Since losing their season opener to Peaster (34-0), the Tolar Rattlers (2-1) have not only managed to improve, but they’re rapidly gaining momentum to go with that progress.
Our Big Country Preps Player of the Week, Briton Rice, is a part of that, having thrown for 197 yards and four scores in last week’s 42-18 win over Millsap. This, after missing a week with an injury.
Wylie 70, Lubbock Coronado 14 — The Bulldogs outgained the Mustangs 477-127, rushing for 340 of those yards while limiting Coronado to minus-8 rushing yards in a runaway win.
Julius Laine rushed for 89 yards and three touchdowns in one half, while Cooper Jones added 129 yards and two scores to help Wylie (2-1) build a 49-7 lead by halftime.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Lubbock Coronado-Wylie football (114 images)”
Any way you slice it, Friday night’s homecoming game at Hugh Sandifer Stadium could not have gone any better for the Wylie football team.
Coming off a tough three-point road loss to Lubbock Monterey last week, the Bulldogs did whatever they wanted to on offense in a 70-14 throttling of Lubbock Coronado.
The Bulldogs converted eight of 12 third downs, and when they got stopped, they converted on fourth down.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: San Angelo Central-Wylie volleyball (50 images)”
Coming off a rocky week that saw it drop matches to Clyde last Tuesday and Midland High on Friday, the Wylie volleyball team entered its home match against San Angelo Central on Tuesday looking to get back on track.
By the end of a hard-fought nondistrict contest, it was mission accomplished for coach Shay Cox’s squad, which swept the Lady Cats 27-25, 25-23, 25-14 at Bulldog Gym.
Led by Kiki Bolden with 17 kills and Haddie Mock with 10, the Lady Bulldogs posted a .182 hitting percentage against a strong Central defense, fighting through a few lulls in the first two sets to close out the Lady Cats in three.
Lubbock Monterey 24, Wylie 21 — Jonah Reed overcame an early-pick six to pass for 196 yards and a touchdown while adding another TD on the ground to lead the Plainsmen past the Bulldogs in a hard-fought matchup.
Legin Williams added 82 yards and a touchdown on the ground and Cam Taylor had 123 yards and a score receiving to help Monterey, which outgained Wylie 346-222.
Photos by Pat Cockrell, HubCityPreps.com
LUBBOCK — Leading Lubbock Monterey 7-3 at halftime, the Wylie football team couldn’t keep the Plainsmen bottled up in the second half, being outscored 21-14 over the final two quarters in a 24-21 loss Thursday at Lowrey Field.
Monterey outgained the Bulldogs 346-222, limiting coach Clay Martin’s team to just nine first downs. But Wylie still had an opportunity to win the game late.
It wasn’t until Nate DeLeon intercepted Jadin Karleskint with just over a minute to play that the Plainsmen could finally breathe a sigh of relief in game that was hard-fought both ways.
Wylie 25, Brownwood 0 — Julius Laine ran for 126 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, and the Bulldogs defense played 48 minutes of excellent football in a shutout win over the Lions.
Wylie held Brownwood to just 72 yards of total offense and forced a pair of turnovers to help the Bulldogs offense take an 11-0 lead into halftime and expand it after the break.
The Wylie defense opened 2025 in midseason form Friday, limiting the Brownwood to just 72 yards of total offense in a resounding 25-0 victory at Hugh Sandifer Stadium.
Taking advantage of a Lions offense breaking in a new I-formation-based scheme under first-year coach Jeryl Brixey, the Bulldogs recorded five sacks and 10 tackles for loss while forcing a pair of turnovers in the shutout.
The Wylie offense, meanwhile, did just enough against a game BHS defense to keep the Lions at arm’s length throughout the night, scoring a touchdown in each of the final two quarters to put the game away after taking an 11-0 lead into halftime.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene High-Wylie football scrimmage (32 images)”
Got the truck started yet?
Ready to jump on one of those farm-to-market roads to watch high school football into the late hours on a Friday night?
You’re not alone.
And, as tradition would have it, I tip my cap to those of you who will be hitting the trails each week in search of pigskin. My method: a preseason menu of sorts.
Each week for the next 11 weeks, Big Country Preps will be searching for its Game of the Week, and we’re already looking ahead. We now present our preliminary list of Big Country Games worth traveling for, but keep in mind: the following list is subject to change as surprises and disappointments emerge.
