IrishTex
08-27-2009, 08:56 PM
From the Abilene Reporter News (http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/aug/26/slaughter-faces-tough-test-in-debut/?partner=RSS)
Talk about a tough debut.
The Craig Slaughter era opens Friday in Sweetwater against traditional 3A toughie Burkburnett in a Big Country Game of the Week that may resemble a rugby scrum.
This pair hooked up for one of the area’s best Zero Week games a year ago, with the Bulldogs earning a 10-6 win at home.
Both clubs were hit hard by graduation. But with Sweetwater running Slaughter’s run-oriented I-formation and Burkburnett lining up in the wing-T, another trench war can be expected.
A big key here will be if Sweetwater quickly can adapt to the new system installed by Slaughter, which will include a more-open passing game than the Mustangs have seen in some time.
Having abandoned the wishbone offense of former coach Kent Jackson, Sweetwater has had little need to focus on an aerial element in the past. With Slaughter’s arrival, however, the Mustangs will try to gradually develop a passing attack to complement its ground game.
How well the Mustangs adapt to it will play a huge role in how far they go in 2009.
Pick: Sweetwater by 3
Bronte (0-0) at Junction (0-0) — Bronte expects to challenge for the District 12-1A title; Junction expects to do the same in District 29-1A.
Bronte may have the best small-school quarterback in the Big Country in 6-foot-4 junior Dakota Rawls. Junction may have the best small-school quarterback in the Hill Country in Jason McKinnerney, Experience should weigh in Bronte’s favor, with Junction losing eight offensive starters from a 10-4 club which reached the state semifinals.
The Eagles are tough at home, however, and have 15 lettermen back to fill the holes.
Pick: Junction by 3
Comanche (0-0) at Hamilton (0-0) — If Comanche takes care of business it should be the most improved 2A team in the Big Country, hands-down.
With 10 offensive starters back from a 3-7 team, along with eight defenders, the Indians are considered by some as the favorites in District 8-2A.
Hamilton, which ripped Comanche 37-7 a year ago, is replacing most of its skill personnel. But I’ll still give the Bulldogs a slight edge in what should be a very competitive game.
Pick: Hamilton by 3
Haskell (0-0) at Archer City (0-0) — Haskell has most of it’s key players back from a 3-7 team, while Archer City’s 12-1 regional semifinalist club was clobbered by graduation.
The Indians fell 28-6 a year ago, but it’s a safe bet they will be far more competitive this time around.
I like the Wildcats at home, but not by much.
Pick: Archer City by 6
Stephenvlle (0-0) at Aledo (0-0) — This matchup generally produces a war, with the last three meetings being decided by four points or less.
This year, Stephenville will break in an entirely new set of offensive players, with no returning starters back from 2008.
Aledo is a very difficult place for high school players to make their varsity debut, and the Jackets have too many newbies to be cast in the role of favorite here.
Pick: Aledo by 12
Crane (0-0) vs. Roscoe (0-0) tonight at Sweetwater — Crane got the better of Roscoe a year ago in a 39-29 win during Zero Week, and on paper, figures to do it again.
Both clubs are favored to win their respective districts. But the Golden Cranes return seven starters on each side of the ball, and Roscoe will be playing their first game without the all-everything Villanueva twins.
