Here are the Big Country’s receiving leaders through Week 9:
Category: Jim Ned Indians
District 3-3A Div. I Week 9 Report: Jim Ned remains unbeaten in district with rout of TLCA.
Jim Ned 75, TLCA 0 — The Indians (6-1, 3-0) had an easy time with winless TLCA, building a 61-0 halftime lead before coasting home.
Xavier Wishert had 115 yards rushing and two scores on only three carries on a night that saw five different Indians score rushing touchdowns.
CAPITAL FARM CREDIT WEDNESDAY NIGHT PODCAST: Jim Ned’s Matt Fanning chats with Evan, Daniel
VIDEO PODCAST NO. 9: Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood chat with Jim Ned head coach Matt Fanning about last week’s win over Wall and his Indians’ strong play all season
Other games discussed from last week: Abilene High at San Angelo Central, Justin Northwest at Cooper, Eastland at Comanche, Early at Breckenridge, Sweetwater at Pecos and Anson at Forsan. From this week: Odessa Permian at Abilene High, Cooper at Granbury, Clyde at Early, Hawley at Anson, Bangs at Sonora, Jacksboro at Eastland, Coleman at Cisco and Brock at Boyd.
BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Indians top Wall 28-8 behind Wishert, stout defense
TUSCOLA — If anyone doubted that Jim Ned’s Xavier Wishert is one of the premier running backs in the Big Country, he furnished 211 yards worth of 
proof in Friday’s Big Country Preps Game of the Week.
Scoring three of Jim Ned’s four touchdowns in a 28-8 win over perennial power Wall, Wishert was the primary weapon in an Indian attack that scratched out 324 total yards.
The Jim Ned defense took much of the spotlight as well, limiting Wall’s vaunted option game to 222 total yards (all on the ground) to lift the Indians (5-1, 2-0 District 3-3A DI), who are now in the district driver’s seat. It was the fifth straight victory for Jim Ned since a season-opening loss to Ballinger.
Wall (4-3, 1-1) was led by Dominic Garcia, with 100 yards on 20 carries.
Continue reading “BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Indians top Wall 28-8 behind Wishert, stout defense”
District 3-3A Div. I Week 8 Report: Longhorns notch crucial win over Breckenridge
Early 21, Breckenridge 0 — Early used one of its best defensive efforts of the year to score a crucial district win over Breckenridge.
Limiting the Buckaroos to 138 yards in total offense, Early patiently built a three-score lead over one of the teams considered to be a contender for the No. 4 playoff seed.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Jim Ned plays host to Wall in crucial district game (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country picks)
LAST WEEK: 33-2, .942
SEASON TOTAL: 250-62, .801
It took seven weeks of patience, but this column is now dialed in.
Charting a season-best 33-2 mark last week, its season pick total has hit the all-important (to me) 80-percent accuracy mark, despite a sluggish start.
Week 8, however, may bring a challenge to stay above that statistic, with a selection of games that are as difficult to pick as any we’ve seen this season.
Our top choice: Wall (4-2, 1-0) at Jim Ned (4-1, 1-0) in a game we’ve had an eye on since before the season started.
To the winner: The driver’s seat in District 3-3A DI, with what is projected to be its toughest opponent in the rearview mirror.
District 3-3A Div. I Week 7 Report: Clyde runs away from Breck to open league play
Clyde 38, Breckenridge 21 — Clyde charted 466 total yards to win the district opener for both clubs. Dylan Neuman threw for 213 yards and two scores and Austin Hastings rushed for 128 yards and two TDs to lead Clyde ( 2-4, 1-0).
Leading 24-21 late in the third quarter, the Bulldogs pulled away with a 51-yard TD pass from Neuman to Jacob Roberts at the 1:26 mark of the third and a 6-yard TD run by Canaan Charleston with 0:29 to play.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eastland’s Behren Morton takes the top spot
Prior to the game, the numbers pointed to a track meet. But nobody was prepared for the more than 1,600 yards in combined total offense produced in last week’s 91-71 Eastland victory over Panhandle.
It should come as no surprise that the Big Country Preps Player of the Week participated in this artillery barrage, disguised as a football game.
Eastland senior Behren Morton earns the top spot, after hitting 22 of 32 throws for 405 yards and five touchdowns. The Texas Tech-bound QB also rushed nine times for 196 yards and three scores and was 12 of 13 on extra points.
By night’s end, he had a direct hand in eight touchdowns and 60 points. And no, this was not a six-man football game.
Continue reading “BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Eastland’s Behren Morton takes the top spot”
District 3-3A Div. I Week 6 Report: Jim Ned upsets fifth-ranked Hallettsville
Jim Ned 24, Hallettsville 21 — The Indians stunned the fifth-ranked Brahmas by forcing three turnovers and getting a good push up front.
The Indians, who gained the upper hand with a 10-0 third quarter, finished with 235 yards on the ground as a team
GAME STORY: Clyde sweeps Jim Ned in District 6-3A volleyball tilt
CLYDE — The Clyde volleyball team picked up a big win on Tuesday night at Bulldog Gym, sweeping Jim Ned 25-13, 25-16, 25-16 to take the lead in District 6-3A.
The Lady Bulldogs got off to a quick start in each set, scoring at least the first three points of each one, and trailed for only a single point in the match (5-4 in the second set) as they improved to 13-6 on the year and 3-0 in league play.
Jim Ned, meanwhile, fell to 14-2 and 2-1 with the loss.
