephenville boys win team title to headline successful meet for area

LUBBOCK — Big Country athletes made a strong showing at the Region I-4A track meet Friday and Saturday at Lowrey Field, combining to earn 19 medals and 12 automatic bids to the state meet May 2 in Austin. 

Between the boys and girls competitions, area entries accounted for eight gold medals, four silvers and seven bronzes, while the Stephenville boys did enough to edge Canyon by two points for the team title.

The Yellow Jackets finished with 59 points, headlined by double gold medalist Creece Brister, who won both throwing events. Brownwood, meanwhile, had the highest girls finish, taking third with 48 points, led by gold medals from Kaya Phillips in the 200 and its 800-meter relay team.

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by Evan Ren

FINAL Big Country Regular Season Softball Statistical leaders for 2024 (through April 18)

Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 18.

With the end of the regular season, this will be our FINAL softball leaders posting for 2024. 

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. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Clyde senior tosses no-no, takes the award

With plenty of competition for the top spot, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week goes to Clyde senior pitcher Trip Ancheta. 

When in doubt, a dominating no-hitter is usually a solid choice. 

Ancheta did exactly that in a 14-0 mercy rule win over Grape Creek that saw him work all five innings with 11 strikeouts — narrowly missing a perfect game by one walk. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall’s Jones takes five district titles and our Player of the Week

While we normally try to share the love in our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column, five district titles in one week isn’t easy to sidestep. 

And while Wall’s Briggs Jones has already pulled down our award once this year, he earned a second with his showing at the District 6-3A meet in Clyde last week by sweeping the long jump (23-2), the triple jump (44-10.75), the 200 meters (21.92), the 100 meters (10.72) and assisting the 800 relay team to gold with a 1:29.68 split. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Hermleigh senior takes this week’s accolade

Sometimes the mercy rule and cheat a player a bit, limiting their number of plate appearances or the number of innings they can pitch. 

But in District 15-1A, there is an added mercy rule, beyond the standard 10-run lead after five innings. There, a 15-run lead after three frames is enough to end a game early, which left our Big Country Preps Player of the Week (Hermleigh’s Summer Smith) short of what may have been a staggering set of numbers. 

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by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2024 Gym Rat Team: The hardest-working players in the Big Country!

Scoring and rebounding is only part of the story when it comes to basketball. Behind the scenes and beyond the view of the public, is where character is often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps Gym Rat Team that we salute the individuals who exude the most of it. 

This team isn’t about who the best players are, though some of the area’s top players are on this list. 

The Gym Rat team is about effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches love above all else and upon which championship foundations are built.

It is for that reason that our Gym Rat team is selected entirely by area coaches, described in their own words. And Big Country Preps is absolutely honored to present these individuals to you — the best “team players” (boys and girls) that the area had to offer during the 2023-24 season.

Players are listed in no particular order. 

Enjoy.

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by Evan Ren

2024 All-Big Country Preps Boys Basketball Rising Stars Team: The top freshmen and sophomores in the area!

Here is our 2024 All-Big Country Preps boys basketball Rising Stars team, comprised of the top freshmen and sophomores in the area. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

2024 All-Big Country Preps Girls Basketball Rising Stars Team: The top freshmen and sophomores in the area!

Here is our 2024 All-Big Country Preps girls basketball Rising Stars team, comprised of the top freshmen and sophomores in the area. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall junior has huge day in San Angelo to capture our award

Wall junior Briggs Jones may be on the verge of a major breakout season in area track and field. 

Our Big Country Player of the Week not only won five medals at the coveted Angelo State Spring Break meet, but he broke two solo school records and helped break a third. It seldom gets much better than that. 

Aside from setting school marks in the long jump at 23-9.5 (for gold) and the triple jump at 45-2 (for gold), Jones was part of the 800 relay team’s silver medal performance of 1:28.49 — another Wall school mark. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Anson freshman takes the spotlight

It may be a little too early to label Anson freshman softball pitcher Kayme Elrod as a star in the making. But our Big Country Preps Player of the Week is off to a pretty good start.

Last week her performance was nothing short of startling, both offensively and defensively.

In the circle, Elrod finished with a 5-0 record with a five-inning no hitter, a 0.77 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 27 innings of work.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Merkel senior closes the curtain in a big way.

Merkel senior Kooper Darby picked the right time to post the best all-around game of his high school career. 

Playing in his final basketball game as a Merkel Badger, our Big Country Preps Player of the Week tallied a career-high 44 points to go with 16 rebounds, five assists, five steals in a 79-42 win over San Angelo Grape Creek. 

With the Badgers (17-16) missing the playoffs, Darby had a final opportunity to make an impact as a high schooler and he did — like a meteor. 

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 25): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Jan. 25.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 25): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Jan. 25.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

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by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2023 True Grit Team: The toughest, hardest-working players in the Big Country!

Most high school football teams have that one player acknowledged by the coaching staff as the prime example of what a teammate should be. 

He’s the guy who seldom misses any practice time and is a regular in the weight room. He’s early to arrive. He’s late to leave and takes pride in being coachable, though he seldom needs direction. 

He always sets the right example for younger players. He doesn’t complain and above all else, he’s tough enough to make all the aforementioned traits consistently possible. 

Know someone like that? Here is where they are honored. 

Welcome to Big Country Preps’ “True Grit” team — a collection of area players nominated by their head coaches and Big Country Preps staff, who exemplify the character traits football mentors want throughout their roster. 

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