Sports

A year after being ranked No. 1 the entire regular season, Ennis assembled a second straight unbeaten regular season and a No. 3 ranking. How is that for an encore?

A very hard pill to swallow was an epic fourth quarter spatula that Red Oak turned on Ennis earlier this week in a District 14-5A setback. Whether the Lions view themselves as the team who dominated the top team in the league in every phase for a 48-31 advantage through three quarters, or the team that laid an egg while the Hawks caught fire in a 31-9 final quarter will likely determine how Ennis bounces back from a 62-57 defeat.

Off-season is a thing of its own, often separating the casual fan from those with above average knowledge about teams, players and districts. The internet has raised the degree of information available via websites, blogs, publications and video providing.

A strong performance at this week’s UIL State Spirit Class 2A Team Competition led Italy High School to a fourth-place mark. Held at the Fort Worth Convention Center, the squad battled in a field of 58 schools, ultimately finishing behind Jewett Leon, who won for the fourth straight year.

Former Ennis record-setting quarterback, Graham Harrell, the Offensive Coordinator at Southern California the past three years, was introduced this week as the OC and QB Coach at West Virginia. The Mountaineers, members of the Big 12, assures Graham will stay connected to his Texas roots.

Last year was a magic carpet ride for Joshua basketball. An area doormat for decades, the Owls won 4-of-their-last-5 to finish in a three-way for third in District 14-5A. They would play the winner between Ennis and Red Oak in a play-in doubleheader for the two-remaining playoff berths.

Off to a great start, No. 19 ranked Italy (12-3), won a key District game, 60-42, over visiting Rio Vista (13-8) last Tuesday. The Gladiators, who display a strong defense and apply considerable pressure on the ball.

When Hank Snow nasaled I’ve Been Everywhere sixty years ago, the country tune soon became a hit. The first line set the stage; “I was totin’ my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road,” drew the focus to where. While the Nevada town is closer to San Francisco than Las Vegas, it’s just one of many listed in the lyrics.