Go Friday Night

Division 2 Quarterfinalist

We can update the teams playing in the Division 2 Quarterfinals now.

Borden County (8-4), runner up in District 4
Jayton (10-2), District Champion from District 4
.

Whitharral (9-2) District Champion of District 5
Samnorwood (7-5) runner up of District 7

Northside (11-1) District Champion of District 9
Woodson (8-4) District Champion of District 10

Gustine (11-1) District Champion of District 15
Zephyr (8-4) runner up of District 13

Of interest to me, Borden County has 4 losses. They lost three times to teams that made the playoffs. Two of those losses were to Division 1 playoff representatives and they lost to Jayton in District by the score of 64-57 for the District Championship. Jayton has lost twice, both to Division 1 schools, Highland (7-3) and Rule (10-0). Folks this one should be a barnburner.

Whitharral lost two games back to back and one of those losses was to undefeated Division 1 Meadow (12-0). Samnorwood has 5 losses and was second place in their District, but they are still playing.

Northside is once beaten, by a strong private school Amarillo Bible Heritage.
Woodson with 4 losses, all to Division 1 teams 3 of which were playoff teams.

Gustine has one loss to undefeated Richland Springs of Division 1.
Zephyr lost four times, twice to Division 1 playoffs teams.

Combined these teams have a record of 72 and 23.

Don Hardin
txsixii@yahoo.com

• November 25, 2006 11:03 PM

Richland Springs 56 May 8

The playoffs are bittersweet. One team wins won team loses. Hey, that's football right? One team goes on the other team goes home. That is the way it is. The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat can be felt after every playoff game. The facts of the matter does not stop the sting of the defeat.

May was eliminated from the playoffs last night by Richland Springs. That was not a real surprise. It was extremely disappointing to the May Tigers. This game was the first time that Coach Steele's May Tigers have walked off the field this season with the bad taste of a defeat in their mouths. The hurt is the worst for the seniors that are dealing with the fact their high school career is over.

This game began with the Tigers having high expectations of beating the powerhouse Richland Springs Coyotes. That is a task that no one has completed this season. Things looked promising as the Tigers won the coin toss and received the opening kick off. Seven plays into the game the young men from May scored on a 36 yard pass play. With the PAT, May led 8-0 as the clock showed 6:52 left in the first quarter. The 60 yards that May covered on the first drive were yards to savor as they would only gain an additional 70 yards or so the rest of the evening.

The clock managed to only run down to the 6:05 mark still in the 1st quarter before the Coyotes of Richland Springsanswered and after the PAT the score was tied 8-8. The first quarter came to an end with the Coyotes leading 22-8. By the half, Richland Springs had scored another 22 points and enjoyed a 44-8 lead.

Two scores in the third quarter and Richland Springs ended this game by the mercy rule 56-8. Coach Burkhart said of his Coyotes, “They played awesome”.

Next Friday night at 7:30 The Richland Springs team will face Calvert at Gatesville for a quarterfinals match up.

• November 25, 2006 2:54 PM

DIVISION 2 QUARTERFINALIST ???

We don't quite have the whole picture just yet but this is what we know.

Dell City and Borden County play tonight, Saturday 11/25, in Pecos to see who will make the “great eight” Division 2 style.
Jayton defeated Sanderson 51-6

Whitharral plays Lefors tonight for a spot in the Quarterfinals
Samnorwood defeated Cotton Center 46-26

Northside defeated Apple Springs 58-6
Woodson defeated Milford 67-22

Gustine defeated Paint Rock 82-34
Zephyr defeated Iredell 64-28

I will update this after the games this evening.

• November 25, 2006 9:26 AM

DIVISION 1 QUARTERFINALIST IN PLACE

We know who they are!

