Valley’s Gunnar Bowles (13) goes up for a catch before being hit by an Ira defender during the Jayton Gridiron Classic in Jayton on Thursday afternoon. [Johnna Reynolds/ Texas 1A Fan]
1. Jayton Gridiron Classic
The 8th annual Six-man showcase was as good as ever in Jayton. The classic displayed talent from all over the state that included three teams from the Texas Panhandle in Valley, White Deer, and Follett. Valley and Follett both came home with wins. The Patriots won in dramatic fashion over Ira 33-32 on Thursday, as the Panthers also impressed blanking Aspermont 46-0 on Saturday night.
2. Happy hands it to Groom
In 2020, the Happy Cowboys made an early season statement taming the Groom Tigers, 68-20. That loss forced Groom to take a step back and change the entire focus on its season. In 2021, Happy’s physicality once again reigned supreme. The Cowboys over powered Groom 54-36 on the back of Cutter Hodges who finished the game with 97 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
3. White Deer off to rough start
As mentioned before the White Deer Bucks were apart of the Jayton Gridiron Classic, but it may be a game they’d like to forget. The Bucks were handled by No. 3-ranked Strawn from Division II, 56-8, in the opening week matchup. Don’t panic White Deer fans. There’s still plenty of time to get things turned around.
4. Hedley off to hot start
Hedley was one of the biggest feel good stories in a year that really needed one in 2020. The Owls found their most wins since 2015 last season with five, and got off to on the right foot this year dominating Chillicothe from the start bringing home a 45-0 mercy-rule victory called by halftime.
5. Nazareth’s Goodwin makes his mark
The Nazareth Swifts earned a 52-38 win taking down the Claude Mustangs Friday night, but the victory was more than just the first W on the schedule for Nazareth. The victory marked Tyler Goodwin’s first career win as a head coach. Goodwin found his way to Nazareth through Littlefield where he was an assistant and actually coached 11-man football. Goodwin was raised and played Six-man football under his father, Toby Goodwin, at Ira.
6. Lefors-Kress cancelled due of COVID-19
The Texas Panhandle saw the first game of 2021 cancelled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Kress Kangaroos were suppose to travel to Lefors for a Thursday night meeting with the Pirates. However, Kress had to cancel to to COVID issues. Lefors will now open the season at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at Claude.
