Here’s a complete rundown of Thursday and Friday’s Class 4A playoff results in the Big Country:
Category: Glen Rose Tigers
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.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 11 REPORT: Glen Rose, Godley, Benbrook close regular season with victories
Glen Rose 43, Fort Worth Dunbar 20 — Judd Connally threw for 195 yards and four scores and rushed for 161 yards and two more TDs as Glen Rose rolled to a 23-point win over Dunbar.
With the victory, Glen Rose evened its record at 5-5, bookending the regular season with an 0-5 start, a 5-0 finish and a district title.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 10 REPORT: Glen Rose locks down district title with fourth straight win
Glen Rose 53, Fort Worth Benbrook 14 — After an 0-5 start against a murderous non-district schedule, the Glen Rose Tigers have rebounded with four straight wins — the last of which, a 53-14 rout of Fort Worth Benbrook, clinched the district championship.
Judd Connally threw for 177 yards and two scores and rushed for 92 yards and two more TDs to lift the Tigers. Tyson Sullivan was another key contributor, rushing for 116 yards and two scores on only 12 carries.
Benbrook, which was in pursuit of the district title, fell to 5-4 and 3-1.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 9 REPORT: Godley, Benbrook both win to set up district title matchup
Glen Rose 70, Venus 0 — The Tigers (3-5, 3-0) won their third straight game after an 0-5 start while keeping Venus (0-8, 0-3) winless.
Judd Connally threw for 155 yards and four touchdowns and Tyson Sullivan rushed for 91 yards and two more scores to lead the Tigers, who will host Fort Worth
Benbrook (5-3, 3-0) for the district title next Friday.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 8 REPORT: Glen Rose, Dunbar and Benbrook win in Week 8
Glen Rose 56, Hillsboro 14 — Judd Connally threw for 265 yards and one score and Tyson Sullivan rushed for 125 yards and four TDs to lead Glen Rose (2-5, 2-0) to its second straight win.
The Tigers will play host to Venus next Friday.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Hamlin, Brownwood, Glen Rose and Hawley all on tap tonight
FORGET THE SCHEDULE, HAMLIN IS DOING WHAT IT SHOULD BE DOING
With Hamlin extending its winning streak to five, I can hear its detractors (and with some validity) saying that the Pipers have yet to be tested by an upper tier 2A DII team.
Hamlin fell to Division I Anson in an injury-plagued opener, but hasn’t faced a team currently over .500 since.
OK, that’s fine.
But there’s one thing to keep an eye on: Hamlin is doing what a good team would do as a heavy favorite — it’s winning comfortably.
In fact, with the exception of a 19-14 win over Crosbyton, the Pipers have outperformed computer projections on a weekly basis. In other words, this club is better than most believed it would be and without question, it’s better than last year.
Continue reading “BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Hamlin, Brownwood, Glen Rose and Hawley all on tap tonight”
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 7 REPORT: Glen Rose notches first win; Hillsboro, Benbrook also victorious
Glen Rose 56, Godley 21 — Judd Connally threw for 196 yards and four scores and rushed for 192 yards and two more TDs to lead Glen Rose (1-5, 1-0) to its first win of the season.
Godley (2-4, 0-1) was led by Adam Pempsell, with 192 yards rushing and two TDs.
Glen Rose will face Hillsboro on the road next Friday; Godley will host Benbrook on the same evening.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 6 REPORT: Glen Rose and the entirety of district enjoy midseason break
Glen Rose (0-5), idle — The Tigers were open yesterday but will see action again next Friday when they play host to Godley.
Glen Rose’s record could be deceiving. The combined record of the Tigers’ opposition thus far is 20-5 and four of those losses were by a combined 26 points (four scores).
BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Stephenville, Ruston, La., rematch should be closer
A year ago, the Ruston, La., Bearcats brought 11 DI players to the Lone Star State and beat three quality programs in Longview (21-10), Midland Legacy (38-6) and Stephenville (63-17). Yet they finished 11-3 with three losses to Louisiana teams and failed to win their state title.
What does that say about the quality of Louisiana football?
Regardless, the Bearcats are again dipping their paws into Texas’ talent pool this year, with two more wins over Longview (38-35) and Legacy (49-21). Stephenville is up next in a neutral site game in Longview this Friday and Ruston (4-0) is again loaded, with at least six DI players, including 6-foot-6, 235-pound blue chip tight end Deejay Drain.