Garden City defeated Wellman-Union 64-14
Meadow defeated Fort Davis 60-44

Rule defeated Happy 52-2
Throckmorton defeated Paducah 61-16

Trinidad defeated Newcastle 54-32
Blum defeated Strawn 51-40

Richland Springs defeated May 56-6
Calvert defeated Santa Anna 68-28

Next week's match ups will be

Garden City (11-0) -- District Champion from District 1
Meadow (12-0) – District Champion from District 4

Rule (10-0) -- District Champion from District 7
Throckmorton (9-2) – runner up from District 7

Trinidad (10-1) -- District Champion from District 11
Blum (12-0) -- District Champion from District 12

Richland Springs (11-0) -- District Champion from District 15
Calvert (11-1) – District Champion from District 16

Note of interest, 5 out of the 8 teams are undefeated, two have only 1 loss, one has 2 losses.
Combined, all teams left are 86 and 4. The cream has risen to the top. The team with 2 losses just happens to be the defending State Champion. It is also of interest that District 7 is the only district that still has both of their representatives vying for the crown. I would note that both of those schools did have first round byes, even so, they are still the only Division 1 district that has both representatives in the hunt.

To the “great eight” I say Good Football To You.

Don Hardin
txsixii@yahoo.com

• November 25, 2006 7:50 AM

Turkey Day Playoff Games and Blog # 100!!!!

There were 2 Six-Man games scheduled for this day. Rule vs. Happy and Blum vs. Strawn. You just never know what to expect when it comes to the playoffs. We all have our ideas as to what will take place but you just never know until the games are played.

Every poll you look at is a little different. Whatever poll you might have looked at before the Happy and Rule game you would have thought it would be a very close game. Some polls had Rule just ahead of Happy and others had Happy just ahead of Rule. The folks that most folks listen to when talking about the spreads had Happy by 10 and Rule by 2.

Regardless of how we see the game being played out the game is still played and won or lost on the field. The point I am getting to is the game was a blow out. Rule won 52-2. Is Rule that much better than Happy? They were this game. Rule was hitting on all cylinders but Happy turned the ball over deep and I mean deep in Rule territory and paid dearly for it. Rule scored on an interception of a pitchout by Happy and returned it 77 yards for a TD. Rule also intercepted a pass taking over on their own 5 yard line and two plays later scored on a 65 yard run. The game was never in doubt as Rule led 30 to 0 at the end of the 1st quarter and the game ended at the half 52-2 with Happy scoring a safety very late in the second quarter. Rule will face the winner of Throckmorton and Paducah next week.

The other game had Blum facing Strawn. Blum was undefeated going into this game while Strawn had managed a 5 and 5 record. Looks like it would be another Blum blow out. Nope! Blum did win the game. The score was 51-40. Hardly a blow out.

Regardless of what they look like on paper, we will keep playing them on the field.

Don Hardin
txsixii@yahoo.com

• November 23, 2006 10:09 PM

Ding! Ding! ROUND TWO

Here is a capsule of Six-Man by Division By Region.
Region 1.
The teams left at this point in Division 1 are Garden City and Fort Davis from District 1. They both had byes in the first round. Garden City is undefeated and will now face Wellman-Union in round 2. Wellman-Union defeated Water Valley 37-20 to advance. Fort Davis, with just one loss will meet undefeated Meadow in Round 2. Meadow defeated Robert Lee 72-24 to advance against Fort Davis.

Garden City (10-0) vs. Wellman-Union (9-2) Friday 7:00 in Klondike
Meadow (11-0) vs. Fort Davis (9-1) Friday 6:00 Crane

Region 2 looks like this. District 7 winner Rule and the runner up Throckmorton both had first round byes. Happy the district champ from District 5 defeated Valley runner up from District 6 by the score of 58-12. Happy will now face Rule in Round 2. Lorenzo as District 5 runner up lost to Paducah the District 6 winner by a score of 60-20. Paducah will now face Throckmorton in Round 2.

Happy (10-1) vs. Rule (9-0) Thursday 7:30 in Floydada
Paducah (8-3) vs. Throckmorton (8-2) Friday 7:30 in Aspermont

Region 3 shapes up like this. Newcastle won District 9 and Strawn was the runner up and both had byes in Round 1. Trinidad winner of District 11 beat Abbott the runner up in District 12 46-0 and will face Newcastle in Round 2. District 12 winner Blum who is undefeated whipped District 11 runner up Coolidge by the score of 58-0 and will now play Strawn in Round 2.

