SPORTS UPDATE #85

WELCOME TO:

*** FRIDAY – NOVEMBER 2, 2007 ***

• Yates-Wheatley game steeped in tradition

• Strong 2nd half pushes North Shore over Pasadena Memorial — North Shore’s streak in the regular season is now at 69 wins after a 52-31 win over host Pasadena Memorial. They also clinched at least a share of the District 22-5A title.

• Panhandle, Canadian game to be played Friday

• Dickinson football team to know fate before Friday’s game

• Katy Taylor, Klein tennis teams ready for state semis

• Volleyball playoffs heating up

• Peach Bowl: A football family feud

• 2-minute drill with South Garland’s Nick Florence

• Tim MacMahon’s hot picks (DFW)

• Mirror image; Medina fills void left by Cruz’s injury -  It hasn’t been a particularly good year for the quarterbacks in District 29-5A play this season.

• Different school, same game for Ramos   -  As one gets closer to the United gym the squeaks and squeals of sneakers making contact with the hardwood gets louder and clearer.  Full Story

• Teams bring winning records into crosstown encounter  -  Cooper coach Mike Spradlin watches game film and is amazed at the execution of Abilene High. Full story »

• Lady Eagles upset El Paso Franklin in area match  (Abilene High)

• High School Football Capsules: Week 9

  DISTRICT 27-5A CARROLL (3-1, 7-1) AT S.A. SOUTHWEST (4-0, 8-0) Last Year: Southwest, 14-7 Last Week: Ray 32, Carroll 27; Southwest 48, S.A. East Central 20 Carroll The Tigers had a huge night offensively last week, but a hook and …

• 2007 H.S. Football Super 11: Anthony Davis  – Anthony Davis Carroll tigers Nickname: A-Train Position: Running back Other position you would play: Wide receiver Off the field I relax by: Listening to music Favorite NFL team: Indianapolis Colts Favorite college team: USC Favorite food: Pizza Favorite TV show: …

• Networking specialists  -  KINGSVILLE — The West Oso volleyball team is returning to the Region IV-3A quarterfinals for the second straight season. The Bears certainly showed how hungry they were to get back to that round Thursday night, as they unloaded on Class …

• Tigers eye trip to regional quarters  -  The Carroll volleyball team’s road to the Region IV-5A quarterfinals always seems to go through state-ranked opposition. This year is no different. The District 27-5A champion Tigers (30-8) square off with a familiar foe at 7:30 p.m. today when they … Read

• Lady Eagles succumb to China Spring   -  China Spring brought an arsenal of weapons Thursday night in its Class 3A, Region III Area playoff against Fairfield.

• Dragons face Pine Tree tonight on road   (Nacogdoches)

• Irvin seeks first-ever victory against Chapin
  Two aspects point to Chapin-Irvin being perhaps the most interesting high school football game in El Paso today. 

• Today’s high school football capsules
  Hanks (4) vs. Montwood (1)When, where: 7 p.m. today at the Socorro Student Activites Complex.Records: Hanks is 5-3, 4-2 in District 1-5A; Montwood is 7-1, 6-0 in District 1-5A. 

• Franklin loses in Class 5A area playoff round
  The Franklin High School volleyball team’s strong season came to an end Thursday when the Cougars were defeated by Abilene High School 25-21, 25-18, 25-18 in Monahans. 

• Leander rallies to edge McNeil, 28-21

• High school football roundup  (Austin – Central Texas)

• High school runners head to cross country region meets on Saturday

• Brenham tops Huntsville to advance to Region III volleyball semifinals

• NOTEBOOK: Happy anniversary for Yates, Wheatley

• St. Mark’s begins celebration early   -  For St. Mark’s senior guard Mark Butler, it was breakout time. Butler was able to start celebrating early Thursday night as St. Mark’s cruised to the Southwest Preparatory Conference Division I championship, blasting Tulsa Holland Hall, 56-20, at Butler Stadium.

• It’s a runaway for SL Carroll

• Skyline ends Carter’s district win streak

• ESD holds off charge to win title 

• Volleyball roundup: Coppell sweep ousts Lamar

• Volleyball playoff pairings

• Third time not a charm  -  BRYAN — Huntsville’s much-improved volleyball team showed up Thursday for its Class 4A Region III quarterfinal match. And still, Brenham had enough firepower to get past the Lady Hornets and advance to the fourth round of the state playoffs.….more>>

• Role reversal   -  Huntsville football coach Mitchell Coey remembers well the sting that came with last fall’s 34-6 loss to Caney Creek. Playing for a chance to advance to the Class 4A state playoffs for the first time since 2000, the Panthers pounded the Hornets and punched their own ticket to the postseason.

