Category: Hamlin Pied Pipers

by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Cooper RB Noah Garcia makes dramatic return

When Cooper sophomore Noah Garcia was last seen at Shotwell Stadium, he was leaving the Cougars’ regular-season finale against Amarillo High on a stretcher.

Noah Garcia

The 5-foot-7, 160-pound running back had just taken a hard hit near the line of scrimmage and spent several minutes face down on the turf awaiting and receiving medical care.

But the thumbs up he gave the crowd as he was wheeled away from worried coaches, teammates and family members seemed to offer assurance that he would be back at some point to help the team he’d been so good for to that point. Little did anyone know that would occur just one week later.

Not only was Garcia back for the Coogs’ playoff opener at El Paso Eastwood, he was good enough in their 49-41 bi-district victory to earn Big Country Preps Player of the Week honors for the first time this season.

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by Evan Ren

BCP PLAYOFF FORECAST: Bucks, Brock clash at Shotwell (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Playoff picks and BCP Drive Time Podcast)

LAST WEEK: 33-6, .846 

SEASON TOTAL: 384-85, .818

There is no Big Country Preps Game of the Week once postseason begins. From this point forward, they are all the Game of the Week. 

I’ve said pretty much the same thing for more than a decade. 

But, as always, that won’t prevent us from taking a look around the area each week to spot some of the more intriguing matchups as the playoffs progress.

So … let’s dive in, shall we? 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 22: Evan, Daniel look ahead to football playoffs

The Regular season is over, and the high school football playoffs are here. In this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast, Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood take a look back at the most important games of Week 11 and ahead to the postseason, focusing on the Big Country’s biggest threats.

by Evan Ren

District 7-2A Division II: Week 11 Report

Cutter Edgar

Albany 34, Hamlin 27 â€” Ben West threw for 248 yards and four scores and Cutter Edgar rushed for 112 yards to lift Albany (5-5, 5-0) to a stunning win over previously unbeaten Hamlin. 

Albany, which limited Hamlin to an astounding 207 total yards, overcame three turnovers to win its 11th straight district championship. 

It was the fifth consecutive win or the Lions, who had begun the season at 0-5 against a brutal nondistrict schedule.

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by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2018-19 Big Country Boys Hoops Preview

While several of the area’s best athletes are still tied up playing football, the boys basketball season technically gets underway Friday night.

Of course, as the football playoffs get rolling and more and more teams are eliminated, the basketball talent pool will grow on a weekly basis, and by mid December, we’ll be in full hoops mode. 

Regardless, boys basketball season is officially here, so it’s time to take a peek at what this season will offer with our area teams, Class 1A through 4A. 

Who has the best shot at getting to state? Who are the legitimate contenders and what are the teams that we should be careful not to ignore?

Let’s find out. 

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by Evan Ren

BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Jim Ned clashes with Eastland (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks, Thursday Night Drive-Time Podcast)

LAST WEEK: 28-3, .903

SEASON TOTAL: 351-79, .816

Our possible choices for Big Country Preps Game of the Week made our final selection difficult this time around, with two high-profile winner-take-all district title games on the menu.  

Our final pick: Jim Ned (7-2, 3-1) at Eastland (7-2, 3-1) â€” a matchup with a bit less at stake (the No. 2 seed in District 3-3A Division I), but one we feel will be the area’s most competitive of our top six games. 

Continue reading “BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Jim Ned clashes with Eastland (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks, Thursday Night Drive-Time Podcast)” →

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 21: Evan, Daniel talk Hamlin football with Russell Lucas

Hamlin football coach Russell Lucas has built a consistent winner in his 11 years at the school. And sitting at 9-0 heading into a winner-take-all district championship game against Albany, this year’s team may be the best he’s ever had.

Lucas recently took some time to talk to Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about this year’s team, the qualities that make it special and the importance he places on character and community involvement for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the biggest football games of Week 10 and what they mean for the Big Country’s various district championship and playoff races.

by Maverick16

Eula girls roll Hamlin in season opener

In an early-season girls basketball matchup featuring a pair of top-25 teams on Tuesday, the Eula Lady Pirates proved why they are considered one of the best Class 1A teams in the Big Country.

Behind and 18-point, seven-rebound effort by post Abbey Matties and an 11-point night by Anna Masonheimer, the eighth-ranked Lady Pirates (1-0) shut down the 22nd-ranked Hamlin Lady Pipers in a 63-23 victory.

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by Evan Ren

District 7-2A Division II: Week 10 Report

Albany 20, Haskell 19 â€” Albany (4-5, 4-0) jumped out to a 20-6 lead and held off a fourth-quarter Haskell rally remain in a first-place tie with Hamlin. 

