Here are the Big Country’s receiving leaders through Week 7:
Category: Wylie Bulldogs
BREAKING: Wylie-Cooper matchup, Bulldogs’ homecoming game canceled due to COVID
The Wylie football team has had to cancel its next two games due to instances of COVID-19 within the program, removing Friday’s crosstown matchup with Cooper and the Bulldogs’ Oct. 16 homecoming game against Amarillo Palo Duro from the team’s schedule.
According to the district, two players and one coach tested positive for coronavirus, and a number of other players were in close contact with individuals who had tested positive for COVID-19.
“We continue to remain focused on the health and safety of our students and staff and are following the UIL protocols along with our state and federal guidelines,” said Wylie officials in a statement released by the school district. “The Taylor County Health Department will notify all students and staff who may have been affected and we will continue to monitor the situation and give any updates as needed.”
Wylie, which is off to a 2-0 start, will return to the field on Oct. 30 when it opens District 3-5A Division II play at Wichita Falls Rider. The Bulldogs’ home opener will now be delayed until Nov. 6, when they host Canyon Randall.
Wylie was to be the final nondistrict opponent for Cooper (1-1), which will now be idle this week unless a replacement game is sought and found. The Cougars will open District 3-5A Division I action Oct. 16 at home against Justin Northwest.
FEATURE: Wylie wideouts Cooper, Hughes bring big-play punch to Bulldog attack
Having one big-play wideout can be a game-changer for an offense. Having two is even better.
The Wylie football team is currently enjoying the latter with seniors Creed Cooper and Reed Hughes, who’ve made their presence felt in a major way during the Bulldogs’ 2-0 start.
In combining for 10 catches for 242 yards and a pair of touchdowns in victories over Brownwood (28-7) and Lubbock Monterey (24-6), Cooper and Hughes have given quarterback Balin Valentine and the Wylie offense, in general, a pair of big-time weapons on the edges. And though the two friends share a light-hearted rivalry that goes back years, they’re more than content to share the spotlight — and touches — if it means continued success for their team.
GAME RECAP: Wylie thumps Lubbock Monterey to improve to 2-0
LUBBOCK — The Wylie football team continued its hot start to the season Friday, following its 28-7 season-opening victory over Brownwood last week with a 24-6 win at Lubbock Monterey to improve to 2-0 on the year.
The Bulldogs raced out to a 24-0 halftime lead and never were threatened in the second half in matching last season’s win total just two games into Clay Martin’s head coaching tenure.
Quarterback Balin Valentine led the offense, hitting 13 of 20 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a team-high 64 yards and a score. The Bulldog defense, meanwhile, limited the Plainsmen to one third-quarter touchdown and forced four turnovers in delivering its second consecutive dominant performance.
FEATURE: Wylie defensive line ready to build off strong first showing
Coming into Friday’s season opener against against a Brownwood team that had just rushed for almost 300 years in its previous game, first-year Wylie head coach Clay Martin knew that controlling the line of scrimmage would be vital to his team’s hopes of starting 1-0.
But even he had to be surprised by just how thoroughly the Bulldogs accomplished that mission in their 28-7 victory at Gordon Wood Stadium.
Led by a strong effort from its defensive line, WHS limited Brownwood to just 188 yards of total offense, including just 38 yards on the ground, in a dominating performance.
It was quite a start for a front that returned just one starter from last year’s 2-8 squad.
CAPITAL FARM CREDIT WEDNESDAY NIGHT PODCAST: Wylie’s Clay Martin talks Brownwood win with Evan, Daniel
VIDEO PODCAST NO. 6: Evan Ren and Daniel Youngblood chat with first-year Wylie head coach Clay Martin about last week’s win at Brownwood and his path to this point in his coaching career.
PHOTO GALLERY: Wylie-Brownwood football (72 images)
Photos may be purchased for $7 each by clicking on the small shopping cart emblem below the lower right corner of the gallery. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
GAME STORY: Wylie pulls away from Brownwood in Martin’s head coaching debut
BROWNWOOD — Clay Martin’s debut as Wylie’s head football coach couldn’t have gone much better than it did against Brownwood on Friday.
