Fillies come back strong from break, 96-62 - January 6, 2012
By John Krueger
Sports Correspondent

Six Panola players score in double figures in win over Ranger

Panola College's Rebecca Kolawole (left) and Lanese Bough (right) battle with Ranger College's Danielle Randolph for a loose ball during action Wednesday night in Arthur Johnson Gymnasium. The Fillies forced a jump ball on the play. (Photo by John Krueger)

CARTHAGE -- To say the Panola College Fillies hit the court running after a three-week layoff would be an understatement as the pushed the ball up and down the hardwood and the result was an easy 96-62 nonconference victory over Ranger College Wednesday night here in Arthur Johnson Gymnasium.

Eleven different Panola players scored and six were in double figures as Fillies' head coach Tracey Stellato went deep into her bench as they played their first game just three days after reporting back for the second-half run.

Stellato also wanted her team to get into the flow early as they face No.8-ranked Weatherford College on Friday at the Jacksonville Classic. The Fillies then face Cisco College on Saturday.

"We came back with two practices on Sunday and two on Monday and then two slower practices on Tuesday because I knew we were pushing it with our first game on Wednesday. They were pretty sore after he first day, but it didn't take them long to get back into the flow of things, and that's important because we have some big games coming up."

The Fillies had their high-octane running game in high gear against the Lady Rangers, taking advantage of 35 Ranger turnovers. Panola College scored 18 points directly off turnovers, while scoring 30 points on the night with its transition game.

"We have so many young kids and what offense we're trying to run it takes time for them to see that stuff," Stellato added. "I really didn't expect them to come back and retain as much as they did after the long lay-off, but they did a pretty good job.

Panola College freshman Electra Roberts (1) goes up for a shot in traffic under the basket during Wednesday night's nonconference game in Arthur Johnson Gymnasium. Roberts led all Panola scorers with 15 as she led the team to a 96-62 win. (Photo by John Krueger)

"What we're trying to do is get back to what our strengths are. We matched up well physically against Ranger and we've sold the kids on the fact that they needed to go all-out and create a lot of things with our defense. That created some easy offense and it'll build their confidence going into the Weatherford game."

The Fillies did have some trouble turning the ball over, committing 20 for the game, but Panola made up for that by pushing the ball up the court and scoring 31 points in the paint.

Panola College sophomore guard Oditte Odisho (10) splits two Ranger defenders as she drives to the basket during action Wednesday night in Arthur Johnson Gymnasium. Odisho scored 12 points in the Fillies' 96-62 win. (Photo by John Krueger)

Meanwhile, Ranger managed just six points off transition as Panola pressured the Lady Rangers in the backcourt most of the night. The Fillies also blocked out well on the boards, allowing just six second-chance points for the Ranger.

Freshman Electra Roberts led the Panola attack, scoring 15 points. Freshmen Rebecca Kolawole and Dannisha Jackson chipped in 13 points apiece, while freshman Lanese Bough and sophomore Oditte Odisho dumped in 12 points each.

Freshmen Elizabeth Handy and Atoe Jackson each threw in eight points, while sophomore Chastity Taylor scored seven.

Adrienne Adams led the Lady Rangers with 20 points, while Jordan Alker contributed 15 points.

Lady Rams sprint past Logansport, 43-22 - January 6, 2012
By John Krueger
Sports Correspondent

Joaquin sophomore post Chasity Baker (4) puts up a shot during recent season action for the Lady Rams. Baker scored five points Tuesday night as the Lady Rams topped Logansport, La., 43-22. (Photo by Ray Jackson)

The Joaquin Lady Rams used a balanced scoring attack and a tough defensive performance to blow past the Logansport (La.) Lady Tigers, 43-22, in nondistrict action in Tiger Gymnasium Tuesday night.

It was the second consecutive win and third and fourth games for the Lady Rams as they improved their season mark to 11-10. Now with momentum on its side, Joaquin will open District 20-2A play tonight (Friday) when they travel to Waskom. Junior varsity action gets underway at 5 p.m., with varsity action starting at 6 p.m.

The Lady Rams will then continue league action Tuesday when they travel to Tatum (JV,V - 5 p.m.) to face the No.7-ranked Lady Eagles.

Whitney Vaughn and Ava Stephens led the balanced Joaquin scoring attack against Logansport, as each player dropped in eight points. Jordan Welch used 5-of-8 free throws to help her score seven points.

