Spring Time! Things Happening!!!!

Today is Thursday March 29th, 2012. I establish the date for several friends that like knowing how long it is until the 2012 football season gets underway. I am not into Days, Hours, Minutes, and Seconds as some folks are but we are pretty near five months until kickoff at all the “Classics” around the state that will begin on Thursday August 30th. There are things going on right now and lots more on the horizon.

For instance:
we are just beginning the annual coaching carousal. These schools are currently looking to fill HC positions:
O'Donnell
Grandfalls-Royalty
Covington
New Home
Water Valley
Lazbuddie
Brookesmith
Campbell
Buckholts
Hedley

Are there currently others? Could be. Will there be others? Yes sir! This list is very fluid like and will be changing almost by the minute until the season begins!!!!!

You can’t get a new season going without having coaching clinics. It is impossible. With that said, you need to know that

2012 heart of Texas Coaching Clinic (April 20-21)

2012 HEART OF TEXAS COACHING CLINIC
April 20-21, 2012
San Saba Civic Center Located in Mill Pond Park by the track

Registration Form: http://sixmanfootball.com/stuff/2012_HOT_CLINIC_reg.pdf

Special Guest Speakers:
Coach Andrew Althoff
Baylor University Strength & Conditioning

Coach Michael Anthony
Baylor University Receiver Coach

Have you ever attended the HOT Clinic? You don’t want to miss this one!!!!


Complete schedule

4/20/2012
10:00 REGISTRATION
11:30-12:30 COYOTE OFF-SEASON
12:30-1:50 LUNCH ON YOUR OWN
2:00-2:45 SAM SKIDMORE BROWNWOOD (OFFENSIVE LINE PLAY)
3:00 - 3:45 MICHAEL BRAND RICHLAND SPRINGS (COYOTES FOR CHRIST)
4:00 - 4:45 JAKE BARNES JONESBORO (EAGLE 2-3 DEFENSE)
5:00-5:45 PHILLIP HUDGENS AUSTIN HILL COUNTRY (HILL COUNTRY SPREAD)

4/21/2012
8:00 REGISTRATION
9:00-9:45 BRICE HELTON DALLAS COVENANT (KNIGHTS DEFENSE )
10:00-10:45 ANDREW ALTHOFF BAYLOR UNIVERSITY STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
CO-DIRECTOR OF OLYMPIC SPORTS-ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
11:00-11:45 BEAU TRAHAN BAYLOR UNIVERSITY RECEIVER DRILLS
DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS
12:00-1:15 LUNCH COYOTE BOOSTER CLUB
1:30-2:15 SHAY AVANTS ROBERT LEE (J-BIRD/SHOTGUN OFFENSE)
2:30-3:15 MIKE REED THROCKMORTON NO HUDDLE/SPEED EXECUTION
2011 6 MAN DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONS
3:30-4:15 JERRY BURKHART RICHLAND SPRINGS (SPREAD DEFENSE)
2011 6 MAN DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONS
4:20-4:40 SHAWN ROGERS RICHLAND SPRINGS TESTIMONY

Looking for Hotels?

Brownwood
Holiday Inn Express - 877-859-5095
Hampton Inn 325-641-0910
La Quinta- 325-641-1731
Comfort Inn- 325-641-3400

San Saba
Burnham Lodging- 325-372-6067 (Booked up when I called)
Hill Country Inn- 325-372-4143

Brady
Holiday Inn 325-597-1800
Best Western 325-597-3997

Llano
Walden Plantation
Best Western
Days Inn + Suites


But wait, THERE IS MORE!!!!

Seguin Lifegate Clinic - June 22, 2012 SIX-MAN FOOTBALL COACHES CLINIC in Seguin.

DATE - Friday, June 22, 2012
LOCATION – Lifegate Christian School, 395 Lifegate Lane, Seguin, Texas

Registration starts at 8:00 am, Clinic runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The registration form will be going out in early April. Registration includes lunch, beverages and a chance at door prizes.

RIDDELL ALL-AMERICAN and ALERT SERVICES representatives will be at the Clinic.

Also, the first TEN SCHOOLS who register for the Clinic will get a free Clinic DVD (either the 2010 or 2011 Clinic)! There will be a discount for early registration (including a special price for schools sending four or more coaches to the Clinic).

http://www.sixmanclinic.com

The website will have information on the Clinic, registration information, how to order past clinic DVD’s, and links for hotel and vacation opportunities in the Seguin/San Antonio/Austin/Central Texas area.