• Pride on the line in Trinity -  The New Waverly Bulldogs suffered a heartbreaking loss last week, falling to Lexington 23-21. That loss dashed the Bulldogs’ playoff hopes. With two games remaining, including tonight’s rivalry game in Trinity against the Tigers (3-5 overall, 0-4 in District 26-2A), the Dogs (3-5, 1-3) look to finish the 2007 season with pride.

• Mustangs expect fight from lowly Goats  -  The Madisonville Mustangs travel to Groesbeck tonight to take on the Goats in a District 19-3A showdown.

• Playing for the playoffs  -  Mavericks can clinch post-season spot with win over Whitehouse (Marshall)

• Back on top
  PHARR — The cafeteria food at Valley View tastes better. The shoulder pads weigh a little less….

• Football: Ryan looking for respect and more  -  Joey Florence has heard it 100 times already — the Ryan Raiders are down this season. A 1-3 start and no love from the polls has given way to the perception that Ryan isn’t as good as it used to be, leaving players and coaches miffed that no one’s noticed the strength of their schedule and their undefeated district record.

• Football: Quick-strike offense has new-look Lions roaring (Calvary)

• Tigers hungry to finish strong vs. A&M Consol
  BELTON – College Station A&M Consolidated is playoff bound. Belton is pretty much not.

• Yoe, Rockdale set to clash in ‘Battle of Bell’
  ROCKDALE – “I don’t think it matters what the ramifications are when we play each other. There’s a little extra hatred or fun. It’s just a good, old Texas high school rivalry. This is what it’s all about.”

• Lady Luck kind to Munoz
  BELTON – Call it fate, providence or kismet. Either way, that fact is that Joel Munoz was in the right place at the right time when Lady Luck came calling.

• All aboard the ‘Pain Train’
  Brazoswood defensive linemen David Hoffman, Travis Gipson, Larry Collins, Chris Burditt, Darryll Pipkins and Dartwan Bush are keys parts of the Bucs’ defense.

• Exporters set sail for first district victory
  The Brazosport Exporters are the team nobody in District 23-4A wants to play even though they haven’t won a game in league play.

• Panthers face Hitchcock in key matchup
  It’s Deja vu for Danbury as again they are faced with a must-win to stay alive for a playoff spot against first-place Hitchcock.

• Committee to rule on Dickinson
  The District 23-4A committee will meet today at 9 a.m. at Friendswood High School to determine the fate of the Dickinson Gators football team.

• Ball High QB returns from injury tonight
  GALVESTON — Senior quarterback Andre Patino, who missed Ball High’s last two games with an ankle injury, will get the start for the Tors tonight.

• Game Time for Friday, November 2, 2007
  Here’s a breakdown of tonight’s high school football match-ups

• Rice headlines Buc’s Hall of Fame inductees
  GALVESTON — Meosha Ricea, a three-time state champion throwing the shot, is one of 10 former O’Connell student-athletes being inducted into the Hall of Fame tonight.

• Canyon trounces Lady Cougars in three
  Cougarettes sweep Connally 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 to advance to the Region IV volleyball semifinals

• Judson-SV has title implications
  Needing two wins for the 26-5A title, Rockets will be out to topple Rangers in Smithson Valley’s final home game.

• Canyon needs win vs. Hays to stay alive
  Canyon needs to defeat Hays (6-2, 4-1) tonight and then hope for help to make state playoffs

• NB can claim title by beating Lions
  Unicorns can win 26-4A crown, improve to 9-0 with victory

• To get to Scots, NB must down Rider first
  Unicorns in semifinals at Class 4A state team tennis tournament.

• ROBERT E. LEE, JOHN TYLER SQUARE OFF

• Bulldogs hoping to stop Breckenridge’s revitalized offense  (Abilene Wylie)

• This weekend’s big country football games  (Abilene area)

• Matadors rise from the dead and other strange prep football tales (Lubbock)

• Freeman’s key play helps Westerners stun Monterey, enter playoff chase

• Lufkin hosting Magnolia tonight 

• Diboll, Crockett set for 20-3A showdown 

• Playing for the playoffs 

• District 12-4A MVP 

• Pigskin Preview   (East Texas)

• Elysian Fields set to duel Tatum for district lead 

• Bobcats look to reverse fortunes at Jacksonville   (Hallsville)

• Ladycats set to play Taylor in Area Round – The Mexia Ladycats will kickoff their post-season action tonight against the Taylor Lady Ducks at Robinson High School. First serve is set for 8:00 pm.….more>>

• Gordon-Strawn game highlights area football slate   -  Six Mineral Wells area football teams are set for six key district football games on Friday night.