Annabeth Vaughn chipped in six points, Chasity Baker and Katelyn Cockrell each pitched in five and Mallory Martinez scored four points.

Joaquin hit 9-of-29 (31%) of its field goals and 22-of-35 (62.9%) from the line.

As a team, the Lady Rams accumulated 22 rebounds, with nine of them coming on the offensive end. Annabeth Vaughn was the leading rebounder with five, while Welch and Whitney Vaughn each added four and Baker tallied three.

Annabeth Vaughn led the Lady Rams in steals with four, while Stephens and Whitney Vaughn each cashed in three.

Joaquin finished with only 11 turnovers.

The Lady Tigers were shut out in the first quarter as Joaquin took a 4-0 lead. Joaquin widened the gap to 15-7 at the half. Joaquin continued to pull away in the second half, outscoring LHS 11-8 and 17-7 in the final two periods.

Ray leads Lady Tigers past Laneville, 54-40 - January 6, 2012
By John Krueger
Sports Correspondent

Tenaha junior guard Ashlee Ray (33) puts up a shot during recent season action for the Lady Tigers. Ray scored a game-high 23 points Tuesday night to lead the Lady Tigers past Laneville, 54-40. (Photo by John Krueger)

Tenaha junior guard Ashlee Ray had the hot hand, pouring in a game-high 23 points Tuesday night as she led the Lady Tigers to an impressive 54-40 win over Laneville in the Tenaha Special Events Center.

The victory snapped the Lady Tigers' three-game losing skid at the Holiday Hoops Classic and it came at just the right time with District 22-1A play starting tonight (Friday). The Lady Tigers own an 8-11 season mark and will host Beckville in an early key league matchup. The junior varsity will get underway at 6:30 p.m., with the varsity following at 7:30 p.m.

In addition to Ray's scoring output against the Lady Jackets, senior Taylor Killey sophomore Eboni Moore each chipped in 10 points, senior Whitney Jackson scored five points, and junior Courtney Edwards, sophomore Tierria Henderson and junior Tiara Williams scored two points apiece.

After a first quarter that saw Tenaha hold a 17-15 lead, the teams began to trade momentum throughout the rest of the game. Tenaha broke the game open in the second quarter by outscoring Laneville 14-4 in the second to grab a 31-19 lead.

Laneville then bounced back to outscore the Lady Tigers 14-7 in the third to trim the lead to 38-33. But Tenaha then outscored the Lady Jackets 16-7 in the final quarter to pull away.

Tenaha soccer teams split with Hudson - January 6, 2012
By John Krueger
Sports Correspondent

The Tenaha boys and girls soccer teams were looking to put the finishing touches on preseason workouts Tuesday night as they produced two strong performances in scrimmage action at Hudson. The Tigers recorded a 2-1 victory, while the Lady Tigers dropped a 4-1 decision, but were much improved over last year.

A year ago it was the Hudson Lady Hornets that took a 12-0 win over Tenaha, but this year was a different story as Tenaha was within 2-1 until late in the match before HHS scored a pair of goals to pull away.

Camryn Sisk played in goal for Tenaha, facing 18 shots against the Lady Hornets. She stopped six of the 10 shots on goal.

"Several of Camryn's saves were impressive against a very tough Hudson team that has a reputation of going deep in the playoffs," said Lady Tiger head coach Lauri Sisk. "This is her first year in goal and I've been waiting for her to step her game up. There's no doubt she received some bruises diving at their feet to pick up some saves, but her aggressive play has earned her some respect as our starting keeper."

Senior Karina Flores scored Tenaha's lone goal of the night. It came early in the second half after the Lady Tigers went to the locker room trailing 2-0 at the half.

Tenaha finished the game with six shots.

Both Tenaha squads will now get set to open the season Friday night when they travel to Center. The girls will get underway at 5 p.m., with the boys starting at 7 p.m. The Lady Tigers and Tigers will be in Carthage on Tuesday for nondistrict matches, starting at 5 and 7 p.m., respectively.

Bateman's dagger lifts 'Jacks past Bobcats, 66-65 - January 6, 2012

SAN MARCOS, Tx - Hal Bateman went the length of the court to hit just his second three-point bucket of the season with 0.5 seconds remaining to give Stephen F. Austin a 66-65 win over Texas State in the conference opener for both teams on Wednesday at Strahan Coliseum.

