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Weekly Newspaper and Tourism Guide for Ward County Trans Pecos, Big Bend of West Texas

Sports

September 03, 1998

Loboes drop pre-season opener


By a sports correspondent of the News
SNYDER - In the lightning and the rain on Friday, Aug. 28,
at Snyder, the Monahans Loboes began their run through a
gauntlet of pre-district games featuring the best, the
brightest and the meanest in West Texas prep football.

In Snyder, Seminole, Big Spring, Andrews and Fort Stockton,
there are no weak football teams.

Monahans lost 30-0 in a game delayed by storm at both the
kickoff and the start of the second half.

Coach Larry Hanna figures his team learned something. The
game definitely, Hanna says, was a learning experience for
his offense, which returns not one starter from last year's
Bi-District champions, and his defense, which must hit even
harder.

"The game came a week earlier than we usually have a game,
and we're keeping that into perspective," says Hanna. "Of
course, we never want to lose, but with the tough
non-district schedule we have, our goal is to improve week
to week. We're gonna play up to our competition."

Monahans, the consensus favorite to win its district crown,
went to Snyder for an opening night showdown with a tough as
nails 4A level Tiger team. With a new UIL rule allowing
games the last week in August, the Loboes took that
opportuinity for a real game, forgoing its traditional
second scrimmage.

As the teams began to wind down their warm-up, a storm cell
near the stadium in Snyder forced a 30 minute game delay.
To avoid any possible accidents, the Mean Green quickly left
their end zone and headed to the locker room.

Unfortuantely for the Loboes, they never found their way
back to the end zone.

However, the Snyder Tigers did.

Snyder's senior Fullback Cheyenne Robinson, who rushed for
151 yards and two touchdowns, led Snyder to a 30-0 victory
over the Loboes.

The victory wasn't all earned by the Tigers though, as the
young Lobo team practically spotted Snyder all 17 of their
points in the first half. All of those points came on the
ensuing possesion after a Lobo turnover.

Snyder is 1-0 on the year and the Loboes fall to 0-1.

Things could have turned out differently for the Loboes.
However, the ball never really bounced Monahans' way during
the night.

The first quarter began with Snyder on offense, and the
Tigers were quickly shut down by the Lobo "D." Snyder's
punt fell into the hands of Lobo Junior Cordova, who took
the punt down the left side of the field, following a
ferocious block by J.T. Higgins.

There wasn't much running room for Cordova though, as he ran
into a pile of Snyder Tigers. In that pile, the football
came loose, and Snyder fell on it to regain possession. The
Lobo defense bowed up to the challenge, and did not allow
Snyder into the end zone. However, the Green could not stop
the foot of Snyder kicker Andy Parker, who busted a 32 yard
field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The Loboes got the ball back after the ensuing kickoff, and
began a drive of their own. After a four yard run on the
first play of the drive by Benny Rodriguez, a bad exchange
between Todd Passmore and Jarod Thomas fell into Tiger
hands. Snyder again gained possession with excellent field
position. Despite their efforts, the Pack couldn't hold
Snyder from the endzone this time, as running back Paul Camp
hit the end one from three yards out for a Tiger TD. Parker
added the extra point for a 10-0 lead.

It looked as if that would be the score going into halftime,
as the teams exchanged possessions and short drives
throughout the second quarter. Late in that second quarter,
the Loboes appeared to have Snyder stuffed, as they forced a
long third down attempt. Snyder met the challenge though
with Cheyenne Robinson, earning them one final shot at the
endzone with just under 20 seconds remaining in the quarter.
On the ensuing play, the Tigers gave Robinson the ball
again, and he scurried through the Lobo "D," and went into
the end zone with seven seconds remaining in the quarter.
Parker added the PAT for a 17-0 halftime lead.

