Sunday, November 8, 1998

Schools select sites for next weekend's football games

By BILL HART

Senior Staff Writer

While most area schools were furiously trying to find sites for the weekend bi-district games Friday night, Shotwell Stadium was empty.

Brady and Iowa Park had tentatively set their Class 3A Division II game for Saturday afternoon at Hamlin, but once school officials heard that no one was using Shotwell, they moved their game here and changed the game to Friday night.

As a result, Abilene will be the site for three games. Wylie faces Vernon in a Class 3A Division I contest at Bulldog Stadium Friday, then Bronte takes on Gorman Saturday night in a Class A bi-district game also at Wylie.

Abilene Independent School District reserved Shotwell Stadium for Friday night for Cooper, depending on what the Cougars would do. But the Cougars and Amarillo High opted for a neutral site, Lubbock's Jones Stadium, on Friday night.

Stephenville had reserved the stadium in case it played Snyder in the Class 4A first round, but when Big Spring beat Sweetwater Friday night, that made Andrews the top Division II team in District 5-4A and Stephenville's opponent. They had flipped between Abilene and Sweetwater and Andrews won. The Mustangs then picked Sweetwater for the Saturday 2 p.m. contest.

At least two area schools are assured of playing next week. Snyder and Brownwood play their Class 4A game in San Angelo Friday and Bronte faces Gorman. Andrews is No. 3 in Class 4A, Brownwood is No. 6 and Stephenville is No. 8.

Breckenridge, the No. 1 team in Class 3A, faces Waco Connally in Stephenville, while Winters, No. 2 in Class 2A, goes to Comanche to play Salado. Aspermont, No. 3 in Class A, meets Windthorst at Archer City. All are Friday night games.

Bill Hart can be reached at 676-6773 or sports@abinews.com.