Category: Local football

by Brandon McAuliffe

SIGNING DAY: Hall’s signing shows McMurry working to develop local pipeline

There were numerous times over the past few months that Tristen Hall thought his football career ended when Abilene High was eliminated by Burleson Centennial in the third round of the Class 5A playoffs in November.

The senior defensive end was at peace with that, too, after a bumpy road on the recruiting trail that saw him earn an offer from NAIA Wayland Baptist in Plainview that he said just wasn’t the right fit.

On Wednesday afternoon, though, in front of his teammates and family, Hall signed with a program he knew was home.

Hall, who didn’t even play football until seventh grade, is staying home to play at McMurry.

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by Daniel Youngblood

SIGNING DAY: Six Cooper athletes celebrate college decisions during weather-postponed ceremony

Six Cooper athletes made their college commitments public Monday during a Signing Day ceremony at Cougar Gym that was rescheduled from last week due to the winter storm that whipped through Abilene and most of the state.

Surrounded by family, friends, teammates and coaches, five CHS football players — quarterback/athlete Chris Warren, receivers Malik Jackson, D’Andre Ralston and Cam Herron and defensive back Michael Ramis — joined girls basketball standout Karrigan Parrott in announcing the universities for which they will continue their athletic careers collegiately.

Warren and Ralston are both headed to Hardin-Simmons, while Ramis will also stay local and compete at McMurry. Herron will join that trio in the Division III ranks at Trinity in San Antonio, while Ramis will play NAIA football for Arizona Christian University. 

Parrott, the lone girls athlete to participate in Monday’s ceremony after fellow basketball player Kyla Speights (Texas Wesleyan) and volleyballer Skyla Stark (Hill College) announced commitments earlier, will head east to compete at the next level for DIII Texas-Dallas in Richardson.

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by Daniel Youngblood

SIGNING DAY: Five Abilene High football players headed to collegiate ranks

Because of the winter storm that hit the state earlier this week, National Signing Day came and went without fanfare this year. But with a clear weather forecast on Friday, five Abilene High football players were celebrated for the college decisions they made official with their Letters of Intent on Wednesday.

Three Eagles defensive backs — safety Noah Hatcher (Midwestern State) and cornerbacks Kwame Collins and Jayson Henley (both Angelo State) — all signed to play scholarship football at the Division II level, while linebacker Kenneth Johnson (McMurry) and receiver Tim Outlaw (Hardin-Simmons) committed to play Division III football locally.

That group was supported by family, friends, coaches and teammates during Signing Day ceremony at the AHS fieldhouse that served as an opportunity to show younger players in the Eagles football program what can happen with hard work and dedication.

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by Evan Ren

AREA SIGNEES LIST: Stanaland, Lawson among the area’s top signees

With Signing Day 2023 in the books, the Big Country will be placing several of its athletes on college campuses across the country, including multiple Division I signees. 

Headlining this year’s group are Jim Ned lineman Gage Stanaland, who has inked a Letter of Intent with Oklahoma State University and Breckenridge defensive lineman-fullback Jerry Lawson, who will be playing football right here in the Big Country with Abilene Christian University. Lawson is one of three Breckenridge athletes who will be heading to DI institutions, the others being Sean Cooksey and Chase Lehr.

Stanaland, a 6-foot-5, 290-pounder, originally committed to Navy and received offers from UTEP, New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech. Texas A&M and Baylor were showing interest but never offered. However, Oklahoma State suddenly entered the pursuit late in the game and convinced him to become a Cowboy. 

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by Evan Ren

EVAN REN’S 2022 TRUE GRIT TEAM: The toughest, most coachable players in the Big Country

Most high school football teams have that one player acknowledged by the coaching staff as the prime example of what a teammate should be. 

He’s the guy who seldom misses any practice time and is a regular in the weight room. He’s early to arrive. He’s late to leave and takes pride in being coachable, though he seldom needs direction. 

He always sets the right example for younger players. He doesn’t complain and, above all else, he’s tough enough to make all the aforementioned traits consistently possible. 

This is the only Big Country media source that honors them. 

Welcome to the “True Grit” team — a collection of area players nominated by their head coaches who exemplify the character traits football mentors want throughout their roster. 

Not all of them are great players. In fact, many of them will never play a down of college football. But every single one of them is making the most of their high school football experience and has helped those around them do the same.

We are absolutely honored to present these young men to you — the toughest football players the Big Country had to offer, gathered in our 2022 — listed in no particular order, with their coaches describing them in their own words. Enjoy! 

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by Evan Ren

All Big Country Preps Superlatives: Cumpton, Long, Harris take the top spots, while Faith and Ables share Coach of the Year

Here are our superlative award winners for the 2022 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS RISING STARS TEAM: The top football under classmen in the Big Country for 2022.