The Lumberjacks (7-7, 1-0 SLC) picked up their first conference-opening win on the road since the 2002-03 and had to battle back throughout the night, falling behind 15-2 in the opening minutes of the game before finally taking their first lead of the game with under a minute to play. The win snapped a 16-game home win streak for the Bobcats (7-7, 0-1 SLC) that had spanned over a calendar year, while the 65 points by Texas State was its second-lowest point output of the season.

Bateman's three was his only field goal of the night as he finished with 10 points after hitting 7-for-10 from the foul line, including three free throws in the final minute before his triple. But Taylor Smith carried the bulk of the load throughout the night, following his 21-point outing against UT-Tyler with a 19-point attack against the Bobcats. Smith hit nine of his 10 shots from the floor and ripped down seven rebounds, playing just minutes from his hometown of Schertz, Texas.

In addition to Smith's heavy lifting, SFA stayed within striking distance with its effort at the foul line, hitting 21-of-27 shots from the line compared to just six trips to the charity stripe by the `Cats.

Texas State still connected on nine three-point buckets on the night, the most SFA has allowed this season, but were unable to pick up points late in the game, scoring just five points in the final five minutes of play after holding a 60-53 lead with just 4;59 to go.

After an early Bobcat blitz that saw them hit each of their first six shots from the field in building a 15-2 lead in the first five minutes of the game, the `Jacks battled back to pull within five points on five occasions without being able to push itself over the hump until Antonio Bostic's three-point bucket with just 1:36 to go in the game.

Three straight free throws from Bateman put the `Jacks up 63-62 with just 36 seconds remaining, but Travis Jones followed that by converting an and-one opportunity with just 5.2 seconds to go to put the `Cats back up by two.

But Texas State allowed Bateman go take the inbounds cleanly and the junior needed just three dribbles before pulling up three feet behind the left wing to put SFA ahead with the fifth SFA three-pointer of the night.

Officials reviewed the play and put 0.5 seconds back on the clock to give Texas State one final chance, but Brooks Ybarra's desperation heave was not close as the buzzer sounded. The win also marks the second consecutive win for SFA over Texas State in which the `Jacks hit a buzzer-beating three for the win after Darius Gardner pulled the same feat in the teams' second meeting in Nacogdoches a year ago.

The Lumberjacks will look to keep the momentum going on Saturday when it hosts Southeastern Louisiana at 6:00 p.m. at William R. Johnson Coliseum.

SFA releases 2012 football schedule - January 6, 2012

NACOGDOCHES - Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team will play five games in Nacogdoches during the 2012 campaign Director of Athletics Robert Hill has announced. The schedule will also highlight trips to 2011 Bowl participant SMU and FCS playoff team Montana State.

"It is our goal to play a schedule that is nationally competitive every season, and the 2012 schedule is no different," said Hill. "We will play five games in Nacogdoches, in addition to road trips to SMU, Montana State and Texas State in non-conference play. We will also be returning to Reliant Stadium for the third consecutive year for the annual Battle of the Piney Woods."

The Lumberjacks will open the season with a Thursday night game against Southwestern Oklahoma (Aug. 30th). The season-opener against the Bulldogs will be the Lumberjacks lone home game until Sept. 29th when they open Southland Conference play against Central Arkansas. Prior to the game against the Bears SFA will face the daunting task of traveling to SMU (Sept. 8), Montana State (Sept. 15) and Texas State (Sept. 22) in non-conference action.

The annual Battle of the Piney Woods will once again take place at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. Kickoff for the annual rivalry game has not yet been scheduled. SFA will also host conference foes Nicholls (Oct. 20), Lamar (Nov. 3) and Northwestern State (Nov. 17) in Homer Bryce Stadium.

All home games are slated for 6 p.m. kickoffs, with the lone exception being the Oct. 20th battle against Nicholls, which is slated for a 2 p.m. kick. All game times could be adjusted for television.

The 'Jacks will enter the 2012 campaign riding a five-game win streak. SFA closed out this past season winning its final five games to post a 6-5 overall record, marking the third-straight season with an above .500 record.

Logansport clips Rams in OT, 67-65 - January 6, 2012
By John Krueger
Sports Correspondent

Despite hitting only 7-of-21 field goals, Wyatt Hairgrove led Joaquin with 19 points and four steals Tuesday night as the Rams dropped their second straight, a 67-65 overtime setback at the hands of Logansport, La. in Tiger Gymnasium.