The third quarter was comparable to the second quarter
did, as the teams exchanged possessions and drives. The
Loboes failed to take the ball into Snyder territory during
that quarter. However, Snyder did put six more points on
the board during that quarter, as Cheyenne Robinson pounded
in from two yards. The PAT failed, and the quarter ended
with a 23-0 score. The fourth quarter was nearly as
uneventful as the third. Snyder did put together one drive
early in the quarter, as QB Justin McNair dove in from one
yard for the final score. Parker added the PAT for the 30-0
final.

Though the Loboes were obviously unhappy with Friday night's
result, the players and coaches were more confident after
watching the game film on Saturday.

At times Friday night, both the offense and defense showed
flashes of brilliance. The offense pieced together a drive
down to the Snyder 36 from deep in their own territory in
the second quarter, and the defense had several critical
stops to Snyder's offense.

The Loboes will also have the "X" factor working for them
this week against Seminole - playing in Lobo Field.

This game will be the home opener for the Loboes, as they
hope to improve their record to 1-1 on the season with their
first victory of 1998.

The game begins at 7:30 on Friday night, with pre-game
ceremonies scheduled to kick off around 7:10 p.m.

Bowie stalls Lobo volleyballers


By Nathan Rogers
A Sports Correspondent of the News
PECOS - Lobo Lady Tracie Jasso was all tournament.

Coach Patty Hall's Lobo volleyballers fought their way into
the semifinals and on the way finished first in their pool
where they stopped Crane and Kermit, two new district foes.

El Paso Bowie, the eventual tournament champion and the
same team that beat Monahans last week, stalled the Lobo run
at the final four.

That was the way it was when the Lady Loboes traveled just
down Interstate 20 to Pecos Friday and Saturday, Aug. 28 and
29, for the thirteenth annual Cantaloupe Classic volleyball
tournament hosted by the Pecos Eagles. Hall's Pack was
intent on making a strong showing. They did.

Starting in pool play on Friday, the team made quick work
of new district rivals Crane and Kermit.

Coach Hall says, "The girls were eager to get a good start.
They played very enthusiastically and with lots of energy.
It was also good to play against teams in our district."

The Ladies won their pool and waited until Saturday when
they began elimination play. The first opponent was Fabens,
a team which proved to be more of a challenge.

"We had a slow start this morning, because of the lack of
rest. Many of the girls were at the football game and
didn't get much sleep. I was happy to see them start to
come back, though," states Hall.

The Ladies appeared to wake up halfway through the first
game. They went on to play their best volleyball of the
year and quickly disposed of Fabens.

More from Hall: "The girls played great once they got into
it. I received many compliments from coaches watching from
the stands, telling me how good the team looked and how
tough they would be to beat. They started playing up to
their capability."

However, the new found energy proved to be temporary.
Against El Paso Bowie, the same team that defeated the
Ladies last week, the team looked lethargic.

They lost in two sets, 11-15, 5-15.

"Once again, I feel it was the lack of sleep and
concentration that held us back. There was also a long wait
between the games that didn't really help, but the girls did
give a good effort," Hall says.

The team went on to face district foe Alpine in the third
place match. They began to bounce back, but in the middle
of the first game seemed to reach the same mental block that
hampered them before. They succumbed to Alpine in two sets,
13-15, 10-15, earning fourth place. Senior Tracie Jasso
received All-Tournament Team Honors. Coach Hall reflects,
"Overall, it was a good tournament. We got to see many
teams that we will be facing in district. It was a good
preview. Tracie also did very well, and was deserving of
the all-tournament honors."

This weekend the Lady Loboes will travel to Seminole to play
in the Seminole Tournament.

Looking ahead, Coach Hall says, "Our pool includes San
Angelo Lake View, one of the strongest teams in our area,
and State-Semifinalist Greenwood. The Lady Rangers have
several returning players who have more experience than last
year's team. The tournament will be super tough, but we look
forward to the challenge. Playing against all these great
teams will only teach us to be tough as well."



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Copyright 1998 by Ward Newspapers, Inc.
Joe Warren, Publisher
107 W. Second St., Monahans TX 79756
Phone 915-943-4313, FAX 915-943-4314
e-mail monnews@ultravision.net

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Copyright 1998 by Ward Newspapers Inc.