Kim Everett | September 7, 2010 -- Photos by Roger Mathis

The Duncanville Panthers thought they had game two of the pre-season in the bag at Panther Stadium Friday, September 3.  The Garland Owls had a different thought.

The score, which stayed close throughout the first half, was 14-13 at the beginning of the third quarter.  The Panthers scored three times in the third to take a 34-20 lead over the Owls, but the tide turned with 5:50 left in the game.

Ja’Taveon Green scored on a 65-yard pass from Dawson Hadnot, and the successful PAT, brought the score to 34-27.  On their next possession, with 2:50 left to play in the game, Green scored again on a 10-yard run to tie it at 34.

Garland held the stunned Panthers’ offense, then moved the ball 55 yards down field to go ahead 41-34 on a 5-yard run by Malcolm Miller with 56 seconds left to play.

Hadnot threw for 223 yards with one touchdown pass and no interceptions.  His completion rate was 10 of 18.  Green scored three touchdowns and Jordan Spencer and Malcolm Miller each scored once.

Kicker Josh Lambert, in addition to making every extra point, scored two field goals to contribute to the Owls’ victory.  The first was a 53-yarder, which broke the school record of 52 yards set by Brandy Brownlee in 1983 against Skyline High School and tied by Matt Fodge in 2004 against Plano East High School.

Lambert also had a 47-yard field goal and a 60-yard punt that was downed inside the Panthers’ 5-yard line.  In last week’s game against Flower Mound Marcus, he kicked a 51-yard field goal. 

Garland is now 1-1 for the pre-season and will meet Lake Highlands Friday, September 10 at Wildcats/Rams Stadium for the last pre-season game.  District play for GISD begins Thursday and Friday, September 16 and 17.

Kim Everett | September 7, 2010

David Wesley, named the Dallas Morning News Offensive Player of the Week, had 13 carries for 252 yards rushing, along with a 54-yard reception to help the Mustangs to a huge victory over Arlington Sam Houston Friday night at Arlington’s Wilemon Field.

For his part, Billy Cole, the team’s Offensive Player of the Week, had 16 carries for 105 yards, along with some great blocking.

Sachse scored on eight consecutive possessions with the help of Offensive Lineman of the Week, Abran Oaks.  His blocking percentage grade, according to Red Behrens, Sachse’s head coach, was 95% with three knockdowns.

Jamal Turner and Terrell Varnes scored for Arlington Sam Houston, but in the end, they came up short against the Mustangs defense.  The defense did such a great job in stopping the explosive Arlington Sam Houston offense, that Behrens named the entire defensive team as Defensive Player of the Week.

The Defensive Front 7 Player of the Week was Ishmiah Miles with eight tackles and two assisted tackles.  Special Teams Player of the Week was Dominic Wilhite with four tackles on special teams.

David Wesley, Billy Cole, Emmanuel Adewale, Michael Ramos, Scott Brand, and kicker Joey Silva scored for the Mustangs.  The final score was 55-14.

Billy Gallion | September 5, 2010

Except for not being able to spell their mascot’s name correctly,  Plano East had just about everything going their way Friday night at Tom Kimbrough Stadium in Murphy.  The Panthers’ passing proved hard to stop as the Naaman Forest Rangers’ defense found it difficult to cover their fast wide receivers.  Plano East scored first with 9:46 left in the first quarter after an 85-yard drive.

After the Rangers’ first drive stalled, Plano East took over the ball with 5:50 left in the first.  It took 1:43 for the Panthers to score again on a 43-yard pass, and with a successful 2-point conversion, the score was 15-0.

The Rangers’ offense came alive on the following drive and scored with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.  The point after attempt was no good.  

The Panthers’ next possession ended in a 26-yard touchdown reception and another 2- point conversion to bring the score to 23-6 in favor of Plano East.    

The Rangers’ offense struggled again as they started their drive on their own 23, and three plays and a holding penalty later, the Rangers had to punt from deep inside their own end zone.  After three plays and a 16-yard pass, Plano East found the end zone to make the score 30-6 in the second quarter. 

The Rangers’ running game found success on their next possession, driving the ball 74 yards and ending in a 26-yard rushing touchdown and 2-point conversion.  The score, with 1:17 left in the second, was 30-14. 