The Rams, who dropped to 14-5 on the year, struggled in the field goal shooting department, hitting only 22-of-77 (29%). But they went into the extra period tied 55-55, only to be outscored 12-10 in the extra period. Joaquin also struggled at the line converting only 13-of-31 (41.9%) of their free throws.

Tra Rogers was the only other Joaquin player in double figures with 11 points, as he cashed in on 4-of-8 from the field. Nathan Martinez and P.J. Peterson each cashed in nine points, Za Cooper finished with seven, Will Vaughn was held to six and Kain Yates scored four points.

Joaquin also struggled with 23 turnovers.

Vaughn and Peterson were the top rebounders in the game as the Rams tallied 55 for the game. Vaughn had seven offensive rebounds and 21 total, while Peterson tallied six on the offensive end and finished with 14.

Martinez had seven boards, Rogers tallied six and Hairgrove, Cooper and Cody Runnels each pitched in two.

Vaughn also led the Rams in assists with five.

The score was tied 10-10 after the first period and the Tigers pulled out to a 22-19 lead at the break. Logansport led 37-33 after three quarters, but Joaquin outscored LHS 22-18 in the fourth quarter to force the extra period.

Area teams hold strong in state rankings - October 5, 2011
By John Krueger
Sports Correspondent

Tenaha Tiger defenders Octavius Griffith (11) and Jose Campos (25) work to take down the Harleton quarterback for a loss during last week's game at wildcat Stadium. With the win the Tigers held on to their No.1 spot in this week's state football rankings by The Old Coach. (Photo by John Krueger)

With many East Texas teams idle last week, there weren't a lot of changes in this week's state football rankings by The Old Coach. Tenaha continued to sit atop Class 1A Div.II, with Mount Enterprise five spots off the pace. Carthage and Garrison held firm to their spots as well.

San Augustine, under first-year head coach Donald Hubbard, made an appearance this week in the Class 2A Div. II rankings.

Tenaha (5-0) was in action, rolling to a 28-0 lead on Harleton by the end of the first quarter and then coasting to the 28-point shutout and ruining the Wildcats' homecoming. With that victory the Tigers remained No.1 in Class 1A Div. II.

In fact, the top seven spots in the second division of Class 1A remained the same, with Mount Enterprise (5-0) holding tight at No.5 when the Wildcats topped West Sabine, 44-23, on the road.

Burton (5-0) continues to sit at No.2, with Windthorst (5-1) in the third spot and Wellington (6-0) ranked No.4.

District 16-3A ranked squads from Henderson (5-0), Gilmer (5-0) and Carthage (3-2) remained at their respective positions of 1st, 7th and 12th while they sat idle this past week. Tyler Chapel Hill (6-0) defeated Center, 45-17, and held on at No.2.

The Garrison Bulldogs (4-1) enjoyed an open date and are still the No.3-ranked team in Class 1A Div. I. Ganado (6-0) is once again the top-ranked squad in the division, with Mason (5-0) holding down the second spot. Both Ganado and Mason were winners this past week.

A team that might be a surprising holder of its spot in the Class 1A Div.I rankings was Goldthwaite (4-2), still at No.4 despite losing to Marion, 41-7. Mart (3-2) remained at No.5. Alto (3-2), another member of District 10-1A, was idle and is still at No.14. Lovelady (5-1) topped Ore City, 37-36, and stayed at No.15.

San Augustine (3-2) made an appearance in the Class 2A Div.II poll this week at No.23 despite not even stepping on the field Friday night. The top six positions in that level remained the same, with Refugio (5-0) holding on to the No.1 ranking.

Idle Arp (3-2) is still No 6 in Class 2A Div.II, with Elysian Fields (5-0) staying unbeaten and shutting out Beckville, 53-0, to move up four spots to No.15. Corrigan-Camden (3-2) slipped out of the rankings after the Bulldogs' 56-30 loss to No.5-ranked (2A Div.I) Crockett.

Tatum (4-1) still remained the No.1 team in Class 2A Div.I after the Eagles' 44-25 victory over Bullard. There was some changing in the division's Top 5 with Mineola (5-0) inching up one spot to No.2 and wall (6-0) leap-frogging from No.6 to No.3. Daingerfield (3-2) did not play and held tight at No.4. Godly (5-1) fell from No.2 to No.11 after a 30-28 loss to Eastland.

John Tyler (2-3) moved up to No.17 in Class 4A with a 55-17 victory over Nacogdoches. Lufkin (5-1) jumped two spots to No.15 in Class 5A, while Longview (4-1) stayed at No.9.