Pick: Crane by 14
Evan Ren’s Big Country picks
Projected winners in capital letters
ALBANY (0-0) at Hawley (0-0)
BALLINGER (0-0) at Sonora (0-0)
Breckenridge (0-0) at BRIDGEPORT (0-0)
BURNET (0-0) at Brownwood (0-0)
CISCO (0-0) at Early (0-0)
Christoval (0-0) at WINTERS (0-0)
Clifton (0-0) at DUBLIN (0-0)
CLYDE (0-0) at Wichita Falls Hirschi (0-0)
COLORADO CITY (0-0) at Reagan County (0-0)
Comfort (0-0) at BANGS (0-0)
CROSS PLAINS (0-0) at Ponder (0-0)
DE LEON (0-0) at San Saba (0-0)
GOLDTHWAITE (0-0) vs. Collinsville (0-0) (at Stephenville)
Hamlin (0-0) at ANSON (0-0)
Hico (0-0) at EASTLAND (0-0)
JIM NED (0-0) at Merkel (0-0)
MENARD (0-0) at Baird (0-0)
Olney (0-0) vs. COLEMAN (0-0) (tonight at Breckenridge)
Ranger (0-0) at ROTAN (0-0)
ROBY (0-0) at Mertzon Irion County (0-0)
Stamford (0-0) at MUNDAY (0-0)
Snyder (0-0) at BIG SPRING (0-0)
Van Horn (0-0) at COAHOMA (0-0)
SIX-MAN
BLACKWELL (0-0) at Paint Rock (0-0)
Blanket (0-0) at PANTHER CREEK (0-0)
Brookesmith (0-0) at RISING STAR (0-0)
Bryson (0-0) at ASPERMONT (0-0)
Buckholts HS (0-0) at SIDNEY (0-0)
Cranfills Gap (0-0) at GUSTINE (0-0)
Hermleigh (0-0) at SANDS (0-0)
IRA (0-0) at Gordon (0-0)
Guthrie (0-0) at TRENT (0-0)
Lohn (0-0) at WESTBROOK (0-0)
Loraine (0-0) at EDEN (0-0)
Lueders-Avoca (0-0) at JAYTON (0-0)
NEWCASTLE (0-0) at Benjamin (0-0)
MORGAN (0-0) at Moran (0-0)
MULLIN (0-0) at Oglesby (0-0)
Paint Creek (0-0) at NOVICE (0-0)
Rochelle (0-0) at ZEPHYR (0-0)
HIGHLAND (0-0) at Robert Lee (0-0)
RULE (0-0) at Chillicothe (0-0)
Santa Anna (0-0) at STERLING CITY (0-0)
Southland (0-0) at KNOX CITY (0-0)
STAR (0-0) at Cherokee (0-0)
Turkey Valley (0-0) at STRAWN (0-0)
WOODSON (0-0) at May (0-0)
Talk about a tough debut.
The Craig Slaughter era opens Friday in Sweetwater against traditional 3A toughie Burkburnett in a Big Country Game of the Week that may resemble a rugby scrum.
This pair hooked up for one of the area’s best Zero Week games a year ago, with the Bulldogs earning a 10-6 win at home.
Both clubs were hit hard by graduation. But with Sweetwater running Slaughter’s run-oriented I-formation and Burkburnett lining up in the wing-T, another trench war can be expected.
A big key here will be if Sweetwater quickly can adapt to the new system installed by Slaughter, which will include a more-open passing game than the Mustangs have seen in some time.
Having abandoned the wishbone offense of former coach Kent Jackson, Sweetwater has had little need to focus on an aerial element in the past. With Slaughter’s arrival, however, the Mustangs will try to gradually develop a passing attack to complement its ground game.
How well the Mustangs adapt to it will play a huge role in how far they go in 2009.
Pick: Sweetwater by 3
Bronte (0-0) at Junction (0-0) — Bronte expects to challenge for the District 12-1A title; Junction expects to do the same in District 29-1A.
Bronte may have the best small-school quarterback in the Big Country in 6-foot-4 junior Dakota Rawls. Junction may have the best small-school quarterback in the Hill Country in Jason McKinnerney, Experience should weigh in Bronte’s favor, with Junction losing eight offensive starters from a 10-4 club which reached the state semifinals.
The Eagles are tough at home, however, and have 15 lettermen back to fill the holes.
Pick: Junction by 3
Comanche (0-0) at Hamilton (0-0) — If Comanche takes care of business it should be the most improved 2A team in the Big Country, hands-down.
With 10 offensive starters back from a 3-7 team, along with eight defenders, the Indians are considered by some as the favorites in District 8-2A.
Hamilton, which ripped Comanche 37-7 a year ago, is replacing most of its skill personnel. But I’ll still give the Bulldogs a slight edge in what should be a very competitive game.
