Facing the possibility of an 0-3 start, the Grapeland football team desperately needed a win this past Friday.
The Sandies headed into the fourth quarter against rival Lovelady down 16-8, and the reality of heading into Friday’s matchup with Elkhart winless was looming large.
Enter Patrick Walker.
The Grapeland star ran for a fourth-quarter touchdown and threw for another, lifting the Sandies to a 24-22 win over the Lions, and out of the ranks of the winless.
Walker had his hand on all three Grapeland touchdowns, rushing for a second quarter score as well.
On the night, Walker ran for a team-high 122 yards on 24 carries, while also passing for 126 yards and a score. He leads the Sandies in both rushing, passing and total offense on the season.
D’ONTE JACKSON, RB, CAYUGA
Heading into the 2012 season, Cayuga running back D’onte Jackson was the area’s returning rushing leader for local 11-man teams.
With Wortham in town Friday, he showed why.
The senior ran for 140 yards on only 13 carries, three times going in for touchdowns.
He also caught a pass for a 44-yard score, as the Wildcats moved to 2-1 with a 35-6 thrashing of the visiting Bulldogs.
JEFFREY WILSON, RB, ELKHART
The start of the 2012 season hasn’t gone the way the Elkhart football team planned for it to.
But, despite the team’s 0-3 start, there has been one bright spot week-in and week-out: The play of junior running back Jeffrey Wilson.
In the Elks’ 44-6 loss to Centerville Friday, Wilson still shined.
He ran for 216 yards on 30 carries, and scored the Elks’ only touchdown in the loss.
JADARRIUS BEASLEY, RB, PALESTINE
For the second-straight week, the Palestine football team played without 2011’s leading rusher Darrius Stephens.
For the second-straight week, Jadarrius Beasley made sure it wasn’t a problem.
Beasley ran for 110 yards on only 7 carries, a week after rushing for 107 yards on eight carries against Jacksonville.
Beasley also effectively iced the game for Palestine with an 87-yard touchdown run that put Palestine up 17-7 on Kaufman in the fourth quarter.
CHANDLER RIGDON, QB, CAYUGA
Chandler Rigdon just keeps on putting up high-level performances.
For the third-straight week Cayuga’s sophomore quarterback ran for over 100 yards and passed for more than 160 yards.
In the Wildcats 35-6 win over Wortham, Rigdon ran for a touchdown and threw for another to D’onte Jackson, helping the Wildcats to a 2-1 record.
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Sports editor Justin Rains can be reached via email at jrains@palestineherald.com
Local Sports
Herald-Press Game Balls: Walker does it all while leading Grapeland to win
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H.S. Football: Elkhart's Wilson picks up 2nd offer
Elkhart running back Jeffrey Wilson isn’t even into his senior year yet, and already there are some major decisions on his plate.
The Elks star picked up his second college offer Thursday, this one from the University of North Texas. The Mean Green joins the University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) on the list of suitors for Wilson. -
H.S. Baseball: Holland named 19-A MVP
After edging Kerens for the District 19-A baseball title, the Cayuga baseball team was well-represented on the 19-A all-district team released this week.
Star pitcher Chantz Holland was named the district’s MVP after yet another standout season. The Vernon College-bound Holland was the team’s ace pitcher and also its most reliable hitter. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Elkhart relying on experience during playoff run
After being pushed to the brink of elimination in each of its first two playoff series, the Elkhart baseball team took care of business with ease in the regional quarterfinals.
The Elks defeated Warren in the best-of-three series, 2-0, by a combined score of 11-1.
But, ironically, EHS coach John Adair credited being pushed to the brink in the first round with the team’s ability to pull it all together as the Elks’ playoff run keeps going. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Elkhart's Cheatham sets national triples record
Earlier in the postseason, Elkhart star third baseman Jacob Cheatham legged out his 17th triple of the 2013 season.
It was an important one.
With the hit, Cheatham passed Steve Kopepasah and Alex Ortiz for the national record for triples in a season, according to the National Federation of High School associations. -
H.S. Athletics: Holden named new Cayuga ISD athletic director
It took just over a month for Cayuga ISD to find their new athletic director.
In a school board meeting Monday, the Cayuga school board hired current CHS assistant coach Russell Holden as its new athletic director and head football coach.
Holden, who has been on the staff at Cayuga for five years, will replace Greg Jenkins, who after three years at the helm is leaving for Tenaha. -
Middle School Athletics: Palestine selects March, April 'Character Athletes'
The Palestine Junior High girls athletic program released their Character Athletes of the Month for both March and April recently.
Eighth graders Annalise Meyers (March) and Josie Soehnge (April), and seventh graders Madison Oliva (March) and Ashley Middleton were honored with the awards, which go to student athletes that lead not only on the field or court, but also in the classroom. -
H.S. Softball Playoffs: Grapeland scores early and often in semifinal clincher
Just like in game one, the Grapeland Sandiettes jumped out to a big lead during Saturday's decisive Game 3 against the Joaquin.
The only difference is this time the Sandiettes never let off the gas on their way to a dominant 12-2 win over the Lady Rams in the do-or-die regional semifinal game.
With the win, Grapeland moves on to its third regional final in four years, where they will take on Beckville. It’s the third-straight year the teams will meet in the postseason. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Elkhart eases past Warren in Game 2
After needing three games to end its first two playoff series this postseason, the Elkhart baseball team made sure it didn’t happen a third time.
The Elks — who are seeking a second-straight trip to the state tournament — rolled past Warren Saturday, 6-0, at Lufkin’s Morris Franks Park. The win came a night after Elkhart topped the Warriors, 5-1, to open the series on Friday. -
H.S. Softball Playoffs: Grapeland, Joaquin split games Friday
It was a tale of two games during Friday's Regional Semifinal between the Grapeland Sandiettes and Joaquin Lady Rams. The Sandiettes and Lady Rams combined for 22 runs in the Sandiettes 12-10 win in Game 1.
Game 2 was a much different as the teams wouldn't combine for 20 hits, or even 10 runs as the Lady Rams picked up a 4-2 win.
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H.S. Football: Palestine's Owens leads strong class of area recruits
Palestine junior Jarrell Owens hasn’t ever played a significant down in a game for the Wildcats at linebacker in his football career.
Yet, the position is obviously where his future lies.
Owens is one of a handful of area juniors drawing significant college interest, and the Palestine running back/linebacker already holds an official offer from Texas Tech University. - More Local Sports Headlines
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