The Rangers opened the second half with a 75-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.  The extra point was no good, making the score 30-20 with 10:50 left in the third quarter. 

Plano East answered with a 62-yard pass for their next score with 9:25 in the third quarter.  On the next kick off, the Rangers lined up on the 35 instead of the 40, and the Panthers took advantage of the additional five yards and tried an onside kick.  They recovered the football on the NFHS 48-yard line.  With 5:40 left in the third, the Panthers scored again to make the score 44-20, which is how the third quarter ended. 

With 6:41 left in the fourth, NFHS scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass. The point after kick was unsuccessful, and the score was 44-26, which is how the game ended.

The South Garland High School Colonels racked up a total of 421 yards in Thursday night’s contest against Arlington Martin at Garland’s Homer B. Johnson Stadium.

John Lacour scored two touchdowns, one on a 68-yard run that sewed up the game with 24 seconds remaining, along with one on a 3-yard run.  Quarterback Stephan Turner also got into the end zone from one yard out for a touchdown.  Turner also set up a field goal with a 72-yard run.  Kicker Angel Maldonado contributed with two field goals, one from 50 yards out and one 22-yarder.  The final score was 27-14.

Rowlett outscores Rockwall; now 2-0 in pre-season

The Rowlett Eagles couldn’t be stopped in Friday night’s battle with Rockwall High School at Garland’s Homer B. Johnson Stadium.  Treyvon Green, Alex Barrientos, Colton Kalmus, Chase Thrasher, and kicker Ted Gates scored a total of 38 points against Rockwall’s 14.

Green scored three times and rushed for 125 yards to contribute to the Eagles’ 2-0 pre-season record.  Barrientos had a 60-yard interception return.  Quarterback Grant Bothun passed for 126 yards on nine completions.

Sulphur Springs shuts out LCHS

After a scoreless first quarter, Sulphur Springs came alive in the second, scoring 10 points against Lakeview Centennial High School’s Patriots.  They would score another 15 points in the second half to shut out the Patriots in the Thursday night game at Garland’s Williams Stadium.

The Patriots fumbled four times and lost possession on three, along with four turnovers on downs.

Sulphur Springs’ quarterback Justin Owens passed for a total of 218 yards while Patriots’ quarterback Davonte Black passed for 252 yards on 13 completions.  The final score was 25-0.

Chris Long | September 4, 2010

Hillcrest no match for NFHS volleyball team

Kim Everett | September 2, 2010 -- Photos by Roger Mathis

The Naaman Forest High School girls' volleyball team defeated Hillcrest this week in three straight sets.

Standout players emerge in GHS
 loss to Flower Mound Marcus

Tammy Winter | August 29, 2010 -- Photos by Roger Mathis

And so it begins. Garland High School started its football season with a 33-13 loss to Flower Mound Marcus on Saturday, August 28.

The game was held at Carrollton’s Standridge Stadium as a part of The Old Coach Classic, and the excitement over this first game was almost palpable in the stands. A lot of the buzz surrounded the fact that the opposing quarterback happened to be Deion Sanders Jr., son of the famed former NFL great.

Garland was battling some odds with Dawson Hadnot replacing quarterback Seth Russell, who was out with a broken hand. A lot of new players in new positions on the field ensured that the Owls would be forced to get on-the-job experience. 

Things started off in Garland's favor, when first-year starting kicker Josh Lambert nailed a 51-yard field goal. Marcus answered with a 25-yard touchdown run by Evan Williams for a 7-3 lead.

The Owls then struck when Jae'Torean Green took a Hadnot pass and ran 43 yards past the Marauder defense for a touchdown. That would be the last lead Garland had.

By halftime the score was 23-10, with two touchdowns and a safety for Marcus, which turned the game permanently for the Marauders.

The second half was a struggle for Garland, with the Owls' inexperience being a big factor in Marcus' continued success. Garland's big problem was the fact that it just couldn't stop the Marauders' running game, and could not maintain control of the ball. Marcus kept pounding the ball to run out the clock. By the end of the game, Garland's defense was worn down.

Despite the loss, the Owls did however, have some standouts on the field. Lambert was perfect on all three of his kicks, and Green made a splash with 111 yards receiving on five catches.