High School State Football Rankings

October 2, 2011

CLASS 5A
1) Allen (5-0)
2) Katy (5-0)
3) Euless Trinity (6-0)
4) DeSoto (5-0)
5) Cibolo Steele (5-0)
6) Converse Judson (5-0)
7) Dallas Skyline (5-0)
8) Southlake Carroll (5-0)
9) Longview (4-1)
10) Galena Park North Shore (4-1)
11) The Woodlands (5-0)
12) Port Arthur Memorial (5-0)
13) Round Rock Westwood (6-0)
14) Cypress Falls (5-0)
15) Lufkin (5-1)
16) Copperas Cove (4-1)
17) Harlingen (5-0)
18) San Antonio Brandeis (6-0)
19) Spring DeKaney (5-0)
20) Colleyville Heritage (5-1)
21) Cedar Hill (3-2)
22) Beaumont West Brook (4-1)
23) Denton Guyer (4-1)
24) Midland (5-0)
25) Flower Mound Marcus (5-0)

CLASS 4A
1) Lake Travis (5-0)
2) Highland Park (5-0)
3) Brenham (5-0)
4) Smithson Valley (5-0)
5) Pearland Dawson (6-0)
6) Denton Ryan (5-0)
7) Cedar Park (5-1)
8) Stephenville (4-1)
9) Manvel (5-0)
10) Aledo (3-2)
11) Waco Midway (3-1)
12) Corsicana (6-0)
13) Port Lavaca Calhoun (5-0)
14) Angleton (6-0)
15) Mesquite Poteet (5-1)
16) Rosenberg Terry (5-0)
17) Tyler John Tyler (2-3)
18) Frisco Centennial (5-0)
19) Livingston (5-0)
20) Alamo Heights (4-2)
21) Waco (3-2)
22) Corpus Christi Calallen (5-1)
23) Canyon Randall (5-0)
24) Rockwall-Heath (5-0)
25) Edcouch-Elsa (5-0)

CLASS 3A
1) Henderson (5-0)
2) Tyler Chapel Hill (6-0)
3) Wimberley (4-0)
4) Celina (5-0)
5) Coldspring (6-0)
6) Alvarado (5-0)
7) Gilmer (5-0)
8) West Columbia (6-0)
9) Giddings (4-1)
10) Lindale (4-1)
11) Carthage (3-2)
12) Monahans (5-1)
13) Navasota (4-1)
14) Snyder (5-1)
15) Waco LaVega (5-0)
16) Kennedale (4-1)
17) Prosper (3-2)
18) Argyle (4-1)
19) Sanger (5-0)
20) Devine (6-0)
21) Fischer Canyon Lake (5-0)
22) Hondo (6-0)
23) Ingleside (5-0)
24) Sealy (4-2)
25) Silsbee (5-0)

CLASS 2A DIV I
1) Tatum (4-1)
2) Mineola (5-0)
3) Wall (6-0)
4) Daingerfield (3-2)
5) Crockett (4-1)
6) Edna (5-1)
7) Lago Vista (4-1)
8) Eastland (6-0)
9) Muleshoe (4-1)
10) New Boston (4-1)
11) Godley (5-1)
12) Merkel (4-1)
13) Anahuac (4-1)
14) Colorado City (5-1)
15) Grandview (3-1)
16) Melissa (3-1)
17) Hempstead (4-1)
18) Bushland (3-2)
19) Jourdanton (5-0)
20) Pottsboro (4-1)
21) Winnie East Chambers (3-2)
22) Crane (3-2)
23) Alpine (5-1)
24) Boyd (4-1)
25) Newton (3-2)

CLASS 2A DIV II
1) Refugio (5-0)
2) Schulenburg (5-0)
3) Rogers (6-0)
4) Idalou (4-1)
5) Mildred (5-0)
6) Arp (3-2)
7) Crawford (4-1)
8) Poth (6-0)
9) Omaha Paul Pewitt (3-2)
10) Sonora (5-0)
11) Cisco (6-0)
12) San Saba (3-2)
13) Franklin (4-2)
14) East Bernard (3-1)
15) Elysian Fields (5-0)
16) Buffalo (4-1)
17) Gunter (3-2)
18) DeKalb (4-1)
19) Centerville (4-1)
20) Boling (2-2)
21) Abernathy (5-1)
22) Forsan (4-1)
23) San Augustine (3-2)
24) Holliday (3-2)
25) Thorndale (5-1)

