Go Friday Night

Early Longhorns 39 Ballinger Bearcats 22

By Tracy Ebarb
October 10, 2005

It’s been a long time since an Early Longhorn Football Team has been 5 – 1. But the only people that are surprised to see the 2005 Edition of the Longhorns with that record, are those who just haven’t been paying attention. The Ballinger Bearcats certainly aren’t surprised. The Bearcat team that fell to the Longhorns on Friday night was a much better team than the one that fell on the same week last year. Wes Vanicek and company played an excellent game. In fact, it is my opinion that Vanicek is the most talented QB that the Horns will face in District this season. Coach Brevard and the Bearcat Staff and players are going to give the rest of the District 3-2A fits over the next 4 weeks. And to be honest, they gave the Early Longhorns a challenge or two, however, the challenges were no match for a Longhorn Team that is “agile”, “mobile”, and “hungry”, hungry for post-season play, that is.

Great Teams are teams that have the ability to overcome adversity. The wonderful(and terrible) thing about High School Football is that it is absolutely unpredictable. Any given team, on any given night, has the ability and privilege, to play and defeat any other given team. Over the years, for the Early Longhorns, there have been lots of “any given nights”, and not enough “play and defeat” scenarios. Things are changing!

Some may disagree, but I think that a fumble on the first play from scrimmage would have been difficult for previous Longhorn squads to overcome, not the 2005 Edition. Some may disagree, but I think that seeing your fastest cornerback (Blake Reid) go down with an injury mid-way through the opening period, would be a little dis-heartening, not this year’s Longhorns. (Blake is fine, by the way, and came back to finish the game.)
Some may disagree, but in previous years, I think that knowing your #1 rusher is in street clothes for the start of District play, would allow a little room for “excuses”, not anymore.
Some may disagree, but in times past, the fact that you’re counting on a guy that 12 months ago was playing on the Jr. High Team to lead your team in rushing, would allow the team to lower their expectations, just a little. Not these guys.
Some may disagree, but if you’re 6’5”, and the only guy you’ve got to beat is 5’5”, it’s a ‘gimme’. Not if that guy is Early Longhorn - David Garcia.
Some may disagree, but I think the Coaching Staffs from the remaining Schools on Early’s schedule, are going to spend a little extra time watching film for the next few weeks. Not that it will do them any good.
Some may disagree, but as I look down the schedule, I’m not asking “who are we playing next?”, I’m asking “who’s our next victim?!”. Not that it matters, this Longhorn Team is taking it one game at a time.

Rather than give a recap of the game, I thought I’d mention a few of the big plays and standout performers from this week’s game instead. Hopefully, you witnessed the game personally, if not, I hope you heard the play by play account on Magic1380am KBWD. By the way, this week in Tuscola, the play by play will be broadcast ‘in-stadium’ on an FM frequency that is yet to be determined. Bring your portable FM receiver to the game and watch the ‘board’ to see where to tune in to hear the broadcast with Tracy Ebarb and Joseph King.

Here’s a few of the highlights from the Longhorn’s 39-22 victory over the Ballinger Bearcats: (I wish I could remember and mention all of them.)

Tim Chandler with TD catches of 60 and 61 yards, and a kick-off return of over 70 yards for a TD.
Tyler Adams with a crucial interception off Wes Vanicek at the Longhorn’s 3 yd line.
Stephen Hopkins with a clutch reception of a pass from Skaggs to keep a drive alive early in the game.
Freshman Colin Rome bursting for 11 yards and a TD.
Eric Skaggs with a great run for 6 yds and a 1st , on a 4th and 5yds to go.
Levi Walls making the tackle on almost every special team play.
Matt Mooney with a great tackle on a kick return late in the game.
Chase Rome fighting off a talented receiver (Logan Newsom) and drawing a rare “offensive pass interference” call, late in the game.
Blake Reid, after being side-lined with an injury for half the game, coming in to block a punt and then pick up the ball to run it in for a Touchdown.
Wills Setzler making an incredible ‘diving’ catch for a first down.
Kade Horton doing what almost no one has done against the Bearcats all year – sacking Wes Vanicek for a loss.
The Longhorn’s defense, after going 15 quarters without allowing a TD, holding the Bearcats to 3 field goals and 2 TDs on 7 red-zone opportunities.
Brandon Anderson, Rhyn Cason, Justin Cadenhead, John Proud, Joey Neely, Kade Horton, and others, keeping constant pressure on Bearcat’s QB Wes Vanicek, allowing him to complete only 17 of 44 passes.

And again, the highlight that can’t be overlooked: the Early Longhorn Marching Band(after the game, when everyone else has gone) scouring the bleachers with trash bags, dozens of Band Members picking up the trash from under the stands of the team and town that we’ve just defeated – for no reason other than it just being the right thing to do. Thank you, Jerry Everett, thank you Kirk Woolery, thank you, Wes Beck, and most of all – THANK YOU, EARLY LONGHORN MARCHING BAND!!! We are proud of you, and proud to be associated with you.

Every time I see it, I’m amazed, and I’m proud to be a part of Early, TX.

This week we travel to Tuscola, to face the Jim Ned Indians. Last year’s game was exciting, to say the least. It was, arguably, the Longhorns best game, tied at halftime, and close throughout the game. Tim Chandler had an incredible night defensively, with 3 interceptions off “D-I” QB Colt McCoy, but the Horns came up short.
This year, however, the Longhorns enter the game 5 – 1, while the Indians are 3 – 3 after falling to the Bangs Dragons 35 – 16 in week one. The Indians are led by QB Cam Decker, and RB Phillip Perez, and a new Coaching staff. Jim Ned has gotten accustomed to beating the Early Longhorns, and they certainly need to win this week to stay alive in the playoff race. However, they haven’t met the Early Longhorn’s 2005 Edition. It’s been a while since the Jim Ned folks have started out 0 – 2 in District play. Oh well, they say if you live long enough, you see everything. Congratulations Jim Ned Indians, you’re going to be the next victims of the 2005 Early Longhorns! I expect you’ll be fortunate if the Horns allow you 150 yds total offense.

My prediction: Longhorns 35 Indians 7.

Comments

• Previous Entry: « Early Freshman vs Comanche
• Next Entry: Early Longhorns 48 Jim Ned Indians 8 »