Still though, the Owl program is widely recognized as one of the best in North Texas. A challenging non-district schedule should have Garland ready for 10-5A play.

When asked how they respond to critics who say that Garland's team isn't what it used to be after the loss of many prominent players (including five NCAA Division I signees) from the 2009-10 school year, captain Rocky Brashears said, "They say it every year, it doesn't mean anything." 

The concern now is for the Owls to be able to sustain both their offense and defense in a game. But if we've learned anything from how Garland operates, it's that the Owls customarily come back stronger after they've faced adversity. They will have an immediate chance to prove themselves Friday as they play at Duncanville.

Contributor Tammy Winter is a sophomore at Garland High School. 

NFHS falls to Rockwall Heath in season opener 

Billy Gallion | August 28, 2010 -- Photos by Billy Gallion

The Naaman Forest Rangers traveled to Rockwall to face the Rockwall Heath Hawks in their season opener Friday, August 27.  The first quarter was uneventful and ended with the Rangers driving to the Hawk 15 yard line.

The second quarter opened with a 25-yard field goal attempt by Naaman Forrest but the attempt was blocked, and the Hawks returned the ball 85 yards for the first touchdown of the game.

After the kickoff the Rangers had a short lived drive, but the Hawks intercepted a blocked pass at the Naaman Forest 15-yard line, scored again with 5:17 remaining in the half.

On the ensuing kickoff Naaman Forest fumbled the ball out of bounds on their own 2-yard line, but three plays later returned the ball 76 yards for the Rangers’ first score of the game with 3:18 remaining in the first half.   Rockwall Heath scored again before the first half ended to bring the score to 21-7.

Naaman Forrest struck first in the second half with a sustained drive and a touchdown, along with a 2-point conversion. 

The Rangers had a strong defensive stand late in the third quarter forcing the Hawks to punt, and after a bad snap the Rockwall Heath punter was forced to fall on the ball at his own 5-yard line.  Even with the excellent field position, the Hawks held the Rangers inside the red zone and took possession of the ball on their own 4-yard line. 

With 7:25 left in the fourth, the Rangers tied the game, but the Hawks were able to score on the next play from scrimmage.  They scored again after an interception, to bring the score to 35-21.

With 2:20 left in the fourth, the Rangers two-minute drill culminated in a score with 12 seconds on the clock to get within 7 points of the Hawks, but the onside kick was unsuccessful, and the game ended at 35-28. 

Wylie victorious over Sachse in season opening match-up

Chris Long | August 27, 2010

The Sachse Mustangs came up short in their first ever meeting with the Wylie Pirates losing 31-21 Friday, August 27 at Garland's Williams Stadium. Wylie threw for 222 yards while utilizing five receivers in the victory.

The Pirates drew first blood on the first drive of the game when Nico Ramirez connected with Jacob Benator for a 7-yard touchdown pass. Seth Heddink added the PAT to put Wylie up 7-0.

Sachse wasted no time in retaliating. On the second Mustangs play, junior running back David Wesley blasted a Wylie defender off his feet to clear the way for quarterback Scott Brand's 39-yard run deep into Pirate territory. Six plays later Wesley pinched it up the middle for a 1-yard score. The point kick from Joey Silva tied the game at 7.

Wylie struck early in the second quarter when Paul Branish scored on a 6-yard option play to the left of the line. Heddink's conversion put the Pirates up by 7.

The Mustangs marched down the field on the next series, and a spectacular 42-yard run by Wesley set up a 6-yard touchdown run by Brand. Silva's PAT knotted the game at 14, but Wylie scored the last punch of the first half with a 33-yard field goal by Heddink.

The back and forth shootout of the first half was replaced with each team being forced to punt on their first series of the second half. Sachse was held to a three-and-out on their second series and was attempting to punt from their own 21-yard line when the snap flew over the head of punter Wesley and the Pirates took over on the Mustangs 13-yard line. Five plays later, Ramirez scored on a 3-yard keeper. The kick by Heddink put Wylie up by 10.

Sachse was moving the ball well on the next series until Brand was picked off by Terell Burt. Two plays later, Relus Harris launched a 64-yard flea flicker bomb to Benator for Wylie's final score of the game.

