FB: Tenaha, Alto head PWS area schedule
during earlier season action. The Tenaha offense will be tested
Friday night when the Tigers travel to Alto to face the 'Jackets.
(Photo by John Krueger)
Class 1A powerhouse programs Alto and Tenaha will once again meet on the gridiron this week, marking the second time in 10 months the squads have tangled when both teams were state-ranked. This game highlights a very busy Week 2 of action involving teams in the PineyWoodsSports.com area.
In addition to the Alto-Tenaha game in Alto, other area teams in action will include Center hosting a surprising 0-2 Arp squad. No.2-ranked Carthage will visit Chapel Hill, Shelbyville will host Beckville in the Dragons' homecoming tilt, Garrison will be at home taking on Winnsboro, Timpson will have a tough task on the road at Groveton, Mount Enterprise will now host Overton and the Joaquin Rams will meet Hemphill in a contest of 0-2 squads.
No.4 Tenaha at No.8 Alto - Friday, 7:30 p.m. (Internet - KGASradio.com)
Last season the Tenaha Tigers and Alto Yellowjackets met in a Class 1A D-II Bi-District showdown in Bullard and the contest turned out to be an all-out war as the Tigers outscored the Yellowjackets 20-14 in the fourth quarter to claim a 20-17 victory.
The Tigers outgained the 'Jackets 409-195 in that game as Tenaha had a balanced offensive attack of 152 yards on the ground and 257 yards in the air.
This year's cast is different, but the two squads are still among the top of the Class 1A teams. Tenaha is ranked No.4 in the state in this week's Associated Press Class 1A State Poll. Alto comes in ranked No.8, moving up one spot from last week.
The teams are near the top in regional rankings as well as the Tigers are No.1 in the Smoaky.com Poll, while Alto is two places back at No.3. The Eastexsports.com Poll has the two squads holding the top two spots, with Tenaha being No.1.
Both teams have started fast in 2010, with the Tigers (2-0) posting consecutive shutouts over Joaquin (34-0) and Timpson (21-0). Alto (2-0) has been even more impressive this season, rolling past Groveton, 67-13, and Class 2A San Augustine, 55-6.
Arp at Center - Friday, 7:30 p.m. (KDET Radio 930 AM & KQSI 92.5 FM)
The Center Roughriders were riding high after their season-opening victory over Rusk (47-0), but were quickly brought back down to earth last week when they blew a 17-6 halftime lead and saw No.12-ranked (Class 2A) Linden-Kildare score a touchdown with 38 seconds remaining to knock off the 'Riders, 28-23, on the road.
Center (1-1) will try to get back on the winning track this week against a surprisingly winless Arp squad. The Tigers, who were 12-1 a year ago and advanced to the Class 2A D-I regional finals, entered this season ranked in the Top 10, but have begun the season with consecutive losses to No.1-ranked Daingerfield, 44-14, and Omaha-Paul Pewitt, 27-24.
Despite their winless record, this game could be one of the most exciting in the state as Arp attempts to get back on the winning track, while the Class 3A Roughriders try to gain some momentum back after the Week 1 setback.
No. 2 Carthage at Chapel Hill - Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The Carthage Bulldogs appear in midseason form when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. The Bulldogs defense, which has given up 68 points in its first two games of the season, will get another test this week when the Dawgs visit Chapel Hill Friday night.
Chapel Hill is currently 1-1 on the season after rolling past Palestine Westwood, 50-10, in the opener two weeks ago and then falling to Whitehouse 42-6 a week ago.
Chapel Hill was 5-5 a year ago and returns seven offensive and six defensive starters this season. CHHS is picked to win the District 17-3A race.
Winnsboro at Garrison - Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The Garrison Bulldogs have been involved in a high-scoring affair with Hemphill (42-30) and a defensive battle with Lovelady (7-6) to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Bulldogs will be at home this Friday to battle Class 2A D-I Winnsboro in a nondistrict battle at Bulldog Stadium.
The Raiders are currently 1-1 after opening the season with a 49-6 setback to Grace Community and a 28-7 victory over Como-Pickton.
