Go Friday Night

Last Chance To Gain Momentum Before District Play

Once again the Eagles will face a tough team to close out the non-district schedule. The Denton Ryan Raiders are arguably the weakest of our pre-district games, but they are still one tough team. Since their head coach took over in 2000, Joey Florence took the Raiders to 4 state championship games, and winning back to back titles in 2001 and 2002. When they bumped up to class 5A in 2004, Coach Florence took them to the Regional final. Even though they have been dropped back down to 4A, they still are a fast paced team.

With a 4-2-5 defense that seems to get better and better as the days go by, our offense will need to stay sharp. We cannot afford anymore dropped passes from our receivers. That was one of the reasons for our loss last week against Tyler Lee. I am sure that Coach Warren kept an eye on them during practice this week. I am hoping that we will be able to open up the playbook a little more tonight. Our defense has improved since Week 0. I am expecting more improvement. So basically to sum that up, I am expecting nothing but perfection. I am also expecting more fans at tonight’s game than last week. I know that it is a long drive, but the more fans that are there, the more the players get pumped up. I expect a bunch of people cheering the Warbirds on as we take the field tonight. Let’s go into their house, and knock some heads around. GO EAGLES!!

• David Craghead
• September 29, 2006 9:45 AM

In Search for a W

For the first time since 1993, the Eagles are 0-3. I am hoping this losing streak stops tonight as we take on the Red Raiders of Tyler Lee at Texas Stadium. It won’t exactly be an easy task. Tyler Lee won the Class 5A Division I State Championship in 2004.

With Coach Fullen taking over the Defensive Coordinator, I expect to see some improvements. Our secondary needed a little help. Although Tyler Lee’s go-to game is the run, we can’t forget about the pass. A couple of touchdowns last week against Mesquite were because of bad communication in the pass coverage.

With mostly young players on the Varsity this year, I am sure that there will be a few butterflies because of playing in such a great stadium. I hope that we get over that quickly and get down to business. I want us to play the whole game tonight like we did for the first part of the game last week. If that is the case, our side of the stadium will be ecstatic for the duration of the game. I hope that there is a great turnout for this game to cheer on the Warbirds as we hit the field. GO EAGLES!!

• David Craghead
• September 22, 2006 12:00 AM
• Comments (4)

"It's The Little Things Men!"

For the entire time I was playing football at Abilene High, the coaches stressed about the small things. Those small things had a big part in the loss on Friday.

We still had a great game despite the loss. But there are a few things that we need to work on. Our special teams still need a little help. But that aspect of the game has picked up compared to the first two games. Our defensive backs need to work on the pass coverage. There were a few plays by Mesquite that could have been avoided. As a whole, the Eagles still need to come out of the locker room for the second half ready to play. I saw a few good spurts on both sides of the ball, but those spurts need to turn into good solid play until the end of the game. If we could get those parts of the game under control, I believe that we will be hard to beat. GO EAGLES!!

• David Craghead
• September 18, 2006 5:26 PM

It's Game Time!

It’s Homecoming. Time for the throwback jerseys. The Warbirds haven’t lost any games while wearing them. I expect that streak to continue tonight as the Eagles take on the Skeeters of Mesquite. The only other time when Abilene High took on Mesquite was back in 1967, when we were under the direction of David McWilliams. The Eagles won 15 to 12.

With Coach Warren giving the okay to move around the defense, I expect a great show tonight. The Eagles have started out with two poorly played games. That will end. Although I didn’t get to see it, I am positive that Coach Warren posted a tough practice this week in preparation for this game. Mesquite put up a good fight last week winning against Plano East. I am positive that the Eagles will come out of the locker room ready to play. And I expect for us to do the same to start the second half. I want the Warbirds to get off of the losing side and get a W. That will surely get us the momentum and confidence that we need. The 1956 State Championship team will be out at Shotwell celebrating their 50 year anniversary of the title and leading the cheers for our Eagles. I expect a great crowd tonight backing up the team. Lets get out there and play some football. GO EAGLES!!

P.S. I will be sitting in Section W4, row 22, seat 15. I would like to meet all of you who read this blog, and would appreciate some feedback. I know that I have tough shoes to fill this year!

• David Craghead
• September 15, 2006 12:00 AM

A First for AHS in Coach Warren Era

For the first time in since Coach Warren took over the head coaching job, the Eagles will go into the third game this week with 2 losses. The last time that it happened was back in 1995 when Gary Gaines was here. I feel really bad for Coach Warren so far this year. I know that in the back of his mind he knows that this is a first for him, but he also knows that he cant dwell on that.

This year has started out rough, and the Warbirds still have tough games ahead. I can only hope things will get better as we get closer to District play. With Mesquite coming to Shotwell on Friday, I hope that the Eagles will protect our house. I want us to get a check mark in the Win column for Homecoming. I hope Coach Warren runs a great practice this week in preparation for that game. One thing at a time. I don’t want us to look ahead to the game at Texas Stadium after this week. Based on the game against Monterey, I think that the Eagles need to relearn the fact that they have to come out of the locker room fired up. I expect some adjustments in that area before Friday night’s game. I know it is bad to say this, but it looked like most of the players were asleep from my point of view. I hope that we give a great showing this Friday. GO EAGLES!!!!

