Big numbers are always great to have when we decide the winner of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week award. Solid numbers across multiple tasks are even better.
That was the case with this week’s spotlight player, Buck Powell, of Hico, who helped the Tigers to a 47-14 rout of Maud in the Class 2A DII bi-district round on Friday.
With a new season of boys high school basketball poised to begin, it’s time to take a look at what the Big Country will produce on the court.
Below you will find our top teams in each classification in the Big Country Preps coverage area, from Big Spring in the West, to Brock in the east and from Brady in the south to Munday in the north.
Our rankings of the top teams in each class are given, along with a season outlook, cataloguing our expectations for each club.
Here’s our preview. We’ll see you on the road.
EL PASO — Trailing El Paso Chapin 10-7 at halftime, the Cooper football team used 28-point third quarter to regain the lead and eventually pull away for a 42-27 win in Friday’s Region I-5A Division II bi-district matchup at El Paso Austin’s McKee Stadium.
Daniel Bray rushed for 253 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Cougars (5-6), who earned an area-round matchup against Colleyville Heritage with the win.
Cooper outgained Chapin 444-366, outpacing the Huskies 314-213 on the ground to complete the rally.
It’s not common among the large school ranks for players to play on both sides of the football. So Cooper’s Jaylen Parker is already somewhat unique just by doing so.
The lone returner from a talented CHS receiving corps , the senior entered the season expecting to be an impact player on offense. But circumstances forced — or more accurately, allowed — Parker to double those responsibilities over the final four weeks of the regular season, when he added “starting cornerback” to his list of duties.
While the new role added a new loop in what’s been a rollercoaster of a season for both the Cougars and Parker, it also highlighted an underlying truth about Parker: he cares first and foremost about the Cougars and will always prioritize team success over his own.
Wylie 17, Cooper 7 — The Bulldogs outlasted their crosstown rival Cougars for a hard-fought, defensive win, using a pick-six by Collin Bruning to seal the victory with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
Bruning forced and recovered a fumble inside the red zone earlier in the fourth quarter to lead a Wylie defense that limited Cooper 240 total yards and shut the Cougars out over the final three quarters. Offensively, the Bulldogs (7-3, 4-1) had just 141 total yards, led by Julius Laine with 65 yards and a touchdown rushing.
LAST WEEK: 47-5, .903
SEASON TOTAL: 438-91, .827
With the column hitting at more than 90 percent accuracy last week, we now close the regular season on the upswing and with something uncommon: A local Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
While our weekly picks column generally highlights the top area game outside of the Abilene city limits, this week seems to call for us to stay at home with rivals Wylie (6-3, 3-1) and Cooper (4-5, 3-1) fighting for sole possession of the No. 2 seed in District 2-5A Division II.
NOTE: This will be our final installment of Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders for the 2023 season
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.
Wylie 33, Amarillo Palo Duro 16 — The Bulldogs raced out to a 21-3 first-quarter lead and were never threatened after, locking up a playoff spot with a comfortable win over the Dons.
Bear Meng passed for 198 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 79 yards and another score to lead Wylie (6-3, 3-1), which also got 57 yards rushing from Malachi Daniels. Braden Regala (4-75) and Derrick Evans (3-66) both had receiving touchdowns, but Evans was knocked out of the game and taken to the hospital in the first quarter.
Photos by Mandi McDonald, HubCityPreps.com
LUBBOCK — Daniel Bray rushed for 155 yards and three touchdowns on just four carries and the Cooper defense forced five turnovers and returned three for touchdowns to fuel the Cougars to a 61-7 win over the Westerners on Thursday at Lowrey Field.
Behind a running game that pounded out 447 yards on 37 attempts, Cooper built a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter, and a pair of defensive scores allowed the Cougars to increase that advantage to 41-7 by halftime.
The victory, the Cougars’ third in a row, improved coach Aaron Roan’s squad to 4-5 overall and 3-1 in District 2-5A Division II play, setting up a big home matchup next week against crosstown rival Wylie in the district and regular season finale for both teams.
LAST WEEK: 44-7, .862
SEASON TOTAL: 391-86, .820
It really didn’t take long for people to start talking about the Hawley – Stamford matchup in 2023. In fact, this one was on our calendar as a possible Game of the Week before the season even started.
