Done
Ryan lost, but no doubt the Raiders will leave Abilene with their heads high after hanging tough with one of the best teams in the nation.
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Ryan lost, but no doubt the Raiders will leave Abilene with their heads high after hanging tough with one of the best teams in the nation.
Ryan and Abilene have combined for 35 fourth quarter points. Ryan trails 49-41 with 1:39 left and the Raiders just failed on an onside kick for the second time in the quarter.
Ryan and Abilene are going to play this one into the night.
Both scored touchdowns within a minute of each other with Ryan answering an Abilene touchdown with a 55-yard pass from Austin Axtell to D.J. Beshears. Beshears is over 100 for the night, Axtell is pushing 400 and Ryan is still with in a score with 7:43 left.
Abilene leads, 42-34.
Another touchdown pass from Austin Axtell to Taylor Lokey has Abilene on the ropes. Its lead is only 35-27 after a successful two-point conversion.
This would be a monster upset for Ryan. If they win, they're my state champ pick.
Abilene leads Ryan, 35-19, heading into the fourth but the Raiders are doing plenty of good things. Axtell is playing really well and Ryan Salter and D.J. Beashers are having career games at receiver.
After a penalty negated a Guyer first down forcing the Wildcats to punt, that 6-4 sophomore, Jordan Taylor, took about a 5-yard slant and ran the rest of the way for an 81-yard touchdown pass to put Denison up 37-14 near the end of the third.
Shalamar Traylor, which has to be one of the sweetest names ever just blocked a Guyer punt in the end zone and recovered it for a Denison touchdown to make the score 31-14.
Bronco defensive lineman Adam Wilde has two sacks against Wichita Falls so far. The last one was good for a safety, making the score 35-12 Wichita Falls. There's 4:32 left in the third.
Ryan and Abilene have now both scored in the second half
Abilene quarterback Spens Lackey outran Ryan defensive end Josh Williams to score from 15 yards out on the Eagles' first drive.
Then, Austin Axtell drove Ryan down the field and hit Ryan Salter for a 20-yard touchdown on fourth-and-15.
Abilene leads 35-19.
On Denison's first snap of the second half, Will Fields intercepted Eric Chavez's pass and returned it 37 yards to the Denton 21. Two plays later, the Wildcats scored to pull within 10 at 24-14 just 30 seconds into the second half.
After a 38-minute halftime, we're finally getting started. I hate homecoming.
After hassling as many people as possible, I got a personal internet connection hooked up for me here at Shotwell Stadium so I'll be able to update for the rest of the game. I have overcome computer problems, a three-hour drive and tons of dust to bring you the fasted information possible.
Unfortunately for the Ryan Raiders, they have not been able to keep pace with Abilene's offense. Both teams are moving the ball well, but Abilene just has a little more punch. The Eagles have run 20 plays for 10 yards are more. Ryan has no answer for the quarterback tandem of Spens Lackey and Stephen Warren. Abilene running back Keithy Flye is having his way, and linebacker Chris Williams, who Texas Tech offered a scholarship to as a junior, is an absolute terror.
Austin Axtell and Taylor Lokey are playing well for the Raiders, as well as Jay Catlin. More to come when the second half starts with Ryan trailing 28-13.
If you picked up the DR-C today and saw my 5-4A games to watch, you'd notice that the first one was being played tonight in Wichita Falls between Rider and Sherman. Sherman, with its quarterback back after missing a game and a half, is trailing 14-0 at the half to the No. 9 team in the state, Rider. This is a pretty surprising score, if you ask me. We'll see if the Bearcats can get on the board in the second half as they'll be giving constant updates to the anti-Sherman crowd at Denison.
There's a very foul stench of cow stuff in the air. In all my time in Texoma I've never had to deal with this smell. It feels like Lubbock (where I went to college) picked up and moved 300 miles east. Weird...Now I'm being subjected to a beating of a halftime on Homecoming night. I'll check back in a few hours when this is over.
The Broncos have the ball at their own 25 on the first play of the third quarter with the score 28-10 Wichita Falls.