The Mustangs fought hard and managed to get within 10 with an 8-yard scoring pass from Brand to Earl Burl late in the fourth quarter. Hard charging Sachse was driving again but stalled on the Pirates 8-yard line and gave the ball over on downs to end the game.

After the game, Sachse’s head coach Mark Behrens said, "We can't turn over the ball as often as we did and beat good teams."  Behrens was positive on his team's effort and praised their chemistry and perseverance.

The Mustangs’ rushers were led by Wesley who had 87 yards on 14 carries and Brand's 82 yards on eight runs. Burl had 50 yards in receptions to lead Sachse's receivers.

Ramirez led Wylie's runners with nine carries for 17 yards. Ramirez completed 18 passes on 24 attempts for 158 yards. Benator amassed 106 yards on five catches.

Next week, Sachse travels to Arlington to face Sam Houston.

High school football pre-season in full swing

Kim Everett | August 28, 2010

Rowlett defeats North Mesquite in overtime

Quarterback Grant Bothun scored the winning overtime touchdown and 2-point conversion, and Treyvon Green rushed for 154 yards in the Friday night thriller against North Mesquite. 

North Mesquite’s Dezmin Lewis caught a 25-yard pass in the end zone on the first play of OT to give the Stallions a 21-14 lead, but they couldn’t stop Bothun from finding the end zone on the two plays that mattered the most.  The final score was 22-21.

South Garland comes back against Richardson Berkner

South Garland, who trailed by a margin of 17-0 in the third quarter, came back for an overtime victory against Richardson Berkner.  The Colonels recovered a fumbled punt on the Rams’ 1-yard line and converted it into their first touchdown.  After capitalizing on two more turnovers, South Garland took the momentum into OT to defeat the Rams 24-17.

Stephan Turner and Reece Loyd scored the Colonels’ touchdowns.  Richardson Berkner lost possessions on three out of four fumbles.  SGHS had one fumble, but managed to maintain possession.

North Garland falls to Red Oak

NGHS was shut out by the Red Oak defense in their pre-season opener.  A Raider fumble, one of five turnovers, resulted in a 64-yard return for a touchdown.  Red Oak rushed for a total 314 yards and had 12 first downs, while NGHS rushed for 207 yards and had seven first downs.  The game ended at 31-0.

Lakeview Centennial defeated by Plano

The LCHS Patriots were the first to score when quarterback Davonte Black ran for a 68-yard touchdown.  On the Patriots’ next possession, Plano’s Ben Laures scored on a blocked punt return.  Plano held the lead for the rest of the game in spite of a fumble that led to a touchdown pass from Black to Jarvis Baxter. 

Plano rushed for 139 yards and quarterback Connor Michelsen passed for 208; LCHS rushed for 126 yards and passed for 69.

GHS Lady Owls fall to Berkner

Posted August 25, 2010 -- Photos by Roger Mathis

The Lady Owls volleyball team was defeated by Berkner High School Tuesday, August 17.  The Owls took the first two sets, but Berkner managed to recover and take the last three.

GISD football ticket sales:  On the cutting edge of technology

Kim Everett | August 23, 2010

To begin the 2010-11 football season, the Garland Independent School District will have the distinction of being the second district in Texas to go to an on-line system for ticket sales.  Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, in the Houston area, is the only other district in the state that has implemented this technology. 

GISD high school football fans will be able to purchase and print their varsity game tickets at home, any time of the day or night, and avoid long lines at the stadiums on game nights.  Fans who made a special trip to the ticket office each week to purchase tickets in advance can cross that errand off their lists if they wish.

“I think it’s going to be great.  We’re really excited about it,” Shelby Morgan of the GISD Athletic Office said.

There will still be those who prefer to go to the ticket office or do not have Internet access, and that option will remain available.  Even for the ones who prefer to buy their tickets at the stadium, the wait should be shorter because of the automated system and the fact that credit cards will now be accepted.

According to Morgan, tickets printed at home will be similar to e-tickets that are used for airline travel.  If a ticket is lost, it can easily be reprinted.  She also said that ticket prices were increased by a small margin, but it is the first increase in many years.