Speakers confirmed so far are:

Bret Tyler – Valley H. S.
Jordan Barker – Waco Live Oak Academy
Phillip Hudgens – Austin Hill Country Christian School
Eddie Gallegos & Jake Barnes – Jonesboro H.S.
(One additional speaker to be named)

Each speaker will make about a 45 minute presentation and we’ll have two or three chalk-talk breakout sessions. We’re working on topics (and if you have any ideas, let us know) but a couple that we’re thinking of is coordinating your sub-varsity and varsity programs and game logistics.

We have arranged a special $85/night rate with the LaQuinta Inn & Suites in Seguin (830-372-0567; ask for the Lifegate Coaches Clinic Rate). ROOMS WILL BE VERY LIMITED, so if you are planning to spend the night here, make your reservations now. Because of the growth of the “Eagle Ford” oil/gas developments in South Texas, many hotels are at full occupancy even 30-50 miles away from the main areas being developed.

Any other questions, feel free to call or e-mail.

John Taddy
Clinic Director
(210) 378-3121
lifegatesports@hotmail.com


YEP! Still more!!!!
THE TEXAS 6-MAN COACHES ASSOCIATION will hold their annual Coaching Clinic July 15th -21st at the Holiday Inn Plaza in Lubbock. The speakers have not been announced yet.
Stay tuned.

Don Hardin
Abilene, TX

The Day After in SIX-MAN

February 3rd, 2012
Every two years it happens. It happened yesterday. It will happen again in two years, Lord willing.

I believe the sun will rise another day for all involved in yesterday’s Texas U.I.L. realignment process. All public schools in Texas are involved in all classifications 5A to 1A with our beloved Six-Man in the mix.

So what does the SIX-MAN landscape look like the day after? Here you go.

2012-14 Official Football District Alignment Conference 1A 6-Man Division 1
REGION 1
District 1
Happy
Hart
McLean
Miami
NAZARETH

District 2
Kress
Paducah
Petersburg
Spur
Turkey Valley

District 3
Anton
Lubbock Harmony
Meadow
Ropesville Ropes
Whiteface

District 4
Gail Borden County
Lamesa Klondike
Lenorah Grady
O’Donnell

REGION 2
District 5
Fort Davis
Garden City
MARFA
Rankin


District 6
Eden
Paint Rock
Sterling City
Veribest
Water Valley

District 7
Hermleigh
Ira
Roscoe Highland
ROTAN

District 8
Bryson
Crowell
Haskell Paint Creek
Knox City
Throckmorton

REGION 3
District 9
Lometa
May
Rochelle
Santa Anna
Zephyr

District 10
Evant
Gordon
Gustine
Lingleville

District 11
Blum
Covington
Kopperl
Walnut Springs

District 12
Irving Universal Acad
Saint Jo
SAVOY
Waxahachie Advantage



REGION 4
District 13
Abbott
Aquilla
Avalon
Bynum

District 14
Buckholts
Coolidge
MOUNT CALM
Penelope

District 15
Bloomburg
CAMPBELL
Fruitvale
Ladonia Fannindel
Laird Hill Leveretts Chapel

District 16
Apple Springs
Chester
HIGH ISLAND
Oakwood



2012-14 Official Football District Alignment Conference 1A 6-Man Division 2
REGION 1
District 1
Darrouzett
Follett
Higgins
Lefors

District 2
Groom
Hedley
Matador Motley County
Silverton

District 3
Amherst
Cotton Center
Lazbuddie
Whitharral

District 4
Lorenzo
New Home
Southland
Wilson

REGION 2
District 5
Ackerly Sands
Loop
Welch Dawson
Wellman-Union

District 6
Balmorhea
Dell City
Grandfalls-Royalty
Imperial Buena Vista
Sanderson
Sierra Blanca

District 7
Loraine
Lueders-Avoca
Trent
Westbrook

District 8
Blackwell
Lohn
Robert Lee
Valera Panther Creek

REGION 3
District 9
Afton Patton Springs
Aspermont
Guthrie
Jayton



District 10
Benjamin
Chillicothe
Harrold
Rule
Vernon Northside

District 11
Bowie Gold-Burg
Forestburg
Newcastle
Woodson

District 12
Moran
Rising Star
Sidney
Strawn

REGION 4
District 13
Blanket
Brookesmith
Mullin
Richland Springs

District 14
Cherokee
Oglesby
Prairie Lea
Star

District 15
Cranfills Gap
Iredell
Jonesboro
Morgan

District 16
Calvert
Karnack
Milford
Trinidad

What Will Be and Could Have Been

U.I.L. realignment is upon us in just a couple of weeks. Those of us that are fans of Six-Man football are excited that some 11-Man schools with qualifying enrollment numbers (99.5 in top four grades) made the decision to join our ranks for the upcoming season.