Newcastle (8-2) vs. Trinidad (9-1) Friday 7:30 in Hico
Strawn (5-5) vs. Blum (11-0) Thursday 7:30 in Rising Star

Region 4 is set up like this. May won District 13 and Santa Anna was the runner up and both had first round byes. Richland Springs won District 15 and beat District 16 runner up Lometa by the score of 40-16 Richland Springs who is undefeated will face May who is also undefeated in Round 2. Calvert who won District 16 defeated Brookesmith the runner up from District 15 by the score of 77-54. Calvert will now play Santa Anna in Round 2.

May (10-0) vs. Richland Springs (10-0) Friday 7:30 in Comanche
Santa Anna (8-2) vs. Calvert (10-1) Friday 7:30 in Gatesville

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Division 2
Region 1
District 1 Champion Dell City and runner up Sanderson both had byes. Winner of District 3 lost to District 4 runner up Borden Countyby the score of 48-46 and Borden County will now take on Dell City in Round 2. Winner of District 4 Jayton beat Runner up of District 3 Loop 82-54 and will now face Sanderson in Round 2.

Dell City (8-2) vs. Borden County (7-4) Saturday 6:30 in Pecos
Sanderson (6-4) vs. Jayton (9-2) Friday 7:30 in Lenorah

Region 2
District 5 winner Whitharral and runner up Cotton Center both received byes. Winner of District 7 McLean lost to runner up of District 8 Lefors 39-34. Lefors advances to Round 2 to play Whitharral. District 7 runner up Samnorwood defeated District 8 Champion Follett 56-7 and will play Cotton Center in Round 2.

Whitharral (8-2) vs. Lefors (7-4) Saturday 7:30 in Silverton
Cotton Center (5-5) vs. Samnorwood (6-5) 7:30 Friday in Silverton

Region 3
District 9 Winner Northside beat District 10 runner up Moran 56-8. Northside advances to Round 2 to play Apple Springs who had a bye as District 12 runner up. District 10 Champion Woodson beat District 9 runner up Patton Springs 62-14. Woodson will now play District 12 Champion Milford in Round 2. Milford had a bye in Round 1.

Northside (10-1) vs. Apple Springs (5-4) Friday 1:00 in Avalon
Woodson (7-4) vs. Milford (8-2) Friday 7:30 in Hamilton

Region 4
District 13 Champion Paint Rock along with runner up Zephyr had byes. District 15 Winner Gustine defeated District 16 runner up Star 56-6 and will now face Paint Rock in Round 2. District 15 runner up Iredell defeated District 16 Winner Jonesboro 54-8 and will now face Zephyr.

Paint Rock (6-4) vs. Gustine (10-1) Friday 6:00 in Rising Star
Zephyr (7-3) vs. Iredell (9-2) Friday 7:30 in DeLeon

For those of you wondering about Dave Campbell's 2006 preseason picks as far as district was concerned, here they are.

Division 1 District 1
1. Garden City
2. Fort Davis
Division 1 District 3
1. Robert Lee
2. Highland
Division 1 District 4
1. Meadow
2. Wellman-Union
Division 1 District 5
1. Happy
2. Lorenzo
Division 1 District 6
1. Valley
2. Paducah
Division 1 District 7
1. Throckmorton
2. Rule
Division 1 District 9
1. Strawn
2. Gordon
Division 1 District 11
1. Trinidad
2. Coolidge
Division 1 District 12
1. Blum
2. Abbott
Division 1 District 13
1. Blanket
2. May
Division 1 District 15
1. Richland Springs
2. Eden
Division 1 District 16
1. Calvert
2. Lometa