And as we all know … surprises and disappointments always emerge.
So, without further delay, here is our list of Big Country games worth traveling for in 2025.
I’ll see you on the road.
A year ago, Julius Laine was well on his way to his first 1,000-yard rushing season when a non-contact injury to his right knee ended his junior year prematurely.
It was a devastating blow for the 6-foot-1, 225-pound running back, marking his second ACL tear in a four-year span.
But if you were expecting the now-Wylie senior to be bitter about his poor injury luck — or to dwell on the negative all — you would be wrong. Laine’s focus is forward, not back, and with his knee fully healed, he has every intention of making his fourth varsity season his best to date.
Coming off their second district championship in three seasons, with an average of nine wins per year over that span, the Wylie Bulldogs have reestablished the expectation level set under former coach Hugh Sandifer, who led the WHS to 24 consecutive playoff seasons from 1994 to 2017 with 14 district championships in that stretch.
After a rocky start to their time as a Class 5A program, which saw them go 10-28 from 2018 to 2021, the Bulldogs are back under coach Clay Martin to expecting success perennially regardless of graduation losses and roster turnover.
So while some might take note of the 44 lettermen lost from last year’s 9-2 team or the fact that Wylie returns just five offensive and two defensive starters, the Bulldogs themselves are focused on competing once again at the top of District 2-5A Division II and making a playoff run after.
Football is just around the corner, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.
We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Wednesday, Aug. 20. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.
Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 4, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2025 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.
Today, we take a look at the Wylie Bulldogs.
OTHER 2025 ALL-BIG COUNTRY PREPS TEAMS
Our All-Big Country Preps Softball and Baseball Teams, released Saturday and Sunday, respectively, are in place to honor those who achieved the most on-field success in 2025. It is off the field, however, where character, grit, and work ethic are often measured. And it is with our Big Country Preps All-Hustle Team that we wish to honor those players, male and female, who were (simply put) the hardest-working, best teammates in the area this spring.
This team isn’t about who the best baseball and softball players were.
The All-Hustle team honors effort, discipline, toughness, coachability and selflessness — traits that coaches wish they had in every player and upon which championships are built.
It is for that reason that this team is largely selected by area coaches and described in their own words.
Big Country Preps is now honored to present these individuals to you — the best team players (boys and girls) that the Big Country had to offer during the 2025 season.
The players below are listed in no particular order.
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps baseball teams.
Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.
For the rest of this year’s baseball selections, please click the links below.
Here are our first-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Here are our second-team selections for the 2025 All-Big Country Preps softball team. For the rest of this year’s selections, click the links below.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to release our 2025 All-Big Country Preps Softball teams.
Here, you will find our Rising Stars Team honoring the top freshmen and sophomores in the Big Country.
For the rest of this year’s softball selections, please click the links below.
GRAHAM — The Wylie baseball team saw its season come to an end Friday, falling for the second time in as many days to Grapevine in a Region I-5A Division II semifinal series at the Graham High School baseball field.
After dropping the opener 5-0 on Thursday, the Bulldogs were shut out again Friday, falling 4-0 in Game 2 to close their fifth consecutive campaign in the region semifinals.
The loss moved Wylie’s record for the year to 23-7-1, capping another successful season with a frustrating couple of days of baseball.
GRAHAM — Wylie senior pitcher Brady Gay did not want coach Grant Martin or athletic trainer Kathryn Gay, his aunt, to come out of the dugout in the bottom of the sixth inning after a hard-hit line drive hit his ankle and ricocheted into right field.
As soon as the play was ruled dead, Martin and Gay were quick to the mound to check on the senior who continued to wave them off and needed just one warm-up pitch to prove that he was still fit to stay on the mound in the Bulldogs Region I-5A Division II matchup with No. 1 Grapevine.
In a night in which he was hit hard, both literally and figuratively, Gay gave his squad everything he had in a 5-0 loss in which the Mustangs pounded out 13 hits and drew two walks while striking out just three times.
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Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Wylie-Plainview baseball bi-district playoff (68 images)”
With an 8-2 victory on Saturday, the Wylie baseball team picked up its eighth consecutive win over Plainview as WHS completed a two-game sweep in a Region I-5A Division II bi-district series.
The win sends Wylie into the area round of the playoffs, where it will face off against El Paso Del Valle next week.
