Larry Tucker

As regular season football comes to a close and the playoffs are on the horizon, there are other sports already in state playoff activity.

Congratulations and good luck to the Mineola Girl’s Cross Country team as they prepare for the Class 3A state meet in Round Rock Nov. 3 at Old Settlers Park. I used to coach high school cross country and I know how much hard work the kids and the coaches go through in preparation. Mineola also had one of their boy’s team members, David Amador qualify for the state meet.

Yantis Lady Owl Maddie Hooker is set to return to the Class A State Cross Country meet. Hooker made it the meet last year and we wish her the best of luck this year as a senior and final attempt to medal at state level. She has had a spectacular cross country career at Yantis.

The Quitman Lady Bulldogs were set in their preparations for another playoff trip. We congratulate them on their fine 10-2 district record and wish them the best this week. If the Lady Bulldogs get past Madison, they must face the state’s number one team in Callisburg in the area round. Coach Ashlee Lingo’s team was thought to be in a rebuilding mode with several underclassmen, but the ladies have played like veterans in their quest for the playoffs.

The Mineola Yellowjackets took a big step toward a playoff spot with their 28-10 win over Sabine. The ‘Jackets face a stern test at Tatum this week. Tatum is undefeated in district play at 4-0. The ‘Jackets have the Eagles and Winnsboro left on the schedule.

Trevion Sneed went over the 1,000 yard mark against Sabine and now has 1,070 total rushing yards. Teammate Shaw Franklin may hit that mark this week. The talented quarterback has registered 892 yards with two game to go. The ‘Jackets must win one of the remaining two games to make a playoff run, but winning both would give them a higher seed.

Quitman looked poised to take their second win of the season, but Frankston had other plans as the Indians came from behind to beat the Bulldogs 36-25. Quitman’s Trey Berry had one of the finest hours for a Bulldog runner in many years. I’m not sure if it was a school record but the talented junior ran for 336 yards on 23 carries in the loss to the Indians. Quitman has not had a 1,000 yard runner in many years and Berry should be near that going into the last two games.

This week’s big battle will be the county war between Alba-Golden and Quitman at the Panthers’ stadium. The Panthers still have an outside shot at a playoff spot but must win the final two games against the Bulldogs and Frankston, two games in which they are favored. It should be a great game between the Panthers and Bulldogs. The two have not met in football in a few years and this one should be a good one.

It will be senior night for Alba-Golden. The Panthers are coming off a loss to Troup in a game which was very close until the Tigers broke it open in the second half. Expect the Panthers to come out firing Friday night.

Hawkins lost to Highway 80 rival Big Sandy and the Hawks are still looking for that first district win. It doesn’t get any easier as they must host traditional power Alto to this week before finishing the season at state-ranked and powerful Carlisle next week.

At least the Cowboys did not lose last week during their bye week. They did pick up a great wide receiver in Amari Cooper from Oakland, but it remains to be seen if it is going to make a difference. I follow the Cowboys, but have not been a serious fan since they left the Cotton Bowl in the early 1970s. I saw one game at Texas Stadium and vowed to not go back and have kept that vow. I hope they win, but my world does not revolve around a bunch of spoiled millionaires playing a game on Sundays.