Division 2 District 1
1. Sanderson
2. Dell City
Division 2 District 3
1. Grandfalls-Royalty
2. Loop
Division 2 District 4
1. Borden County
2. Jayton
Division 2 District 5
1. Whitharral
2. Amhearst
Division 2 District 7
1. Samnorwood
2. McLean
Division 2 District 8
1. Follett
2. Miami
Division 2 District 9
1. Patton Springs
2. Guthrie
Division 2 District 10
1. Woodson
2.Paint Creek
Division 2 District 12
1. Milford
2. Fannindel
Division 2 District 14
1. Lohn
2. Zephyr
Division 2 District 15
1. Gustine
2. Iredell
Division 2 District 16
1. Oglesby
2. Jonesboro

There you go.
Don Hardin
txsixii@yahoo.com
Abilene, TX

• November 20, 2006 6:47 AM

Meadow Continues to ROLL!!!!!!!!!!

Prior to last night's game, I had seen Meadow and Robert Lee each play one game a piece. I saw Meadow beat Whitharral 99-60 and Robert Lee beat Highland 55-42. I was surprised that the spread for this game was 45 points. I decided to make the drive from Abilene to Stanton anyway.

Meadow did in fact win the game by 45 though it did go into the 4th quarter. The final score was 72-24. The young men from Meadow controlled the game the entire night. Robert Lee made some noise a couple of times but turned the ball over on a couple of critical situations in the second half that would have probably meant the game going regulation time.

I thought that Robert Lee's speed would be more of a factor. Meadow has some fast boys that offset that of Robert Lee's. It wasn't just a speed on speed situation. Meadow is well coached and the Meadow players know and understand the game of six-man. They are very fundamental. They block, they tackle, they pass, they run and they kick. Speaking of kicking, for you future opponets of Meadow, don't plan on returning many kickoffs. Tanner Streety tends to kick the ball out of the endzone. It is kind of like watching a home run hitting contest.

Meadow faces Fort Davis in the second round of the playoffs. I understand Kermit and Crane or two of the sites being looked at. Fort Davis is the District 1 runner up. I know they would like another shot at Garden City in round 3 of the playoffs. They will have to defeat a very good Meadow team to have that opportunity.

The deeper we go the better the match ups and that is the way it should be. Good Football To You..

Don Hardin
txsixii@yahoo.com

• November 18, 2006 10:09 AM
• Comments (1)

Indians whip Bulldogs

Once, earlier this season, I had the Northside Indians ranked as the Number One team in Division 2 of Six-Man football. That was before the fateful evening that they gave up 102 points to the team from Amarillo Bible Heritage. No one should score 87 points and get beat by two touchdowns an expect to be ranked number one in the state.

Northside once again found their groove after suffering their only loss of the season and went on to win their next four games by the combined scores of 220-25. One of those games was against a good Patton Springs club which Northside rudely whipped 56-10. With a 9-1 record, the Indians danced their way into this season's playoffs.

The Moran Bulldogs also made their way into this season's playoffs by posting a 7-3 overall record and a 2-1 record in one of the weaker districts in six-man. This was their first playoff appearance since Moby Dick was a minnow.

The scene is now set for a collision course between a team that has been ranked the number 1 team in their division and a second place team out of a less than stout district. The result was what you would have expected. The Northside Indians ran rough shod over the Moran Bulldogs by the score of 56-8 in a game that ended in the 3rd quarter by the mercy rule.

Moran went down playing hard. They were simply out matched on this night. Northside looked impressive at times and not so at other times. The defense often made hard hits but often failed to wrap up the ball carrier. Obviously, that did not hurt them too bad against the Bulldogs however now that it is play hard time or go home, they can ill afford to continue playing like that.

Next week, the Indians will play Apple Springs. It should be another easy win for Northside. The Moran Bulldogs have ended this season with a 7-4 record and a step to build on for next season. Congratulations to their seniors on leading the Bulldogs back into the playoffs. Good football to the Northside Indians as they move on to the second round.

Don Hardin
txsixii@yahoo.com

• November 16, 2006 10:35 PM

Six-Man Playoff sites and times.