• Lobos face experienced Skeeters (Longview – Mesquite)

• PT counting on rushing game   (Pine Tree)

• Van’s ‘Cannon’ shoots down Lady Buckeyes   (Van – Gilmer)

• Panthers take on Buckeyes   (Gilmer – Spring Hill)

• Football: Week 9 Permian Basin Area Matchups
  PECOS EAGLES AT … (full story)

• Volleyball: Region I playoff scores, schedulesCLASS 5A… Full Story…  

• Football: Crane tries to stay unbeaten in District 7-2AThe Crane Golden Cranes have had one mantra since the final horn sounded on the their 2006 football season….

• Lady Cards outlast La Grange in 5  -  Indescribable is the way several Bridge City Lady Cardinals talked about Thursday’s five-game victory over the La Grange Lady Leopards. ….more>>

• Bears ready for red-hot Lumberton  -  The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Battlin’ Bears are doing more than just looking to play spoiler tonight against the Lumberton Raiders — they want to win.

• Mustangs, Bobcats set for Orange County showdown -  While West Orange-Stark is cruising along with a 22-game district winning streak, the Orangefield Bobcats have captured back-to-back District 21-3A wins after a tough start.

• Vidor seeks first 22-4A win against Panthers  -  They’ve knocked on the door the last two weeks. This week, the Vidor Pirates want to barrel through the door when they visit the Beaumont Ozen Panthers in District 22-4A tonight at Lamar University’s Cardinal Field.

• WO-S’ Dennis does a little bit of it all   -  Every strong football program has to have those “Jack-of-all-trades” players to find that extra edge over their opponents.

• Pirates look to stop hot Buna attack   -  While the Deweyville Pirates are on a quest for their first District 24-2A victory, the Buna Cougars will be trying to shake off their first loss of the season when the two lock horns tonight at Cougar Stadium in a game that features two of last season’s three playoff teams.

• PORT ARTHUR NEWS GAME OF THE WEEK: DAYTON AT NEDERLAND ….more>>

• Kelly out to protect No. 1 ranking

• BATTLE BY THE BAY  -  PORT ISABEL — When the final buzzer sounded on Nov. 3 of last year, people were already clamoring…(full story)

• Lions can clinch playoff spot with win  LA FERIA — The Battle by the Bay isn’t the only big game in District 32-3A tonight….

• Different year, same situation  -  When the San Marcos Rattlers meet Austin High Friday night at Burger Stadium, the scenario will be exactly the same as last season.….more>>

• Wimberley’s Harley West   -  He’s the prototypical silent leader.

• Volleyball: O’Brien steps up  -  ARGYLE — In his 13 years of coaching volleyball, Argyle head coach Clark Oberle has logged plenty of gym time as a fill-in player in practice and taken a few direct hits from his players. He thought he’d seen it all and was comfortable with his ability to get out of the way of his players’ kills — until he met Bailey O’Brien

• Notebook: Rider offense should put Ryan’s defense to the test

• Tigers can play spoiler against Wranglers  -  With only one win in eight games and no hope for the postseason, the Terrell Tigers (1-7, 0-5) don’t have too much to play for. (Terrell – West Mesquite)

• Each week a game of survival for Lee
  Stallworth Stadium public announcer Robbie Magness should introduce the Lee starting lineup rather than the cheerleaders tonight. Otherwise they may not be recognizable. (Baytown Lee)

• Sterling aims to spoil Titans’ season
  Great expectations often yield big disappointments and Port Arthur Memorial’s so-far disappointing season qualifies as one of the biggest surprises in District 21-5A .

• Barbers Hill out to prove itself
  Barbers Hill head coach John Chancellor does not compare himself to Aristotle but he does preach philosophy over program.

• Sterling set for regional meet
  They’ve run with the best, so the Baytown Sterling girls will fear no one at Saturday’s Region III, Class 5A cross country meet.