Here are our selections for the 2022 All-Big Country Preps Rising Stars Team — an honor reserved for the area’s top freshman and sophomore football players. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Comanche standout Glasgow takes top spot

Consistency and versatility always score big in our Big Country Preps Player of the Week column. 

Add a few extras to your stat sheet and play well over several games and you’ll generally end up at or near the top of our weekly list. 

That is precisely why Comanche sophomore guard Kinsey Glasgow has earned our Player of the Week award for the Week ending December 3.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie’s upset bid comes up just short in season-ending loss to Argyle

STEPHENVILLE — The comeback magic finally ran out for the Wylie football team on Friday at Tarleton State University’s Memorial Stadium, but the fight never did in a 35-28 loss to top-ranked Argyle in the Region I-5A Division II championship game.

Trailing by 14 on two occasions in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs pulled within a touchdown both times, with the last earning them an opportunity at an onside kick with just over a minute remaining.

But Wylie’s hopes and season ended there, when the Eagles recovered the kick and kneeled the ball three times to escape with a hard-fought win and advance to take on South Oak Cliff in the 5A DII state semifinals next week.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Big, experienced O-line a major key to Wylie’s offensive success

Before the season began, Wylie senior Cayden Clay said the Bulldogs offensive line — and the offensive unit around it — had the potential to be among the best in the state of Texas in 2022. 

Few outside of the program likely agreed with him at the time.

But four months later, those words from the 6-foot-2, 260-pound captain look prophetic.

Behind that big and experienced offensive line, the Wylie offense has been nothing short of outstanding, averaging 37.8 points and 441.7 yards per game for the year. And thanks in large part to that production, the Bulldogs (10-3) are riding an eight-game winning streak into the Region I-5A Division II championship game against unbeaten Argyle on Friday.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel vs. Twitter Polls (Week 15)

Each week here at Big Country Preps, we’ll post our picks for all of that week’s 11-man games and select six-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.

Disagree with our picks or the Twitter consensus? Let us know in the comments section below.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYOFF FORECAST: Nine BCP teams still alive as we enter December

LAST WEEK: 11-1, .916
SEASON TOTAL: 529-120, .815

As December football arrives so will nine — count’em, nine — Big Country Preps teams retain a playoff pulse and are still hopeful of winning a state championship.

Wylie, Brock, Wall, Cisco, Hawley, Albany, Westbrook, Benjamin and Loraine will all take the field this week.

Not too shabby.

Also doing pretty well: this column, which hit with 91-percent accuracy last week despite a difficult slate of games to pick.

That said, let’s dive into this week’s games.

Here’s this week’s forecast: 

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Special teams lift Wylie past Canutillo and into state quarterfinals

FORT STOCKTON — It’s time to hang the “Football in December” banner at Hugh Sandifer Stadium.

The Wylie football team continued its postseason run through the Region I-5A Division II bracket with a thrilling 21-18 win over Canutillo at Fort Stockton’s Panther Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

After the game, Wylie players were quick to admit that they knew the last time the banner went up was in 2016 when the Bulldogs lost 31-17 to Carthage in the Class 4A Division I state championship.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Centennial rides big fourth quarter to 24-14 win over Abilene High, ends Eagles’ run in I-5A DI semis

ARLINGTON — The Abilene High football team saw its surprising playoff run come to an end Friday, falling 24-14 to Burleson Centennial in a wet Region I-5A Division I semifinal matchup at Choctaw Stadium.

Despite a tough offensive night on which they were limited to just 169 yards and five first downs, the Eagles found themselves tied with the Spartans 7-7 after three quarters of play. But Centennial scored 17 consecutive points to start the final period, taking advantage of a pair of AHS fumbles — one it returned for a touchdown — to finally put away coach Mike Fullen’s squad.

The flexbone-based Spartans (12-1), who overcame a red zone fumble on their final possession of the first half, finished with 235 yards of total offense, achieving their big fourth quarter despite a modest offensive output of just 64 yards in the second half.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Clutch Wylie Bulldogs comfortable with game on the line

It may seem obvious, but pressure situations are described as such because of the increased stress put on teams trying to perform in the late stages of close games.

Playing in “crunch time” is supposed to make things more difficult.

Apparently no one ever bothered to inform the Wylie football team of this.

Continue reading “FEATURE: Clutch Wylie Bulldogs comfortable with game on the line” →

by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Abilene High’s ‘surprising’ run to region semis a product of program’s process, tradition

Of all teams still playing in the Texas high school football playoffs, Abilene High would likely be considered one of the bigger surprises .

Closing the regular season at 4-6, as the No. 4 seed out of District 2-5A Division I, the Eagles weren’t a popular pick to make a deep playoff run. 