The longtime leader of the Wylie defense under former coach Hugh Sandifer got to watch a dominating performance on that side of the football and, most importantly, got to leave Gordon Wood Stadium with a 28-7 victory in the Bulldogs’ 2020 season opener.
The WHS defense forced five turnovers while limiting the home-standing Lions to 188 yards and no offensive points. And the offense overcame a slow start to control the game and clock as the team pulled away in the second half.
FEATURE: Wylie offensive line looking to take big step forward in 2020
Few positions in sports are as important as an offensive line is to a football team.
If you can control the line of scrimmage, everything else gets easier. And if you can’t, well, the opposite is true.
In recent years, the Wylie football program has experienced both of these extremes. In 2016, a strong offensive line unit led by current Abilene Christian University senior Kade Parmelly helped the Bulldogs to a 12-1 record and their fourth state championship game appearance in school history. Just two years later, though, in WHS’ first year as a Class 5A program, struggles up front contributed in large part to a rough 0-10 campaign — a trend that continued last season as the ‘Dogs struggled to a 2-8 record.
Taking over for his longtime boss Hugh Sandifer, who retired in January after 41 years at Wylie, first-year WHS head coach Clay Martin is determined to get that turned back around. And with a healthy O-line group that features two returning starters and good crop of junior varsity call-ups, he feels the pieces are in place to accomplish that.
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.
Big Country Volleyball Statistical Leaders (through Sept. 7)
Big Country Preps will publish 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.
Teams that do not submit their statistics in a given week will not be listed when our stats are posted, but will be added to the lists below as they are received in the coming days.
PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene High, Cooper and Wylie open practice (61 images)
After spending the past couple of weeks watching their counterparts from Classes 1A through 4A getting to practice and play games, Abilene’s three local programs got to get their fall officially started on Monday.
Cooper took to the practice fields at 7 a.m. under third-year coach Aaron Roan, while Abilene High and Wylie got rolling at 9 a.m.
The Eagles are being led on an interim basis by Jeff Rhoads while head coach Mike Fullen is out for medical reasons. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, are being led by longtime defensive coordinator Clay Martin, who was promoted to head coach during the offseason.
The teams are allowed to start their seasons later this month. Cooper opens at Odessa Permian on Sept. 24. The next day AHS will host Amarillo Tascosa while Wylie heads to Brownwood in what will be the Lions’ fifth game of the year.
BCP GAME OF THE WEEK: Pipers return to Hawley in rematch of classic (w/ Evan Ren’s Big Country picks)
LAST WEEK: 34-15, .694
SEASON TOTAL: 34-15, .694
If this were a horse race, Gramps Ren just stumbled out of the gate.
A .694 pick percentage is one of the worst weeks I’ve had in recent memory — brought on by a disastrous 15-9 tally (.625) in the six-man ranks.
That stinks.
Alas, we have yet to reach the first turn, so it’s way early. If I’m not hitting over .800 down the backstretch, I may resort to consulting with a palm reader.
Here’s a look at this week’s Big Country football games.
I’ll see you on the road.
BIG COUNTRY PREPS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Big Spring’s Baeza takes the top spot
It has been at least years since we’ve seen the type of offensive execution exhibited by the Big Spring Steers in Friday’s 36-14 win over Vernon. And Big Country Preps has never had a Big Spring player as its player of the week.
Until now.
Junior quarterback Gabriel Baeza helped bring both of those streaks to a close, hitting 20 of 32 passes for 282 yards and four scores. In his spare time he also rushed nine times for 56 yards and two more touchdowns, giving him 338 total yards and a direct hand in six scores.
In doing so, he takes our first Big Country Preps Player of the Week for the 2020-21 school year. It was the first season-opening win for the Steers since a 58-56 win over Kerrville Tivy on Aug. 30, 2014.