Division 1
Region 1
District 1 Winner Garden City 10-0
District 2 BYE

District 3 Winner Water Valley 7-3 plays
District 4 Runner up Wellman-Union 8-2
Saturday at 7:00 PM at Lenorah. Winner plays Garden City Round 2.

District 4 Winner Meadow 10-0 plays
District 3 Runner up Robert Lee 8-2.
Friday at 7:30 PM at Stanton. Winner plays Fort Davis Round 2.

District 1 Runner up Fort Davis 9-1
District 2 BYE.

Region 2
District 5 Winner Happy 9-1 plays
District 6 Runner up Valley 6-4
Friday 7:30 at Silverton. Winner plays Rule in Round 2.

District 7 Winner Rule 9-0
District 8 BYE

District 6 Winner Paducah 7-3 plays
District 5 Runner up Lorenzo 8-2. Winner plays Throckmorton Round 2.
Friday 7:30 at Lockney

District 7 Runner up Throckmorton 8-2
District 8 BYE

Region 3
District 9 Winner Newcastle 8-2
District 10 BYE

District 11 Winner Trinidad 8-1 plays
District 12 Runner up Abbott 9-1
Thursday 7:30 at Hubbard. Winner plays Newcastle Round 2

District 9 Runner up Strawn 5-5
District 10 BYE

District 12 Winner Blum 10-0 plays
District 11 Runner up Coolidge 4-5
Friday 7:30 atn Whitney. Winner plays Strawn Round 2.

Region 4
District 13 Winner May 10-0
District 14 Bye

District 15 Winner Richland Springs 9-0 plays
District 16 Runner up Lomets 3-7
Friday 7:30 at San Saba. Winner plays May Round 2.

District 13 Runner up Santa Anna 8-2
District 14 BYE.

District 16 Winner Calvert 9-1 plays
District 15 Runner up Brookesmith 7-3
Friday 7:30 at Gatesville. Winner plays Santa Anna.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Division 2 Playoff sites and times.

Region 1
District 1 Winner Dell City 8-2
District 2 BYE

District 3 Winner Grandfalls-Royalty 5-5 plays
District 4 Runner up Borden County 6-4
Friday 7:30 at Garden City. Winner will play Dell City Round 2

District 1 Runner up Sanderson 6-4
District 2 BYE

District 4 Winner Jayton 8-2 plays
District 3 runner up Loop 5-5
Friday 7:30 at Borden County (Gail) Winner will play Sanderson in Round 2.

Region 2
District 5 Winner Whitharral 8-2
District 6 BYE

District 7 Winner McLean 8-2 plays
District 8 Runner up Lefors 6-4
Friday 7:30 at Groom. Winner plays Whitharral Round 2

District 5 Runner up Cotton Center 5-5
District 6 BYE

District 8 Winner Follett 6-4 plays
District 7 Runner up Samnorwood 5-5
Friday 7:30 at Samnorwood. Winner plays Cotton Center Round 2

Region 3
District 9 Winner Northside 9-1 plays
District 10 Runner up Moran 7-3. Winner plays Apple Springs round 2.
Thursday 7:30 at Abilene Shotwell

District 11 BYE
District 12 Runner up Apple Springs 5-4

District 10 Winner Woodson 6-4 plays
District 9 Runner up Patton Springs 7-3. Winner plays Milford Round 2.
Friday 7:30 in Knox City

District 11 BYE
District 12 Winner Milford 8-2

Region 4
District 13 BYE
District 14 Runner up Paint Rock 6-4

District 15 Winner Gustine 9-1 plays
District 16 Runner up Star 3-7. Winner plays Paint Rock Round 2.
Friday 7:30 at Evant.

District 14 Winner Zephyr 7-3
District 13 BYE

District 16 Winner Jonesboro 6-4 plays
District 15 Runner up Iredell 8-2. Winner plays Zephyr Round 2.
Friday 7:30 in Meridian

• November 13, 2006 1:47 PM

SMC Final Regular Season TOP 10

Division 1
1.Richland Springs
2.Rule
3.Meadow
4.Garden City
5.Blum
6.Trinidad
7.May
8.Calvert
9.Fort Davis
10.Throckmorton

Division 2
1.Gustine
2.Dell City
3.Jayton
4.Northside
5.McLean
6.Patton Springs
7.Whitharral
8.Grandfalls-Royalty
9.Iredell
10.Sanderson

Just for the fun of it, I thought I would post my Preseason Polls as well. Don't laugh to hard. Division 1 was not too hard to pick. Division 2 was a different story.

