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Stooksberry knew 1996 was going to be a tougher year for his Bucks than
any other in recent history, with the arrival of the Monahans Loboes in
District 3-3A. But Alpine's showdown with the Loboes is still nine weeks
away. Right now, the fifth-year head coach is looking to get through
what will likely be the toughest part of his schedule.
The Bucks opened up with a 33-18 homefield loss to Crane, their first
defeat at Alpine in six years. And they follow up Friday's game with
contests against Seminole and Midland Greenwood before starting district
play.
The Eagles already know a little about Alpine's September opponents.
They were outscored by Crane and Greenwood in their scrimmages, and saw
a tape of Seminole's scrimmage with Lamesa the week before the Tornadoes
handed the Eagles a season-opening 21-6 defeat.
The Eagles blew two of their three early scoring chances last Friday,
and saw the Tors wipe out a 6-0 deficit with a touchdown pass just
before the half, then take control in the final period to earn the
victory.
Belew said his team is still upbeat after the loss. "I think our
attitude has been good. The kids are disappointed about losing, but they
should be disappointed. As far as our attitude, the kids are still up
and out there working hard."
"Our mistakes last week were pretty much execution mistakes," he added.
"If we can increase our level of execution on offense, I feel confident
we'll do all right."
Alpine, meanwhile, saw Crane start fast in both halves of their game,
but along the way they tried to help out the Bucks, losing nine fumbles
and tossing two interceptions. Those errors let Alpine tie the score at
12-all at halftime, but the Bucks were then shut down until the closing
seconds of play.
"I thought our offensive line did a good job last week, we just didn't
get the blocking from our backs that we needed," Stooksberry said of the
loss, Alpine's first in regular season play since a defeat at Reagan
County two years ago.
"I talked to coach Stooksberry, and he said he though he had one of his
best offensive lines, and the defensive line is a strong point for them.
They just may have a little less at running back than what they're used
to," Belew said.
"Our offensive line nearly all played together a year ago, and our
defensive line is also back," the Bucks' coach said. He did add that a
knee injury suffered by defensive end Jake McAnally this week while
playing basketball will take away one starter from that unit.
Alpine quarterback Justin Darwin got a chance to start in the playoffs
last season, after starter Kevin Losoya went down with a broken leg. But
he was replaced last week with newcomer Jason Garcia, who Stooksberry
said was "one pleasant spot," in an otherwise bad night for Alpine's
skill position players.
"Jason moved in from Presidio and he played about two quarters and
looked good," the Bucks' coach said. "He's going to be a big help to
us." Garcia had a 10-yard touchdown run in the second period, then threw
a 65-yard touchdown pass to Justin Yarborough late in the game.
Along with Losoya, Alpine also lost running backs Jason Valenzuela and
Marcos Rodriguez off last year's 10-1 playoff team. "We've got so many
inexperienced running backs it's just going to take us a while to get
our feet wet," Stooksberry said. Runners Michael Pules, Jacob Philbrick
and Bryan Ritchie were held to less than 50 yards rushing by Crane's
defense last Friday.
The Eagles, meanwhile, ran for over 200 yards in their loss, but will
try and improve on their second half effort, when they were outgained by
the Tors 172 yards to 85.
"They do throw the ball well," Belew said. "Their offense is very
similar to the type that Lamesa and Greenwood run.. It's run oriented
and they do a good job on play action passes," which hurt the Eagles a
week ago.
"They'll lull you to sleep and if the defense doesn't read their keys
they'll hit you with the pass."
Defensively, Belew said the Bucks, "run the 50, so there will be a lot
of carryover from last week. We'll see the same type of defense Lamesa
ran, and hopefully that will be to our advantage."
Alpine's defensive front, led by 275-pound tackle Johnny Llanez, will
be one of the bigger lines Pecos will have to work against this season,
while Philbrick and Marty Donet also are returning starters at
linebacker.
Belew said he would have one change at that spot on his defense this
week, with Ray Parada replacing Jose Contreras at one of the outside
spots.
"Ray reported late and got behind. Since this is a new system, it took
a few extra workouts to catch up," Belew said. "Our outside linebackers
last week (Contreras and Richard Gutierrez) are both starters on offense
as well (at tight end and fullback), so this will give them a little
more rest. but I feel Ray will go over and play on that side of the ball
as well."