• Columbus ends Silsbee’s season in volleyball

• MP hopes to stay hot against struggling Paris (Mt. Pleasant)

• Panthers play critical games down the stretch  -  Another game, another must win for the Westwood Panthers. Westwood (1-2, 4-4) will take on Fairfield at Eagle Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Friday and try to continue competing for a playoff spot.  “We’re approaching this game from the stand point of a playoff game,” Westwood head coach Kevin Anderson said. “If we win, we stay alive. There’s not really any pressure or concerns, and we’ve had some good practices this week.”….more>>

• ‘Cats try for playoff berth   -  Last week the Palestine Wildcats were playing for the district title. This week, the Wildcats are playing to keep their playoff hopes alive.  A week after falling to Madisonville, the Wildcats travel to Mexia Friday night in need of a win to guarantee a playoff spotKickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

• Cayuga set for Sandies in big district game   -  When a pair of Dogwood Circle teams — Cayuga and Grapeland — match up Friday night, one team will try to clinch a playoff spot while the other team tries to cling onto any hopes of making the postseason.  Cayuga (2-1, 6-2) will clinch a playoff spot if the Wildcats win Friday night. For Grapeland, the Sandies (1-2, 2-6) must win if they have any hopes of staying in the playoff race.

• Panthers try to keep playoff hopes alive
  Rather than donning pirate hats and eye patches, North Lamar spent Halloween dressed up in its practice uniforms and focused on its next opponent.

• A, 2A and 4A capsules
  Highlighting Friday’s area football games (Northeast Texas)

• Coyotes, McCollum to vie tomorrow at SA
  The Uvalde Coyotes and the McCollum Cowboys will collide in a big District 29-4A football game tomorrow night.

• Veterans Memorial girls down Lobos in regional volleyball playoff competition  -  ALICE The Mission Veterans Memorial Lady Patriots downed the Uvalde Lobos in Class 4A regional second-round volleyball playoff competition Tuesday night.

• Late in season, Hawks still have playoff hopes  -  It has been a lot time since Red Oak earned a berth in the state football playoffs – 23 years to be exact.

• Kilgore expecting tough challenge against Henderson 

•  Quarterbacks lead Built Ford Tough honors 

• November 1, 2007: Stopping Petro key for MHS defense (Midland)

• Coyotes hope things will turn their way   -  The Wichita Falls High School football season will make a turn tonight at Munson Stadium.

• November 1, 2007: Garden City, Grady collide in pivotal game

• Share of 5-4A crown up for grabs between Rider, Ryan

• Caprock vs. Palo Duro

• Hornets staying in the present  -  Though the Athens Hornets are close enough to reach out and touch the school’s first playoff berth since 1996, they’re not getting caught up in looking ahead.….more>>

• Pheasant stomped at football game?  -  An Utah high school football coach accused of critically injuring a pheasant that was released on the field during a game said he had no intention of harming the bird. Richard Layton, 47, an assistant coach for Viewmont High School, …

• High School Football Notes: 11.01.07  -  CLASS 4A ALICE The Coyotes’ loss to Flour Bluff last week sets up a big showdown in Coyote Country on Friday. Kingsville comes to town, holding a one-game lead over Alice for District 31-4A’s final playoff spot. An Alice win …

• Golden Circle teams begin area round tonight  -  All four area volleyball teams in the UIL playoffs are still alive after two teams swept their Bi-District matches Tuesday night. ….more>>

• Lions fighting for playoffs  -  The Blooming Grove Lions have one game remaining on their schedule, and that’s how coach Ronnie Wilson has been preparing for this week’s game against Italy.

• Golden Circle football preview capsules  (Palestine area)

• Rams seek first home win
  The Del Rio Rams have a ligament shot at finishing the season with a 4-6 record

• Coronado tennis makes return trip to state
  It was no secret. They didn’t even try to deny it. The players on the Coronado High School tennis team would’ve been devastated if they hadn’t qualified for the state 

• Loretto to face Incarnate Word
  A clear vision, a fresh attitude and a new coach has Loretto Academy’s volleyball team in the postseason for the first time since 2002. 

• Faith wins tournament, TCAL’s 5A state crown
  SAN ANTONIO — The Faith Christian High School girls volleyball team won the Texas Christian Athletic League (TCAL) Class 3A state championship this past weekend in San Antonio. 

• Carlisle blasts Oakwood for first playoff win in 13 years
  RUSK – Carlisle came into the 2007 season goal-oriented.

• Leander-McNeil update

• Win, Place and Show  -  A weekly ranking of the best area football teams. (Amarillo)

• AHS to face L-E   -  District 16-AAA champion Liberty-Eylau is next for the Athens Lady Hornets in the state volleyball playoffs.

• Cubs to make last home appearance  -  Twenty-eight seniors on the Brenham High School football team will play their final game at Cub Stadium Friday when the Cubs host the Willis Wildkats in a game that could clinch the District 18-4A championship for the Cubs.

