BETHEL —
Any game in district play is a big one. Any district opener is probably that much bigger.
But, with district favorites Franklin and Teague waiting on the other side, Friday’s district-opener in Crockett is made that much bigger for Elkhart.
The Elks (1-4) travel to winless Crockett (0-5) Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kick-off at Monte Jack Driskell Stadium.
“It’s huge. Any time you start district you want to start on the right foot and start out 1-0,” EHS coach Sam Wells said. “Going in, after pre-district, you have to say that Franklin and Teague are, probably, the top two teams.
“But, to us, every district game is a big game. This is by far the most important because its the one we’re playing this week.”
The last time fans saw the Elks, they were staying with Class 1A No. 5 Joaquin in the first half of what became a 46-21 loss Sept. 28.
The Rams only led 22-21 at the half, however, but the Elks only ran nine second half plays.
“The big thing, against Joaquin, the first half we controlled the ball and kept it away from them pretty good,” Wells said. “We ran a lot of plays the first half. We only had nine offensive plays the second half. We weren’t able to maintain anything and that put us in a bind with what we wanted to do.”
The Bulldogs have losses to state-ranked Lexington as well as Class 3A teams Madisonville and Rusk on their resume.
Wells described Crockett as a young team prone to occasional mistakes, and said he hopes his team can take advantage if the Bulldogs make those mistakes Friday.
“Obviously, Crockett is very talented...but they’re just young it looks like,” he said. “They’ve got some tremendous players, and if they get it together they can be a big force.”
The Elks will try to get back to their bread-and-butter, running the football, against Crockett, who enters the game winless after a tough non-district slate.
That should include kick-starting star running back Jeffrey Wilson again after Joaquin held the junior to only 53 yards on the ground — his only game this season under 100 yards.
But, quarterback Kevin Kidd had a big day running the ball against the Rams, rushing for 122 yards, meaning that Elkhart could be twice as dangerous if both get going.
“We’ve got to keep doing what we’ve been doing, being able to run the football,” Wells said. “We’ve got to be more efficient in our throwing game and, the big thing for us is protecting the ball and not get into long situations.
“If we can do that, we should be in great shape.”
———
Sports editor Justin Rains can be reached via email at jrains@palestineherald.com
Local Sports
H.S. Football: Elkhart hopes to open district with win over Crockett
- Local Sports
-
-
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.
-
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
-
H.S. Football: Elkhart's Wilson picks up 2nd offer
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
Wash. State Man Arrested Following Ricin Scare
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
New Forecasting Tool Eyed for Hurricane Season
Meet MJ, the Bike Riding Tabby Cat
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
