Sports

If it was only a game, then the Grand Canyon was just a hole the ground. Ennis, 5-5 a year ago exceeded the expectations of experts during the fall of 2019 by going 12-2 and nearly knocking off the state champions from Aledo.

Starting against one of two teams with more wins than losses against Ennis, the Battle of 287 was at Lumpkins Stadium. The area's pre-season No. 13 ranked Lions produced four methodical drives to control the game. QB Collin Drake was 15-of-21 for 202, found TE Clayton Jenkins (8-121) a lot and Dyllan Santos for 32 on third-and-20 to move the chains. Two first half marches ended on Davion Beasley (9-51) TD runs of 2 and 16 yards, and workhorse Jarius Jones (17 -101), scored from the four with 7:25 left for a 21-6lead. DE Jarveon Williams was a terror; 16 tackles, 6 for lost yardage (TFL) and two sacks. LB Payton Chapman and DB Stephan Townsend made 14 and 10 tackles.

Junior Laylon Spencer poured in 13 points to lead a balanced attack and a solid defensive effort paced Ennis to a 59-40 victory at home on Tuesday night. After a month of roster changes and erratic play, the Lions are now in third place at 3-3 in the seven-team District 14-5A.

Ennis was not able to overcome a slow start as visiting Joshua built a large lead and went on to post a 56-39 triumph over the Lady Lions. Falling to 0-5 in January, the Maroon 5 slid into last place, a half-game behind Waco University.

Note:Tuesday’s 81-60 Kansas blowout of Kansas State in Lawrence, Ks ended in a brawl that is sending reverberations across athletic campuses nationwide. Radio personality Terry Waldrop, a colleague of both Ennis hoops HC Roynal Bridgeforth and Ennis News journalist Mark Warde, was asked to comment on the fiasco. Video footage is available on the internet.

While high school baseball, softball and tennis teams are gearing up for the start of their spring seasons, Ennis and area track and field teams have high hopes for a successful season.

Kiara Glenn, a standout during her varsity basketball career at Ennis, has done likewise at nearby Southwestern Assemblies of God University. She has started in almost every game for Head Coach Tiffany Phillips, including 15-of-16 this year.

Encouraging children to play sports can be good for their minds and bodies. However, players risk injury anytime they engage in sports play, and the eyes are among athletes’ most vulnerable body parts.

In less than two weeks, high school teams across the state will find out in which district their athletic teams will be competing for the next two years.