As much as I love the Six-Man version of the game, I understand the potential conflict that exist when a community decides to move away from the 11-Man version and come "up" to the Six-Man level.

UNOFFICALLY, the schools that have chosen to make "THE MOVE" for the upcoming 2012 season that I am aware of are as follows:

CAMPBELL INDIANS
HIGH ISLAND CARDINALS
MARFA SHORTHORNS
NAZARETH SWIFTS
ROTAN YELLOWHAMMERS
SAVOY CARDINALS

WELCOME OT THE WORLD OF SIX-MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are other schools that could have elected to play Six-Man but CHOSE not to. We will welcome them when they are ready.

Those schools and their enrollment numbers are:

Roscoe 97
Union Hill 97
Bronte 96
Menard 93.5
Baird 93
Cross Plains 92.5
Frost 91
D'Hanis 87
Roby 81
Gorman 80
Leakey 78
Rocksprings 76

There are many other schools with enrollments 99.5 or below that CHOOSE not to field a football team that have a standing invitation to join our ranks as well. It is an extensive list that I am not posting at this time. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

February 2nd, the U.I.L. will release OFFICIAL classifications and realignments.

MORE TO FOLLOW AT THAT TIME.

DECEMBER 31, 2011

 

The end is near for 2011. Another fun year full of Six-Man as usual. Saw lots of football starting with two a day visits, scrimmages, the regular season, playoffs, and ultimately the State games in Abilene. The question is what will I do in January while waiting for realignment on February 2nd?

Another Season in the Books

"Turn out the lights the party is over. They say that all good things must end".

Just a few hours ago at "my house" known to far more people by its real name as P.E. Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, Texas, the curtain fell on the 2011 Six-Man football season. There have been many seasons in the past and for some of us there will be many more in the future. Just speaking for me, I don't think I will ever forget this one. I saw some things that I believe will stay with me for as long as my feeble brain remembers anything. I saw some things that I want to remember and one or two things that even though I have tried to push from my mind it would appear at this time are indelible impressions.

Where should I begin as I recount the now finished "season"? The D2 State Championship between Richland Springs and Motley County is the freshest. I picked RS to win this game by 21 points. The Coyotes of Richland Springs took slightly more than a half of a regulation game to defeat the Matadors of Motley County by the score of 76-28. For the unschooled, Six-Man games are divided into four quarters lasting 10 minutes each. Over the course of the season almost as many games are over at half time as those that go all four quarters. That is because of the "mercy rule" that states when a team is leading by at least 45 points at the half or thereafter, the ball game is over. That sometimes prevents some scores from being "bad to nothing". This game took 21 minutes and 29 seconds of playing time and ended with the Coyotes winning by 48 points. The outcome of this contest was never really in doubt.

MC won the toss, received the opening kickoff. They began an 11 play drive at their own 21 and marched to the RS 10 yard line before being stopped. The drive was fueled by the running of #3 Aaron Rogers. The Matadors actually had a 1st and goal on the RS 10 yard line that quickly turned into a 4th and goal from the 17. Rogers picked up 7 yards to the ten and that produced a turn over on downs (TOD) with 4:11 left in the first. RS,s first drive consisted of one play, a 70 yard TD by #8 Denim Reeves. Just like that the Shar... no make that the Coyotes with a successful PAT were up 8-0 with 4:41 showing on the clock. Maybe there was some doubt to this contest but it did not linger long.

MC had the ball four plays and netted 4 yards. 4th down was a punt that netted 5 yards and RS set up shop on MC's 24. Two passes by Reeves covered the necessary yardage to put the Coyotes up 16-0 with 2:02 left in the 1st.

MC would respond with an electrifying run by #4 Augy Chavez that covered 50 yards and a TD. The PAT was unsuccessful and with 1:51 left in the 1st MC trailed by the score of 16 to 6. RS facing a 2nd and 20 from their own 38 countered with a 42 yard run by who else other than Denim Reeves. The PAT was true and the Coyotes led 24-6 with with 1:37 remaining in the 1 st quarter of play.

