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.
Anson 51, Haskell 13 — The Tigers used a dominating defensive effort to hand Haskell a loss.
Limited to only 238 yards in total offense, indians were down 31-7 by the break and never made a game of it.
Corey Layne topped the stat sheets for Anson with 228 yards passing and 160 yards rushing while accounting for five TDs.
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:
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.
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:
Sometimes, the biggest stage creates the biggest performances.
And in the Big Country, the stage doesn’t get any bigger than the annual Abilene – Abilene Cooper matchup — one of the biggest rivalries in the state of Texas and arguably the biggest in our area (though you may get an argument from Brownwood-Stephenville).
Friday night with much of the city of Abilene paying attention, AHS quarterback Brayden Henry had a memorable night, hitting 15 of 19 throws for 216 yards passing and two TDs.
Cross Plains 64, Abilene TLCA 8 — Cross Plains rolled up 495 total yards, including 304 yards rushing to push its record to 2-0
Kade Purvis topped the stat sheet with 191 yard passing and three scores to go with 42 yards rushing and two more TDs. Tyler Mackey was the leading rushing with 111 yards and two scores.
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.
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.
HAWLEY — The word “rebuild” hasn’t been applied much to Hawley over the past decade and with good reason. Through 10 seasons, coach Mitch Ables has posted a 108-25 record (.812) with seven district championships, including a current streak of six straight.
Ables has posted all seven 10-win seasons in Hawley history (including a current streak of six straight) and has never failed to lead the Bearcats into postseason play.
Now you’re beginning to see why “rebuild” has all but left the Hawley lexicon.
HAWLEY — In the Region I-2A DI title game with Stratford last December, Hawley’s Tate “Cowboy” Scott was charging downfield on punt coverage when he landed awkwardly, tearing the ACL in his right knee — a diagnosis that threatened the remainder of his football career.
“It was right after halftime on our second drive,” recalled Scott. “I went over a kid to try to tackle someone and I just heard a bunch of pops and that was that.”
Surgery followed in January, after which he was told that he faced approximately six to eight months of rehab before being able to play again — slim timing for him to get the work done and suit up for Hawley’s season opener at Roscoe on Aug. 30.
There were no guarantees, in fact, his doctors were reluctant to release him on time — a decision they eventually reversed. And as it stands right now, “Cowboy” has been suiting up for preseason scrimmages and is expected to start for the Bearcats at Roscoe.
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 stay in Class 2A Division I with the Hawley Bearcats.
Continue reading “COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Hawley Bearcats … 31 days to two a days”
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.
ROUND ROCK — It took more than a month and 12 playoff games, but the surprising Hawley baseball team finally met its match Thursday at Dell Diamond.
Top-ranked Collinsville scored in every inning but one and got a stellar start from Logan Jenkins to down HHS 9-0, ending the Bearcats’ best season in program history one win shy of the Class 2A state championship.
The loss snapped a 13-game winning streak for coach Jamie Seago’s team, including an 11-game surge in the postseason that saw the Bearcats outscore six playoff opponents by a combined 82-25 margin.
AUSTIN — The Hawley baseball team needed eight innings and contributions from almost every player in its lineup to extend its deepest playoff run in program history Wednesday at the University of Texas’ Disch-Falk Field.
But the Bearcats’ Class 2A state semifinal matchup with Flatonia ended the same way each of their first 10 postseason games did — with a check in the ‘W’ column.
After watching FHS rally from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, coach Jamie Seago’s squad scratched across a run in the eighth and held on from there for a dramatic 4-3 victory, ending a hectic day that saw a morning storm in Round Rock force a venue change to the state’s capital.
SEMINOLE — The Hawley baseball team is headed to the state tournament for the first time ever after blasting New Home 8-2 in Game 2 of its Region I-2A finals series on Friday to secure a series sweep over the two-time defending region champion Leopards at Robert Ryan Baseball Field.
Facing New Home ace Logan Addison, the Bearcats came out of the gates firing, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first to chase the Texas Tech-bound right-hander after just one-third of an inning.
That cushion was all starter Creed Ernst needed as he delivered five strong innings before handing an 8-2 lead over to relievers Gavin Olney and Alek Southerland, who closed out the win with a clean sixth and seventh.
SEMINOLE — Hawley left-hander Westyn Balch continued his postseason brilliance on Thursday, delivering his third complete game shutout in five playoff starts to pitch the Bearcats to a 2-0 win over New Home in the weather-delayed opener of the Region I-2A finals series at Robert Ryan Baseball Field.
Balch, who lowered his playoff ERA to 1.06 with the win, allowed just one seventh-inning hit to outduel New Home starter Ashton Lucio in a game that was delayed 3½ hours by a severe thunderstorm that produced baseball-size hail in nearby Denver City.
