—The area’s most improved teams at seasons midpoint? Early, Roscoe, Forsan, Big Spring, Coleman, Snyder, Dublin and Stephenville are among those mentioned.
—Teams with best shot at getting to Arlington? Albany, Cisco, Jim Ned, Brock, and Stephenville are among those discussed.
—Top quarterbacks, running backs and receivers get a shout as we prepare to jump into district play.
Big Country Preps is publishing area volleyball statistical leaders each Tuesday at 7 p.m.
This database will be continually updated for our subscribers throughout the remainder of the season, using only those statistics submitted by area coaches.
We will continually update the database throughout the regular season.
Ballinger 35, Llano 34, OT — Carter Arrott threw for 208 yards and two scores and Beau Perkins rushed for 117 yards to lift Ballinger to a thrilling OT win at home.
The Bearcats (3-1) trailed 3-0 after one quarter, 9-7 at the break and 15-13 after three quarters, but took a 28-21 lead with 3:33 to play after Arrott scored on a 1-yard run.
Coahoma 26, Colorado City 12 — Brysen Kerby rushed for 119 yards and a score on 27 carries and Billy Bailey threw for 122 yards and a touchdown to lead Coahoma to a lightening-delayed win over one of its top area rivals.
The game was halted for more than three hours due to lightning and ended at roughly 1 a.m. Saturday morning.
Early 47, Merkel 13 — Early stayed unbeaten behind 215 yards passing and three scores from Jaxyn Price.
Leading 14-6 at the break, the Longhorns blew the game open with a 26-0 third quarter.
Merkel was led by Dayton Huggins, who rushed for 26 yards and a score on five carries. Joey Zink threw for 153 yards, but was picked three times.
Evan Ren and Dan Youngblood visit Snyder head football coach Wes Wood.
BROCK — Prior to the season it was, in the minds of many, logical to assume there would be a transitional period in Brock football, as the reins of the program were passed from former coach Chad Worrell to new coach Billy Mathis.
New offensive and defensive playbooks, new terminology and new routines would all have be be learned before anything could be perfected. So, one could reasonably expect Brock to seem a bit sluggish out of the starting gate in 2021 until all the wrinkles were ironed out.
Even Mathis expected it.
Eldorado 56, Coahoma 29 —EHS rallied from a 22-16 halftime deficit to get the win, finishing with 504 yards in total offense.
Brysen Kerby led Coahoma with 227 rushing yards and two scores on 30 carries. Isaiah Eleda rushed for 63 and another score.
Goldthwaite 33, Olney 8 — The Eagles improved to 2-1 behind 466 yards in total offense.
Jackson Patrick threw for 122 yards, rushed for 104 and accounted for three touchdowns to lead Goldthwaite.
Limited to just 287 yards in total offense, Olney fell to 1-2.
Dublin 21, Anson 14 — Chris Teten threw for 271 yards and three scores to lead the Lions to a win on the road.
Teten connected with three different targets — Payton Williams, Tyler Harrell and Christian Ramirez — with scoring passes to help the Lions improve to 2-1.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Haskell at Cross Plains football (48 images)”
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.
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Forsan 22, Post 6 — Forsan improved to 2-0 behind a solid defensive effort and and a patient offensive approach.
The Buffaloes rushed for 133 yards and two scores by committee to go with Major Stockton’s 76 yards passing to put away Post (0-2) on the road.
Forsan forced three turnovers, committed none and shut Post out after the break.
LAST WEEK: 43-12, .781
SEASON TOTAL: 43-12.781
A .781 pick percentage in Week 1?
I’ll take it.
I’m generally happy with anything in the low 70s to begin a season, so to hit nearly 80 percent out of the starting gate is something I’ll gladly accept.
Our Big Country Preps Game of the Week? Wall at Cisco.
Let’s dive into this week’s picks, shall we?
Evan Ren and Dan Youngblood visit with Eastland play-by-play man Terry Slavens.