Pick: Hamilton by 3
Haskell (0-0) at Archer City (0-0) — Haskell has most of it’s key players back from a 3-7 team, while Archer City’s 12-1 regional semifinalist club was clobbered by graduation.
The Indians fell 28-6 a year ago, but it’s a safe bet they will be far more competitive this time around.
I like the Wildcats at home, but not by much.
Pick: Archer City by 6
Stephenvlle (0-0) at Aledo (0-0) — This matchup generally produces a war, with the last three meetings being decided by four points or less.
This year, Stephenville will break in an entirely new set of offensive players, with no returning starters back from 2008.
Aledo is a very difficult place for high school players to make their varsity debut, and the Jackets have too many newbies to be cast in the role of favorite here.
Pick: Aledo by 12
Crane (0-0) vs. Roscoe (0-0) tonight at Sweetwater — Crane got the better of Roscoe a year ago in a 39-29 win during Zero Week, and on paper, figures to do it again.
Both clubs are favored to win their respective districts. But the Golden Cranes return seven starters on each side of the ball, and Roscoe will be playing their first game without the all-everything Villanueva twins.
Pick: Crane by 14
Evan Ren’s Big Country picks
Projected winners in capital letters
ALBANY (0-0) at Hawley (0-0)
BALLINGER (0-0) at Sonora (0-0)
Breckenridge (0-0) at BRIDGEPORT (0-0)
BURNET (0-0) at Brownwood (0-0)
CISCO (0-0) at Early (0-0)
Christoval (0-0) at WINTERS (0-0)
Clifton (0-0) at DUBLIN (0-0)
CLYDE (0-0) at Wichita Falls Hirschi (0-0)
COLORADO CITY (0-0) at Reagan County (0-0)
Comfort (0-0) at BANGS (0-0)
CROSS PLAINS (0-0) at Ponder (0-0)
DE LEON (0-0) at San Saba (0-0)
GOLDTHWAITE (0-0) vs. Collinsville (0-0) (at Stephenville)
Hamlin (0-0) at ANSON (0-0)
Hico (0-0) at EASTLAND (0-0)
JIM NED (0-0) at Merkel (0-0)
MENARD (0-0) at Baird (0-0)
Olney (0-0) vs. COLEMAN (0-0) (tonight at Breckenridge)
Ranger (0-0) at ROTAN (0-0)
ROBY (0-0) at Mertzon Irion County (0-0)
Stamford (0-0) at MUNDAY (0-0)
Snyder (0-0) at BIG SPRING (0-0)
Van Horn (0-0) at COAHOMA (0-0)
SIX-MAN
BLACKWELL (0-0) at Paint Rock (0-0)
Blanket (0-0) at PANTHER CREEK (0-0)
Brookesmith (0-0) at RISING STAR (0-0)
Bryson (0-0) at ASPERMONT (0-0)
Buckholts HS (0-0) at SIDNEY (0-0)
Cranfills Gap (0-0) at GUSTINE (0-0)
Hermleigh (0-0) at SANDS (0-0)
IRA (0-0) at Gordon (0-0)
Guthrie (0-0) at TRENT (0-0)
Lohn (0-0) at WESTBROOK (0-0)
Loraine (0-0) at EDEN (0-0)
Lueders-Avoca (0-0) at JAYTON (0-0)
NEWCASTLE (0-0) at Benjamin (0-0)
MORGAN (0-0) at Moran (0-0)
MULLIN (0-0) at Oglesby (0-0)
Paint Creek (0-0) at NOVICE (0-0)
Rochelle (0-0) at ZEPHYR (0-0)
HIGHLAND (0-0) at Robert Lee (0-0)
RULE (0-0) at Chillicothe (0-0)
Santa Anna (0-0) at STERLING CITY (0-0)
Southland (0-0) at KNOX CITY (0-0)
STAR (0-0) at Cherokee (0-0)
Turkey Valley (0-0) at STRAWN (0-0)
WOODSON (0-0) at May (0-0)