Cutter Edgar rushed 26 times for 243 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Lions, who finished with 381 yards in total offense. 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

Hamlin shuts out Cross Plains behind six interceptions

HAMLIN â€” Knowing that a district championship game loomed next week against Albany, the Hamlin Pied Pipers could have gotten caught in a District 7-2A Division II trap game Friday against Cross Plains.

Instead, the Pied Pipers forced six interceptions â€”three by sophomore Cutter Martin â€” and shut out the Buffaloes 47-0 at Piper Stadium.

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by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2018-19 Big Country Girls Hoops Preview

The quickest way to get basketball season to begin is to tee up a football. 

It might as well set off a time warp. 

If you don’t believe me, consider this while you’re watching a Week 10 football game around the area this evening: High school girls basketball officially begins tonight and the boys will tip off next week. 

Excuse me, but weren’t two-a-days over like …. just last week? Unbelievable.

Regardless, the girls start Friday night and that means it’s time to take a look around the Big Country for some of the top teams the area will have to offer in 2018-19. 

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by Evan Ren

BCP Game of the Week: Dublin heads to Comanche (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks, Drive-Time Podcast)

LAST WEEK: 38-5, .833

SEASON TOTAL: 323-76, .810

Dublin (7-1, 2-1) at Comanche (5-3, 3-0) â€” This game has been circled on the calendar for weeks and had been viewed as a possible winner-take-all matchup in District 6-3A Division II. 

That is, until Jacksboro threw everything into question with a 42-29 win at Dublin last week. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 20: Evan, Daniel chat with Comanche’s Stephen Hermesmeyer

Comanche football coach Stephen Hermesmeyer has turned a struggling Indian program into a perennial playoff contender during his seven seasons at the school. And though he experienced significant graduation losses from last year’s 12-2 squad, his Indians can clinch their second straight district title with a win over Dublin on Friday.

Hermesmeyer recently took some time to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about this year’s team, his wing-T offensive scheme and the status of his program for this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the area’s top games from Week 9 and how those outcomes are shaping the Big Country district races.

by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Merkel’s White snags this week’s award

With one spectacular performance after another in 2018, one may think that Merkel’s Jonah White would have collected a basket full of Player of the Week awards by this point. 

It hasn’t happened. 

Through a combination of bad luck and unfortunate timing, White has found himself in our top five on multiple occasions this year, only to be edged out time and time again in a season that has seen a flood of huge performances.

That is, until now. 

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by Evan Ren

District 7-2A Division II: Week 9 Report

Haskell 48, Roscoe 28 â€” The Indians kept their playoff hopes alive with a three-score win on the road. 

Cutter Medford hit 10 of 23 passes for 170 yards and four scores and rushed for 58 yards and another TD to lead the Indians (2-5, 1-2). 

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by Evan Ren

BCP Game of the Week: Stephenville heads to Brownwood (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks, Drive-Time Podcast)

LAST WEEK: 33-7, .825

SEASON TOTAL: 285-71, .801

In a week that features four or perhaps five games that could easily qualify for our Big Country Preps Game of the Week, there is alas, a safe choice. 

When in doubt, one can seldom go wrong with the annual Stephenville-Brownwood clash — a storied feud now in its 80th chapter dating back to 1937.

This year, the Lions (4-2, 1-0) play host to the Yellow Jackets (4-3, 1-1) in a game that will likely decide the No. 2 seed in District 5-4A Division I â€” perhaps the best overall 4A league in Texas.

Continue reading “BCP Game of the Week: Stephenville heads to Brownwood (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country Picks, Drive-Time Podcast)” →

by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 19: Sammy Burnett talks Brownwood football with Evan, Daniel

Having spent his high school years playing for a pair of coaching legends at Brownwood, Sammy Burnett’s professional dream was always to return to his alma mater as the head football coach.

Burnett, who realized that dream when he was announced as the Lions coach in February, took some time to chat with Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about “the Brownwood way,” how he was influenced by coaches Gordon Wood and Randy Allen and what he wants to build at his alma mater in this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also on this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the top developments from Week 8 and where it leaves the Big Country’s football teams with three weeks remaining in the regular season.

by Evan Ren

Big Country Preps Player of the Week: Cisco QB Witt takes the accolade

Having covered Big Country athletics since 2006, I can, with a good degree of accuracy, say that it is rare for a Cisco football player to win a Player of the Week accolade. 

There are two reasons for this: Cisco has not only been very good under coach Brent West, but they’ve been merciful in the process â€” often pulling their starters early to avoid embarrassing the opposition. 

This makes it difficult for a CHS player to crack our Top 10, much less take the top spot. 