GOLDTHWAITE — Jackson Patrick has played on a state championship golf team and a state runner-up golf team. He has qualified for state in track and field in the pole vault. He has been the best 3-point shooter on a playoff basketball team.
But there’s one glaring omission from the athletic resume of the Goldthwaite High School senior: a winning season in football.
Patrick has started for the Eagles in football since he was a freshman, when he was leading the team in receiving, scoring, and tackles before his season was cut short because of a broken leg. Goldthwaite finished 1-9.
Last fall saw the May Tigers make a run to the state championship game, losing to Sterling City, and the Strawn Greyhounds falling yards short of joining the Tigers in Arlington in a heartbreaking semifinal loss to Borden County.
While the Tigers expect to carry the flag for the Big Country in Division I this fall, May will face stiff competition with Westbrook looking to prove last year’s run to the regional final was no fluke. The two squads open this fall ranked third and fourth in the state, respectively. Knox City could be a sleeper pick to make a deep run.
Even though those two figure to rule the roost in Division I, Division II will be wide open.
Perennial power Strawn leads the way, ranked No. 3 in the preseason state poll. The Greyhounds will also be joined by Jayton, Throckmorton, Loraine, Blackwell and Gordon as early season threats. All five rank in the state’s preseason top 20 in Division II.
Continue reading “2021 SIX-MAN PREVIEW: Big Country squads poised to make noise in 2021”
With Evan and Dan taking a brief summer break, we present the Best of the Capital Farm Credit Wednesday Night Podcast.
Tonight: Clyde football coach Kevin Stennett speaks with Evan and Dan. Original airdate: March. 31, 2021.
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As the lone Class 2A qualifier making its state tournament debut this week, the Stamford softball team will be the new kid on the block when it takes the field for its state semifinal matchup with Weimar at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Texas’ Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin.
But if you think the upstart Lady Bulldogs are happy just to be making the trip or have satisfied their goals by reaching the final four, think again.
While thrilled to have earned the opportunity in front of them, coach Cynthia Herrera and her squad still feel they have some unfinished business. And just two wins away from bringing Stamford its first softball state championship, the Lady Bulldogs aim to finish the job.
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LINK … GAME STORY: Jim Ned sees its season end with 3-1 Game 3 loss to Shallowater
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LINK … GAME STORY: Albany falls in two straight to New Deal
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LINK … GAME STORY: Walks, early grand slam fuel Monterey past Wylie in Game 1
LINK … GAME STORY: Wylie forces rubber match but falls in three to Lubbock Monterey
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LINK … GAME STORY: Wall, Williams hang on to beat Holliday 2-1 in Game 1
Our final Capital Farm Credit/Big Country Preps Player of the Week for the 2020-21 school year could go to any number of area athletes in the wake of the state track and field meet held over the weekend in Austin.
We finally settled on Stephenville’s Victoria Cameron, who stunned those in attendance at Mike A. Myers Stadium with an incredible 11.48-second finish in the girls 4A 100 meters — obliterating her personal best by nearly four tenths of a second to take gold.
CHECK FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AT BIGCOUNTRYPREPS.COM
Continue reading “LIVE: State Track and Field Meet medalists and Big Country Placings (DAY 3)”
CHECK FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY AT BIGCOUNTRYPREPS.COM
Continue reading “LIVE: State Track and Field Meet medalists and Big Country Placings (DAY 2)”
In the midst of a rain delay during Friday’s Coahoma-Clyde bi-district game in Hermleigh, softball briefly took a backseat to the Big Country Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships.
In the absence of an accredited Olympic judge, we called the match a draw. How do you see it?
THIS WEEK: Early baseball coach Todd Hatton joins the show to talk baseball with Evan Ren and Dan Youngblood.
Photos by Calvin Best, Breckenridge ISD journalism teacher.
Taking on a new role this season is nothing new for Jonas Arellano. The Breckenridge senior has played almost every position a baseball player can during his high school career.
