What do you do? You have set around all off season and griped and moaned about no football to watch and then WEEK ZERO rolls around. I don't know about you but I went to watch FOOTBALL!
Kick Off Classics abounded in WEEK ZERO. I could have gone to the one in Happy, or Zephyr, or McCamey. I would have enjoyed any of those. I chose to go to Jayton and Hico. Both put on their 9th Anuual events. Coach Stanaland and the Jayton group put on a great one. The host could have let my Lueders-Avoca Raiders score. It seems they carried some real hard feelings about LA beating them for the district title last season. The final was 48-0 if you really need to know. Something you definitely need to know is this Jayton team is good. Very good. Can I say they are a team to be reckoned with by D2 as a whole? I know. I know one game does not a season make but trust me on this. Jayton ain't no slackers! They run well, they throw well, and they tackle well. They are going to win lots of games this season.
Thursday night got started with the Crowell Wildcats taking on the Borden County Coyotes. I thought this would be a great game. A friend of mine that has "his toy" he uses to predict the outcome favored BC by 45 points. Sometimes there are folks that "don't get it"'. I guess that might be the case in this game. Crowell with a different head coach from last year fell behind in the first quarter something like 22-6. They continued to trail at the half 44-30. Something clicked during halftime and the Wildcats came out and out scored the Coyotes 38-0 in the third quarter. They would finish off the Coyotes for the night out scoring Borden County 53 to 16 in the second half and taking the game by the score of 83-60. Turnovers and being gassed before half time took a toll on the Coyotes. The Wildcats played rabid defense in the third quarter especially.
The second game on Thursday had the defending state champion Throckmorton Greyhounds taking on what many think are an upcoming Six-Man powerhouse, the Rotan Yellowhammers. Those of us who faithfully read the Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine read the 2012 version that said this Rotan club has speed. It is true. They have some fast cats. The game went the distance with the Greyhounds winning by the score 78-40. Sounds fairly impressive for the simple fact this was Rotan's inaugural game in Six-Man. I will state here and now that Throckmorton enjoyed a lead of 44-8 at the end of the first quarter and played the entire bench.
Friday night I watched a most entertaining game between to good clubs, the D1 Paducah Dragons and the D2 Newcastle Bobcats. When I say good I mean both are meaner than rattlesnakes and tougher than shoe leather. There were lots of lead changes in this one. In the end due to two defensive stops, one in the third quarter and one in the 4th quarter that turned the ball over on downs, Paducah won a hard fought game by the score of 62 to 56.
Friday night game 2 I watch a Highland Hornet team take on Motley County. Coach Shelton's Hornets are looking to better their season record from over the last couple of years. This game though not a win was certainly a learning experience for Highland. Motley County last year's state finalist has not lost any intensity from last year's squad. Mike Bigham, HC for the Motley crew squeezes out all the effort each of his players have inside them. He has done that for years. He keeps those kids fired up to play football if they are in the game or on the sideline. He is a hard man to please even in victory but he is respected by his players and they give all they have week in and week out.
The third game on Friday night involved the home town Jayton Jaybirds hosting last season's Bi-District champions Lueders-Avoca Raiders. This was lots closer to a massacre than a football game. The Raiders boast a squad of predominately sophomores. They are not very big but they have lots of fight in them. They hit hard and they take hard hits. By the time district games roll around the Raiders will be improved.
I found my way to Hico on Saturday to their 9th Annual Six-Man Super Saturday. It appeared that the attendance was down from years gone by but the event was still like a family reunion to me. I was able to meet up with old friends and family and enjoy six-man football all at the same time. It doesn't get better than that. Dr Pepper was this year's sponsor.
The first game was between the Ira Bulldogs and the Gordon Longhorns. Both teams proved they are worthy of being state ranked ball clubs. This day the Ira Bulldogs did not play at the level they intend to and will in later games. Even so, they won a close hard fought game 28-24. The Longhorns played extremely well and could have easily won the game. Lance Morris scored on a 74 yard run with 4 seconds left in the first quarter for the first score of the game. With four seconds left in the game Ira scored to take the lead and the win. Even in the loss, Gordon impressed.
Game two in Hico saw Abbott take the win 44 to 36 over a talented Dallas Covenant. I myself have tabbed Abbott to make their way to the state championship game from the East bracket of D1. Dallas Covenant is one of the top three teams in TAPPS D1. This loss certainly should not hurt their ranking.
Game three in Hico saw the Strawn Greyhounds defeat Walnut Springs by the score of 52-6. Strawn had a terrible season a year ago based on injuries. The Strawn team made the playoffs last season even though they might have been healthy only two weeks out of the season. They were healthy for this game.
The last game of the day was an exciting game featuring two highly ranked teams from their respective D1 and D2 slots. Jonesboro got out big on Valley but the Patriots overcame the Eagles lead and won this contest 37-28. Both of these teams will go deep in the playoffs.
Nine games in three days. WOW! I am blessed.
WEEK ZERO had six games that I was really excited about and were my games of the week.
Ira 28 Gordon 24
Valley 37 Jonesboro 28
Abbott 44 Dallas Covenant 36
Throckmorton 78 Rotan 40
Bulverde Bracken Christian 56 Austin Hill Country 6 SHOCKER
Don Hardin's WEEK ONE Rankings
D1
1. Throckmorton
2. Ira
3. Valley
4. Abbott
5. Gordon
6. Rankin
7. Meadow
8. Water Valley
9. Crowell
10 Sterling City
D2
1. Richland Springs
2. Jonesboro
3. Motley County
4. Milford
5. Aspermont
6. Newcastle
7. Grandfalls
8. Follett
9. Jayton
10. Amherst
WEEK ONE GAMES OF INTEREST
Milford at Abbott
Newcastle @ Abilene Christian
Dallas Covenant @ Aquila
Throckmorton @ Follett
Meadow @ Paducah
Spur @ Ropes
Thanks for reading.
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