Probable Starters
Alpine Pecos
Offense Defense
QB (12) - Justin Darwin 160 LE (54) - Steve Harrison 170
FB (13) - Michael Pules 140 LT (33) - Arnulfo Granado 180
TB (33) - Jacob Philbrick 180 RT (52) - Hector Lozano 190
SE (85) - Jonathan Cozart 190 RE (51) - T.J. Huffman 165
ST (62) - Kevin Gannaway 175 LB (22) - Ray Parada 170
SG (50) - Russell Rankin 175 LB (42) - Joseph Strain 185
|C (68) - David Contreras 185 LB (20) - Richard Gutierrez 175
TG (78) - Ray Leyva 155 CB (17) - Jason Abila 145
TT (51) - Aaron Villalobos 185 SS (30) - Moses Martinez 165
TE (90) - Marty Donet 180 FS (35) - Mark Abila 140
WB (32) - Bryan Ritchie 160 CB (12) - Arnulfo Flores 160
Defense Offense
LE (62) - Kevin Gannaway 175 QB (17) - Jason Abila 145
LT (72) - Brian Portillo 215 HB (14) - Jason Aguilar 150
NG (45) - Kevin Coughman 215 FB (20) - Richard Gutierrez 175
RT (94) - Johnny Llanez 275 WR (12) - Arnulfo Flores 160
RE (60) - Jeff Zutowski 185 ST (55) - Jeremy Thomasson 230
LB (33) - Jacob Philbrick 180 SG (65) - Didio Martinez 200
LB (90) - Marty Donet 180 |C (66) - Jorge Navarrete 250
CB (22) - Justin Yarborough 160 TG (74) - Jake Fowler 250
FS (14) - Samuel Stratton 145 RT (71) - Ringo Gallego 240
SS (10) - Jason Garcia 165 TE (44) - Jose Contreras 175
CB (26) - Julian Molinar 135 FL (45) - Chris Reyes 150
|K (72) - Brian Portillo 215 P/KO (40) - Richard Gutierrez 170
|P (90) - Marty Donet 180 PK (17) - Jason Abila 145
PECOS, Sept. 12 - The Balmorhea Bears begin the `private school' portion
of their 1996 football schedule Friday night at 7:30 p.m., when they
face Carlsbad Victory Christian in their home opener.
The Bears face Carlsbad, then go to El Paso to face Faith Christian on
Sept. 20. and while Balmorhea will get an `up-close' look at next week's
opponent - Faith Christian faces Grandfalls in Balmorhea Saturday
afternoon - Bears' coach Michael Barrandey said Friday's foe was more of
a mystery.
"I don't know anything about them, except that they're from Carlsbad,"
said the Bears' coach, whose team has only faced Carlsbad's other
six-man private school, Bethel Christian, in the past.
Based on their season-opening results, the Bears should be in pretty
good shape no matter what Carlsbad brings on Friday. Balmorhea scored
six first period touchdowns in their 52-7 win at Marathon, a game ended
less than a minute into the second half under the 45-point rule.
"Our starters played the first six minutes of the game, and then I
pulled them out and the second team played the rest of the quarter,"
Barrandey said. "In the second quarter I played mostly our freshmen."
A bigger concern might be the strong start the other District 8-A six
man teams got off to. Grandfalls, which opened a week ahead of everyone
else by beating Lake Arthur, N.M., routed Sands last week, while
Sanderson, Dell City and Sierra Blanca also posted victories. Only
defending district champion Buena Vista lost, 46-40 to Three Way this
past Saturday.
Three Way was only ranked 60th out of 89 teams in the preseason
Huntress Report, while Sands was rated No. 4 going into play. However,
Barrandey, who team was rated 13th by Huntress entering 1996, downplayed
those rankings.
"I don't put a lot of salt in the ratings this early in the season. A
lot of teams like Sands graduated their key starters, and you can't tell
how they're going to be," he said. "Also, we pulled off our kids before
the half, and a lot of those polls are based on how many points you
score.
"We try to play all our kids now, because when we get towards the
playoffs later in the season and get an injury, we'll need those kids to
come in and contribute when it matters."