Continue reading “BIG COUNTRY PREPS NOTEBOOK: Stephenville, Ruston, La., rematch should be closer”
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 5 REPORT: Glen Rose’s hard luck continues with fifth straight loss
Alvarado 55, Glen Rose 50 — The Tigers’ hard luck continued on Friday with a fifth straight loss. To date, four of Glen Rose’s five losses have been decided by two scores or less.
Their last three defeats have been decided by one score.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 4 REPORT: Glen Rose falls to Waco Robinson in nail-biter
Waco Robinson 41, Glen Rose 40 — The Rockets improved to 3-1 with a win over Glen Rose (0-4).
Robinson amassed 515 yards in total offense, including 293 yards rushing. Evan Moreno led the way for the Rockets with 277 yards rushing and three scores.
FEATURE: Senior standout Arrington has Glen Rose in position for another strong campaign
The bar was understandably high when the Glen Rose Lady Tigers opened the 2025 volleyball season. With a 31-8 campaign last fall that included a District 6-4A championship and a bi-district title, to boot, Glen Rose earned a postseason playoff berth for the fifth straight season.
In turn, the Lady Tigers earned something else, namely a target on their backs throughout early season tournaments and pre-district matches. That meant they were getting opponents’ best efforts almost every time out.
Twenty nine matches into this season, Glen Rose has forged a respectable 18-11 record. With this week’s schedule featuring the final three nondistrict games on the Lady Tigers’ slate, yet another 20-plus-win season isn’t just possible, it’s almost certain.
Especially once Alex Arrington takes the court.
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 3 REPORT: The entirety of District 4 is swept in Week 3
Brownwood 34, Glen Rose 28 — Judson Coalson threw for 174 yards and two scores to help the Lions (1-2) earn their first win of the season.
Brownwood led 34-7 late in the second half before holding off a Glen Rose rally attempt that saw the Tigers chart three straight TDs in the fourth quarter.
Ryder Ribitzki was the top weapon for Glen Rose, catching five passes for 78 yards and two scores.
Gatesville 30, Glen Rose 7 — The Tigers managed only 123 yards in total offense while dropping to 0-2. 
DISTRICT 4-4A DIV. II WEEK 1 REPORT: Tigers fall to Grandview on the road
Grandview 28, Glen Rose14 — Though the Tigers were favored by two scores, this early season loss wasn’t entirely unexpected for a very young team on the road in its season opener.
With the score knotted at 14-14 at the break, Grandview took control of the game with a pair of third-quarter touchdowns and never looked back.
Glen Rose will face Gatesville at home next Friday.
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.
GLEN ROSE FEATURE: Tigers may have to go “old school” behind huge offensive line
GLEN ROSE — When the subject of “old school” football comes up in Central Texas, the name of Cliff Watkins is one of the last you can expect to hear in the conversation.
Using a modern diversified offense, Watkins has tallied 11 straight playoff berths with two coming at Eastland and the last nine coming at his current job as head coach of Glen Rose. So you’re unlikely to see him hosting a seminar on the wing-T anytime soon.
This year, however, might be a bit different in the Tiger camp, with a very green set of skill personnel behind a massive, experienced offensive line.
Entering the 2025 season, Glen Rose’s projected starters up front are left tackle Kaden Gray-Dias (6-0, 220), left guard Clark Anderson (6-5, 325), center Chase Alexander (6-2, 275), right guard Braxtin Knight (6-3, 270) and right guard Jack Jewett (6-2, 235)
2025 GLEN ROSE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Young Tigers should remain dangerous
GLEN ROSE — In nine years as the head coach of the Glen Rose Tigers, Cliff Watkins has taken nine straight district titles. In his 11-year overall career (including two years at Eastland), he has never had a losing season and has won nine games or more nine times.
So even after being hit hard by graduation with the bulk of his key skill personnel having received their diplomas, Watkins isn’t talking about rebuilding. Nor is he talking about taking a short step back.
The Tigers, as far as he’s concerned, will enter 2025 with the same set of goals they always do: win district and push as hard as possible to reach Arlington.
COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Glen Rose Tigers … seven 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. 20. 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. 4, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2025 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.
Today, we take a look at the Glen Rose Tigers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Superlative Award Winners (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc.)
- All-Big Country Preps Second-Team Softball Selections (w/ honorable mention)
- All-Big Country Preps Rising Stars Team (the best freshman and sophomores in the area!)
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (To be released Monday night)
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.
- Superlative Award Winners (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc.)
- All-Big Country Preps First-Team Softball Selections
- All-Big Country Preps Rising Stars Team (the best freshman and sophomores in the area!)
