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Volume 130 Number 74 • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
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Ready For Round 3 Ricebird fever hits ‘12 frenzy By KAITLYNN BIANCONI sports@leader-news.com
It’s hard to say it’s just another game, but for the Ricebird players, that’s their approach heading into Friday’s showdown. While everyone in El Campo is waiting excitedly for the next playoff game against undefeated Navasota, the Ricebirds are at the daily grind getting ready for the Rattlers. The players say they’re not looking at is as though they’re facing a No. 1 ranked team; instead, just a normal opponent. “We don’t take the rankings that seriousEl Campo Send Off ly, and we don’t worry As the Ricebirds about the stats,” Senior prepare to leave Seth Pustejovsky said. “We play to our stanfor the big game, dards. It’s worked for the public is invited us so far.” to the Ricebird Fieldhouse Friday night will mark the halfway point for a 1:45 p.m. Friday sendoff. Noisemakers, signs between the beginning of playoffs to the state and cheers welcome. championship game. “It feels like we’re really accomplishing something,” Adrian Alameda said. “The fans have been really supportive.” After an early exit in the bi-district round in 2013, the Ricebirds have already exceeded last season and are on the same path as the 2012 EC team that went to state. (See RICEBIRD PLAYERS, Page 7-A)
On To The Next Round
L-N Photo by Kaitlynn Bianconi
Ricebird fans show their pride and excitement during El Campo’s thrilling 28-21 win over the Carthage Bulldogs at New Caney’s Texan Stadium last week. El Campo will next face the top-ranked Navasota Rattlers this Friday in Conroe in the regional semifinals. El Campo fans and players have compared this season to the 2012 campaign that saw the Ricebirds reach the Class 3A State Championship game.
Hornets make history in ‘14 playoff effort BY JAY T. STRASNER publisher@leader-news.com
Thanksgiving meal for all on Thursday All are welcome to attend the Community-Wide Free Annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27 at the El Campo Civic Center. Transportation and meal delivery are available upon request. For more information, call 5433959.
LOCAL WEATHER Wednesday Sunny DAY: 0% NIGHT: 0%
HIGH: 70º LOW: 44º
Thanksgiving Day Sunny DAY: 0% NIGHT: 0%
HIGH: 71º LOW: 49º
Friday
Mostly Sunny DAY: 0% NIGHT: 0%
HIGH: 72º LOW: 57º
Saturday Mostly Sunny DAY: 0% NIGHT: 0%
HIGH: 75º LOW: 60º
Last Week: Avg. High: 68º • Avg. Low: 48º
RAIN GAUGE
Last 7 Days............................. 0.68 In.
Last 30 Days........................... 3.10 In. Same Time In '13...................... 3.24 In.
Year To Date......................... 29.48 In. Year To Date '13..................... 23.65 In. Data Collected by LCRA at El Campo Memorial Hospital
BURN BAN LIFTED COUNTY’S MEAN KBDI: 187 Burn Ban is put into effect when the mean KBDI reaches or goes above 500.