MC would have the ball back with 1:33 left on their own 21. 1st and 15 Rogers ran off 17 yards with a nice run. Four more plays ran out the first quarter and gave the ball back to RS with 9:08 in the second and the ball on MC's 28. On first down #11 Ben Vancleave ran for 20 yards to the 8. The next play Reeves was in the end zone again and with 8:28 left in the half RS was up 32-6.

MC would start a new drive on the 40 yard line but a fumble recovered by #13 Chance Bush gave RS back the ball on the 34 yard line. Lo and behold, MC holds RS to 4 plays without a first down. When you get a defensive stop, then is the time to make the other team pay. MC did just that with #14 Braden Mason passing 41 yards to Austin Taylor for a score. The PAT was no good and the score stood 32-12 RS with 5:42 in the half. With a good break MC could position themselves to get back into the game.

That break did not come... What ensued was another RS TD coming from yet another Reeves run. This time it was for 41 yards and with the PAT kick by Cory Bessent RS was now up 40-12 with 5:31 left in the half. Lots of teams would have quit at that point but MC answers with a 75 yard kickoff return for a TD. This time Augy Chavez converts on the PAT and RS's lead was cut to 20 points as they led 40-20 with 5:18 in the half.

RS would start a new "drive" at their on 35. On 1st and 15 Chance Bush made a terrific run covering 45 yards and another RS TD. The PAT failed and RS led 46 to 20 with 5:07 left in the half. Moments later it would be Denim Reeves going in from 37 yards out and the good PAT RS is up 54-20 with 4:12 left in the half. Folks, there is blood in the water and the sharks that hide as Coyotes are making the move. At the 2:17 mark left in the half some kid named Reeves rips off another TD run, this one covering 26 yards and again the PAT is true and RS is up 62-20 with 2:17 in the half.

With the season in peril, and showing the heart of a true Matador, Arron Rogers would dig deep enough to score on a 33 yard run with just 7 ticks on the clock until half. Chavez converts on the PAT and the score becomes 62-28 RS. The half should be over right? With 7 seconds left MC kickoffs. RS has enough time for one more play. You guessed it. Reeves goes 41 yards to the house as time expires in the half, Bessent converts PAT and it is 70 to 28. Don't wander far away during half time because RS receives the kick off to start the second half. One minute and 29 seconds into the third quarter, Mr. Denim Reeves does the honors scoring from 25 yards out and this one is mercifully over. Richland Springs 76 Motley County 28.

Worth mentioning, with this win, RS now has 5 State Championship tying them with Fort Hancock for the most State Titles. RS won their first one in 2004. They won again in 2006 and 2007. They entered today's contest as defending Champions from 2010 and now have added the 2011 title. Congratulations to Athletic Director/Head Coach Jerry Burkhart and Offensive Coordinator Shawn Rogers and their Assistants Michael Brand who serves as Special Teams Coordinator and Assistant John Greenwood, as well as all the players, Administrators, and their GREAT FANS many of whom I consider friends.

I almost forgot to mention that the media types of which I am one vote for the Offensive and Defensive MVP of the State game.


The Defensive MVP went to Chance Bush of Richland Springs

The Offensive MVP went to......Denim Reeves of Richland Springs

Close to the real stats as I could get:
Rushing:
RS Reeves 12-290 Bush 2-53
MC Rogers 19-128 Chavez 6-69 Osborne 2-5 Brooks 1 (-1)

Passing:
RS Reeves 3-5-0 44 VanCleave 1-1-0 14
MC Mason 1-2-0 41 Rogers 0-5-0 0

Receiving:
RS Vancleave 1-20 Phillips 1-18 Bush 1-14 Tillery 1-6
MC Taylor 1-41

Scores by Quarter
RS 24 46 6 x
MC 6 22 0 x


Earlier this same day the D1 State Championship was played, also at "my
house" again better known as P.E. Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, Texas USA. The two teams involved were the Throckmorton Greyhounds coming from the East side of the bracket. You can take that up with the U.I.L. about the East thing. The other team was the Borden County Coyotes coming from the West Bracket. I picked BC to win this game by 21 points. They were battled tested coming out of the West and Throckmorton wasn't so battle tested.