After playing on Breckenridge teams loaded with upperclassmen the last two years, Arellano is now the Buckaroos’ most experienced player and one of just three seniors in 2021.
“We lost 11 seniors last year, so we basically called up our 2020 JV to start this season,” third-year Breckenridge coach Kevin Bartley said. “Jonas is our heart and soul. He was a part of our 31-4 team in 2019 that made the regional semifinals. He’s our only player with deep playoff experience. He understands team chemistry and keeps everybody moving in the right direction.”
THIS WEEK: Evan Ren and Dan Youngblood salute retiring Brownwood radio legend Dallas Huston, then discuss the area’s top teams and athletes in baseball, softball and track.
Eula boys basketball coach Josh Fostel has announced today that he will be stepping down after 18 years, multiple district titles and a state championship at EHS.
“I made a decision recently. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but it is in our family’s world,” wrote Fostel in a Facebook post announcing the move. “This was a decision that I have been thinking and praying about for quite a while, yet that did not make it any easier.”
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THIS WEEK: Jim Ned baseball coach Ryan Lewis visits with Evan Ren and Dan Youngblood
THIS WEEK: New Clyde football coach Danny Dudgeon visits with Evan Ren and Dan Youngblood
ALBANY — With top-ranked Anson coming to town on Tuesday preceded by all sorts of internet scuttlebutt, Albany coach David Fairchild had a simple message for his baseball team before the game.
“I said, ‘Guys, they’re a very good baseball team,'” Fairchild said. “‘But throw the rankings out. It’s a district game. It’s a big district game, so let’s go compete.'”
The Lions did precisely that, overcoming a pair of two-run deficits to chalk up a come-from-behind 7-5 win before a noisy home crowd at Albany High School.
There are no-hitters, then there are no-hitters.
De Leon senior southpaw Lane Powledge demonstrated the distinction last week with an absolute gem in last week’s 1-0 win over Coleman.
Not only did Powledge finish with a no-no, but our Capital Farm Credit/BCP Player of the Week chalked up 18 strikeouts and only one walk.
Here are our third-team selections for the 2021 All-Big Country Preps girls basketball team. For the rest of this year’s boys and girls basketball selections, click the links below.
The Big Country Fellowship of Christian Athletes announced Thursday morning the coaching staffs for this year’s All-Star Festival that will be held in June in multiple locations.
The event, which started in 2000, features football, volleyball, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball and is expanding to include a two-day boys and girls golf tournament. Continue reading “FCA announces 2021 All-Star Festival coaching staffs”
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LINK … GAME STORY: Stamford stops Breckenridge 5-1 behind four-hitter from Holt
STAMFORD — SISD has announced that Britt Hart will be its new Athletic Director and Head Football Coach.
Hart, who posted a 59-11 mark at Falls City between 2015-2019, spent 2020 at Merkel, where he posted a 3-6 mark in his first and only season with the Badgers.
In five seasons at Falls City, Hart led his clubs to two state-semifinal appearances and four state quarterfinals. This included four double-digit win campaigns, including a 14-1 mark in 2018.
He also served as an assistant coach at Wellington, where he helped WHS to a state title in 2013 as its offensive coordinator.
Britt replaces former SHS coach Ronnie Casey, who posted a 50-30 mark in seven seasons with the Bulldogs.
THIS WEEK: Eula coach Josh Fostel talks about the Pirates’ noteworthy season with Evan and Dan (prerecorded Monday night).
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LINK … GAME STORY: Lipan rallies twice to eliminate Cisco
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LINK … GAME STORY: Brock dominates Abernathy, advances to regional finals
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LINK … GAME STORY: Shallowater defense shuts down Jim Ned in 55-34 win
THIS WEEK: Hermleigh girls coach Duane Hopper visits with Evan Ren and Dan Youngblood.
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LINK … GAME STORY: Stamford girls eliminate Windthorst to advance to area round