LOUISE – Even though the game was held 40 years ago, the sting of the Hornets’ 1974 playoff loss to Manor remains for Fred Ochoa. “I tell you what. Every time I see Manor on a road sign or drive by in that neck of the woods, I want to pull over and whip someCommunity body’s butt,” Ochoa said Pep Rally with his Everyone trademark is invited to cheer laugh. Now a for the Hornets successful at 2 p.m. Friday business in the high owner and LISD board school gym. m e m b e r, Ochoa said he often thinks about the loss that saw six Hornet fumbles in the red zone result in a soul-crushing 5-point loss that cold November night. “It was a hard thing to get over,” L-N Photo by Chris Filoteo Ochoa recalled. “We had a great team Hornet Pride that year. I really and truly think we Louise Hornet players, from left: Tariq Barron, Ty Tucker, Eric Lucio, Chris Kutac and Head Coach David Lucio celebrate last could have gone all the way to the week’s win over D’Hanis by forming an “L” with their fingers and saluting the crowd. The Hornets (8-3) will face Bremond State championship. But we made this Friday at Cedar Creek Memorial Stadium in Bastrop in the regional semifinals, which is believed to be the deepest playoff run the football program has ever embarked upon. For more football coverage, please see page 1-B. (See 2014 HORNETS, Page 7-A)
ECPD raids two gambling houses Friday By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
El Campo police confiscated 8-liners and made one arrest Friday after swarming two North Mechanic businesses believed to be operating illegal game rooms. Additional arrests are possible, Lt. Russell Urban said Monday. About a dozen police officers participated in the simultaneous raids at The Game Room, 1268 N. Mechanic, and Quick N Easy No. 4, 1402 N. Mechanic, around 1:30 p.m. Friday with no resistance offered at
Game Room Closed
either establishment. Almost every chair in The Game Room was filled Friday as the cadre of officers swept into the long open room with 8-liners lining each side wall and a desk sitting in the middle facing the single entrance and the darkly-tinted windows. They sat more or less quietly in their chairs as officers instructed them to keep their hands away from the machines and prepare to present identification. One of the 18 patrons there was (See CITIZEN, Page 10-A) L-N Photo by Shannon Crabtree
Chau To-Hoang Nguyen, seated at left, questions El Campo Police Chief Terry Stanphill (at right in red) as officers question Game Room patrons during a raid Friday. Officers hit the Quick N Easy No. 4 at the same time. Eight-liners were seized from both North Mechanic Street locations. Nguyen was arrested for money laundering and operating a gambling establishment.
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Top Stories
Page 7-A
MEMO from MIKE Happy Thanksgiving
&
GO BIRDS! Happy Birthday
Grady Z, Gary Z, Ronnie P, Christina P, Arthur O, Wade N, Travis L, Larry H, Chad D, Cynthia S, Sharon R, Natasha K, Tammy E, Betty C, Zoe B, and Kathleen A. -’till next week, Mike
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Practice Makes Perfect
Michael & Dianne Appling
Travis Cobb • Peggy Fucik Dolores Rowland • Cathy Krenek • Kimber Kelley • Suzanne Horak • Mike Drewett
The Ricebird linemen work on field goal protection during an early-season practice. El Campo will face Navasota Friday night in Regionals.
—Ricebird players focused on Friday night (Continued from Page 1-A)
Clayton Harp was moved up to varsity in the playoffs in 2012 as a sophomore, and was able to partake in the road to state. “It was really neat,” Harp said. “We are doing good this year and hopefully we can keep going.” Cesar Rivera took over the kicker position after state-recognized Alex Montes graduated in 2013. “I didn’t get to play a lot before this year,” Rivera said. “It’s an honor to play.”
Although the Birds have been toughing it out in the rain and the cold, Rivera has a few more challenges to face – such as the unseasonably cold temperatures in recent games. “When it’s cold, it makes the ball feel like a rock when you kick it,” Rivera laughed. Senior receiver Bylan Crivellari has had a busy senior season, filling in for various positions when needed. “It’s been good transitioning to positions and stepping in to do a job,” Crivellari said. “They’re all different. Coming
in for DJ [Washington] at quarterback against Stafford, not knowing what to expect was hard. I’m just doing the best I can.” His teammates agreed. “He really came through against Stafford,” Harp said. Although everyone around town is buzzing about the playoffs, and who could be next, the players and coaches don’t look beyond Friday night. “We don’t take anyone lightly,” Crivellari said. “You gotta get there first, before you can look at what’s next.”
