Wednesday, September 2, 1998

Injuries already impact AHS, CHS football programs

By JEFF WALKER

Staff Writer

Injuries have already made a direct impact on both of Abilene's 5A football teams.

Abilene High lost starting center Dominic Horton to a deep knee bruise and starting defensive end Chesrick Pope to a severly sprained ankle during last Friday's 20-0 victory over Amarillo Tascosa.

"Dominic will not play this week and probably not the following week (against Temple)," AHS head coach Steve Warren said Tuesday at the weekly coaches luncheon. "Chesrick will also be out this week, but we hope to have him back for the next game."

Starting in Horton's place Friday night at Lubbock Monterey will be junior Austin Denny. The 5-10 176-pounder took over the snaps against the Rebels and gained praise from Warren, as did junior Jason Watson (5-9, 221) when Watson replaced Pope.

"He did a great job at center last week when he got in," Warren said of Denny. "Jason Watson entered the game in place of Chesrick about midway through the first quarter and he did a fine job too. We were very pleased with their performances."

The Cougars open the regular season Friday night against Killeen High School at Shotwell Stadium and will be without the services of left guard Shaylon Garner, who's out with a strained knee.

"We're going to move Chris Almaguer to center and put James Jones at guard," Cooper head coach Randy Allen said.

Allen said the Cougars are anxious to get the regular season started after and their intrasquad scrimmage and last week's scrimmage at at Wichita Falls Rider.

"We've shown some improvement in both scrimmages," he said. "We've gained some confidence, our offensive line has gotten off the ball well, our pass protection has been solid and our quarterback threw for over 300 yards (against Rider).

"Defensively, Rider had one good drive on the second set of 15 plays but we kept them out of the end zone on the first set of 20. We got a little tired at the end but I think that has to do with conditioning and that helped us."

Allen added that the Cougars' running game, which has been a question mark since spring practice due to lack of experience, was settled against the Raiders.

"Carl Bloom and Sebastian Mata ran the ball tough for us," he said. "Carl protected the ball well and Sebastian needs to work a bit on ball security, but they both have shown improvement and will start.

"Michael Medina and Davon Curry have also had an opportunity to get some reps and they can do the job if we need them. We've got some depth at that position if our offensive line continues to open holes for us."

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