Category: Stamford Bulldogs

by Evan Ren

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

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by Brandon McAuliffe

GAME STORY: Following early drama, Stamford gets win over Hawley in pitcher’s duel

HAWLEY — After a wild first inning that saw Stamford third baseman Brayden Jimenez and Hawley left fielder Aiden Romo ejected for aggressive moves while running the bases, the Bulldogs found a way to claim a 3-1 win in a critical District 8-2A matchup on Tuesday night at Bearcat Field.

While those plays were the story early, it was Stamford’s Alek Hernandez who stole the show on the mound in a dominant complete game.

Mixing a variety of pitches, including an effective slurve, Hernandez scattered six hits and allowed just one run while walking two and getting six strikeouts as the Bulldogs took control of the race for the district championship.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Wall’s Briggs Jones takes the top spot

After nursing a sore back which prevented him from jumping for a few weeks, Wall senior Briggs Jones made a return to the stage in a big way last week. 

Competing in Wall’s very own Cotton Patch Relays, Jones took five gold medals, winning the long jump, triple jump, 100 meters, 200 meters and yet another with the 800 relay team. 

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by Evan Ren

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.

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Evan Ren

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. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Gordon’s Stryker Reed earns this week’s accolade

At the Class 1A level, where it is common for athletes to participate in multiple sports at the same time due to a lack of numbers, individuals who excel in different disciplines are invaluable. 

At Gordon, junior multi-sport star Stryker Reed falls into this category, and our Big Country Preps Player of the Week is now demonstrating it on the heels of an amazing effort. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stephenville’s Gentry lands the top spot

While Stephenville’s Tristian Gentry is no stranger to this column, it’s usually via football that he lands in our Top 10 — especially after missing track last year due to injury.

Well, it’s track season again and it just so happens that the SHS senior is healthy this time around — returning as one of the area’s top guns in that sport. He’s already off to a great start, having captured four gold medals at a talent-loaded Brock meet last week.

Aside from first place leaps in the long jump (21-1) and triple jump (43-2), he also helped SHS’ 400 and 800 relay teams take gold with splits of 43.26 and 1:30.1, respectively. 

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Stamford softballer takes the top spot

For two years, Stamford’s Emma Follis has been one of our area’s elite softball players, both as a pitcher and a hitter. 

Last week, Follis picked up right where she left off a year ago, notching a 3-1 record in the circle with 35 strikeouts at the Slaton Tournament. 

She was even better at the plate, hitting .714 with a triple, four homers and nine RBIs. 

At this rate her numbers could be staggering by season’s end. And keep in mind, many of these games were shortened to accommodate the tournament schedule. 

In several shortened games Emma came out hot in the circle and at the plate,” coach Sean Slavis said. “We are pumped to finally be playing again!”

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Feb. 13): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Feb. 13. 

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

Is your favorite team missing? If so, please pass along a friendly reminder to your coach to check his or her email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive. 

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Feb. 13): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Feb. 13. 

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

Is your favorite team missing? If so, please pass along a friendly reminder to your coach to check his email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive. 

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by Evan Ren

SIGNING DAY 2025: Top area athletes sign on the dotted line

National Signing Day is typically a busy one in the Big Country Preps’ coverage area and 2025 was no exception with several players inking and/or confirming their commitments to play at the next level. 

At various signing ceremonies held throughout the area, athletes celebrated their final choices to pursue a degree while competing collegiately. 

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 30): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Jan. 30.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

Is your favorite team missing? If so, please pass along a friendly reminder to your coach to check his email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive. 

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hoops
by Evan Ren

Big Country Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 30): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Jan. 30.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

Is your favorite team missing? If so, please pass along a friendly reminder to your coach to check his or her email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive. 

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by Evan Ren

Big Country Boys Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 23): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country boys basketball through Jan. 23.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

Is your favorite team missing? If so, please pass along a friendly reminder to your coach to check his email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive. 