—2014 Hornets may have most wins ever was missing as well. We had too many mistakes in that all the other pieces and he’s game. That’s football some- added something to the strategy and game planning. It’s times.” The pain of that loss as been fun for us to watch.” As far as Ochoa and Seawell as Louise’s football woes bolt can tell, the 2014 Hornets the past few years have all dihave now made the deepest minished this year, however, for Ochoa and Hornet fans playoff run in the football prothroughout the small Whar- gram’s history. Players such as Eric Lucio ton County town. at quarterback, receiver Chris The 2014 Hornets have Kutac, lineman Tyler Collins followed up a pair of winless seasons in 2012 and 2013 and linebacker Clay Gonzalez have helped by going 8-3 fuel the unthus far and expected run will face Brethrough the “I know mond Friday playoffs. night in Baseveryone in Louise While no trop for the one is exactly right to reach is real proud sure if this the Class AA post-season and hopes State quarrun is unterfinals. they can keep going,” precedented, H e a d one thing is Coach David – Fred Ochoa certain. PlayLucio arrived off fever in this summer Louise is at and inheran all-time ited a squad of downtrodden high. players who initially doubted “It’s been fun to watch the if they even wanted to form team make their turnaround a team. A few months later, this year,” Ochoa said. “Our their amazing turnaround coach has come in and done a makes them one of the hottest really great job with our kids. squads – and most intriguing We went from a team that was stories – in Texas high school ready to give up on football to football. a team with everybody on the LISD Superintendent same page. I know everyone Mike Seabolt said the football in Louise is real proud and team’s success has energized hopes they can keep going.” the school and the community. Ochoa traveled to last “I told Coach that we had week’s win over D’Hanis in been through so much the Seguin via limo with magpast couple years, if he even netic Louise Hornet emblems won three games we’d prob- attached to the side. He said ably re-name the stadium he’ll take that vehicle back after him,” Seabolt chuckled. this week in hopes for good “But he’s obviously a great luck. coach and his son has added Folks in Manor better hope something to our team that the Ochoa limo doesn’t make a (Continued from Page 1-A)
NO
pit-stop in their town, though. “I’m not joking. I’m still mad about it,” Ochoa said. “I wish we could get an oldtimers’ game organized and play Manor one more time. But I guess I’ll have to just be rooting from the sidelines this Friday.”
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SPORTS
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
www.leader-news.com
Page 1-B
sports@leader-news.com
Class 4A, 2A football playoffs
JAY T.
STRASNER INK BY THE BARREL
The night the lights go out in Navasota? It was about 7:15 p.m. Monday when Bob Gillis finally switched off the lights to his office at the Ricebird field house and headed home for supper. But his brain would remain switched on for the rest of the evening – thinking about the biggest test of the year Friday night against Navasota – the No. 1 team in Class 4A Division II. While most fans view Ricebird football as entertainment, behind the scenes a tight-knit group of El Campo coaches put in long hours to prepare their team. It’s fun, but it’s also a responsibility. “Really it goes back to the summer with our strength and conditioning in July,” EC Head Coach Bob Gillis said. “Our coaches are up here four days a week when they would normally be off and they’re working without getting any extra pay. That’s what it takes to have a successful football team. If we didn’t do that, we’d feel like we were cheating our kids. We want to give them every opportunity to be part of a special team that does big things.” When the season begins, Friday is not the only day of activity. Coaching suddenly becomes a 7-day a week job at El Campo. Ricebird coaches get back from games early Saturday morning, catch a few winks, then return to the field house and work for the majority of Saturday viewing film. After church on Sunday, it’s more intense gameplanning all day long, then the practice routine and additional film study returns Monday morning. “Our coaches work really hard,” Gillis said. “I know they get tired, but they never show it. I think working with these young kids kinda keeps you young at heart, ya know.” One strength of the Ricebird coaching staff is its continuity. The majority of the EC coaches have been together for the past seven years. Others have been here even longer. Middle school coaches