Who will win? That depends on who you speak with. Our Twitter poll is split virtually down the middle and even the computers see this one as a near tossup.
Stamford (7-0, 4-0 District 4-2A DII) enters this game scarcely challenged, rolling over the opposition by an average tally of 45-8. Hawley (6-2, 4-0), on the other hand, comes in with some battle scars after a brutal schedule featuring Jim Ned, Lubbock Roosevelt and Albany.
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.
Cooper 31, Plainview 14 — The Cougars used a 21-point second quarter to climb out of an early 7-0 hole and were never threatened after halftime in a dominant showing against the Bulldogs.
Cooper (3-5, 2-1) outgained Plainview 284-191, limiting a talented Bulldogs offense to just 3.8 yards per play. Christian Rico (8-52 rushing), Austin Cummins (8-32 rushing; 9-18-1—94 passing) and Troneal Robinson (13-29) all had rushing scores for the Cougars, who also got a TD pass from Cummins to tight end Clayton Gift (3-46 receiving) in the victory.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Plainview-Cooper football (62 images)”
After climbing back into the District 2-5A Division II playoff race last week with a big road win over Amarillo Palo Duro, the Cooper football team made a statement Friday against Plainview.
Hosting a Bulldogs squad that entered Week 9 just two one-score losses from a perfect record, the Cougars dominated every phase of the game in a 31-14 win at Shotwell Stadium.
Cooper, which was playing without its leading rusher (Daniel Bray) and leading receiver (Zavian Alexander), ran for 190 yards while limiting a talented PHS offense to just 191 yards of total offense in a thorough victory that saw the Cougars score 31 unanswered points between the Bulldogs’ two touchdowns.
LAST WEEK: 40-8, .833
SEASON TOTAL: 347-79, .814
As Week 9 of the 2023Texas High School football season gets underway, there are multiple high-profile games that would qualify as our Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
But we’re settling for a rare Thursday night matchup at Tarleton State University where seventh-ranked 4A DI Stephenville (5-2, 1-0) will play host to fourth-ranked China Spring (6-2, 2-0) in a game will give the victor sole possession of first place in District 5.
Picking who wins it may come down to throwing darts, but I do believe China Spring has one key advantage.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Lubbock Monterey-Cooper volleyball (78 images)”
Hosting Lubbock Monterey with their dimming playoff hopes on the line, the Cooper volleyball team played with the urgency of a squad fighting for its postseason life, outlasting the Lady Plainsmen for a thrilling 26-28, 25-14, 25-23, 23-25, 15-13 victory Tuesday at Cougar Gym.
In a back-and-forth match that saw four of the five sets decided by the minimum two points, the youthful Lady Cougars (11-26 overall, 2-8 in District 4-5A) did just enough to escape with the win, pulling within two victories of the Lady Plainsmen (20-22, 4-7) with two matches remaining.
Now coach Nora Campbell’s team will need to win at Lubbock High (10-28, 1-9) on Friday and at home against Lubbock Coronado (15-26, 3-7) next Tuesday and hope LHS can knock off Monterey on the road on the final night of the regular season to earn a rubber match against the Lady Plainsmen for the district’s final playoff spot.
Photos by Tom Carver, PressPassSports.com
Cooper 28, Amarillo Palo Duro 21 — Daniel Bray rushed for 99 yards and a two touchdowns, Christian Rico had an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and the Cooper defense held the Dons to seven points over the final three quarters to hold on for a crucial district win.
Cooper raced out to a 21-14 lead after a quarter and extended that to 28-14 by halftime, before holding off Palo Duro in the second half to improve to 2-5 overall and 1-1 in district play.
Photos by Tom Carver, PressPassSports.com
AMARILLO — The Cooper football team went to Dick Bivins Stadium and left with a huge district win Friday night, holding off Amarillo Palo Duro 28-21 to snap a three-game losing streak and put itself firmly in the District 2-5A Division II playoff race.
Led by Daniel Bray, who rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns, and Christian Rico, whose 85-yard kickoff return touchdown staked the Cougars to an early 21-7 lead, Cooper held a 28-14 advantage at halftime.