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Hoops
by Evan Ren

Big Country Girls Basketball Statistical Leaders (through Jan. 23): Scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, FT Pct., pass deflections and blocks

Below are the current season statistical leaders for Big Country girls basketball through Jan. 23.

This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the regular season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.

Is your favorite team missing? If so, please pass along a friendly reminder to your coach to check his or her email for our weekly stats request. We’ll be happy to add them to our database after they arrive. 

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by Evan Ren

Evan Ren’s 2024 True Grit Team: The toughest, hardest-working players in the Big Country!

We all know a football player who almost never misses any practice time and practically lives in the weight room. He’s always early to arrive and late to leave. He’s coachable, but seldom needs direction because he always pays attention. 

You know who I’m talking about.

The guy who sets a good example for young players. The guy who never complains and, first and foremost, is tough mentally and physically. He may not be the best player on a team (though some of them are). But he’s definitely the guy who gets the most out of the talent he’s given. 

Welcome to the 2024 “True Grit” team — the one place in the Big Country where guys who fall into this category are recognized for it.

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by Evan Ren

All-Big Country Preps Superlatives: Player of the year, Offensive, Defensive and special teams MVPs, top newcomers and Coach of the Year

Here are our superlative award winners for the 2023 All-Big Country Preps football team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BIG COUNTRY PREPS RISING STARS TEAM: The top football under classmen in the Big Country for 2024

Here are our selections for the 2024 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.

Continue reading “BIG COUNTRY PREPS RISING STARS TEAM: The top football under classmen in the Big Country for 2024” →

by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

BREAKING: Haskell football coach, Big Country staple Mitch McLemore retiring after 33 years in profession

A coaching staple in the Big County is retiring after a 33-year career in the profession.

Mitch McLemore is stepping down from Haskell after a four-year run with the Indians that included three playoff appearances. McLemore has also spent time coaching in area towns Knox City, Big Spring and Stamford, where he helped win two state titles as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator.

“I’m going to be 59 in March, and 50 of those years I’ve either been a coach’s son, player or doing this,” McLemore said. “Half a century of my life has been associated with athletics and education in some sort of form and fashion.”

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by Daniel Youngblood

STATE FEATURE: Resilient Stamford went down swinging in championship game loss to Ganado

ARLINGTON — After breezing through the first 16 weeks weeks of the season, winning its first 15 games by an average margin of 36.8 points, the Stamford football team found itself in an unfamiliar spot Thursday at AT&T Stadium. 

Facing off with a similarly dominant Ganado squad for the Class 2A Division I state championship, the Bulldogs spent most of Thursday’s game playing catch-up, erasing three deficits in regulation and a fourth in overtime before eventually falling 30-28 in an instant classic.

While the outcome wasn’t the one Stamford or its sea of blue-clad fans were hoping for, the Bulldogs’ resiliency, mental toughness and clutch execution in the face of its first real game pressure of the season left many on both sides — and sidelines — at AT&T Stadium impressed by their efforts. And those same qualities had the Bulldogs’ coach, Wayne Hutchinson, calling them champions despite hoisting the runner-up trophy.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Ganado outlasts Stamford in three-overtime war to claim 2A DI state title

ARLINGTON — After three hours and 10 minutes of struggle, three overtimes and numerous missed opportunities to end the game, the Ganado Indians edged Stamford 30-28 to win the Class 2A Division I state championship on Thursday at AT&T Stadium. 

With the game reduced to alternating PATs, Ganado took the final lead of the game when Offensive MVP Bruce Ullman hit Austen Pena with a two-point conversion pass in the first half of the third OT. 

Stamford had a chance to tie with its final possession, but an attempted reverse pass by Cle’ Whitfield was picked off by Ullman to end the game. 

Ullman led the Indians (15-1) with 172 yards passing and two scores and 48 yards rushing and another TD. Stamford, which got 152 yards passing and two scores from Christian Duran and 89 yards rushing and two scores from Kaston Vega, also closed at 15-1.

