Area teams in playoff action

By BILL HART / Senior Staff Writer

For the second year in a row, Albany is meeting a team in the Class 2A bi-district playoffs that had beaten them during the season.

The Lions face Roscoe at Shotwell Stadium, the same team that beat them, 34-0, back in September. Last year, Albany lost to Stamford in the regular season, then knocked off the Bulldogs in bi-district.

"We had three starters out at Roscoe, but we had four others suffer injuries in the first half and they sat out the second half," said Albany coach Denney Faith. "But that doesn't take away anything from Roscoe because they have a good team. They are more balanced than they were last year, and I don't see that much difference in them."

Roscoe went to the Class A finals last year before losing, and the Plowboys have kept on winning in Class 2A.

"I'm surprised at our season, but the key has been the offensive line," said Roscoe coach Robbie Tindol. "I think we're more solid than a year ago and because of that, we've been able to add more things.

"It's hard to beat a team the second time, but we feel like we haven't played them yet because they didn't have (running back) Jeff Farmer that night, and he's a big part of their offense and defense."

Farmer has rushed for 1,284 yards and 12 touchdowns for Albany. Roscoe's Andy Howard has rushed for 1,047 yards and scored 22 touchdowns. Beau Barnes has passed for 1,019 yards and 10 touchdowns, six to Roddy Alexander. Barnes also has rushed for 10 scores.

Stamford vs. Eldorado

The Stamford Bulldogs take a five-game winning streak into tonight's bi-district game with Eldorado in Ballinger.

Fullback Josh Murphree leads the Stamford offense with 849 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns in nine games. He also rushed for more than 100 yards in four games.

Paul McClendon is the sparkplug on defense after intercepting eight passes, seven coming in District 7-2A play and three were in one game.

Running back Garrett Bownds (653 yards rushing), quarterback Casey Snelson (1,147 yards passing) and receiver Zane Bruce (24 catches, 414 receiving) are the offensive sparks for Eldorado. Clay Butler led the secondary with five interceptions.

Cisco vs. Mason

Cisco is in bi-district for the first time as district champion since 1973. And for a change, the Loboes are not playing Hamlin, which has beaten them in recent first round games.

Mason knocked off District 12-2A champion Junction last week and got the playoff spot by its penetrations victory over Bangs after the game ended in a 21-21 tie.

Cisco is led by quarterback Donnie Frazier, who passed for 1,039 yards and 18 touchdowns. His favorite target is Julius Reed, who caught 28 for 606 yards and nine touchdowns. Shawn Murk leads the ground game with 1,007 yards and five touchdowns.

De Leon vs. Junction

De Leon will be minus three starting linemen because of grades, but the Bearcats still have a lot of firepower with quarterback Luke Mix, who has thrown for 1,034 yards. Angel Gonzales has caught 24 passes for 454 yards and six touchdowns and John Hernandez, who intercepted seven passes on defense, has caught 20 for 407 yards and six touchdowns. Doug Flood is the top rusher.

Junction is led by Trey Sullivan, who has gained 694 yards on the ground, Chris Suttle has passed for 1,077 yards and 12 touchdowns and Kennon Doyal has caught 44 passes for 700 yards and five touchdowns.

De Leon beat Goldthwaite, which beat Mason, but the Bearcats also lost to Bangs, which tied Mason.

CLASS 4A

Sweetwater vs. El Paso Burges

Sweetwater, ranked No. 4 in Class 4A, plays host to El Paso Burges, which was in Class 5A last year.

Quarterback Andrew Boatright directs the Mustangs' offense, passing for 904 yards and rushing for 987 yards. Running back Jason Blueford has gained 1,054 yards and has scored 14 touchdowns. End Robert Reed has caught 16 passes for 347 yards and a touchdown, and has kicked 17 extra points and four field goals.

Sweetwater is averaging 355 yards a game and allowing 213. The Mustangs are averaging 27 points a game and giving up nine an outing.

Brownwood vs. Eastern Hills

Brownwood is the Cindarella team in the area this year, going 9-1 after a 1-8-1 season in 1995 and making the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

Audey Mitchell has rushed for 1,557 yards and 23 touchdowns, getting 306 yards in the double overtime win over Stephenville. Tackle Scott Kelly and end Marty Jones are top blockers in the line that allowed the offense to average 307 yards a game.

Eastern Hills is led by quarterback Charlie Hammonds, who completed 97 of 174 passes for 1,236 yards and Jes Young, who caught 47 passes for 567 yards.

CLASS 3A

Clyde vs. Vernon

This will mark the second straight bi-district game that the Clyde Bulldogs have met the state's No. 1 Class 3A team. In 1993, they lost to Southlake Carroll in the first round and that team went on to win state.

Tonight, the Bulldogs go against top-rated Vernon. Bryan Cauthen (671 yards), Lance Ralston (631) and Jerod Yates (593) give Clyde a solid running game and they have combined to score 24 of the team's 29 touchdowns. Josh Collins has passed for 813 yards and Kenneth Taylor has caught 30 passes for 559 yards and two touchdowns.

Fullback Brenton Gabbert heads the Vernon attack with 934 yards and 15 touchdowns, but two other backs have gained more than 750 yards each. Sidnei Gaines (5-11, 242) leads a defense that gave up only three passing touchdowns all year. He had six sacks.

Colorado City vs. Monahans

Colorado City may feel it is playing the No. 1 team in Monahans, which is unbeaten and virtually untested after dropping down from Class 4A.

The Wolves' Arian Emerson has rushed for 1,763 yards and 21 touchdowns, but credit the blocking of tackles Zack Love and Marcus Sanchez for a lot of his success. Love is also a top defensive hand.

Running back Tyler Lee has rushed for 1,015 yards and 21 touchdowns and has caught a touchdown pass to lead 10-0 Monahans. Linebacker Garett Williams sparks a tough defense.

CLASS A

Munday vs. Bryson

The Munday Moguls, ranked fourth in the state, take on a Bryson team that lost to Class 2A Archer City in the first game and to No. 1-ranked Windthorst in district.

Gerald Taylor has rushed for 855 yards and 14 touchdowns for Munday, but he also threw a lot to blocks to help Jonathan Reagins gain 1,205 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also had four touchdowns returning kicks.

Taylor is a key on defense, averaging 12.7 tackles and intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown.

Bryson's main weapon is quarterback Todd Tuel, who has rushed for 487 yards and has passed for 873 yards, combining for 11 touchdowns. He also averages 45 yards a punt and is a top hand on defense.

Baird vs. Sterling City

The Baird Bears have won their last nine games and are in the playoffs for the first time in two years. They are facing a Sterling City team that lost several players to grades this past week.

Travis Kerbow has rushed for 1,212 yards and 19 touchdowns, while quarterback Jim Scott has passed for 662 yards and has run for 655, totaling 16 touchdowns.

Sterling City tied with Garden City and Robert Lee for second place, but still advanced to the playoffs. Speedster Matthew Williams is the top rusher for coach Howard McDaniel, who once coached at Roby.

Cross Plains vs. Bronte

Cross Plains wound up 8-1-1 after losing last week to Baird. Bronte, without running back Keith Treadaway during district with a broken ankle, lost only to Garden City in the final week.

Running back Jody Fortune and quarterback Jarad Richards spearhead the Cross Plains offense, while Porcious Potter is a top hand on defense.