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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Wall-Clyde volleyball (75 images)”
Category: Clyde Bulldogs
GAME STORY: Clyde sweeps Wall on Senior Night to move within a match of first place
CLYDE — When Clyde and Wall first met on the volleyball court in District 6-3A play last month, the Lady Hawks won a five-set thriller at home. That afternoon, all five sets were decided by either two or three points.
The rivals met again Tuesday night as the Lady Bulldogs honored their five seniors and, with former coach Laura Carr watching from the stands, took down their nemesis 25-22, 25-21, 25-17 at Bulldog Gym.
While the sweep was shocking in its own right, it was the way that Clyde finished off the match that was even more impressive. Courtney Freeman’s squad went on a 14-2 run to close out the third set.
Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (as submitted by area coaches through Oct. 22)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday at 7 p.m. roughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 8 REPORT: Sweetwater, Jim Ned, Clyde all score wins
Sweetwater 27, Comanche 13 — Uriah Aguilar-Rivera rushed for 121 yards and two scores as Sweetwater captured a crucial win on the road.
The Mustangs (4-3, 2-0) are now tied with Clyde (4-3, 2-0) for the league lead. They will meet on Friday in Sweetwater.
Comanche (4-3, 1-1) was led by Cayden Davis who threw for 116 yards and one score and rushed for 160 yards and another TD.
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 7 REPORT: Sweetwater, Clyde, Comanche all notch wins in first week of district
Sweetwater 90, San Angelo TLCA 0 — A long night for TLCA got even worse when it was forced into seven turnovers. Six of those giveaways resulted in Sweetwater touchdowns via scoop-and-scores and pick returns.
The Mustangs were led offensively by Caiden Ortiz, who threw for 137 yards and two scores.
Sweetwater improved to 3-3 and 1-0 with the win; TLCA dropped to 0-6 and 0-1.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Comanche plays host to Jim Ned (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks)
LAST WEEK: 32-12, .809
SEASON TOTAL: 279-91, .757
Now it’s time to get down to business.
With most of the Big Country taking an open date last Friday as a prelude to district play, we now dive headfirst into the games that count the most.
District play opens tomorrow for most leagues in the area, the intensity of which is already tangible.
Can you feel it?
We’ll see you on the road.
Here’s this week’s area picks:
San Angelo Grape Creek 74, San Angelo TLCA 0 — TLCA’s struggles continued on Friday with a loss to cross-town rival Grape Creek.
Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (as submitted by area coaches through Oct. 1)
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday at 7 p.m. roughout the regular season.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 5 REPORT: Comanche, Jim Ned notch impressive wins
Comanche 54, Early 20 
— Cayden Davis rushed for 186 yards, threw for 104 and accounted for four touchdowns to lead Comanche to a win over Early.
The Indians rushed for 403 yards through seven different ball carriers, five of whom scored.
GAME STORY: Jim Ned rallies for four-set home win over rival Clyde
TUSCOLA — After one game in Tuesday’s District 6-3A volleyball match between Clyde and Jim Ned, the visiting Lady Bulldogs looked poised to leave Bill Thornton Arena with their unbeaten district record intact.
Coach Courtney Freeman’s squad was almost flawless out of the gate, tallying 13 kills with just three hitting errors on its way to a breezy 25-14 win in the opening set.
But as it would turn out, Game 1 wasn’t the tone-setter that Clyde had hoped it would be. Instead, it lit a fire under the homestanding Lady Indians, who rallied to win the next three sets 25-17, 25-18 and 25-22 to take the match and pull even with the Lady Bulldogs in the 6-3A standings at 2-1.
BIG COUNTRY PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ables takes the top spot after big win over De Leon
Hawley’s Keagan Ables is no stranger to the Big Country Preps Player of the Week column — appearing among our top performers multiple times over the last three years.
However, his latest effort to help HHS defeat De Leon 54-21 on Friday, may rank as one of his best.
The Hawley senior connected on 16 of 32 passes for 441 yards and six touchdowns to help Hawley improve to 4-0 on the year.
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 4 REPORT: Sweetwater, Jim Ned, Clyde score big wins
Lead art provided by Mark Rogers, HubCityPreps.com
Sweetwater 39, Lubbock Estacado 25 — Korda Moore rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns and Caiden Ortiz threw for 135 yards to lead Sweetwater, which evened its record to 2-2 with the win.
The Mustangs finished with 388 yards in total offense while dropping Estacado to 1-3.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Rattlers play host to Comanche
LAST WEEK: 47-11, .810
SEASON TOTAL: 141-59, .705
After nosediving in Week 2 with one of the worst pick records I’ve ever had, the column rebounded in Week 3 with an .810 percentage to push my overall tally over .700 again.
As for this week’s Big Country Preps Game of the Week, Mr. Yale Youngblood will be on hand in Tolar to cover Comanche’s road game with the Rattlers in what should be a fun one.
I’ll be heading to Ballinger, where the Bearcats (3-0) will play host to Brady (2-1) in a battle of upstarts.