Here is a look back at my Division 1 Preseason TOP 10 posted July 30th, 2006.
1.Richland Springs
2.Rule
3.Garden City
4.Throckmorton
5.Trinidad
6.Valley
7.Meadow
8.Highland
9.Calvert
10.Fort Davis

Here is a look back at my Division 2 Preseason TOP 10 posted August 13th.
1.Whitharral
2.Grandfalls-Royalty
3.Woodson
4.Follett
5.Lohn
6.Samnorwood
7.Dell City
8.Borden County
9.Patton Springs
10.Zephyr

Peering into my crystal ball back at the start of the season, some things looked pretty clear while other things didn't appear at all. In Division 2, I did not have Gustine in the preseason poll at all. I did have Lohn. Go figure.

• November 12, 2006 3:47 PM

PLAYOFF TIME

The regular season has come and gone. We now start the part of the season thay all teams were hoping to be involved in. Congratulations to all who have advanced. Here are my PICKS for the first round games.

Division 1
WATER VALLEY over Wellman-Union
MEADOW over Robert Lee
HAPPY over Valley
LORENZO over Paducah
TRINIDAD over Abbott
BLUM over Coolidge
RICHLAND SPRINGS over Lometa
BROOKESMITH over Calvert

Division 2
GRANDFALLS-ROYALTY over Borden County
JAYTON over Loop
MCLEAN over Lefors
SAMNORWOOD over Follett
NORTHSIDE over Moran
PATTON SPRINGS over Woodson
GUSTINE over Star
IREDELL over Jonesboro

Good Football to You.

Don Hardin
txsixii@yahoo.com

• November 11, 2006 12:06 PM

What game are you going to?

WEEK TEN GAMES OF THE WEEK

Garden City @ Fort Davis
Ira @ Water Valley
Valley @ Paducah
Santa Anna @ May
Grandfalls-Royalty @ Loop
Borden County @ Jayton
Miami @ Follett
Northside @ Guthrie
Moran @ Paint Creek
Zephyr @ Paint Rock
Jonesboro @ Star

Take your pick!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going to see Santa Anna @ May

Good Football To You.

• November 6, 2006 8:54 PM
• Comments (1)

DIVISION 2 PLAYOFF PROJECTIONS

REGION 1
District 1
W) Dell City
R) Sanderson

District 3
W) Grandfalls-Royalty
R) Loop

District 4
W) Jayton
R) Borden County

REGION 2
District 5
W)Whitharral
R) Cotton Center

District 7
W)Samnorwood
R)McLean

District 8
W) Miami
R) Follett

REGION 3
District 9
W)Northside
R)Patton Springs

District 10
W) Woodson
R) Moran

District 12
W) Milford
R) Apple Springs

REGION 4
District 14
W) Zephyr
R) Paint Rock

District 15
W) Gustine
R) Iredell

District 16
W)Jonesboro
R) Star

Remember, these are only PROJECTIONS!!!!!!

• November 6, 2006 8:38 PM

WEEK 10 Can you believe it?

We know just about who goes on to the playoffs and who will go home. As far as Division 1 goes, District by District I think we can make these projections. Don't print playoff tickets every where just yet as these are PROJECTIONS.

REGION 1
District 1; Playoff teams will be Fort Davis and Garden City. Friday night's game in Fort Davis will determine who goes as the Champion and who goes as the runner up. Both teams will receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Most likely, the district winner will get Robert Lee or Wellman Union while the district runner up will get the winner of the Meadow and whoever represents District 3 as runner up.

District 2; BYES

District 3; I think it is safe to say Robert Lee will go in as the District Champion but as far as the runner up, we will have to wait until Friday night's games are played. My gut tells me Ira. I may just have gas.

