Wednesday, September 9, 1998

Best of the West to face best of the Central

By JEFF WALKER

Staff Writer

District 4-5A is considered the best football district in West Texas.

District 8-5A, home of the Killeen Ellison Eagles (ranked No. 1 in the state), is perenially the top district in Central Texas.

Which district is better? We will know more after this week when two teams from District 8-5A face the two schools from Abilene in a pair of intiguing matchups.

Cooper travels to Waco Thursday to face the Waco High Lions, while Abilene High will meet Temple Friday night at Shotwell Stadium.

Cooper head coach Randy Allen said the Cougars' game was moved up a day because of a scheduling conflict.

"They already had a school reserve the field for Friday and Abilene High scheduled a game for Shotwell Stadium," he said. "So we either had to play Thursday or Saturday and I think (Waco High) might have had a little problem with Saturday so we're playing Thursday. But next year when they come here it'll be on a Friday."

The Cougars already got a taste of District 8-5A football when they beat the Killeen Kangaroos last Friday, 26-9, at Shotwell Stadium.

Killeen, however, is predicted to finish fifth out of six teams in the district, according to Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine.

Waco and Temple High are expected to finish second and third behind Ellison.

"This is by far the best team we will have faced all season and maybe will face," Eagles' head coach Steve Warren said.

Temple handled a familiar foe of Abilene High's pretty easily last week when they knocked off San Angelo Central, 34-10.

Abilene High is 2-0 after a 23-7 win last week over Lubbock Monterey.

Allen said his team can expect a physical contest with the Lions.

"I know their coach, Johnny Tusa, and he does an excellent job there," said Allen, who coached against Waco High when he was an assistant at Bryan High School from 1973-81.

"They were picked 17th in the state in the preseason poll and they've got a middle linebacker that is being recruited by Florida State. He is high on their list."

M*A*S*H unit

Cooper quarterback Jeremy Janssen broke his collarbone last week without taking a snap. He is expected to miss eight weeks. He is the only Cougar that is expected to miss Thursday's game with an injury. Allen also said offensive lineman Shaylon Garner was back at practice this week and is expected to be on the sidelines against the Lions.

Abilene High didn't get the same diagnosis with its injuries, however, Center Dominic Horton and defensive end Jerry Culberson, out last week with injuries, are also expected to miss Friday's contest with Temple. Defensive end Chesrick Pope is listed as questionable for the game, as is defensive tackle Jonathan Gonzales, who injured his knee in last week's win over Lubbock Monterey.

Jeff Walker can be reached at 676-6711 or sports@abinews.com.