Thursday, December 5, 2024
The Granbury Pirates (1-4, 0-3 in District 3-5A Division I) return to action after a bye week to face arguably the greatest program in the history of Texas High School football when the Aledo Bearcats (4-1, 3-0 at press time) come to town for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, Oct. 11.
At press time, Aledo was ranked No. 2 in the state and hosting No. 1 Denton Ryan. The Pirates’ last outing was a 63-20 loss at Ryan Thursday, Sept. 26.
Offensive leaders vs. Ryan: Hayden Meyer, 116 yards, 2 TD passing, 11 carries, 43 yards; Spencer Taylor 12 carries, 39 yards; Jonathan McCandless 66-yard TD catch; Elijah Johnston 51-yard TD catch.
Defensive leaders vs. Ryan: Kaleb Johnston 5 tackles; Johnston 5 tackles; Cooper Cumba 4 tackles, fumble recovery for TD; Bryson Hager 4 tackles, interception.
Season offensive leaders: Mery 588 yards, 7 TD, 4 interceptions passing, 121 rushing yards; Andrew DeBello 194 rushing yards; Jackson Arnett 16 catches, 226 yards, 2 TD; McCandless 18 catches, 194 yards, 3 TD.
Season defensive leaders: Chase Cantrell 38 tackles, 6 for loss, 2 sacks; Tahj Clayton 28 tackles; Cumba 25 tackles, 2 for loss, sack, fumble recovery for TD; E. Johnston 21 tackles.
Aledo offensive players to watch: Gavin Beard 69% completions, 584 yards, 9 TD, 2 interceptions; Ray Guillory 65 carries, 503 yards, 9 TD; Kaydon Finley 28 catches, 489 yards, 8 TD.
Aledo defensive players to watch: Chase Wilburn 26 tackles, 6.5 for loss; Adrian Fuller 13.5 tackles, 2 interceptions.
Aledo, which has won 12 state championships 11 since 2009 leads the all-time series 7-4.
TOLAR FOOTBALL
The Rattlers (4-1) won their fourth straight, 42-6 at home over Breckenridge Friday, Sept. 27, before having a bye this week. When they next play, it will be at home against Early (1-4) Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Offensive leaders vs. Breckenridge: Briton Rice 10-of-16, 158 yards, TD passing; Peyton Brown 24 carries, 126 yards, 3 TD; Dacen Watkins 2 catches, 36 yards; Drake Owens 4 catches, 52 yards.
Defensive leaders vs. Breckenridge: Brylen Feist 11 tackles, interception; Noah Yanish 8 tackles; Owens 8 tackles, 1 for loss; Cayden Abrego fumble recovery for TD.
Season offensive leaders: Rice 60% completion, 824 yards, 6 TD, 3 interceptions, rushing TD; Brown 79 carries, 426 yards, 5 TD; Feist 15 catches, 256 yards, 2 TD; Owens 11 catches, 209 yards, TD.
Season defensive leaders: Owens 47 tackles, 2.5 for loss, sack; Cash Clark 39 tackles, 2 for loss, 2 sacks; Kelvin Murray 36 tackles, 5 for loss; Feist 31 tackles, 1 for loss, interception.
Early offensive players to watch: Andrew Reedy 166 average receiving yards, 11 TD; Weston Barton 9 passing TD.
Early defensive players to watch: Kaedon Byrd 14 tackles per game, sack; Mario Vasquez 10 tackles per game, 2 fumble recoveries; Barton 2 interceptions.
Both teams have been playoff regulars, with the Rattlers having reached the 2A Division I state final last season and the state quarterfinals the previous season. Tolar is 31-4 in that span.
Tolar leads the all-time series 5-3, winning 48-14 last season.
GRANBURY VOLLEYBALL
The Lady Pirates (21-17, 4-1 in District 5-5A) won 3-0 at Saginaw Friday, Sept. 27 and rallied for a 3-2 win at Azle Tuesday, Oct. 1. Granbury dropped the first two games 18-25 and 24-26 before winning the next three 26-24, 25-23 and 15-8.
Leaders vs. Saginaw
Kills: Kailynne Sermarini 12, Blakely Bleeker 10, Sienna Watts 8.
Aces: Lilyan McCall 2, Audrey Greinert 2, Mattie Weaver 2, Watts 2.
Blocks: Masyn Noe 2.
Digs: McCall 28, Allyson McCabe 12.
Assists: McCabe 34.
Receptions: McCall 22.
Leaders vs. Azle
Kills: Watts 18, Noe 11, Bleeker 10.