Denison kicker Chase Kaufman, who might be nearly good as Argyle's Ben Parks from my previous time seeing him kick, just kicked a 50-yard field goal as time expired at the half into a crosswind.
The ball didn't get more than 10 feet off the ground and certainly wasn't pretty on its flight to the uprights but bounced in off the crossbar to give the Yellow Jackets a 24-7 lead after Guyer QB Jake Witt rolled right and reversed his field to get in on an 8-yard scoring run with 15 seconds remaining.
I'm curious as to why the Wildcats did one of those lame pooch kicks allowing no time to run off the clock and giving the Yellow Jackets the ball at their own 30 with two timeouts.
Denison just took a 21-0 lead on a nice 10-yard fade to Taylor. He's one of three starting sophomore receivers for Denison. Taylor's 6-4 and is the real deal.
New QB Irvin has lead the Broncos to 10 unanswered. The latest was a George Tovar 8 yard run.
My former co-worker has made a good point. Guyer's fumbled five times now, averaging out to one every three minutes. At this pace, they will have 16 fumbles come the final whistle. Please, spare us.
Denison just took a 14-0 lead on a QB keeper from Eric Chavez. Sophomore stud receiver Jordan Taylor had two grabs for 46 yards on the drive.
This just in from Shotwell Stadium...Abilene's Class 5A state ranking is no fluke. It's early in the second quarter, and Abilene already has 15 first downs and has moved the ball almost at will to take a 21-6 lead. Taylor Lokey has a 34-yard touchdown reception for Ryan, but otherwise it's all Abilene.
Denison leads 7-0. The Wildcats have fumbled four times and lost two. Denison's driving to start the second quarter.
Bronco QB Spencer Stewart was yanked after two 3 and outs and a 14 point deficit. BAckup Adrian Irvin has come in and led the Broncos down the field with two 25 yard + runs. But a 16 yard TD run was called back because of holding on the Broncos.
Premenko hit a 37 yard FG at the beginning of the second.
14-3 Wichita.
A 1 yard run by Ryan Robison and a 36 yard pass from Ben Henderson to Isaiah Anderson makes the score 14-0, Wichita. Ouch
Shotwell is already my favorite stadium and the game hasn't even started -- THERE'S A WINDOW IN THE BATHROOM FACING THE FIELD.
Now if I have to go to the bathroom, I won't miss the game. Brilliant, Shotwell architect. Brilliant.
Things should get kickin' here at the C. H. Collins Athletic Complex in about 7 minutes. Which, may or may not be good news for the Broncos. They come into their first district 5-4A game this year, on a three-game losing streak against a pretty tough Wichita Falls team. The only way the Broncos will have a chance in this one is if they can run the ball, control the clock and NOT TURN THE BALL OVER!
Don't bet on it.
It's scoreless after nearly 10 minutes of play, a rarity for a Guyer game no matter how you look at it. The Wildcats were moving the ball on their opening drive but quarterback Jake Witt fumbled. (In blog edit): The ball was just snapped over Witt's head and bounced back 24 yards to the Guyer endzone where Brian Lilly fell on it for the game's first score. Denison leads 7-0 with 2 1/2 minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Checking in from historic Munson Stadium in Denison...I was hoping the homecoming garbage would take place before the game, but it looks like have to do it at halftime so a hearty boo goes out to that.
The press box here is right on the 50-yard line. Unfortunately, as my former co-worker and Denison beat writer Jason Della Rosa put it, "That's what happens when you build stuff in the 1930s."
What's he referring to? Possibly the fact that despite the fact we're on the 50, I can't see past the 40-yard line to the east and barely to the goal line to the west because there's no continuous window. So if I miss a big play on the east side of the field, you, the readers and my boss, Todd, will have to excuse me.
Hey Sports fans, don't forget to check out the Denton Record-Chronicle high school football slideshow at www.dentonrc.com, this coming Monday. You'll see some hard-hitting, high-flying football action, from the perspective of the corner who just got beat or the defensive lineman in the quarterback's face. This week, the slideshow will feature: Lake Dallas v Frisco Centennial, Denton v Wichita Falls, Pilot Point v Bonham and Saturday's game: Sanger at Ranchview.
Enjoy.