• Postseason dreams on the line for Panthers  -  BURTON — The Burton Panthers, fresh off two consecutive victories, enter Friday’s game with playoff implications on the line.

• Brenham swimmers top Caney Creek  -  The Brenham Cub and Cubette swim teams each defeated Caney Creek Monday at the Blue Bell Aquatic Center.

• Third Chance — Lions host No. 4 Waco with 16-4A championship ramifications at stake  -  The Waco High Lions will bring an impressive list of credentials to Gordon Wood Stadium Friday night — including a No. 4 ranking by the Associated Press. But no team in District 16-4A knows them better than the Brownwood Lions.

• Closing in on another crown
  EARLY — The Early Longhorns settled any questions about who was king of the mountain in District 6-2A last week. Now head coach Robbie Tindol’s squad turns its attention to locking up another playoff berth and at least a share of a third straight district championship.

• Dragons’ quest continues on road
  BANGS — With the season on the line, the Bangs Dragons have played their best football.

• May, Blanket target district championship
  A district championship will be at stake when Brown County rivals Blanket and May — both undefeated in Six-Man Division I, District 13 — cross paths at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Bulletin’s Six-Man Game of the Week.

• Week 9 High School Football Previews
  Six-Man Division I, District 15

• Eustace overcomes  -  There were a lot of bad omens for the Eustace Bulldogs going into last Friday night’s District 13-3A game with Crandall, on a night when Mabank was losing a statistical tsunami to Ferris and Kemp was being blown out by Kaufman.….more>>

• Bulldog runners sweep meet  -  All four Eustace cross country teams took first place Oct. 23 at the District Cross Country Championships at the Gun Barrel City Park.

• November 1, 2007: District 3-5A blitz 

• Mabank, Kemp runners do well at district   -  GUN BARREL CITY — In a District 13-3A cross country showdown dominated by a seemingly endless supply of Eustace runners, one Mabank runner did manage to steal some of the glory from the Bulldogs last Tuesday.

• High School Notebook 11.01.07  -  Abilene High underclassmen Jourdan Ellis and Marcus Garza each finished second last Thursday in the district meet at UT-Permian Basin, and figure to be among the top runners in the region meet Saturday at Mae Simmons Park in Lubbock. The girls race gets under way at 9 a.m. with the boys to follow at 9:30. Full story »

• Tascosa set for challenge 

• Region I Volleyball Playoffs

• Randall, Whitefaces battle for supremacy

• Timeout with: Austin Gillmore, Bushland Quarterback

• District dreams

• Bye week leaves Consol refreshed

• Case leads Consol Cross Country in quest for state berth

• Vikings win, reach playoffs (Bryan)

• Pasadena Memorial — North Shore’s streak in the regular season is now at 69 wins after a 52-31 victory over host Pasadena Memorial. They also clinched the District 22-5A title. READ STORY

• Playoff Panthers; South tops Cigarroa 16-7  -  Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.

• Coronado defense leads way
  The offense for the Coronado football team has garnered most of the attention this season, but there’s no mistaking that the Mustangs’ 3-0 District 2-5A mark is directly attributed to their defense.

• Eagles look to come out of shadows
  The undefeated Eagles (8-0, 3-0 in District 7-1A) have been one of the most dominant teams on the South Plains this season, but most football followers in the area might not have noticed. That’s because their fiercest district rival has been receiving most of the attention and accolades.

• Today’s High School Football Capusles
  CLASS 5A-4A District 2-5A Lubbock High at Tascosa 4:30 p.m., Dick Bivins Stadium

• Visit to Aledo will be an eye opener for Mineral Wells fans  -  The Mineral Wells Rams football team and their fans will have a chance to look into the future tonight in Aledo.….more>>

• Martin wins with sweep; Lamar falls to Coppell Friday, November 2    -  Arlington Martin was swept in the regional quarterfinals last season. Now the Lady Warriors have a chance to redeem themselves.

• Lady Luck kind to Munoz
  BELTON – Call it fate, providence or kismet. Either way, the fact is that Joel Munoz was in the right place at the right time when Lady Luck came calling.

• Kaufman can clinch playoff berth Friday  -  KAUFMAN – Kaufman’s game against Eustace on Friday night will play a pivotal role in their quest for a district championship and Lions’ head coach Todd York is looking for everyone’s support.

• HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL   -   Waco High special teams provide big-time spark

• Cross Roads advances in VB playoffs