• David Craghead
• September 10, 2006 10:52 PM

In Search of First Win of the Season

What time is it?! GAME TIME! Tonight’s match up between Abilene High and Lubbock Monterey will be a good one. Monterey will be rolling off of their big win against El Paso last week looking to get revenge on the Eagles. The Plainsmen haven’t beaten us since 2002. That was a very sad day for me. That game ended our State Championship hopes my Senior year. Therefore, Monterey will always be a big rival to me.

I am looking forward to seeing the Warbirds come out of the gate fired up. It has been a few years since we have lost the first game of the season, and I want to get that bad taste out of our mouths. I am sure that Coach Warren used this week to fine tune all aspects of the game, especially the Special Teams. This game will be no easy task. With Monterey putting up 351 yards of total offense last week, 246 of those on the ground, the Eagle D will have to have their heads on straight. Our offense will have to be ready to play also. The Plainsmen held El Paso to just 180 yards on offense.

I am also looking forward to hearing the Eagle fans cheer as we take the field on our home turf. This will be a great game, and I hope that everyone is out at Shotwell to watch the Warbirds soar over Monterey. GO EAGLES!!!

• David Craghead
• September 8, 2006 1:49 AM
• Comments (1)

Great Reading Material

For those of you who like to pick up a good book or magazine to read every once in a while, you should get this month’s copy of Texas Monthly. This month, the magazine looks at the great sport of Football. With many articles ranging from High School to the NFL, it is sure to be great reading for any type of fan. But the biggest reason for picking it up is the fact that it has an article about high school coaches who are leaders on and off the field. Texas Monthly looked at all of the coaches from more than 1,300 high schools all across the state to come up with a list of coaches they think deserve a standing ovation. Among that list were a few coaches from District 3-5A. I am very proud of the fact that Abilene High’s own Mike Fullen is one of them. And he deserves it. Although I played on the offensive side of the ball, Coach Fullen still taught me a few things that will stick with me for life. So for all of you football fans out there, I suggest picking this magazine up today.

• David Craghead
• September 5, 2006 12:34 AM
• Comments (2)

Austin Westlake Upsets the Eagles 35-9

From the start of the game it looked like Abilene High would be in trouble. Fumbling the opening kickoff gave Westlake the momentum that carried them throughout the game. Costly turnovers caused the Eagles to be on the wrong end of a 35 to 9 victory for the Chaparrals. Coach Warren will most likely be working on the special teams this week since Westlake scored 21 points off of the kicking game. But don’t expect him to forget about the other aspects of the game. With a young team on both sides of the ball, working together and communicating will be the key for smooth sailing from here on out. But with 431 yards of total offense and 24 first downs vs. Westlake’s 278 yards and 14 first downs, the Eagles should be somewhat happy with those stats.

Facing a familiar opponent next week, the Abilene High Eagles will have to step up to play a great game. Lubbock Monterey won their game last night against EP Americas, 47 to 7. The Eagles should have a great week of practice to prepare for their first game at home against the Plainsmen. GO EAGLES!!

• David Craghead
• September 2, 2006 5:44 PM
• Comments (2)

Tough Road Ahead Against Westlake

Austin Westlake. Ranked #6 in the state. Sounds like a tough game and it might be. With an offensive line that averages 300 pounds per person, and Nick Foles, a 6 foot 5, 240 pound quarterback, our defense will have to communicate and work together from the start. Foles, committed to Arizona State, has several options to go to. 1,000 yard rusher Max Minor returns in the running back position. And with Matt Nader, a 6 foot 6, 305 pound senior left tackle leading the way for Minor, the Eagle D-Line will have their hands full. I am putting my trust into Garrison Hardin to keep the D-Line straight. As many of you remember, Hardin was used on a trick play against Cooper last year and scored on a 68 yard run that kept everybody guessing. Brad Ballew, Jordan Etier, and Andy Spears will have the Eagle secondary on their toes. But the Eagles will also have to watch out for Stephen Shaffer, a returning tight end, who will most likely be Foles’s go-to safety net.

Our Eagle offense won’t have an easy task either. With Bron Hager, a 6 foot 1, 210 pound linebacker calling the shots and waiting on Spens Lackey’s every move, it will be tough. Bron is the son of Britt Hager, who played for Odessa Permian in the ‘80s and was an All-American at UT in 1988. He is also a 9 year veteran of the NFL. But, I know that our Offensive Line will stop Hager from getting to Lackey or taking down our running back Brandon Williams.

There is no doubt in my mind that the Abilene High Eagles will show up ready to play. Our younger players might be a little bit nervous, but our Seniors will lead them to a victory. The game starts at 7:30 in Austin, and I hope there are more Eagle fans than the Chaparrals. Let’s get in there and show them how to play football. GO EAGLES!!

• David Craghead
• September 1, 2006 2:58 AM