Just got set up here in Abilene. I got here around 6 p.m. and there were already a number of fans set up and ready for the game. Guess that happens when you're a nationally ranked football team in West Texas.
Shotwell Stadium is an older facility but it has a lot of personality, especially for an older stadium. I'm sure it was regarded as one of the best when it opened. It has a huge scoreboard in the left end zone above an inclined grassy hill. The locker rooms are on the right and most of the building is made of cement. Should be a good one tonight.
Fan jersey update -- there was a high school girl with a Marc Bulger home jersey.
Lake Dallas has almost shut down the high-powered passing game of Frisco Centennial in the first half. The Falcons lead 28-9 in their District 9-4A opener, with James Franklin scoring a pair of touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. Receiver Alvin Blackmon also has reached the end zone.
The Guyer Lady Wildcats have a chance to make it through the first half of District 5-4A without dropping a game. What stands in their way? The Ryan Lady Raiders.
I for one am of the mind that Ryan will end that streak. I think the Lady Raiders are a lot better than their record shows, and with a healthy Kate Harrison and Keidra Williams, Ryan should be able to squeeze out a game.
Guyer certainly has the horses to sweep Ryan. Erin Garvey is healthy and moving back to middle blocker, and the team has already shown it's the cream of the district, whether they win tonight or not.
Still, I'd be willing to bet a dinner that Ryan can nab a game from Guyer. I don't know who will win the match, but Ryan will win a game. Check please! My buddy here will get the tab ...
It's common knowledge around the newsroom that I'm the Volleyball Scholar in Residence at the Denton Record-Chronicle.
Unfortunately, it's common knowledge to Denton head coach Heather Stewart that I am absolutely volleyball ignorant. Let's hope she doesn't tip anyone off in the newsroom.
Nevertheless, I took a number of things away from Friday's action. First, the Ryan Lady Raiders can make the playoffs if setter Kate Harrison is healthy. Ryan has captured two wins over district punching bags Sherman and Denison, and although those two aren't the cream of the crop in 5-4A, the matches show Ryan is developing some consistency. And quite frankly, the Lady Raiders are a different team with Harrison in the lineup.
Also, it was tough to see Denton lose in five games to Wichita Falls Rider. The Lady Raiders provided Denton with its only two district losses of the 2006 season en route to nabbing the district crown from the Lady Broncos. I covered their match in Denton, which was essentially for the district title. Denton lost, and was devastated after the match.
Rider just seems to have Denton's number. The Lady Broncos lost a two-game lead on the Lady Raiders on Friday. I'm curious as to which one stung more -- this one, or last year's loss that cost Denton the district title.
44-9, Crowley over Denton. It wasn't as pretty as it sounds.
On the volleyball courts tonight, Guyer is now one match away from sweeping through the first half of District 5-4A play with a 3-game win over Wichita Falls. The third game, at 25-22, was the closest game for Guyer in district this season.
The second place team in the district, Denton, lost its second straight match, falling in a 5-game heartbreaker against Wichita Falls Rider. The Lady Broncos won the first 2 games before falling 15-11 in the fifth.
In other action tonight, Ryan defeated Denison in 4 games, and Lake Dallas rallied from a game down to win in 5 against Frisco.
Ryan is dominating the second half and just took the lead on a 2-yard run by Tremaine Millender.
Ryan has thrown the ball just once in the second half and scored on three straight drives. Ryan's defense has forced five straight three-and-outs.
If the Raider defense holds up, Ryan is going steal one from the Golden Bears.
Argyle's kicker, Ben Parks, has had plenty of action tonight. He's nailed all of his kickoffs out the back of the endzone and hit the crossbar on one. He had about 20 extra yards on a 40-yard field goal attempt that narrowly missed wide right. He's good. Also, the Tigers just got on the board with a 57-yard touchdown run from backup running back Walter Smith.
Less than a minute after their last score, the Eagles recovered a fumble and scored again on another run by Frizzell, his fourth scoring jaunt of the night. It's now 49-0 halfway through the third. Yuck.