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (To be released Monday night)
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.
- Superlative Award Winners (Pitcher of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, etc.)
- All-Big Country Preps First-Team Softball Selections
- All-Big Country Preps Second-Team Softball Selections
- Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team (To be released Monday night)
STATE TRACK ROUNDUP: Brownwood girls claim team title; Wall boys narrowly miss out
Cover photo courtesy Brian Hodnett
AUSTIN — The 2025 UIL state track and field meet got underway on Thursday at the University of Texas’ Mike A. Myers Track & Soccer Stadium, and the Big Country is bringing home some hardware.
The Brownwood Lady Lions made the most of their trip to Austin, claiming the Class 4A girls team championship on the strength of their three relays.
The Wall boys came “painfully close” in the words of track coach Craig Slaughter to giving the Big Country Preps area a second team title as the Hawks’ 64 points left them just two points behind Holliday in the Class 3A boys team standings.
Even so, Slaughter said that Wall’s relay teams, both boys and girls, all set personal records in an “incredible day.”
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.
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.
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.
CLASS 4A REGIONAL TRACK ROUNDUP: Brownwood girls take team title, area athletes earn 23 medals at I-4A meet
LUBBOCK — The Brownwood girls won a team title and Stephenville finished second behind Canyon on the boys side over the weekend to headline a strong effort by programs and athletes from the Big Country Preps coverage area at the Region I-4A track meet.
The Lady Lions earned 113 points to run away from the competition at Lowrey Field, topping second-place Canyon by 38 points and third-place Canyon Randall by 53. The Stephenville boys, meanwhile, finished with 76 points to fall 15 shy of Canyon for the team championship.
Those efforts highlighted a successful meet that saw area athletes claim 23 total medals — 13 on the girls side and 10 on the boys.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall’s Jones takes the award with spectacular effort at area meet
The best way to describe the area meet performance of our Big Country Preps Player of the Week (Wall’s Briggs Jones) is to simply let his coach, Craig Slaughter do the talking.
“He ran a blistering 10.41 to set a school record and win the 100 meters,” Slaughter said. “He broke his long jump record with a jump of 23-11.5. I only let him jump twice because he was running out of room in the pit and I need that dude cranked up this week.
“Then he destroyed his triple jump record with a jump of 48-7.25
Evan Ren’s 2025 Gym Rat Team: The hardest-working players in the Big Country!
While scoring and rebounding garner much of the attention in basketball, there are other elements, crucial to success that seldom grab headlines.
Behind the scenes is where character, effort and sacrifice set the foundation for teams to reach their full potential. And it is with our Big Country Preps Gym Rat Team that we salute the individuals who bring these elements to the table.
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 outworking, outhustling and outgiving everyone around you, both on the floor and off. Hard-working, honest, selfless, tough, coachable kids are what we seek for this roster.
A Gym Rat Team member can be your best player or the last player off the bench. But the one thing all of them bring is an uncompromisingly good attitude.
It is for that reason that our Gym Rat Team is selected entirely by area coaches. And Big Country Preps is truly honored to present these individuals to you — the best “team players” (boys and girls) that the area had to offer during the 2024-25 season.
Players are listed in no particular order.
Enjoy.
Area Softball Stat Leaders (through March 27)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 27:
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.
Area Baseball Stat Leaders (through March 27)
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through March 27.
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.
Area Baseball Stat Leaders (through March 20)
20Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through March 20.
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.
Area Softball Stat Leaders (through March 20)
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 20:
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.
GAME STORY: Glen Rose girls’ season comes to close with 39-32 loss to Dallas Lincoln in state semis
MANSFIELD — Jada Patterson scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Dallas Lincoln held off a late Glen Rose rally to beat the Lady Tigers 39-32 in the Class 4A Division II state semifinals Friday night.
Patterson paced a balanced Lincoln attack, as Lanae Dallas contributed 10 points, T’Anna Saddler added eight and six of the seven Dallas girls who took the court scored at least a basket. As a result, Lincoln (also the Lady Tigers) improved to 38-2 on the year and earned a spot in the state title game. Glen Rose ended its season with a 36-3 record.
LHS used a 9-0 run to start the second quarter to pull away, and although Glen Rose cut the lead to six points on four different occasions in the second half, Lincoln had a counterpunch for each Lady Tiger flurry. One of the bigger Lincoln responses came when Grace Spencer’s 3-point shot from the left corner nestled into the net as the third-quarter buzzer sounded.