Week One: First and 10

Football Recap for Sept. 1 

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

 EAST TEXAS – It was a great opening week for the 2016 football season and with the exception of the Groveton Indians, all the area teams were in action.

The Class 2A DII Grapeland Sandies welcomed the Lovelady Lions to town and won an exciting back-and-forth affair that came down to the final minutes of play. Rick Frauenberger found Tyrin Wiley on a 40 yard scoring strike with less than one minute remaining to give the Sandies a 26-22 season opening win. The Sandies travel to Groveton next week for a tilt with the Indians while the Lions stay on the road as they take on the Anderson-Shiro Owls.

As mentioned earlier, the Groveton Indians were the only team not in action this week. Their game against the New Waverly Bulldogs was postponed because of Hurricane Harvey.

The Crockett Bulldogs opened the season at home and took care of business by defeating the Trinity Tigers by a final score of 30-22. The Dawgs got contributions a strong second half defense, along with Derrick Sherman, AJ Owens and Allen Horace. Crockett will be on the road next week as they travel to Diboll for a game against the Lumberjacks.

The Palestine Wildcats hammered the Mabank Panthers last Friday by a score of 57-20. Junior QB Tyler Gray ran for 188 yards and three touchdowns and threw for another as the Wildcats simply outclassed the Panthers. The Panthers are back in action on Friday night as they welcome the Jacksonville Indians to town.

The Elkhart Elks used a big night from Johnathan Simmons to run rough shod over the Shelbyville Dragons by a final score of 40-23. Simmons ran for 243 yards and four touchdowns and also caught here balls for 70 yards and a score. The Elks open at home next week as they host the Leon Cougars.

In a battle of Anderson County rivals, the Westwood Panthers traveled to Frankston for the season opener and returned home with a 31-13 victory. Westwood opens at home next week against Kirbyville while Frankston hits the road for a game against the Sabine Cardinals.

Speaking of Anderson County, the Cayuga Wildcats took one on the chin as they lost to the Palmer Bulldogs by a final score of 49-14. The Wildcats return home next week for their home opener against the Wortham Bulldogs.

The Madisonville Mustangs were victorious in their season opener as they hosted the Teague Lions after scrambling for a replacement game because of Hurricane Harvey. The Mustangs won convincingly, 24-0, over a tough Lions team. The Mustangs will hit the road next week for a game against the Woodville Eagles next Friday.

The Oakwood Panthers were involved in a high scoring affair in the world of six-man football as they took on the Zephyr Bulldogs. Unfortunately, the Panthers lost by a final of 55-45. Oakwood travels to Covington next week for a game against the Covington Owls on Friday.

In one of the biggest surprises of Week One, the Alto Yellow Jackets fell to the Winona Wildcats by a score of 35-34. Alto hits the road next week to take on the Big Sandy Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 8.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].