Donna Reeves, who sells the tickets at the athletic office during the week, had been wondering for quite some time if the ticketing process could be simplified by automation, and if tickets could be sold on-line.  She talked to Jacob Velasquez in the district’s Technology Department, and after researching it; he found that it definitely could be done.  Morgan said that Velasquez is responsible for getting the system set up.

The Special Events Center began using the technology several months ago, and it has been a success.

The system utilizes a user-friendly touch screen that should simplify the process for ticket sellers.  It will be a change for them, but it should be a positive one.

Season tickets will still be printed at the athletic office this year, but next year, Morgan hopes that season ticket holders will be able to print all their tickets from home if they wish to.

“We just want to let everybody to know that they are going to be able to do this, and that we are going to be able to take credit cards,” Morgan said.  "It has been a team effort to get it set up, and everyone has worked really hard.”

From the Technology Department, to the Maintenance Department that updated the ticket booths to the ticket sellers, the change has required hard work from many district employees.

“I believe it’s going to be something great.  I think it will be easier on the sellers, but it’s like all technology; you have to get used to it.” GISD Athletic Director Homer Johnson said.  “If it works like I think it will, everybody will be moving to this system, and it’s great that our district is the second one in the state to use it.”

Owl football:  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

Kim Everett | August 17, 2010

Coach Jeff Jordan, who is in his 23^rd year as a Garland Owls football coach and beginning his 10^th year as head coach, has enjoyed a great deal of success at Garland High School.  Under his direction, the Owls have made it to the playoffs seven out of nine years. 

The team has seven starters coming back, four on offense and three on defense, and Seth Russell, last year’s junior varsity starting quarterback will assume varsity quarterback duties.  But, even considering all the changes, Jordan says that they have a good group of players. 

“We don’t have as many ‘high profile’ recruits as we’ve had before, but some of the best years we’ve had are when we didn’t have all those high-profile guys.  Sometimes it seems to work out better like that,” he said.

From a mechanics standpoint, the coach said that everything will basically stay the same as it has been for the last couple of years.  His feeling is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

The district has changed with the addition of McKinney Boyd High School.  “They’ll be a good challenge…Every week’s a fight in this district.  You’ve got everybody in town that knows everybody and you better be ready to play every week,” Jordan said.

One might think that being “the team to beat” would be difficult, but Jordan believes that it often works in their favor.  “In ‘93 when we first made the playoffs, it started to turn where we were the team that was being hunted instead of being the hunter,” he said.  “It’s a little bit of a shock to your system…But now, after so many years of being successful, our kids kind of like that.  It helps keep them focused and motivated.  They know we are going to get everybody’s best shot so we better respond in kind.”

Carrying on the tradition of Owl football is important to the coaches and players.  “We are fortunate and very honored to have a chance to carry on that tradition.  People love Garland Owl football,” Jordan said.  “It’s great when I walk over to Homer’s [Homer Johnson, GISD Athletic Director] office and see people buying the same season tickets they’ve had for years." 

“We really appreciate everyone.  It’s amazing what a difference it makes in the kids when they walk out and see those stands full,” Jordan said.  “The atmosphere at our games is great, and it’s fun to be a part of it.  We’re going to do our best to uphold the tradition, play hard, and win football games.”

Upholding the tradition is also important to seniors Gio Olvera and Rocky Brashears, offensive linemen who have both been playing football since fourth grade. 

“The coaches make sure that there is excitement here [practice] and during games, and if we believe the tradition can keep going, we’ll be good, and people will come,” Olvera said.  “Right now there’s doubt because some of the players are gone, but we’ll still be here, and we are going to do good again.”

According to Brashears, it’s not always easy to live up to the expectations of a team that has had four state championship years.  “It’s tougher, but it makes us better in the end,” he said.

Olvera and Brashears appreciate the fans’ loyalty and agree that it helps motivate them.  “It’s awesome to know that people still come to our games after all these years.  Whether we have a 3-7 season or win state, they’re going to be there,” Brashears said. 

“Their support means a lot more than they may think…You’re playing for your teammates; you’re playing for your school; you’re playing for the town, and for all the fans that have been here forever.  Just seeing them up there cheering us on is good motivation.”