‘Make no mistake about it, this week’s showdown with longtime rival Comanche means a lot to the Eastland Mavericks, even though they have already clinched a postseason spot. A win over the Indians would enable the Mavericks to climb into the thirdplace position in the District 5-3A standings. That third-place finish could enable Eastland to avoid seventh-ranked Holliday in the bi-district round of the postseason.
Maverick football game
The Millsap Bulldogs kept their postseason playoff hopes alive on Friday. And seriously damaged the Eastland Mavericks’.
Mavericks push through for win over Merkel
By Tommy Wells The Eastland High School Mavericks extended their stranglehold of the district cross country championship on Oct. 11. The Mavericks nailed down their third consecutive district crown by turning in a dominating effort on the trails in Dublin.
Heading into their showdown with the Merkel Badgers, the Eastland Mavericks knew they had to do something quickly if they wanted to change their luck and keep their playoff hopes alive.
The Jacksboro Tigers scored 22 points in the second quarter and then held on to claim a 4924 decision on a District 5-3A shootout at Maverick Stadium on Friday. The two teams combined for 73 points and 924 yards, including more than 500 through the year as Eastland’s Isaiah Hays and Jacksboro’s Lando Belcher put on a passing clinic. The two completed 33 of their 52 passing attempts for 502 yards and five touchdowns. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, Jacksboro also did plenty of damage on the ground. The Tigers rushed for 328 yards and four touchdowns. Jacksboro got the offensive fireworks started midway through the first quarter. The Tigers scored the game’s first points on an 8-yard pas from Belcher to Kaleem Howard. The extra point attempt failed, leaving Jacksboro with a 6-0 lead at the 5:52 mark of the frame. The Mavericks answered right back. After the two teams had traded punts, Hays delivered a big play for the Mavs. He hit Griffin Beard with a pass over the middle. Beard outran the Tiger defense from there, completing a 78-yard touchdown play. Jiovani Ojeda’s ensuing extrapoint staked the Mavs to a 7-6 cushion heading into the second. Hays turned in a sensational night under center. He hit of 16 of his 26 passes for 213 yards. Beard, who also rushed the ball for a team-high 43 yards on eight attempts, closed out the game as EHS’s top receiver, netting four catches for 99 yards. Belcher caught fire from there. The JHS standout converted on a pair of third-and-long plays on the Tigers’ next possession before capping the drive with a 30-yard TD strike to Cannon Valenzuela. Josh Salazar tacked on the kick., giving Jacksboro a 13-7 cushion. Eastland didn’t flinch. The Mavericks responded to Jacksboro’s march with one of their own moments later. Cayden Alford polished off the Mavs’ next possession by catching an 8-yard touchdown pass from Hays. The Mavs’ second scoring drive lasted just 71 seconds, spanning three plays. Jay Oznick and Preston Rose both accounted for huge chunks of yardage with receptions of 30 and 29 yards in the drive. Alford’s TD put Eastland on top 14-13 with 9:08 left in the first half. The Tigers roared back. Jacksboro needed just two plays before Luke Sams broke free on a 50-yard TD run that gave the Tigers the lead for good. Sams, who finished the contest with 156 yards on 16 carries, tacked on another touchdown run later in the second and helped Jacksboro roll into the half holding a 28-17 advantage. Jacksboro stretched its lead in the third. The Tigers got a 45yard TD run from Belcher and a 7-yard touchdown reception from Kasey Swan en route to building a 42-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Belcher completed 17 of his 26 passes for 289 yards. He also rushed for 126 yards on 10 rushes. Cason Browning helped the Mavs close out the contest on a high note. He punched his way into the end zone from a yard out with 5:26 left to account for Eastland’s final score. Browning netted 34 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. With the loss, the Mavericks dropped to 1-5 for the season and, more importantly, fell to 0-1 in District 5-3A play. Jacksboro is 6-0 and 1-0. Eastland will return to action on Friday when they head to Merkel to face off with the Badgers. Merkel, which has won its last three outings, rolls into the game at 5-1. The Badgers opened district play with a 47-21 victory over Dublin on Friday District 5-3A Standings District Overall Team W - L W-L Jacksboro 1-0 6-0 Eastland 0-1 1-5
The Wildcat fans were just sitting down when Woodson grabbed the lead. Austin Priddy took a pitchout and raced 65 yards for the first TD of the game. The PAT was good and the Cowboys were ahead 8-0 with 12 seconds gone in the 1st quarter. However, that was the only time Woodson would score.
Fresh off a win over sixth-ranked Jim Ned, the Eastland Mavericks will jump into the fire again this Friday when they host the unbeaten Jacksboro Tigers at Maverick Stadium.
The was joy in Maverick Land, at last.
Eddie Medina, #2
If the Breckenridge Buckaroos hadn’t heard of Isaiah Hays and Jay Oznick prior to Friday’s showdown at Buckaroo Stadium, you can bet they know more than they ever wanted to know now.
The Hawley Bearcats scored twice in the first quarter an then held on to claim a 33-20 victory over the Eastland Mavericks in a non-district showdown on Friday.
Giovani Ojeda #19
The Eastland High School boys’ and girls’ cross country teams both turned in stellar outings on Sept. 7 in Waco. The EHS squads both finished in the top two in their respective divisions at the Hewitt Midway Invitational at Lake Waco.
FRIDAY NIGHTS GAME: Kye Herrington (#8) scoring on a quarterback run. Photo Kristi Oznick
Annual 2023 Charity Golf Tournament Is Sept. 9
Blake Carr rushed for two touchdown and passed for two more on Friday and powered the Clyde Bulldogs to a 3421 come-from-behind win over the Eastland Mavericks.
EASTLAND vs. WALL
The 16th Annual Charity Golf Tournament sponsored by the EMH Volunteers is coming soon.
The Eastland High School boys’ and girls’ cross country teams both walked away with top honors at the 2023 Boomtown XC Relays in Burkburnett on Saturday. Overall, Eastland had two teams finish in the top five in bthe boys’ and girls’ divisions. to Kelin Poncin.
The Wall Hawks scored three times in the first half on Friday and then held on to claim a tough 35-10 victory over the Eastland Mavericks in the 2023 season for both teams.
Colorado City’s Jesse Rivera had never heard of Kase Kirkland prior to the West Texas Rural Youth Football League’s season opener on Saturday at Wolf Stadium.
The Eastland High School boys’ cross country teams kicked off the 2023 cross country season on a high note. The Mavericks had three teams place in the top 10 at the season- opening 6-Mile XC Relays in Brock on Aug. 12.