PECOS, Sept. 12 - District 4-4A play opens Saturday in Andrews for the
Pecos Eagles' tennis team, and they'll be hoping for the same success
they enjoyed there two years ago against the Andrews Mustangs.
The Eagles clinched a trip to the regional tennis tournament at Andrews
in 1994, but the Mustangs reversed things a year ago, earning their own
playoff spot with a victory in Pecos over the Eagles.
"They're probably a notch or two below Big Spring," Eagles' coach J.R.
Torrez said. "They're solid, though they may not be as strong as they've
been in the past."
On Saturday, the 2-3 Eagles will be looking for more success in girls'
singles and doubles play then they managed a week ago in Monahans, when
they dropped an 11-7 decision (14-10 overall) to the Loboes.
Monahans won thanks to a sweep of all nine varsity girls matches by the
Loboes, while the Eagles went 7-2 in singles and doubles play on the
boys side.
"With the girls it's been a continuing process. We've gotten better each
week, but we've just got to concentrate on making our easy shots and
staying in focus," Torrez said.
"We lost about four matches where we were either up or tied and just
couldn't finish the match," he added.
No. 1 singles seed Stephanie Armstrong came the closest to winning
against the Loboes. She dropped her singles match to Jessica Roberson,
7-6, 7-6, after she and Christi Breiten dropped a 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 decision
to Roberson and Joanna Cupp.
The girls' lone win came in a non-varsity match, as No. 8 seed Brenda
Natividad defeated Patricia Hernandez, 6-0, 7-5. Robyn Matthews and
Nichi Dannelly were the other three-set losers for Pecos, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
in non-varsity doubles to Julie Rowe and Sandra Molinar.
The only losses by the boys in varsity play were in split sets, while
David Zuniga, Mark Marquez and Jeff Lam came away with victories in both
singles and doubles play.
Zuniga defeated Caleb Clark, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, while Marquez beat Jeremy
Reyes, 6-0, 6-4. Earlier, they teamed up to defeat Reyes and Daniel
Fuentes, 6-0, 4-6, 7-6. Lam, meanwhile won over Paul Salinas, 3-6, 7-5,
6-3, and teamed with Skyler Bechtel for a 6-2, 6-4 win over Paul
Villareal and Brandon Carrasco.
Saturday
Pecos (10) at Monahans (14)
Boys Singles
David Zuniga defeated Caleb Clark, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3; Jonathan Fuentes
defeated Paul Villareal, 6-2, 6-3; Mark Marquez defeated Jeremy Reyes,
6-0, 6-4; Ty Graham defeated Daniel Fuentes, 7-6, 6-3; Skyler Bechtel
lost to Justin Yates, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4; Jeff Lam defeated Paul Salinas,
3-6, 7-5, 6-3; Albert Lee defeated Brandon Carrasco, 6-2, 6-2; David Lam
lost to Joe Hawkins, 6-2, 6-0.
Girls Singles
Stephanie Armstrong lost to Jessica Roberson, 7-6, 7-6; Renea Rasberry
lost to Chritina Wilbur, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4; Christi Breiten lost to Joanna
Cupp, 6-4, 6-4; Randa Taylor lost to Lecia Baker, 6-3, 6-3; Stefanie
Pharoah lost to Amber Bowman, 6-1, 6-0; Nichi Dannelley lost to Julie
Rowe, 6-3, 6-3; Robyn Matthews lost to Sandra Molinar, 6-2, 6-4; Brenda
Natividad defeated Patricia Hernandez, 6-0, 7-5.
Boys Doubles
Fuentes and Graham lost to Clark and Yates, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5; Zuniga and
Marquez defeated Reyes and Fuentes, 6-0, 4-6, 7-6; Bechtel and Lam
defeated Villarreal and Fuentes, 6-2, 6-4.
Girls Doubles
Armstrong and Breiten lost to Cupp and Roberson, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4; Rasberry
and Taylor lost to Wilbur and Baker, 6-3, 6-3; Pharoah and Natividad
lost to Bowerman and Hernandez, 6-3, 7-5; Dannelly and Matthews lost to
Row and Molinar, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.
State and Regional Sports Pages--San Angelo Standard-Times
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