“It was a defensive battle from the word go,” Stamford coach Wayne Hutchinson said. “I can’t say enough about our kids. They were resilient, they worked their tails off and it showed in the game today.” 

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by Evan Ren

EVAN REN’S PLAYOFF FORECAST: Stamford, Gordon, Jayton reach Jerry World

LAST WEEK: 3-0, 1.000
SEASON TOTAL: 593-143, .805

And then there were three. 

After 16 weeks of struggle, the Big Country has landed three representatives in Arlington for their respective state championship games. Stamford, Gordon and Jayton have reached Jerry World, beginning play today with six-man action. Stamford will play at 11 a.m. on Thursday. 

That said, it has been a distinct pleasure, as always, to write this weekly picks column and I’m already looking forward to doing it again in 2025. 

Here are my final picks for this year. I’ll see you on the road.

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by Daniel Youngblood

GAME STORY: Stamford holds on to beat gritty Hamilton, punches ticket to Arlington

MINERAL WELLS — Leading Hamilton 21-0 after three quarters, Stamford appeared well on its way to yet another blowout win in Thursday’s Class 2A Division I state semifinal matchup between a pair of unbeaten Bulldog squads.

That was before a gritty HHS team that had made its name this season with its ability to prevail in hard-fought games battled back with 13 unanswered points to pull within a single touchdown by the 3:53 mark of the final period.

In the end, Stamford survived the challenge, getting a touchdown run from Christian Duran with 1:32 on the clock to put the finishing touches on a 28-13 win. And in that mettle-testing process, SHS earned the program’s eighth trip to a state championship game and first since 2013, when the ‘Dogs capped a streak of three consecutive title game appearances with back-to-back titles in coach Wayne Hutchinson’s first stint with the program.

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by Evan Ren

EVAN REN’S PLAYOFF FORECAST: Stamford, Wall, Brock all one step away from reaching state championship games

LAST WEEK: 5-2, .714
SEASON TOTAL: 590-143, .804

With area six-man teams Jayton and Gordon enjoying a week off after qualifying for their respective state championship games, Week 15 brings us three teams (Brock, Wall and Stamford) from the Big Country Preps coverage area that still have a chance at reaching Jerry World. 

The survivors will join our six-man clubs in Arlington next week on Texas High School Football’s biggest stage. 

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

I’ll see you on the road.

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Offensive line, defense lead Stamford to regional title win over Post

SNYDER — With Stamford’s overall team speed garnering much of the attention this season, the Bulldogs’ offensive line and aggressive defense have quietly propelled SHS to a 14-0 start and trip to the state semifinals. 

Both were on display in Thursday’s 48-26 win over previously unbeaten Post in the Region I-2A DI championship at Grant Teaff Tiger Stadium. 

Christian Duran was 11 of 11 for 227 yards and three scores and Kaston Vega rushed for 131 yards and two more TDs to lift Stamford, which now advances to face either Hamilton (13-0) or Axtell (12-1) in the state semifinals. 

Post, which was limited to six points through three quarters by Stamford’s 3-3 stack defense, was led by Ian Vergara’s 223 yards rushing and three scores. Twenty of the Antelopes’ 26 points came in the fourth quarter while several reserve players were on the field. 

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by Evan Ren

EVAN REN’S PLAYOFF FORECAST: Eight teams from BCP coverage area survive to see December

LAST WEEK: 7-2, .777
SEASON TOTAL: 585-141, .805

It seems like the day before yesterday when I was out working our annual football photo tour during two-a-days. 

Now we’re looking down the barrel of Christmas. 

Unbelievable. 

At any rate, we still have eight teams from our coverage area slugging their way through the playoff brackets and unless I miss my guess, we’ll see at least four playing for state titles in Arlington. 

In the meantime, we’ve got state semifinals to take care of. 

Here’s this week’s forecast: 

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by Evan Ren

CLASS 4A, 3A & 2A PLAYOFF REPORT: Stephenville, Graham, Brock, Wall and Stamford advance

REGION I-4A DIVISION I SEMIFINALS

Stephenville 47, Canyon Randall 7 — Ryan Gafford threw for 198 yards and three scores and Sawyer Wilkerson rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns to help the Yellow Jackets to a rout of Randall. 