Aces: Greinert 2.
Blocks: Bleeker 3, Jayla Hayes 3.
Digs: McCall 28, McCabe 19, Weaver 17.
Assists: McCabe 49.
Receptions: McCall 38, Watts 20.
The Lady Pirates will host Chisholm Trail on Tuesday, Oct. 8, followed by hosting Aledo Friday, Oct. 11, both matches at 6 p.m.
TOLAR VOLLEYBALL
The Lady Rattlers (21-9, 5-1 in District 8-3A) had their 13-match winning streak ended with a thrilling 3-2 loss at Peaster Friday, Sept. 27. After the Lady Greyhounds won the first two games by 25-22 scores, the Lady Rattlers won the next two by identical scores. Peaster held on to win the fifth game 15-12.
“Man, such a good match,” Tolar coach Amber Terrell said, noting the whole team as standouts. “We really played well together.”
The Lady Rattlers rebounded to defeat Early 3-0 at home on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Standouts were Allyson Dobbs (4 kills, 4 blocks) and Emma Jackson (7 digs, 2 blocks, ace).
Tolar travels to Dublin Tuesday, Oct. 8 for a 5:30 p.m. match before hosting Breckenridge Friday, Oct. 11 at 4:30 p.m.
GRANBURY GIRLS
CROSS COUNTRY
The Lady Pirates placed third in the varsity girls 5K division in their own Race for the Loot Friday, Sept. 27, at the Granbury Disc Golf Course. Seven Granbury runners placed in the top 26:
8. Ava Stein, 21:45.
11. Kambry Zschiesche, 22:22.
13: Josefina Berry, 22:28.
15. Adalyn Hollis, 22:50.
23. Alexie Patrick, 23:45.
24. Karolina Berry, 24:14.
26. Ziva Sedgwick, 24:37.
Elyse Jernigan led the junior varsity girls for Granbury, placing 14th with a time of 28:04.
The Lady Pirates were competing in the Brewer Invitational at press time. It was being run at Central Park in White Settlement, the same course that will host the District 5-5A Meet Friday, Oct. 11.
GRANBURY
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
Also competing in the Race for the Loot, the Pirates placed fourth in the varsity boys 5K division. Granbury runners included:
14. Aiden Lemens, 18:15.
16. Brendon Thorne, 18:19.
24. Jacob Wolfe, 19:14.
25. Samuel Valdez, 19:20.
27. Nolan Segars, 19:32.
The JV boys placed second, led by James Barber, eighth in 20:06, and Matthew Pitts, 10th in 20:29.
The Pirates will next compete in the District 5-5A Meet.
TOLAR CROSS COUNTRY
The Rattlers and Lady Rattlers ran in the Brock Invitational Wednesday, Sept. 25. The varsity boys were led over the 5K course by Ernesto Ramirez, who was 103rd with a time of 21:38. The Lady Rattlers were led by Ayla Skahan, who was 136th with a time of 18:34.35 over 3200 meters.
Tolar will compete in the District 8-3A Meet at Dublin Wednesday, Oct. 9.
LIPAN CROSS COUNTRY
The Lady Indians ran in the Brock Invitational. Addiline Lawrence paced Lipan, finishing 82nd over the 3200-meter course with a time of 15:07.75.
Lipan will host the District 11-2A Meet Monday, Oct. 7.
GRANBURY TENNIS
The Pirates/Lady Pirates stepped outside of district play to travel to Denton Tuesday, Sept. 24. They came home with a 10-9 victory, improving to 9-6 on the season.
Braxton Bailey came through in the clutch, capturing his singles match 8-6 to clinch the victory for Granbury.
“Braxton’s match may have sealed it, however, there were several very close and meaningful matches that helped put us in that position. Very proud of our team and how we competed tonight,” Granbury coach Athan Laskaris said.
Also winning for Granbury were:
Girls singles: Ava Hamrick, 8-1; Albane Combres, 8-3; Lili Vaughn, 8-6.
Boys singles: Roland Krause, 8-3; Tyler St. Don, 8-1.
Girls doubles: Combres, Ellie Weeks, 8-4.
Boys doubles: Colten Whitefield/St. Don, 8-1.
Mixed doubles: Mandi Labelle/Sullivan Williamson, 8-5.
On the JV side and last match of the night, Noah Lilley-Martinez came back from being down 4-1 to win 7-5.
Granbury is 3-2 in District 5-5A and in third place. They were playing at Saginaw to seal a playoff berth at press time.