District 4; We will see Meadow as the District Champion and Wellman-Union as the runner up. Meadow won the meeting between these two by the score of 56-8.

REGION 2
District 5; Representatives will be District Champion Happy and runner up Lorenzo.

District 6; Valley and Paducah will be your playoff representatives. The District Champion will get Lorenzo while the runner up will play Happy in the first round.

District 7; Still ball to be played but your representatives in the Playoffs will be Rule as your Champion and Throckmorton as your runner up. Both of these schools will receive BYES in round one of the playoffs.

District 8; BYES

REGION 3
District 9; Newcastle and Strawn look to be the playoff representatives here. Both have BYES in round one. They both should party that week because the party is over in round 2. Most likely, Newcastle will get Trinidad in the second round and Strawn should meet Blum. It will be lights out for District 9 at that time.

District 11; Trinidad goes in as the winneof the District Champion and Coolidge will be the runner up. Trinidad draws Abbott from District 12 and advances. Coolidge will draw Blum and Blum will advance.

District 12; Blum goes into the playoffs as the District Champion and Abbott will most likely be runner up.

REGION 4
District 13; May and Santa Anna are your playoff representatives and both receive BYES in round one and both draw stiff competition in Round two.

District 15; No surprise here as Richland Springs and Brookesmith are your representatives.

District 16; Calvert and Lometa advance into the playoffs.

Projections, they are only projections.

• November 6, 2006 8:06 PM

Tyler Ethridge BREAKS National Record

HE GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Tyler Ethridge is a happy young man after breaking a Six-Man national record for career touchdown passes. He now has 151. The old record was 148. He mentioned the great support he had received from coaches, fellow players, fans and the entire community of Richland Springs.

In an interview after the game he said “ I just throw the passes, it is the other guys that have to catch the ball then make the moves to score. My job is easy. I just throw the ball.” Tyler, I think you have over simplified the whole thing. I will give it to you though, if it is your job to throw the ball, you have done it very well.

I should mention that the final score in this game between Richland Springs and Eden was bad to nothing. I should also mention that Richland Springs scored the first 20 points of the game without Tyler even throwing a pass. The record breaking touchdown pass came on the final play of the first quarter and made the score 62-0.

It would be a pretty hard pill to swallow for a head coach seeing their team who was way outmatched both number wise and talent wise take that kind of a beating. I spoke with the Eden coach briefly after the game which his team lost 96 to 0. I wanted to tell him that I thought given the circumstances when Ethridge threw the record breaking pass, he did a very classy thing. The game was stopped for a short time and the game ball was given to Jerry Burkhart, head coach of Richland Springs, who in turn gave the ball to his recording setting quarterback. Tyler was then mobbed by his teammates. What was the class act? Before play began again, the opposing head coach and his staff and all eight of his players suited up lined up and they all shook Tyler's hand and congratulated him on setting the record. The same coach, when I talked to him after the game commented he wasn't sure there was a lot of class in a 96-0 score. He said what I expected him to say. I would have said the same thing but would not have been nearly as nice about it.

On the other side of the field, Coach Burkhart met me saying “there was no intention of running up the score”. I believe him. He played subs and he played players out of position. Coaching is a hard life. It seems like you are going to catch heck from one side or the other no matter what you do. Coach Burkhart has chosen to let his guys play the game.

I will also remind everyone that there is a “mercy rule”, thank God, that stops games when someone gets a lead of 45 points AFTER the half. Try putting yourself in the shoes of the winning coach in any of the lopsided games that were played tonight or any week of this season BEFORE you pick up the stones. Remember, it is hard to throttle down a bunch of kids so as not to hurt someone's feelings. Last of all I will say you have to live with the decisions you make, right, wrong, or indifferent. I will also say that what goes around, comes around. This is Eden's first year in Six-Man. Some day they are likely to become a powerhouse themselves and it may be that Richland Springs finds themselves on the short end of a bad to nothing kind of game. I am sure they will show class as well.