Stephenville totaled 399 yards in total offense en route to the win. Tristian Gentry was the leading receiver for SHS, with eight catches for 158 yards and two scores. 

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by Evan Ren

GAME STORY: Stamford uses one big play after another to eliminate Cisco, 55-7

ABILENE — While the debate regarding the true value of explosive plays is ongoing, there was little argument in Friday’s Region I-2A DI semifinal that saw Stamford eliminate Cisco 55-7. 

The Bulldogs repeatedly hurt Cisco with big chunks of yardage, including scoring plays of 22, 65, 77, 21 and 50 yards to advance to next week’s regional title game.

Cle Whitfield rushed for 122 yards and three scores and Kaston Vega rushed for 118 yards and two more TDs to lift Stamford (13-0), which will face either Sunray or Post in the next round.

Cisco (8-5) was led by Julius Proffitt, who rushed for 77 yards and one TD and threw for 39.

“We had a great week of practice and got to play Thanksgiving football,” Stamford coach Wayne Hutchinson said. “We did a really good job of preparing their minds and their bodies to play a really well-coached Cisco team and we executed on both sides of the ball.” 

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by Evan Ren

EVAN REN’S PLAYOFF FORECAST: BCP coverage area well-represented heading into Turkey Day

LAST WEEK: 24-2, .923
SEASON TOTAL: 578-139, .806

Big Country Preps carries 16 teams from its coverage area into Week 14 and it’s my guess that at least nine of them will survive Thanksgiving weekend. 

And on that subject, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you from all of us at BCP. 

Here are this week’s picks, we’ll see you on the road! 

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by Evan Ren

CLASS 2A AREA ROUND REPORT: Hawley falls to Sunray, but Cisco, Stamford, Albany reach regional semifinals

REGION I-2A Div. I 

Sunray 49, Hawley 40 — Sunray (12-0) edged Hawley (10-2) for the right to face Post (12-0) in the regional semifinals. 

Keagan Ables had a huge night in a losing effort for Hawley, hitting 23 of 40 passes for 444 yards and four TDs in his final game as a Bearcat. 

His younger brother Camden was his top target, hauling in nine passes for 221 yards and one TD.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Evans takes award with monstrous performance

When someone hits 27 of 34 passes for 441 yards and five scores, it’s generally the type of performance that appears on our Player of the Week radar screen. 

When it’s done in only two and a half quarters, however, it makes everyone sit up and do a doubletake. 

That was the case for Glen Rose quarterback Canyon Evans, who shredded Fort Worth Dunbar in a 61-7 win on Friday that saw him removed before the onset of the fourth quarter. 

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by Evan Ren

DISTRICT 4-2A DIV. I WEEK 11 REPORT: Cisco clinches playoff spot; Stamford clinches title

Cisco 48, Olney 6 — The Loboes (6-4, 2-3) locked up the No. 4 seed with a lopsided win over Olney. 

Dillon Silva rushed for 183 yards and three scores and Parker Williams rushed for 121 yards and three more TDs to lead the Loboes, who carried a 21-0 lead into the break.

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by Evan Ren

BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: Stamford outlasts Hawley for district title

STAMFORD — The District 4-2A DI title was decided on Friday, in soggy, slippery conditions at Bill Anderson Stadium. That didn’t prevent Stamford and Hawley from producing a physical, entertaining matchup in the Big Country Preps Game of the Week, with the Bulldogs walking away with a 38-22 win. 

Kaston Vega rushed for 177 yards and two scores and Christian Duran rushed for 86 yards, threw for 123 and accounted for three more TDs to lead Stamford (10-0 overall, 5-0 district), which held onto the lead after a 20-0 start. 

Hawley fell to 9-1 and 4-1, led by Keagan Ables, who threw for 346 yards and two scores.

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