CLASS 1A DIV I
1) Ganado (6-0)
2) Mason (5-0)
3) Garrison (4-1)
4) Goldthwaite (4-2)
5) Mart (3-2)
6) Albany (6-0)
7) Clarksville (4-1)
8) Canadian (4-2)
9) Stamford (6-0)
10) Muenster (5-0)
11) Sundown (6-0)
12) Price Carlisle (5-0)
13) Honey Grove (5-0)
14) Alto (3-2)
15) Lovelady (5-1)
16) Sunray (6-0)
17) Stinnett West Texas (4-1)
18) Olton (4-2)
19) Saratoga West Hardin (5-0)
20) Lindsay (3-2)
21) New Deal (5-1)
22) Stratford (3-2)
23) Collinsville (3-2)
24) Bosqueville (3-3)
25) Panhandle (4-2)

CLASS 1A DIV II
1) Tenaha (5-0)
2) Burton (5-0)
3) Windthorst (5-1)
4) Wellington (6-0)
5) Mount Enterprise (5-0)
6) Iraan (5-1)
7) Munday (5-1)
8) Milano (5-0)
9) Falls City (4-2)
10) Farwell (4-2)
11) Chilton (2-3)
12) Wink (3-2)
13) Crosbyton (3-2)
14) Granger (4-1)
15) Van Horn (4-1)
16) Pettus (4-2)
17) Menard (4-1)
18) Miles (3-2)
19) D'Hanis (4-1)
20) Sudan (4-2)
21) Marfa (2-3)
22) Sabinal (4-1)
23) Bronte (4-1)
24) McCamey (4-2)
25) Hubbard (3-2)

No.1 Bulldogs sink Roughriders, 45-17 - October 3, 2011
By Ryan Goodwin, Sports Correspondent

Center opens District 18-3A play Friday

Center runner Shaquille Ingram (10) breaks through the Chapel Hill defense during Friday night's game at Bulldog Stadium. The 'Riders dropped their fourth straight game, 45-17. (Photo by Ray Jackson)

NEW CHAPEL HILL -- When a cowboy gets thrown from his horse there isn’t much he can do other than pick up his hat, dust of his chaps and pull his boots back up. The ‘Roughriders were thrown around quite a bit by the No.1-ranked Chapel Hill Bulldogs (6-0) here at Bulldog Stadium Friday night, losing 45-17.

Down 38-0 with less than a minute left in the third quarter the Center ‘Riders picked themselves off the ground, put their helmets on tightly, laced up their cheats, and scored 17 points in the last 12:35 of the game.

A determined Center defense that has shown much improvement from a year ago was simply outmatched by the Bulldog offense that picked up 574 total yards and piled up 31 first downs. The Bulldog attack was led by running back Jay Reagan, who scored the first four Chapel Hill touchdowns.

After a sluggish three-and-out from junior quarterback Cody Carleton and the ‘Riders, the Bulldogs drove 62 yards in only six plays and went up by a touchdown with 9:25 left in the first quarter when quarterback Anthony Kincade hit Reagan for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

With the score 7-0 Center, opted to put junior Shaquille Ingram into the game at signal caller. The shifty Ingram picked up a first down on his first play with a 13-yard run. On the next play Ingram was pulled down for a loss after a dropped snap. Two plays later the ‘Riders were forced to punt.

Both teams were then unable to get many snaps off without someone throwing a flag, combining for 45 penalty yards during the remaining time in the first quarter.

The Center defense, led by Darron Bolton (24), puts the clamps on Chapel Hill runner Andrew Tucker (21) for a short gain during Friday night's game at Bulldog Stadium. Tucker gained 117 yards as No.1 Chapel Hill defeated Center, 45-17. (Photo by Ray Jackson) Center running back K.J. Garrett (14) tries to escape the grasp of several Chapel Hill defenders during Friday night's game at Bulldog Stadium. Garrett was held to his lowest rushing today of the year in the 45-17 setback. (Photo by Ray Jackson)

The second quarter began with a 10-yard Kincade pass to Nelson Onwuzu. The Bulldogs then gave the rock to Reagan on three straight plays, picking up a big 4th-and-one along the way to their second touchdown of the game.