Wylie coach Grant Martin said after the game that playing in front of a home crowd on Saturday helped the team earn the win.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through May 1.
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.
If one is to play the role of hero, there’s not a better time to do it than in postseason play in your senior year.
Brock’s Mylee Cedillo lived that experience — not once, but twice in last week’s uber-intense bi-district series with fifth-ranked Levelland that saw the Lady Eagles edge the Loboettes 2-1 and 7-6 in 13 innings.
It all began Friday night in Game 1, with Levelland pitcher Aubrey Rivas carrying a no-hitter and a 1-0 lead into the seventh inning. Cedillo responded to the pressure with an RBI double to drive home both Lily Springstead (who walked) and courtesy runner Emily Faddis (running for Ali Coleman who reached on an error) to give Brock a 2-1 win.
Here are the area’s softball statistical leaders through April 24:
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.
Here are the area’s baseball statistical leaders through April 24.
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.
LUBBOCK — Wylie senior Andre Washington is headed to the state track meet after taking silver in the triple jump over the weekend at the Region I-5A meet at Lowrey Field.
Washington jumped 46 feet, 10½ inches to finish less than a foot behind event winner Taniela Ake O’Neal of Argyle (47-9½) and punch his ticket to Austin.
That effort, which accounted for eight of Wylie’s 12 team points, headlined all local performances at the meet, which also saw the Abilene High girls earn 11 points.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Cooper-Wylie baseball (82 images)”
A three-run first inning provided Wylie’s Brady Gay all the run support he would need Thursday in a 5-1 win over crosstown rival Cooper at Cougar Field.
Taking the mound with a healthy early lead, the senior right-hander delivered a gem and took advantage of some excellent defense behind him to help the Bulldogs lock up at least a share of the District 4-5A championship with the victory.
Gay allowed one run over 5.1 strong innings, allowing four hits and striking out six in the win, which improved WHS (17-4-1 overall) to 8-2 in league play with two games remaining. The Bulldogs hold a two-game edge in the loss column on both Abilene High (17-8-1, 6-4) and Wichita Falls Memorial (16-10, 8-4), putting them in position to clinch the outright district title with a single win in their final home-and-home series against last-place Wichita Falls Legacy.
With both the district championship and playoff seeding already locked up before the first pitch of Tuesday night’s softball matchup between the Abilene High and Wylie, neither team stood to gain or lose a whole lot from the game’s outcome.
But for those in attendance at the AHS softball field, it wasn’t hard to see how much the contest meant to both teams.
Less than three weeks after the Lady Eagles and Lady Bulldogs battled to a 1-0 AHS victory in the first of two matchups between the squads, the two teams put on another show Tuesday, with a two-run home run by Kinzley Cantu in the fifth inning serving as the difference in a 3-1 Abilene High win.
Tuesday night’s Southtown Showdown at Bulldog Field saw Cooper jump out to an early lead before the Wylie offense erupted in the fourth inning for a 6-3 win in District 4-5A action.
Diving catches by Wylie’s Tye Briscoe (fourth inning) and Jace Tomlin (sixth inning) provided the two biggest momentum swings in Wylie’s favor to help sophomore Dylan Regala earn his second consecutive win in a crosstown matchup.
Regala scattered seven hits in five-plus innings while allowing three runs. He added three strikeouts and didn’t walk anyone, shutting down the Cooper offense after the Cougars scored two runs in the top of the first inning.
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
Abilene High, Cooper and Wylie all came away with victories Friday on a night of action that saw the Cougars and Bulldogs score district wins over Wichita Falls Legacy and Wichita Falls Memorial, respectively, and the Eagles go out of district to claim a 4-2 home win over Class 3A power Wall.
Both Cooper and Wylie rode pitching gems to shutout wins, as Brady Henderson pitched six dominant innings to fuel the Cougars to a 5-0 triumph over the Leopards and Brady Gay went the whole way for the Bulldogs in a 4-0 victory over the Mavericks.
Abilene High, meanwhile, used a four-run first inning and a strong mound effort of its own by sophomore Gavin Colley to edge the Hawks and complete a perfect day for Abilene’s three largest high schools.
Digital photos, prints and keepsakes may be purchased by clicking the link below. The “BigCountryPreps.com” watermark will be removed from all purchased photos.
Continue reading “PHOTO GALLERY: Abilene High-Wylie baseball (63 images)”