That was all the Coogs needed thanks to a strong performance by a defense that limited the Dons to a single touchdown the rest of the way.
LAST WEEK: 41-7, .854
SEASON TOTAL: 307-71, .812
Big Country Preps makes a point of sharing the love and we look for opportunities to take our Game of the Week to as many different places that make sense each year.
Yet since our inaugural season in 2018, a rebuilding Hico football team missed our spotlight game for five straight seasons.
That drought ends this week when BCP visits Hico for the first time as the Tigers (5-2, 2-1 District 10-2A DII) host Dawson (5-1, 2-0) in a crucial matchup with high seed implications.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Cooper-Wylie volleyball (36 images)”
With just two weeks left in the regular season, only one playoff berth has been decided in District 4-5A: the Lady Pirates of Lubbock Cooper know they will be playing in the postseason.
Who joins them in chasing a state championship is still up in the air, but a small sliver of the picture came into focus on Tuesday night.
Wylie knocked off Cooper 25-8, 25-15, 25-19 at Bulldog Gym to move to the precipice of clinching its postseason berth, but the Lady Bulldogs were denied a chance to officially clinch when Lubbock Monterey claimed a five-set thriller over Abilene High.
Wylie 36, Cooper 34 — Malachi Daniels rushed for 185 yards and a touchdown and the WHS defense made four stops inside its own 25-yard line to escape Plainview with a thrilling two-point victory.
Wylie (4-2, 1-0) was outgained 343-273, but coach Clay Martin’s squad took advantage of two blocked extra points (one returned for two points) and a 2-1 edge in the turnover margin, including a fourth-quarter scoop-and-score.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Wichita Falls Rider-Cooper football (63 images)”
After rallying from a 14-0 first-quarter hole to tie the game in the second quarter, the Cooper football team saw its District 2-5A Division II opener against Wichita Falls Rider take an unfortunate turn Thursday at Shotwell Stadium.
Following their third consecutive stop after allowing touchdowns on each of Rider’s first two possessions, the Cougars appeared poised to take the momentum — and perhaps even a lead — into halftime.
Instead, a muffed punt led to a 32-yard touchdown drive for the Raiders, who would start the second half with three unanswered touchdowns to pull away for a 42-21 victory.
LAST WEEK: 37-3, .925
SEASON TOTAL: 266-64, .806
Contrast in styles games make for excellent entertainment and are usually high on our list of potential Big Country Preps Games of the Week.
Friday we have such a matchup when Clyde (5-0) travels to Vernon (5-0) in the District 3-3A DI opener for both clubs. Clyde and its power spread offense capable of running or throwing the ball well, against a run-based multiple attack used by Vernon that seems almost out of the 1950s.
Both clubs are good at what they do. Both are physical and both are fully aware of how important this league opener is. In fact, this may end up ranking as one of the more physical Games of the Week we’ll see in 2023.
Several weeks ago, when our local volleyball teams were struggling against tough nondistrict schedules, I laid out a case in this column for patience, citing the significant progress those squads typically make over the course of the season.
Well, we’ve reached the midway point of the District 4-5A campaign and the Wylie and Abilene High volleyball teams are making me look smarter than I really am.
Heading into the second half of league play, which begins Tuesday with a big matchup between those two teams at AHS’ Eagle Gym, the Lady Bulldogs (18-15 overall) are in second place at 5-1 — behind only 6-0 Lubbock Cooper — while the Lady Eagles (11-19 on the year) are a match behind in third at 4-2.
LAST WEEK: 46-12, .793
SEASON TOTAL: 229-61, .789
More often than not, Big Country Preps makes an appearance at the annual Stephenville-Brownwood matchup. Because more often than not, it produces a game worthy of one of Texas’ top rivalries.
This year is no exception as Stephenville travels to famous Gordon Wood Stadium for the Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Odessa Permian-Cooper football (80 images)”
Wylie 37, San Angelo Central 27 — Bear Meng passed for 191 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 47 yards and another score to lead the Bulldogs to a homecoming win over the Bobcats in their final nondistrict game of the season.
Malachi Daniels added 106 yards and two touchdowns rushing while Derrick Evans received 101 yards and a TD as Wylie (3-2) built a 24-14 lead by halftime and stretched that to 30-14 by the end of the third quarter.