Nonetheless, it does happen, upon occasion and Friday night is an example of it.

Senior quarterback Cooper Witt, despite being pulled after one series in the third quarter, snags our Big Country Preps Player of the Week for the week ending Oct. 20 after leading the Loboes to a 68-0 win over San Angelo Grape Creek.

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by Evan Ren

District 7-2A Division II: Week 8 Report

Hamlin 48, Haskell 7 â€” Hamlin used its duel-threat attack to rush for 255 yards and pass for 159 in a win over Haskell. 

Braydin Warner was 10 of 15 for 100 yards and a score  and rushed four times for 52 yards and two more touchdowns to help lead the Pipe Pipers (7-0, 2-0). Jackson Sepeda was a big contributor as well,  with 12 carries for 148 yards and three touchdowns. 

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by Evan Ren

BCP Game of the Week: C-City hosts Idalou (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country picks, Drive-Time Podcast)

Evan Ren

LAST WEEK: 37-5, .860

SEASON TOTAL: 252-64, .797 

Before the season, many viewed Colorado City (6-0, 1-0) as the odds-on favorite to take District 2-3A Division II, and I agreed with them. 

But as each new season evolves, surprises typically emerge and that’s certainly the case in this league where Idalou (5-1, 1-0) and Abernathy (5-1, 1-0) have shown themselves as too good to simply label as No. 2 or 3 seeds. 

Continue reading “BCP Game of the Week: C-City hosts Idalou (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country picks, Drive-Time Podcast)” →

by Evan Ren

District 7 2A Division II: Week 7 Report

Albany 48, Baird 12 â€” Albany QB Ben West had his best performance as a Lion, hitting 13 of 15 throws for 193 yards and three scores as AHS improved to 1-5 and 1-0. 

Ryan Hill (three catches, 49 yards) was on the receiving end of two West TD strikes while Dillon Hindman (2-20) caught the third.  

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by Evan Ren

BCP Game of the Week: Buckaroos head to Tuscola (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country picks, Drive-Time Podcast)

Evan Ren

LAST WEEK: 27-7, . 794 

SEASON TOTAL: 215-59, .785

The first game out of the chute in a merciless district is often the most important one â€” especially if the game doesn’t involve the league favorite. 

Applying that axiom to District 3-3A DI, a league opener between Breckenridge and Jim Ned is vital, given that Wall is expected to beat everyone.  That makes every other contest indispensable between five teams vying for three remaining playoff spots.  

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 17: Evan, Daniel talk Cross Plains football with coach Daniel Purvis

Since taking over a moribund program at Cross Plains eight years ago, coach Daniel Purvis has turned the Buffaloes into a perennial playoff team. And this year, he has his squad off to the best start of his tenure at 4-1.

This week, Purvis took some time to talk to Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood about the program he’s built, the state of his current team and the District 7-2A Division II race in the Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.

Also in this episode, Evan and Daniel discuss the biggest developments of Week 6, which featured a shortened schedule for the Big Country.

by Evan Ren

District 7-2A Division II: Week 6 Report

Baird 48, Roby 7  — The Bears improved to 4-1 on the year with a homecoming win in preparation for their district opener with Albany next Friday.

This isn’t a new development for Baird, which has been 4-1 as recently as 2016. But it does give the coach Joel Baker’s Bears three straight wins and momentum going into their district opener at Albany next Friday. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

BCP Podcast No. 16: Evan, Daniel take fresh look at area district races

With district play either here or approaching for the 16 11-man leagues involving Big Country football teams, every game has heightened importance from this point forward.

In this week’s Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast, Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood forego a guest to discuss each district race and examine each of our 40 school’s chances of reaching the postseason.

by Brandon McAuliffe

When @MackeySpeaks, Jones County listens

Motivational speaker Stephen Mackey made his second trip to the Big Country this year, stopping for a 45-minute speech at Hamlin High School on Monday night.

Mackey’s first trip to the Big Country came in April, when he spoke at the fifth annual PlayMaker event, which is organized by Hamlin coach Russell Lucas.

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by Evan Ren

BCP Game of the Week: Dublin heads to Breckenridge

LAST WEEK: 37-7, .841

SEASON TOTAL: 146-46, .761

Prior to this season, I had chosen the Dublin Lions for a Game of the Week only once in 12 years. 

This season, the Lions (4-0), who are off to their best start of this century, have landed the marquee game twice. This week, they’re off to Breckenridge (2-2) to face what I believe is the best team they have met to date. 

The Buckaroos, who are coming off back-to-back losses to monster teams from Cisco (34-13) and Brock (20-9), are far better than that .500 mark would indicate. 

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