Let’s dive into this week’s picks:
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:
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 2 REPORT: Jim Ned, Comanche, Sweetwater earn first wins
Jim Ned 42, Lubbock Trinity Christian 12 — Gray Beasley threw for 165 yards and three scores and rushed for 35 yards and another TD to lift the Indians (1-1).
Also having big nights were running backs Aiden Ellis, who rushed for 100 yards on 14 carries and Jaron Pryor (11 carries, 59 yards, one score).
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Eastland scores impressive win at Clyde
CLYDE — Only two games into their foray with the wing-T offense, the Eastland Mavericks could very well be ahead of the learning curve with their new attack.
If Friday’s dominating 35-14 win at Clyde in the Big Country Preps Game of the Week doesn’t provide enough evidence, then their 2-0 record, coupled with the 301 yards rushing they produced at Clyde should send up a red flag.
Kye Herrington threw for 119 yards and one score and rushed for an additional TD to help keep the Mavericks unbeaten while Cayden Alford (102 yards rushing and one score) and Cason Browning (90 yards rushing, two TDs) spearheaded the ground game.
Clyde, which was victimized by Eastland’s 36 minutes of possession time, finished with only two first downs and 35 plays from scrimmage.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Eastland, Clyde square off in Game of the Week (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks)
LAST WEEK: 48-20, .705
SEASON TOTAL: 48-20, .705
I’m not going to deny that I have an endless fascination with old-fashioned offenses. And I’m not going to deny that I’m a bit eager to see Eastland’s jump to the Wing-T after more than a decade of slinging the ball all over the field.
But this has little to do with why Eastland (1-0) and Clyde (1-0) will be hooking up in our Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
The fact that both clubs are coming off quality wins — Clyde beating Cisco 43-42 in OT and Eastland stopping Coleman 21-6 — creates enough intrigue to snag the top spot. Add the fact that you have a modern spread offense going against an attack that was devised more than 70 years ago and you’re looking at a game with potential to get the spotlight.
And courtesy of a beat-up Brownwood team, this contest made the top of our list.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jobe takes first Player of the Week for 2024-25 school year
DE LEON — Entering this football it was expected that De Leon junior quarterback Heston Jobe would be among the top producers in the Big Country.
It took him all of one night to prove it in a 79-43 win over Dublin on Friday.
Jobe, who connected on 13 of 20 throws for 413 yards and four scores, also rushed for 176 yards and four more TDs.
By night’s end, the Bearcats were 1-0 and Jobe had accounted for 589 yards and five touchdowns.
DISTRICT 3-3A DIV. I WEEK 1 REPORT: Clyde opens with win at Cisco in Big Country thriller
Clyde 43, Cisco 42 — In one of the top games in the area on Friday, Clyde edge Cisco in a shootout, giving the Bulldogs (1-0) the only win of the night for District 3-3A DI.
The Bulldogs overcame a 28-20 deficit heading into the fourth quarter to earn the win.
Clyde will play host to Eastland (1-0) in its home opener next Friday; Cisco will travel to San Angelo TLCA on the same evening.
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.
CLYDE FEATURE: Large, experienced O-line out to impose will in Haddock’s first season
Having served as co-offensive coordinator at Abilene Cooper and head coach at Plainview, Johnathon Haddock has spent the bulk of his coaching career at the large school level. So when he talks about the size, experience and skill level of the offensive line he’s inheriting at Clyde, that’s his frame of reference.
With four starters back who boast an average height of 6-1¾ and average weight of 260 pounds, the Bulldogs front will rival any in the Big Country in 2024.
And Haddock, who left Class 5A Plainview in June to take the Clyde job, cited that group as one of the biggest selling points for the move.
2024 CLYDE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Haddock looks to build on foundation Dudgeon laid
In 2023, the Clyde football team enjoyed its best season in a decade and a half, riding one of the Big Country’s most explosive offenses to a shared district championship and an 11-2 record.
This year, the Bulldogs will try to build on that success with some new faces in some very prominent positions.
Gone are coach Danny Dudgeon, who left to take over the Godley program in May, and standout quarterback Blake Carr, who earned a scholarship at Division II Pittsburg State with an outstanding senior year. But taking over at CHS is a friend and former colleague of Dudgeon in Johnathon Haddock, who feels good about the group he’s inheriting despite returning just 14 of 34 lettermen from last year’s squad.
COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Clyde Bulldogs … 13 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 Clyde Bulldogs.
Continue reading “COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Clyde Bulldogs … 13 days to two-a-days”
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
- 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 BASEBALL: Rising Stars Team
- 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 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.
PHOTO GALLERY: 2024 State LineMAN Challenge (165 images)
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: 2024 State LineMAN Challenge (165 images)”
BREAKING: Haddock tabbed to replace old college roommate as new football coach, athletic director at Clyde
Just 18 days after Danny Dudgeon announced he was leaving Clyde to take over as the head football coach and athletic director at Godley, new CISD Superintendent Bryan Allen found his replacement.