After a fumble by Eagle backup quarterback Andre Dean, (the first turnover for the Broncos this year, by the way) the Broncos scored on a 6 yard George Tovar run. They did everything they could to avoid the score though, committing 3 penalties on the first four plays after the recovery. Luckily the Eagles committed a personal foul on fourth down giving the Broncos another chance.
Crowley 37, Denton 7 with 11:16 left in the game.
A 40-yard bubble screen from Austin Axtell to Taylor Lokey turned a short field into a touchdown after Jay Catlin scored from the 1-yard line.
Ryan has stormed back in the third to tie it at 14.
I officially look brilliant.
Ryan is back in the game on a 15-yard Major Herron touchdown run. Why do I look brilliant? They didn't thrown the ball once on the drive. J-Flo must be seeing what I'm seeing ...
Argyle offensive coordinator/father of successful quarterback Jeff Harp, one of my old coaches from high school, told me at halftime that the Eagles would let off the passing game and run more. They did just that, until 3rd-and-5 when his son, JJ, hit Matt Handler for his second TD of the night, a 35-yarder. Argyle now leads 42-0 early in the third quarter.
South Oak Cliff's talented secondary, led by cornerbacks Nick Ramzy and Kydarian Wilkins, isn't giving Ryan any room to throw the ball.
The Raiders have just 46 passing yards after the first half, and an interception from speedster Kevin Brent.
Ryan's running game is doing well, but if the Raiders can't score early, they may have to throw to get back in it. That won't bode well for Ryan, especially since South Oak Cliff opens the half with the ball.
As a side note, the Kincaide P.A. staff is doing a bang up job, but can't seem to get anybody's name right. Kevin Brent has no receptions, but if you were listening to the P.A., you'd think he has about 10 for a 180 at this point.
After a competitive first quarter that ended with a 7-0 Crowley lead, the Broncos have imploded. Three turnovers led to three Crowley touchdowns and a halftime score of 34-0.
The Pilot Point offense is in top form against Paradise, leading 27-13 at the half.
Just received word from Sanger that the home team is trailing Royse City 28-6 at the half. Give the Indians credit, though, for playing a tough nondistrict schedule. Teams such as Little Elm and Royse City should help provide valuable experience for District 8-3A play in a few weeks.
From a yard out, again. The Eagles got the ball on their own 23 with 1:13 left in the half and just punched it in from inches out with three seconds remaining. Score: Argyle 35, Whitewright 0.
Kyle Frizzell just plunged in from a yard out for his second TD of the night to give the Eagles a 28-0 lead with 2:49 left in the first half.
Argyle senior Gavin Pucciarello has played a great game so far from his safety position. It started when he forced the Jeremy Brown fumble that led to Argyle's second touchdown. On the Tigers' next possession, he returned a punt 48 yards to the Whitewright 21. Just now, he intercepted Tiger QB Mark McEntire.
Football is truly a game of inches.
Austin Axtell and Jay Catlin orchestrated just what Ryan needed in a long scoring drive that went deep into Golden Bear territory. On fourth and goal from the SOC 2, Catlin fell at the goal line. Ryan players had their hands up, but the ref spotted the ball with the tip touching the goal line -- literally the one-inch line.
Ryan trails 14-0 with under a minute in the half.
Crowley QB Colby Ray just sneaked it a run into the endzone to make the score 20 to 0 over Denton. With 5:55 left in the second quarter Ray has 123 rushing yards a rushing and passing touchdown. Ouch.
Crowley scored on a 9 yard pass from QB Ray to WR Herbert Shaw to make the score 14-0. There's 7 and a half minutes left in the half.
That's Argyle QB JJ Harp's numbers through the first quarter. Argyle still leads 21-0.
After a 40 yard jaunt by Eagle quarterback Colby Ray got the Eagles in scoring position, running back Terrance Edwards finished it off with a 1 yard TD run.
Crowley 7 Denton 0 at 1:50; 1st quarter
South Oak Cliff quarterback Garry Jefferson threw his second touchdown of the night, this time a 21-yard strike to Michael Newhouse after the Golden Bears intercepted an Austin Axtell pass.
Ryan has been able to move the ball with Catlin, but they need to get it going if the they want to hang in this one.