But after dominating good teams from El Paso Del Valle (42-14) and Red Oak (35-0) to earn a Region I-5A DI semifinals matchup with Burleson Centennial on Friday, coach Mike Fullen’s squad finds itself in the third round of the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Abilene High’s 2020 squad, like this one, entered the playoffs with a modest record and found its stride later in the year — following a path to postseason success that Fullen has embraced during his time as the Eagles head coach.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel vs. Twitter Polls (Week 14)

Each week here at Big Country Preps, we’ll post our picks for all of that week’s 11-man games and select six-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.

Disagree with our picks or the Twitter consensus? Let us know in the comments section below.

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by Evan Ren

BCP PLAYOFF FORECAST: Area football could see as many as 10 survivors in December

LAST WEEK: 21-4, .840
SEASON TOTAL: 518-119, .813

Week 14 is upon us and we still have 13 teams from the Big Country Preps coverage area with a pulse.

And unless my pick percentage suffers a sudden crash, it’s my opinion that no fewer than 10 of our area teams will survive to play into December.

We shall see.

Here’s this week’s playoff forecast: 

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME REPORT: Abilene High dominates on both sides of the ball in area-round rout of Red Oak

MANSFIELD — The Abilene High football team dominated Red Oak in every way imaginable Friday, routing the Hawks 35-0 in an area-round matchup at Newsom Stadium to earn a Region I-5A Division I semifinals date with Burleson Centennial next week.

The Eagles, who advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the second time in the past three years, outgained Red Oak 472-82, rushing for 413 yards to the Hawks’ 58 in a thorough beating.

Red Oak managed just four first downs against the Abilene High defense, which forced seven punts and a turnover on downs while adding an interception for good measure.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME REPORT: Scrappy Cougars rally but fall short in season-ending loss to Grapevine

FORT WORTH — The Cooper football team rallied from a 17-0 first-quarter deficit and 24-7 halftime hole to pull within three points in the fourth quarter of Friday’s Region I-5A Division II area-round matchup with Grapevine. But that was as close as the Cougars could get in a season-ending 38-21 loss to the Mustangs at Crowley ISD Stadium.

Hurt by five turnovers, CHS still managed to pull within 24-21 on Daniel Bray’s 16-yard touchdown run with 7:19 remaining in the game. And the Coogs had an opportunity to take a lead on their next possession. But they couldn’t finish that drive, and Grapevine closed with two late touchdowns to pull away.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Wylie scores 20 points in final five minutes to rally past Colleyville Heritage in area round

GRAPEVINE — After Wylie quarterback KJ Long’s fourth-down pass was intercepted with less than six minutes remaining and his team trailing Colleyville Heritage 40-30, there was a sigh of relief on the home side of Mustang-Panther Stadium.

It was clear from the reaction to Bryson Burgess’ pick that most in the Panthers’ cheering section and on the Heritage sideline thought that was the knockout blow in a wild Region I-5A Division II area-round matchup.

It was also clear from that reaction that those same people hadn’t followed Wylie’s season closely enough.

The Panthers’ hadn’t broken the Bulldogs’ fighting spirit, they’d ignited it. And after forcing and recovering a fumble on the very next play, Wylie sandwiched a pair of clutch touchdown drives around a huge fourth-down stop to escape Grapevine with a thrilling 50-40 win and earn a region semifinals date next week with Canutillo.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Outside linebackers Johnson, Davila setting tone for stifling Abilene High defense

In the Abilene High defense, few players play more important or diverse roles than the outside linebackers.

Those who fill this hybrid position in the Eagles’ 3-4 scheme may find themselves rushing the passer like a defensive end on one play, setting the edge on an outside run the next and dropping into pass coverage the play after that.

With so many responsibilities, those players must be strong enough to shed blocks, fast enough to run down ball-carriers and intelligent enough to know their duties on every play. Fortunately for the Eagles and unfortunately for their opponents, AHS’ current outside backers — seniors Kenneth Johnson and Zak Davila — are all of those things and up to any task asked of them.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Senior end Price a steady leader for rapidly improving Wylie defense

Wylie defensive end Ryan Price has had a lot put on his plate this season.

As one of just three returning starters from last year’s defense — and the top returning producer after tallying 61 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks for that unit — the 6-foot-1, 230-pound senior was tasked with leading a young Bulldogs defense through a minefield of a schedule that would test both its ability and resolve.

Through his steady — and sometimes spectacular — play and rock-solid example, Price has shouldered that weight well. And in doing so, he’s been a key part of a defensive transformation that has the Bulldogs riding a six-game winning streak into Friday’s area-round playoff matchup at Colleyville Heritage.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel vs. Twitter Polls (Week 13)

Each week here at Big Country Preps, we’ll post our picks for all of that week’s 11-man games and select six-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.

Disagree with our picks or the Twitter consensus? Let us know in the comments section below.

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