Big Country Preps’ Pick ‘Em Panel (Week 1)
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 1)”
BIG COUNTRY PREPS GAME OF THE WEEK: A switch! Due to some disciplinary moves, we’re now heading to Jim Ned!
LAST WEEK: 0-0, .000
SEASON TOTAL: 0-0, .000
After picking a career-high 83 percent a year ago, I was feeling quite self-assured and self-important at the close of last football season.
Little did I realize that a year later, I’d be happy to just to have games to pick and not care about what the percentage is.
In short, the world has dealt me a serious dose of perspective.
We have football, ladies and gents. Let’s hope a sense of normality returns with it.
At any rate, let’s take quick look at this week’s area contests.
I’ll see you on the road.
BCP Football Preseason Position Rankings: Quarterbacks
After a week of highlighting area playmakers, we wrap up our eight-part preseason position rankings series with the Big Country’s best signal callers.
To complete our look at the area’s top players, we’ve ranked our top 10 quarterbacks with a list of others to watch in 2020.
We hope you enjoy this list and that you’ve enjoyed our position rankings as we get set to kickoff a new season.
Continue reading “BCP Football Preseason Position Rankings: Quarterbacks”
CAPITAL FARM CREDIT WEDNESDAY NIGHT PODCAST: Evan, Dan make their picks for Week 1
Video podcast No. 1 features Big Country Preps’ Evan Ren and Daniel Yonngblood making their picks for Week 1 of the 2020 high school football season.
BCP Football Preseason Position Rankings: Running Backs
As we wind down our eight-part preseason position rankings series, we arrive finally at the Big Country’s top rushers.
After breaking down this year’s crop of receivers and tight ends Monday, we move now to the area’s top backs, ranking our top 10 with a list of others to watch in 2020. Don’t forget to check in Wednesday night when we conclude our series with the top 10 area quarterbacks.
We hope you enjoy tonight’s list and encourage you to check out the other position groups, which are linked below.
BCP Football Preseason Position Rankings: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
We’re approaching the final stretch of our eight-part preseason position rankings series, and it’s time to look at the Big Country’s top pass-catchers.
After starting the offensive portion of our series Sunday with the big guys up front, we now shift our attention to the playmakers on the perimeter, ranking our top 10 wide receivers/tight ends with a list of others to watch in 2019.
We hope you enjoy our list and encourage you to check out the other position groups, which are linked below.
BCP Football Preseason Position Rankings: Offensive Linemen
With the defensive and special teams rankings in the rear view, it’s time to look at the area’s offensive standouts. And we’ll start with the foundation of any productive offense: the offensive line.
For the fifth installment of our eight-part preseason position rankings series, we turn our attention to the big boys, ranking the Big Country’s top 10 offensive linemen with a list of others to watch in 2020.
We hope you enjoy reading through our rankings
BCP Football Preseason Position Rankings: Kickers/Punters
After recognizing the top defensive players throughout the Big Country over the past three days, it’s time to honor the specialists.
We continue our eight-part preseason position rankings series by naming our top 10 kickers and top three punters to watch this fall.
We hope you enjoy this list and that you have enjoyed our position rankings as we get set to kickoff the 2020 season.
BCP Football Preseason Position Rankings: Defensive Backs
After starting with the linemen and linebackers, we turn to the secondary to complete our look at the top defenders in the Big Country.
For the third installment in our eight-part preseason position rankings series, we key on the defensive backs, giving our list of the area’s top-10 players and others to look out for in 2020.
We hope you enjoy our list.
BCP Football Preseason Position Rankings: Linebackers
After taking a look at the Big Country’s top defensive linemen on Wednesday, it’s now time to examine those who will backing them in 2020.
Continuing with Big Country Preps’ eight-part preseason position rankings series, here’s our top 10 linebackers to watch this fall, as well as a list of the others we’re expecting big things from.
We hope you enjoy our list.