With 11:25 left in the second and the score standing 14-0, Center received the ball and picked up some momentum after a 24-yard pass from Carleton to Augustine Johnson. Ingram then picked up another quick first down with a 17-yard run, but the drive stalled at the Bulldog 26-yard line. Ingram finished the night with 52 yards on 10 carries, 20 yards passing on four attempts and 33 yards on the receiving end of three passes.

Coach Goodwin called on Felipe Para to attempt a 43-yard field goal attempt. For a fleeting second Roughrider fans thought the attempt would just barely fly over the bottom left corner of the goal post, but at the last second the kick spun just wide.

Chapel Hill scored on its next procession, picking up 61 yards on 12 plays. Five different Bulldogs carried the ball on the drive, but in the end they decided to try a field goal of their own. Tyler Brown came onto the field and kicked a bullet through the uprights from 37-yards out, bringing the score to 17-0.

Both teams would get a shot to add to their score before the half, but neither was successful.

The second half began with a very quick Bulldog touchdown when Reagan popped a 33-yard touchdown just 50 seconds into the half. Reagan finished the night with 82 yards on 11 carries and another 15 yards on his one touchdown catch.

The next ‘Rider procession showed promise, but Center was unable to pick up an important 3rd-and-short after K.J. Garrett was stuffed in the backfield for a 2-yard loss. The following snap to Para on a punt attempt was very high and Para was just able to beat a few Bulldog defenders to the ball 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

Taking over on the ‘Rider 21-yard line, Chapel Hill punched in another touchdown in four plays with Reagan once again gaining the score.

Again the ‘Riders put together a nice drive, Carleton going 4-of-6 through the air and connecting with four different receivers. On 3rd-and-long Carleton dropped back, looked off a safety, stepped up in the pocket, and threw to the middle of the field. Just as the ball was leaving his hand a Chapel Hill pass rusher was able to swat Carleton’s arm. The ball wobbled, but still hit its intended receiver between two Bulldogs secondary players.

The ‘Rider receiver was unable to come down with it, and Center was once again forced to punt.

Kincade led his team down the field on the following drive, going a perfect 4-of-4 and throwing for 72 yards. Joseph Clark punched in the touchdown with 35 seconds left in the third.

On the ensuing kickoff, Augustine Johnson burst past the first two lines of defenders, bringing the ball out to the Chapel Hill 37. Then on the first play of the drive, junior Miles Netherly found a hole in the middle of the Bulldog defense and took it in for a 37-yard touchdown. Netherly ended the night with 42 yards on four carries.

With the score 38-7, Chapel Hill took over from their own 18-yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Four plays later, Center’s D.J. Bolton picked off a Kincade pass and returned it 10 yards for a second Roughrider touchdown.

The fired up Center defense then stuffed the Bulldogs on their next procession, causing them to punt after only four plays.

The Center offense was unable to capitalize on the turnover on downs, and Chapel Hill scored on their next drive. Five Bulldogs carried the ball, picking up 79 yards on only seven plays, bringing the score to 45-14.

With 4:26 left in the game, Carleton and the ‘Riders got hot, picking up 57 yards and four first downs on 13 plays. Carleton showed his intelligence, commanding the drive with no time outs and having to spike the ball twice. With three seconds left in the game Goodwin once again called on Felipe Para to attempt a field goal. This time Para was able to punch it in from 25 yards out, bringing the final score to 45-17.

Carleton had his best game of the year, finishing the contest 11-of-23 with 80 yards through the air. After the game, Center head coach and athletic director Kevin Goodwin had this to say about his young quarterback:

“Before the game Cody came up to me and told me he was settled down tonight and that he wanted to throw the ball. As a coaching staff, we knew we had to give him a chance to throw the ball tonight. There are still a couple things here and there that we need to work on with him, but Cody is our leader right now and we are going to stick with him. I was really proud of him.”

Goodwin was both disappointed in the loss, but proud of his players’ efforts towards the end of the game and refused to be anything but confident as he talked to his players.

“We outplayed that team in the second half men. I’ll tell you something else, you can’t replace heart, determination, and desire, and you men sure have that. You just can’t wait so long to turn it on. It has to always be on. From Monday at practice, to Friday when the first whistle blows it has to be turned on. It should even be on when you’re sitting at home watching the Cowboys play on Sunday.”

The Roughriders suffered their third straight loss Friday to a team that played in one of the two 3A state championship games last season, bringing their record to 2-4. Coach Goodwin said after he finished talking to his players that he can’t wait to start district next week against Jasper.