As was the case with last week’s loss to Lubbock Coronado, the Cooper Cougars will see a lot of positive things on both sides of the ball when they turn on the film from Friday’s home matchup against Odessa Permian.
But for the second straight week, untimely mistakes and missed opportunities proved the difference between celebrating a win and playing the what if game after another frustrating defeat.
The Cougars rebounded from a disastrous start to pull within a touchdown on two occasions before halftime and had a number of opportunities to make things interesting in the second half. But four turnovers and three empty red zone trips proved too much to overcome in a 41-20 loss to the Panthers to close out nondistrict play.
At 15 years old, Dycin Davis can’t even legally drive yet. But the Cooper sophomore is already attracting attention from some of the top colleges in and out of the state.
Blessed with a 6-foot-4 frame that he has added a significant amount of weight to over the past calendar year, Davis is a physical force to be reckoned with from his defensive end spot.
But if you ask coach Aaron Roan, it’s Davis’ other, less visible attributes that truly make him a special player. While the young man’s natural talent has and will continue to open doors for him, it’s his intelligence, drive and a maturity beyond his years that will be the key to unlocking his full potential, the coach said.
LAST WEEK: 44-11, .800
SEASON TOTAL: 183-49, .788
Some weeks are just loaded with competitive area games and Week 5 of the 2023 season falls squarely into that category.
This week’s menu features six or seven games that under normal circumstances, would qualify for our Big Country Preps Game of the Week. This forces us to push some great matchups aside to select our spotlight game.
This week, we go with a battle of unbeatens — Class 3A Division I Clyde (4-0) at Class 4A Div. II Sweetwater (4-0) — at the famed Mustang Bowl at SHS.
Following their 0-2 start, I was consistent in my belief that the Wylie Bulldogs would finish the season with a much stronger football team than the one that started it. I said as much on our weekly podcast after each of Wylie’s defeats, downplaying the ultimate significance of season-opening home losses to quality outfits from Brownwood and Lubbock Monterey.
But I’d be lying if I said I expected the type of quick turnaround we’ve seen the last two weeks from coach Clay Martin’s team, which is now 2-2 after gritty road wins over Lubbock Cooper (35-34) and Stephenville (42-32) — both double-digit favorites according to a prominent power ranking service.
When I talked about Wylie finding its stride and eventually turning a corner, I was thinking more about October than September. So to see the Bulldogs go from where they were in Weeks 1 and 2 to beating a pair of good, established programs on the road was a surprise to even me.
Wylie 42, Stephenville 32 — Bear Meng passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns and added 78 yards and another TD rushing to lead the Bulldogs to a exciting road win over the Yellow Jackets.
Trailing 10-7 at the 7:58 mark of the second quarter, Wylie (2-2) reeled off 28 consecutive points to go up 35-10 with just under eight minutes to go in the third quarter, before holding off a furious Stephenville rally with a late touchdown drive to put the game away.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Cooper-Lubbock Coronado football (94 images)”
A week after running for 366 yards and seven touchdowns, both school records, Cooper running back Daniel Bray was well on his way to backing that up with a 200-plus yard performance on Friday night against Lubbock Coronado.
A third-quarter injury stopped Bray’s progress as he finished with 138 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries and the Cougars fell 27-21 to the Mustangs for homecoming.
Bray’s injury put more pressure on the Cooper offensive line to protect quarterback Austin Cummins in a passing game that struggled all night. Cummins finished the game with 92 yards passing and one score, nearly all of which came in the fourth quarter.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Cooper-Abilene High volleyball (64 images)”
Entering Tuesday’s crosstown volleyball match off district-opening losses on Friday, both Abilene High and Cooper needed a win to avoid falling in an 0-2 hole to start to District 4-5A play.
In the end, it was the Lady Eagles celebrating in front of their home crowd at Eagle Gym after sweeping the Lady Cougars 25-20, 25-23, 25-15 to snap a seven-match losing streak.
AHS, which fell in four games to Wylie last week in its league opener, started strong and never let up Tuesday, improving to 8-18 overall and 1-1 in district action with one of its most complete performances of the year.