District 3-3A Div. I Week 5 Report: Longhorns dominate Grape Creek
Early 36, Grape Creek 0 — Early had an easy time with Grape Creek, limiting the Eagles to just 82 yards in total offense.
The Longhorns (3-2) led 20-0 at the end of the first half and put the game out of reach with a pair of second-half touchdowns.
Alex Jacobs led Early with 157 yards rushing and two scores on 16 carries.
Grape Creek fell to 1-4 with the loss.
FEATURE: Jim Ned’s Wishert helping to pave the way for young Indians’ offense
TUSCOLA — Entering the 2020 season with a young set of skill players, the Jim Ned coaching staff was hoping to buy some time for a group fresh faces to mature.
It was a must if they were to match last season’s 7-4 finish in a difficult district.
They may have found an answer in junior running back Xavier Wishert — currently averaging 12.9 yards per carry to give the Indians (2-1) a reliable source of yardage. Entering this week with 453 yards and eight scores on 35 carries, Wishert was on pace for a 1,500-yard, 26-touchdown season before the cancellation of Friday’s home game with Snyder due to COVID.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Hawley tangles with upstart Dragons (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country picks)
LAST WEEK: 36-12, .750
SEASON TOTAL: 152-47, .763
I have not been to Bangs for a Game of the Week since 2013 — the last time the Dragons posted more than six wins in a season and the last winning record they had prior to last year’s 6-5 mark.
That drought ends tomorrow, when I travel to BHS for an interesting showdown between the Dragons (3-0) and Class 2A Division I power Hawley (3-1).
Bangs has the better overall numbers, but Hawley has faced a slightly tougher overall schedule, making this pick a perplexing one.
PHOTO GALLERY: Jim Ned-Cisco football (58 images)
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BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Huge second half lifts Jim Ned over Cisco
CISCO — When Cisco’s Hunter Long found Dawson Hearne in the back of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown pass, everything seemed to be going in the Loboes’ favor in their non-district matchup with Jim Ned.
Holding a 13-12 lead with 3:19 left in the third with all the momentum, the Loboes had rallied from a 12-0 deficit to gain the upper hand.
Then it happened: A Jim Ned scoring avalanche of four straight touchdowns, turning the Big Country Preps Game of the Week on a dime in a 39-20 Jim Ned win.
District 3-3A Div. I Week 4 Report: Wall rolls through Mason
Wall 42, Mason 7 — The Hawks (3-1) rolled up 406 combined rushing yards in an easy win over still-winless Mason.
led Wall with 163 yards and three scores on 13 carries.
Drew Morrison added 135 yards and two scores on 14 touches.
Leading 22-7 at the break, the Hawks put the game away with a pair of third-quarter scores.
Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel (Week 4)
Each week here at Big Country Preps, we’ll post our picks for all of that week’s 11-man games, in addition to the results of Evan Ren’s Twitter polls for each matchup.
For those interested in voting, polls go up on Monday night each week and close Thursday morning.
Disagree with our picks or the Twitter consensus? Let us know in the comments section below.
Continue reading “Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel (Week 4)”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Jim Ned heads to Cisco for interclass showdown
LAST WEEK: 42-9, .824
SEASON TOTAL: 116-35, .740
Week 4 arrives and I’m finally hitting my stride on pick accuracy.
It’s been an odd year thus far, both in terms of results and overall feel. It’s been tough to gauge.
Nonetheless, we’re hitting the road once again this Friday, with the Big Country Preps Game of the Week landing at Chesley Field in Cisco, where the Loboes (2-1) will play host to a Jim Ned club that is two divisions larger than they are.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Holsey takes the award in win over Lake View
We have said all along that the Sweetwater Mustangs would be among the most explosive teams in the Big Country in 2020, and Friday gave us a glimpse of it.
Led by our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, Leo Holsey, SHS amassed nearly 700 yards in total offense in a 58-42 win over San Angelo Lake View.
A junior in his third varsity season, Holsey hit 14 of 26 throws for 254 yards and four scores and rushed for 111 and three more TDs to help the Mustangs improve to 1-1. He finished the day with 365 total yards and a direct hand in seven scores.
“He came out focused and prepared,” Sweetwater coach Ben McGehee said. “I thought he did a great job running the offense all night in the run and passing game.”
District 3-3A Div. I Week 3 Report: Jim Ned routs Eastland in return to field
Jim Ned 62, Eastland 27 — The Indians pounded out 312 yards rushing to level off ant 1-1 on the year. Xavier Wishert led that effort with 175 yards and three scores on 13 carries.
Jim Ned led 42-14 by the break and was never seriously threatened beyond that point.
Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel (Week 3)
Each week here at Big Country Preps, we’ll post our picks for all of that week’s 11-man games, in addition to the results of Evan Ren’s Twitter polls for each matchup.
For those interested in voting, polls go up on Monday night each week and close Thursday morning.
Disagree with our picks or the Twitter consensus? Let us know in the comments section below.
Continue reading “Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel (Week 3)”
FEATURE: Scottish volleyball experience agreed with Jim Ned senior
No one could have imagined when Shelby Leavenworth moved from Tuscola to Edinburgh, Scotland, as an eighth-grader that she would return four years later as a much improved volleyball player with a wealth of international experience.
Leavenworth’s family moved back to Tuscola in July. Now as a Jim Ned High School senior outside hitter, the 6-foot-1 Leavenworth has been a pleasant and perhaps unexpected surprise for the 6-1 Lady Indians.