Taking advantage of a two-run rally in the top of the seventh sparked by teammate Alek Southerland’s one-out double to the left-center field gap, Hawley’s senior ace pitched around a leadoff single and a one-out walk in the home half of that inning to close the complete game gem with his 11th strikeout on his 113th pitch of the night. It came around 12:30 a.m., capping a tidy pitcher’s duel that took just two hours to complete.
Here are the Big Country baseball playoff roundups for this week. Continue reading “BASEBALL PLAYOFF ROUNDUP: Four area teams still alive in hunt for state title”
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: Hawley 7-on-7 state qualifying tournament (29 images)”
ABILENE — It took seven tense innings and three lead changes, but the Hawley Bearcats emerged as the victor from their Region I-2A quarterfinal series with area rival Albany — capped by a 6-5 win at Walt Drigger’s Field on Saturday.
Westyn Balch was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Gavin Olney delivered 1.2 innings on the hill to pick up the win in relief as Hawley took the best-of-three series, 2-0.
The Bearcats (21-9) faced two deficits — 1-0 in the early innings and 5-4 after six full — yet managed to overcome both.
They now advance to face Ropes in the Region I-2A semifinals next week. Albany finished another successful campaign at 19-4.
ABILENE — Fresh off one of the most dominant pitching performances in Big Country baseball history, Hawley ace Westyn Balch delivered another gem Friday, tossing a complete-game one-hitter to fuel the Bearcats to a 4-0 win over district rival Albany in the opener of a best-of-three Region I-2A quarterfinal series at McMurry’s Walt Driggers Field.
The senior left-hander took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, before allowing an infield single to shortstop Drew Siller. That would be the only hit allowed by Balch, who struck out 10 to pitch around an error and a pair of walks.
The victory puts the Bearcats one win away from a trip to region semifinals when the series resumes at noon Saturday at the same site.
ABILENE — Less than a day removed from coughing up five errors and blowing a 7-1 lead, the Haskell Maidens found redemption at Abilene Christian University on Friday.
Trailing Forsan 1-0 in a best-of-three slate following a disastrous 15-7 loss on Thursday, Haskell produced a well-played, well-pitched 12-3 win at Poly Wells Field on Friday to knot the series at a game apiece.
Harley Medford was 3 for 4 with two doubles, a triple and five RBIs to lead Haskell (22-5), which snapped a 19-game Forsan winning streak with the victory.
In the category of Big Country feats for the ages, we offer this big, bold headline-worthy accomplishment from Hawley ace Westyn Balch, who last week pitched a perfect game — almost literally.
For those keeping score at home, here is how nearly perfect Balch was:
In the Bearcats’ 7-0 victory over Forsan in the Region I-2A area round, the senior left-hander yielded not only no hits and no baserunners; he struck out each of the 21 Buffalo hitters he faced. Furthermore, he threw 67 of his 76 pitches for strikes and had 32 swings and misses.
AUSTIN — After area Class 3A and 4A competitors opened the UIL Track & Field State Meet with a combined 10 medals on Thursday, Big Country Preps athletes took partial ownership of the medal stand at Mike A. Meyers Stadium at the University of Texas on Friday in the Class 2A and 5A portions of the event.
Area athletes combined to claim 18 medals on the day, with Hico junior Kaylee Hunt joining Goldthwaite seniors Lainey Jernigan and Hope Hermesmeyer in a dominating performance.
The trio combined for six medals on the day as Goldthwaite, Stamford and Hico all posted top-five finishes in the 2A girls team competition.
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: Hawley-Cisco softball bi-district playoff series (75 images)”
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.
CLYDE — A solid pitching performance and one big inning carried the Cisco softball team to a decisive 7-2 win over Hawley in Game 3 of a Region I-2A bi-district series on Saturday at the Hanner Sports Complex
Hannah Rogers scattered seven hits over seven innings of work with four strikeouts to lead the Lady Loboes (17-8-1), who now advance to face Miles in the area round.
Along the way, seven Hawley baserunners were stranded, including three in the first inning when Rogers escaped a bases-loaded jam.
CLYDE — Carrying a huge amount of confidence after an 11-4 win in Game 1 of a Region I-2A bi-district series with Cisco on Friday, the Hawley Lady Cats seemed poised to close things out in Game 2 later that evening.
There was just one problem: Cisco never got the memo. And in a stunning reversal of momentum, the Lady Loboes captured Game 2 at the Hanner Sports Complex, 5-2, to force a decisive Game 3 on Saturday.
That will get underway at 3 p.m. at the same venue. The victor will take home a bi-district title, then advance to next week’s area round where either Ozona or Miles will provide the opposition.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 4.
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.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 4.
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.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through March 28.
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.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through March 28.
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.
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.
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.
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.