Borden County won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Throckmorton kicked deep and BC was pinned on their 4 yard line. Not the way the BC Coyotes wanted to start the game. On 1st and 15 #4 Austin Fields races for 76 yards and a TD. The PAT by Helio Rosales was good and BC led 8-0 with 9:43 left in the first. I am thinking to myself 21 points wasn't enough for BC in my prediction.

Throckmorton would begin their first drive in much better field position starting on their 30 yard line. 1st and 15 and #1 CJ Hantz goes 15 yards on a run. It is 1st and 15 again and again the ball carrier is CJ Hantz but this time only picks up one yard. 2 and 14 from the BC 34 the ball goes to Levi Taylor who follows his blocker as far as he can then pushes the blocker out of the way cuts to the outside and goes the distance for the score. Initially on the PAT the kick was no good but a flag on the defense allowed a second chance and a successful PAT and we are knotted up at 8 to 8 with 8:23 left in the first. Looks like it will be a better ball game than I thought.

BC gets the ball back for a five play drive that has a holding on BC and ends in a turn over on downs (TOD). Throckmorton takes over on the BC 36. Six plays later and a couple of Greyhound penalties, #7 Tucker Brown finds Levi Taylor for a 19yard TD pass with 5:12 left in the 1st quarter. Throckmorton's Jordon White once again converts the PAT and it is Throckmorton leading 16 to 8.

BC gets the ball back running three plays for little yardage. I note on my play by play sheet that the Greyhounds have come to play this day. On 4th and 18 BC decides to punt the ball. The punt is partially blocked. Throckmorton has great field position and in three plays, one of which is an offensive holding penalty, Brown finds his big target #33 Gary Farquhar for a 34 yard TD pass. White converts and Throckmorton now leads 24 to 8 with 2:35 left in the first. I let out my first "HOLY COW" that draws the attention of everyone in the press box levels 1 and 2.

BC begins another drive this one starting at their own 15 yard line. The drive consist of 6 plays with flags on both the offense and defense. It comes up 4th and 1 for BC and Tucker Brown makes a fantastic defensive play that gives the Throckmorton Greyhounds the ball with time running out in the 1st quarter. CJ Hantz eventually completes an 11 yard pass to Tucker Brownand with the PAT by White Throckmorton now leads 32-8 and out rolls my second HOLY COW of the day. Only a few glance my way this time. I am counting on my fingers and toes and finally figure out that if BC is to win by 21 they will have to put some serious points on the board and need to get started asap. Checking the clock I see there is 8:30 left in the half and I have seen BC scorre quickly and I think to myself BC is going to win this game but not by 21,

BC causes a turn over on downs that ended with a long 4th down pass by the Greyhounds going incomplete. I write down on my play by play sheet MISTAKE and circle it so I can look back later and say that was the turning point in the game. Four plays later Austin Fields for BC finds the end zone on a 5 yard run and the PAT is true and BC has cut the Throckmorton lead to 32 to 16 with 5:18 in the half. The teams swap possessions and the half ends at 32-16 Throckmorton. I am stunned at the score as I set in a cold press box that got colder before the day was over. The Guru came over to see what condition my condition was in. I put on my best face but he could see through me. We both knew that BC probably missed their opportunity to get a win when they had the ball 1st and goal on the 8 right before the half and couldn't cash in. Still I claimed BC wins this game.

Throckmorton got the ball opening the second half and went on an 11 play drive that was capped with a Hantz to Farquhar TD pass for three yards and another White PAT to take a lead of 40 to 16. That was the drive that sealed it as it also ate up 5 minutes and 14 seconds off the clock. With that, I starting thinking hey my friend Mike Reed is going to get his first State Title as a Head Coach. Still the sting of picking BC by 21 was there.

The final play of the third quarter saw BC score on a 13 yard pass from Tanner Richey to TJ Basquez. Again the PAT failed. New score 40=22 Throckmorton as we went to the 4th.
BC would get an interception by Tanner Richey that would lead to another Austin Fields TD of 1 yard. BC was inching closer 40 to 28. They would force a Throckmorton punt and Basquez would snag another 8 yard pass from Richey and convert on the PAT. It is now a 40 to 36 Throckmorton lead with just a minute and 42 seconds left. I had now totally forgotten about my BC 21 point favorite pick and I was thinking BC is going to steal the ring from Mike Reed.