With the summer break moving quickly, Allen somehow moved quicker as he tabbed Plainview’s Johnathon Haddock as Dudgeon’s replacement. Haddock beat out a field of 46 applicants for the job.
BREAKING: Dudgeon makes hard decision to leave Clyde for Godley
Regardless of their sport, coaches often talk about athletes in their program being an extended part of their family.
That relationship made Friday’s announcement to his team especially tough for Clyde football coach and athletic director Danny Dudgeon as he revealed to his squad that he had taken the same role at Godley, a growing Class 4A school northwest of Cleburne.
Making that move now, as summer workouts are on the cusp of starting, was tough for the man that has led the Bulldogs for the past three years.
PHOTO GALLERY: Brock-Clyde area-round baseball series (66 images)
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Brock-Clyde area-round baseball series (66 images)”
GAME STORY: Brock sandwiches big innings around extended delay to beat Clyde 14-6, clinch series sweep
ABILENE — The Brock baseball team put up two big innings around a near-five hour weather delay Saturday, and that was all the Eagles needed to secure a series-clinching 14-6 win over Clyde in the second game of their Region I-3A area-round series.
In a contest that took nearly eight hours and two venues to complete, BHS followed a six-run third inning with a seven-run fourth to finally take control of a series that was tight throughout to that point.
Brock, which defeated Clyde 3-2 in Game 1 on Friday at Weatherford College, led just 6-5 when the delay hit two batters into the fourth inning. But when things moved from McMurry’s Walt Driggers Field to Abilene Cooper’s Cougar Field almost five hours later, the Eagles exploded for seven runs off three Bulldogs pitchers to build a comfortable cushion it would preserve the rest of the way.
SOFTBALL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: Despite weather, 12 area teams advance to third round with Bangs-Stamford outcome still pending
Here are the recaps of the Big Country softball playoff results in the second round of the postseason: Continue reading “SOFTBALL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: Despite weather, 12 area teams advance to third round with Bangs-Stamford outcome still pending”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Cisco hurler takes the top spot after remarkable turnaround
Coming off a subpar performance in Game 1 of last week’s 2A bi-district series with Hawley, Cisco pitcher Hannah Rogers did something few expected: a complete about-face.
Rogers, who had been beaten up in an 11-4 loss on Friday afternoon that saw her allow 14 hits, quickly regained her form for Game 2 that evening. Limiting Hawley to seven hits, she led Cisco to a series-tying 5-2 win.
FINAL Big Country Regular Season Baseball Statistical leaders for 2024 (through April 25)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 25.
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.
REGION I-3A TRACK MEET: Brock boys claim fourth straight team title; area athletes show well
ABILENE — The Brock boys track team claimed its fourth consecutive region title Monday, headlining a strong showing by area athletes at the rain-altered Region I-3A meet at Abilene Christian University’s Elmer Gray Stadium.
Led by Dylan Foster, who claimed gold medals in both hurdle events, earned bronze in the long jump and ran a leg on Brock’s gold medal-winning sprint relay team, the Eagles finished with 99 points, edging runner-up Holliday by 13 points and topping third-place Wall by 44 points.
The Brock boys scored in 10 events and claimed nine medals on their way to the team championship, capping a meet that saw athletes from the Big Country Preps coverage area combined to earn 32 medals and claim 23 automatic berths to the Class 3A state meet May 2 in Austin.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eula’s Cauthen takes our weekly award through three sports
There is very little that Eula’s Halie Cauthen isn’t good at athletically. Already an Honorable Mention All-Big Country Preps basketball player, the EHS junior showed her full range of versatility last week with three big performances in three different sports.
To begin with, Cauthen opened the week by qualifying for the 1A state golf tournament as an individual at the regional tournament, closing with rounds of 103 and 105.
Then, after playing 54 holes of golf in three days, Cauthen rushed back to compete for the district championship in softball against Cross Plains.
With a game time of 7:30 p.m., she arrived from the golf tournament at 7:25 and went 4 for 4 with three triples, three RBIs and four runs scored to help Eula clinch the district title in a 10-1 victory.
But Cauthen wasn’t finished quite yet.
PHOTO GALLERY: Region I-3A track meet Day 1 (54 images)
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Region I-3A track meet Day 1 (54 images)”
Big Country Baseball Statistical leaders (through April 18)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 18.
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.
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.
FEATURE: Clyde’s Trip Ancheta fights through Tommy John surgery to reclaim effectiveness
CLYDE — By his junior year, Clyde right-hander Trip Ancheta was pegging the radar gun between 88-90 mph. His future in baseball looked bright, and it was only a matter of time before someone at the collegiate level snagged him.
Then it happened.
Three weeks into Clyde’s district schedule last spring, Ancheta injured the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, requiring a reconstructive procedure widely known as Tommy John Surgery.
It would mean the end of his junior season, followed by a long, mentally taxing rehabilitation process and finally, throwing a baseball with the hopes of regaining his former skill levels.
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.
Big Country Softball Statistical Leaders (through April 11)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 11.
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.
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.