Winnsboro returned one starter each way this season and is picked to finish 4th in the six-team District 7-2A race. The Red Raiders advanced to the Area finals last year, posting a 7-5 record.
Beckville at Shelbyville - Friday, 7:30 p.m. (KQBB Radio - 100.5 FM)
The Shelbyville Dragons have won as many games as they did in all of 2009 and they would like nothing better than to keep their perfect 2-0 record intact when they host unbeaten Beckville Friday night in the 2010 Dragon Homecoming contest.
Shelbyville won a thriller over Troup in its opener, 34-27, and then played tough defense in a 21-12 win over Joaquin last week.
Beckville is also off to a fast start under first-year head coach Jason Ballenger, the Bearcats were 5-5 a year ago, but have rolled off victories over Union Grove, 20-12, and Cushing, 22-0, in the first two weeks of 2010.
The Dragons have shown they have a potent offense, rolling up 315 yards against Troup and 303 yards against the Rams a week ago.
This game could turn into an offensive show as these two squads have combined for 97 points on the offensive side in two games.
Timpson at Groveton - Friday, 7:30 p.m. (Internet - KGASradio.com)
The Timpson Bears were hoping to get off the season on a positive start, but it hasn't worked out that way as the Bears have fallen to West Sabine, 34-12, and state-ranked Tenaha, 21-0.
The Bears have played good defense in both of their games and both Tenaha and West Sabine are both 2-0 on the season, showing that Timpson's competition has been stiff.
This week's opponent won't be any easier when Timpson travels to Groveton to face the Indians. GHS opened the year with a 67-13 loss to state-ranked Alto and then bounced back to demolish Warren, 68-0, to even its record at 1-1.
The Bears struggled offensively against Tenaha last week, tallying only 71 total yards in wet conditions. Timpson will need more offense against the Indians this week if the Bears want to get in the win column.
Overton at Mount Enterprise - Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The Mount Enterprise Wildcats received a 'gift' this week when they learned that they will have a break in their scheduled four game road trip when it Overton's Coach Chester Roy Stadium was ruled unplayable and this Friday's game was moved to Mount Enterprise.
The contest will be played at old Wildcat Stadium because the new sports complex on the Mount Enterprise ISD campus is not quite completed.
The Wildcats (1-1) are coming off their first setback of the season, a 39-15 loss at the hands of Cayuga last week on the road. Mount Enterprise opened the year with a 14-8 win over Cushing.
Overton (0-2) will be looking for its initial win of the season. The Mustangs opened the year with a 30-6 setback at the hands of Cayuga before falling to Union Grove, 14-0, a week ago.
Overton is a member of District 9-1A D-I and returned three offensive and three defensive starters off of a 3-7 team a year ago.
Joaquin at Hemphill - Friday, 7:30 p.m.
When Joaquin visits Hemphill Friday night at Hornet Stadium it will feature a matchup of two 0-2 teams that have played some outstanding competition thus far. It could create a barnburner in Hemphill.
The Rams are coming off setbacks to No.4-ranked Tenaha, 34-0, and Shelbyville (21-12), two teams which are both unbeaten on the season.
Hemphill fell to unbeaten Garrison, 42-30, and 2-0 West Sabine, 33-12. But the Hornets have an explosive offense that is ready to break out.
Joaquin knows how to move the ball on the ground and Austin Bloodgood will be looking for his third consecutive 100-yard game, which means this could be a high-scoring affair before all is said and done.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 10
High School Football
Carthage at Chapel Hill (V), 7:30 p.m.
Arp at Center (V), 7:30 p.m. (KDET Radio 930 AM & KQSI 92.5 FM)
Joaquin at Hemphill (V), 7:30 p.m.
Winnsboro at Garrison (V), 7:30 p.m.
Beckville at Shelbyville (V), 7:30 p.m. (KQBB Radio - 100.5 FM)
Timpson at Groveton (V), 7:30 p.m.
Overton at Mount Enterprise (V), 7:30 p.m. (Game moved to Mt. Enterprise)
Tenaha at Alto (V), 7:30 p.m.