That led to a fateful play no matter what side of the fence you came down on in this game. It is a big play and very uncharacteristically Coach Trey Richey decides to blitz. Mike Reed and the Greyhounds are ready for that and the center Blayton Oliver gets free and Hantx gets the ball to him for a 41 yard TD pass with 1:19 left in the game. White converts the PAT and your final is Throckmorton 48 Borden County 36. It was a classic Championship game.

Congratulations to Coach Mike Reed and His Greyhounds. What a season? The teams goes 14-0, the HC gets is 100th victory along the way and finally after three defeats in the big one, Mike Reed gets his first ring as a Head Coach. It just doesn't get much better than that.

Your MVP on Offense : CJ Hantz

Your MPV on Defense : Tucker Brown

Stats

Rushing:
Throckmorton Hantz 17-115 Taylor 5-67 Farquhar 3-6 Haggard 1-2 Brown 1 (-7)
Borden County Fields 21-196 Richey 4-35 Telchik 22-166 Shafer 2-8 Basquez 1-4

Passing:
Throckmorton Hantz 7-10-1 94 Brown 4-8-0 77
Borden CountyRichet 4-10-1 41 Fields 2-2-0 15

Receiving:
Throckmorton Farquhar 3-59 Taylor 4-55 Oliver 2-44 Brown 1-11 Hantz 1-2
Borden County Basquez 2-26 Shafer 2-15 Rosales 2--15

Thank you to those who follow me on Twitter @sixmancentral and to those that read my blog where ever it shows up. Thanks to www.lonestarfootball.net for the privilege to post there and to all who take time to read it.

Don Hardin
Abilene, TX
Six-Man Central

It Is THAT Time

SWEET! It is championship week in Abilene, Texas home of sixmancentral and yours truly. Abilene has a history of hosting the game or games as it now stands. Actually this will be the third year in a row that Shotwell Stadiium has hosted the Texas Six-Man State Championship games. Six-Man was split into two divisions in 2006. The games were held here at Shotwell that year as well before going to San Angelo in 2007 and a split venue of Lubbock and Wolfforth in 2008.

The four teams involved this weekend are hoping to add another State Championship trophy to their display cases. Richland Springs, competing in the D2 game Saturday night against Mötley County, happens to be here to defend the title they won last season. RS has won state in 2004, before the split into two divisions, then won the D1 titles in 2006 and 2007. After their enrollment numbers moved them into D2 they roared back and won the D2 title in 2010. Their opponent, the Mötley County Matadors own a state title from 2007 when they won the D2 title.

The participants in the D1 game Saturday afternoon are Throckmorton and Borden County. Yes, they both own state titles as well. In 2005, again before the split into two divisions, Throckmorton won their title by beating Valley 68-22. That game was played here at Shotwell as well. Borden County won a title back in 1997 and then won back to back titles in D2 in 2008 and 2009.

Here is a little more history of state titles in the ranks of Texas Six-Man football. The first State Championship game played on this level was in 1972 and was won by the O'Brine Bulldogs led by the legendary Coach C H Underwood. There have been 44 State Championship trophies awarded. An interesting fact is only 22 schools have won titles during that time due to multiple titles held by those teams. Here is that list.

Fort Hancock 5 titles 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1991
Richland Springs 4 titles 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2010
Borden County 3 titles 1997, 2008, and 2009
Cherokee 3 titles 1973, 1975, and 1978
Panther Creek 3 titles 1992, 1993, and 2000
Amherst 2 titles 1994 and 1995
Garden City 2 titles 2009 and 2010
Gordon 2 titles 1996 and 1999
Highland 2 titles 1982 and 1983
Jayton 2 titles 1984 and 1985
Marathon 2 titles 1974 and 1976
Milford 2 titles 1979 and 1980
Strawn 2 titles 2003 and 2008
Whitharral 2 titles 1981 and 2001
Calvert 1 title 2002
Lohn 1 title 1987
May 1 title 1977
Motley County 1 title 2007
Northside 1 title 2006
O'Brine 1 title 1972
Throckmorton 1 title 2005
Trinidad 1 title 1998

Is the math correct? 44 titles and 22 schools.

There are going to be two more trophies awarded this weekend. Which schools will add to their totals?

If you are in Abilene or even close to Abilene, if you are a huge fan of Six-Man or never have heard of the sport, you owe it to yourself to go and watch the finest Six-Man has to offer.

Savor the moment.

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.