Sports

DENTON – Jacksboro can take one positive out of Thursday night’s 57-14 bi-district loss to Gunter:

Courtesy of Santiago Salazar’s extra point following Hunter hackley’s 20-yard scoring run, the Purple led 7-6 after the first quarter.

No-3 Gunter took control after that, scoring 51 unanswered points over the next quarter and change to garner a 57-14 win at Denton High’s Bronco Field. Jacksboro ends its season at 6-5 with Gunter moving on to face the winner of Hooks-Live Oak at 11-0.

With a year of experience under Coach Todd Matlock’s system, a young Jacksboro team looks to make the next step into the postseason.

The Tigerettes were on the outside looking in last year, finishing 6-8 in the district but battling into the last week with a number of freshmen who saw significant if not starters’ minutes. Matlock likes what he sees so far out of his troops.

Alex Banuelos (2) receives well wishes from JHS Band Director Ray Velasquez during a sending off for the Tiger football team before they headed for Denton Thursday afternoon. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Denton High.

HOLLIDAY – Jacksboro Middle School’s 8th grade football team finished a perfect District 8-3A run with a convincing 26-12 win over the host Eagles Nov. 3.

The Tigers finish 5-0 in the loop and 7-2 overall.

Holliday took a 6-0 lead after one quarter but the visitors took control in the second. Landon Davenport tied the game with a 10-yard run but the conversion attempt to break the tie failed.

It mattered little as Daylon Valles recovered a fumble in the end zone later in the stanza. Edwin Salazar’s kick was true for a 13-6 lead at halftime.

PERRIN – After two years of coming ohsoclose to the postseason, Perrin-Whitt got over the hump in 2016.

The Pirates fought their way through a brutal District 8-2A DII schedule, taking their lumps along the way but wound up finishing fourth in the loop, which qualified them for “the big dance.” Perrin wound up the regular season losing a tough 63-7 game to No.9 Muenster which wound up as district champs.

Coach Joe Merrett said the Hornets were as good as advertised.

For further details, see the Nov. 11 Herald-Gazette.

DENTON ­– The only thing missing will be the cage.

After a playoff drought of a couple years, Jacksboro’s Tigers are primed and ready for the Class 3A football playoffs, which begin tomorrow night at Denton High. First on the six-step playoff road for the squad (6-4) is Gunter (10-0), ranked as high as No-3 in some polls and also surnamed the Tigers.

 Jacksboro Coach Brian Hodnett said his troops are ready for the challenge, despite a rough night last Friday vs. Holliday.

BOYD – Bryson’s volleyball squad learned a very important lesson Saturday afternoon:

Size does matter.

Avalon senior Jordan Poarch, a 6’2” specimen at middle blocker, had her way on the frontcourt against the Cowgirls, laying down 17 kills and coming through with five blocks to help the Lady Eagles end the Cowgirls’ season with a 25-21, 26-24, 25-18 triumph. Bryson ends its campaign at 25-13 while Avalon is now 28-9.

Bryson Mentor Chelsea Kincaid said Poarch’s physical presence was too much to overcome.

Jacksboro outgained Holliday 258-125 but the visiting Eagles took advantage of two interceptions and 100 yards in second-half penalties by the Tigers to get out of Tiger Stadium with a 21-14 win.

Jacksboro ends the regular season at 2-3 in District 8-3A and 6-4 overall, finishing fourth in the loop. Jacksboro will face another set of Tigers in Gunter, which went unbeaten through District 6-3A, in the bi-district round next week. Game details were not set as of this writing.

ERA – Fighting for a playoff spot is never easy.

In a great game, Perrin and the host Hornets traded blows and jabs in a battle for the final playoff spot. Perrin had the last two shots, however, scoring in the final minute and then getting an interception to secure the deal in a 22-21 win Oct. 28.

The visitors are now 2-2 in district and 5-4 overall.

Pirate Mentor Joe Merrett said he was proud of the way his kids fought adversity Friday evening.

For further details, see the Nov. 4 Herald-Gazette.

FORESTBURG ­– Bryson took control of Friday night’s game with the hosts early, knowing it had to win to garner a playoff spot.

The Cowboys put up more than 360 yards offensively and qualified for the postseason for the second straight year with a 47-0 win.

Bryson finishes its regular season at 8-2 and will go into the playoffs as the No.-2 seed. 

Bryson looks to play the winner of tonight’s May-Gordon game. Bryson jumped out to a 16-0 lead and extended the lead to 28-0 at the half before a 19-point third quarter ended the game on mercy rule in the third quarter.