WINDING DOWN

READY OR NOT................
This season is winding down. TAPPS playing State games today and U.I.L. are in the SEMI-FINALS. I

I attended the Mötley County Sterling City game Thursday in Gail, (Borden County). It would be a terrific understatement to say that the wind was blowing. The wind blew in a fired up Mötley County team that jumped on the Eagles of Sterling City early and often causing Coach Clyde Parham to explain " you can't spot a team 40 points and expect to win". He was referring to his team falling behind 48-8 in the first half. The final score read Mötley County 84 Sterling City 36. SC came into this one beaten up and turnovers really did them in. My belief is MC would have won regardless but in a much closer game. I had the Matadors by three.

Friday night in Jim Ned the Richland Springs Coyotes defeated a good Newcastle Bobcat team 54-8. No surprise here. I picked Richland Springs by 28. The Sharks have had an eye on returning to Abilene for about a year now. Not a team has been able to slow them down this season as they return to the title game for the second year in a row. There is absolutely NO need to tell the Matadors of Mötley County they don't have a chance of shocking the world next Saturday in Abilene. They have a mindset that they can play with anybody and they only listen to one guy.

Up the road, I picked Valley to beat the most physical Six-Man team I have seen, the Borden County Coyotes, by 11. I was wrong. Those Coyotes don't care too much what I pick. They took down the Valley Patriots 61-56 with BIG plays and a determined defense. Missed PAT's took a toll on Valley. They, Borden County, began the season with the idea of being in Abilene next weekend and they have beaten the finest teams the tough west side of D1 had to offer. It is as if they played for state since the second round of the playoffs. I know, I know, IF AND BUTS WERE CANDY AND NUTS..... these Coyotes could be going for their fourth consecutive State Championship. Last May, at the H.O.T. Coaching Clinic in Richland Springs, Coach Richey was the last coach out the door and Coach Burkhart said to him as he walked out, "let's make this up coming season the year of the Coyotes". There will be two "packs" in Abilene next Saturday.

Throckmorton is coming back to Abilene for another shot at a title there. They won it all back in 2005. They want to win for many reasons but perhaps the biggest reason is getting a ring for their beloved Coach Mike Reed. Tonight Abbott played a great first half with the game tied 30-30 at the half but Throckmorton took over and final score was 78-52.

ACHS HAS A GREAT TEAM.
I watched them early in the season and it was evident they were something special. The only blemish on their record was to a talented Ira bulldog team that defeated the Panthers by 8. It is very fitting that the Panthers would face their old foe Dallas Covenant in the TAPPS finals. Dallas Covenant has ended the season for ACHS 3 years in a row. Not this year as the Panthers claim the TAPPS D1 State Championship 66-44.