Don Hardin
txsixii@yahoo.com

• November 4, 2006 2:27 AM

Scoring Division 1 against Division 2

Division One vs. Division Two

When they have met, it has not been pretty. You can add your games to this list if you like. I am thinking about the Gustine and Richland Springs matchup from earlier in the season. That may have been this season's two champions on the same field that night. The score? Division One Richland Springs 56 Division Two Gustine 6.

How about Division One Rule 50 Division Two Jayton 0???

How about Division One Fort Davis 46 Division Two Dell City 0???????

What do you think?

• November 2, 2006 10:05 PM

Crashes and Collisions

I have had a computer in my home for several years now. Never really have had many problems until the last couple of months and during that time I have had more than my share. I apologize to any readers of this Six-Man Central blog that is if I have any readers left.

I do not find it necessary to defend my Top Ten polls. I speak of it only to give you the readers insight in to my way of thinking. We have already discussed #10 and #9 and we will look at the rest of my Division one poll now.

#8 is Trinidad. I have the upmost respect for Coach Kevin Ray. When he told me in July that his team was going to be competitive, I listened. The Trojans have also showed on the field that they are indeed competitive. They lost to Calvert a few weeks back. Sometimes a loss just destroies a good team. In the case of Trinidad it only made them become more focused. They are a strong 8.

#7 Throckmorton. Coach Parham and his staff had a tall order delivered to them just being the Defending State Champion. Knowing that the team lot some incredible talent from a year ago and knowing that having the Number 1 player in the state back and that their would be huge expectations, it has been a difficult season. Throw in the adversity of losing player(s) to injury and losing a couple of games and you have a shadow cast over your program. Well, the Greyhounds are just fine thank you and they will be in the playoffs so don't count them out until they are just that, out.

#6 Fort Davis has quitely played their way to an 8-0 record and is currently on course for a head on collision with Garden City. There are some that felt Fort Davis was a little slow coming out of the gate. They may have been but they have been steady as a rock and are positioned to go into the playoffs as either winner or runner up in District 1.

#5 Meadow has just been rolling along up in the panhandel beating whoever gets in the way.They really have not been challenged at all. They have defeated good teams along the way too. Back in August when it seemed a little to early to decide who was going to be really good, Meadow more than held their own with Garden City in a scrimmage. When you are undefeated, it is hard to surprise people. Future opponents of Meadow better be ready or they will be surprised and not in a good way.

#4 Blum has played consistent all year and they are tough defensively. They have turned a few heads this season and they are not through yet. Blum has always had some good players. They have some this season as well as soid coaching and as a result, they are 8-0 giving up just 36 points while posting 5 shutouts. They have also managed to put up a few points from the otherside of the ball, over 450 I believe.

#3 Rule also is undefeated and has won a game or two when they didn't play particularly well. The games that they have played well in have been laughers to say the least. When they locked horns with Throckmorton in the first District 7 game, they showed they could over come many things. Really and truly, they over came more than they should have had to. Coach Reed brings much to the table but he will be the first to say that it is easy to caoch when you have great numbers and talent in your program.

#2 Garden City started off the year by knocking off Throckmorton in over time in Hico during Week Zero. They sustained a terrible blow mid season with an injury to a key player. Even so they have managed to keep their rcord perfect. Coach Jones knows what he is doing and his senior laden team has responded very well to his leadership. The last week of the regular season will provide a test for GC when they meet undefeated Fort Davis. One goes into the playoffs as Champion and one as runner up. Both will have first round byes in the playoffs.

#1 Richland Springs is NUMBER 1. In by books, they have been all season long. Coach Burkhart and staff have kept their team focused during a time when they could have been caught up in one of their players breaking a national record. That is big time when an individual plays to that level. Some folks claim that Richland Springs doesn't play much competition. To that, I say unless you are willing to sign on the dotted line to play them, shut up. If they play a weak schedule, it will only hurt them and not you. Can we just get to the playoffs? It is there that we decide our Champion.

• November 2, 2006 9:28 PM