Jesse Galvan and Matthew Schoener have been installing the El Campo running attack since 1992. “It’s hard to keep coaches together that long. Not a lot of schools have the luxury of that continuity that we have,” Gillis said. Another luxury the El Campo football program has enjoyed is the benefit of playing football after Thanksgiving. It’s a treat that shouldn’t be taken for granted, Gillis said. “That’s a big goal that we have every year,” Gillis said. “When I coached at Columbus, we won a lot of games but never played past Thanksgiving. My first stint at El Campo, we didn’t do it. But when I got back into it after 2003, we’ve been able to play that long a few times. When you look up and there’s only 16 teams left in your division, that’s really big to make it that far. There are no guarantees in football and we’re grateful to be where we’re at right now with everything in front of us.” Carthage learned firsthand last week that playoff opportunities can’t be taken lightly. The Bulldogs have a 33-4 playoff record the past 6 seasons and two of those losses have come to El Campo. This week, Ricebird coaches can finally talk about the opponent that fans and high school football enthusiasts have pointed to since the playoff brackets came out. “This week is a heckuva matchup,” Gillis said. “But if you look at it, all the teams left in our region are undefeated district champs. It doesn’t matter, all of us are really good teams that can win on any given night. And for us at El Campo, the (See HARD WORK, Page 6-B)
Regional EC vs Navasota has makings of State championship clash
By KAITLYNN BIANCONI sports@leader-news.com
The Ricebirds are looking to shake up the Navasota Rattlers on Friday night in Conroe, hoping to knock them out of their No. 1 state ranking and give them their first loss of the season. El Campo wants to take the regional title and secure another week in the playoffs. The Rattlers boast a 12-0 record and the district champ title after a 5-0 district run. Their pristine record secured them the top spot in Class 4A.
Sting Like A Dove
L-N Photo by Jon Elits
Ricebird running back Kevin Dove plows through the Brazosport Exporter defense during a regular season game. Dove and his teammates will face the No. 1 ranked Navasota Rattlers this Friday at Conroe.
SHOWDOWN
However, Navasota has played some different opponents. They played a school located in Monterrey, Mexico, Rogers Heritage in Rogers, Ark. and local schools including Sealy and Houston Furr. The Rattlers defeated Sealy 65-6 and Furr 85-0. “They’re a great football team. They’re undefeated and average 60 points a game and only give up 7 points a game,” EC Head Coach Bob Gillis said. “They’re a talented bunch of kids.” They were area finalists in 2013 and made it to the state game in
FRIDAY,
knocked Chapel Hill out of the area round with a 49-28 victory. OVEMBER Also similar to EC, the Navasota seniors have experience from the state run in 2012, when they were sophomores just moved up to varsity. That experience has come into play for both teams this season. 7:00 P.M. “On offense, they’re good at BUDDY MOOREHEAD STADIUM spreading out and throw and getting 2012, but fell to Gilmer 39-3. Much the guys in space. They’ve got fast relike El Campo, Navasota has a histo- ceivers that like to run,” Gillis said. ry of playoff runs, and this year is no “Like a lot of good teams, they’re goexception. They defeated Needville ing to run the ball. They’ve got a good (See RICEBIRDS, Page 6-B) 55-15 in the bi-district round, and
N
vs
28
Round 3 new territory for Hornets Louise game versus Bremond believed to be deepest run ever for LHS
By KAITLYNN BIANCONI sports@leader-news.com
The Hornet pride deepens in Louise as the team enters the regional round of the playoffs to face No. 1 ranked Bremond on Friday night in Bastrop. Louise took out D’Hanis last week in a 20-6 dominating win, but Bremond will be a bigger challenge for the Hornets. “They’re really good, and they’re pretty big and fast,” Head Coach David Lucio said. “They’re really aggressive man-to-man.” The Tigers enter the match-up with an 11-0 record, easily taking the district title with a 6-0 run. Bremond defeated common opponents Burton and Milano. The Tigers defeated Milano 38-0 and Burton 55-21. The Hornets beat Burton 28-20, and defeated Milano 25-6 in the bi-district playoff round. The Tigers are used to having a strong season after going 21-5 in the past two seasons combined. They finished 12-1 in 2013 and were state quarter-finalists. The Tigers have most of their skill positions returning for the 2014 season, along with defensive line startL-N Photo by Chris Filoteo ers and a strong offensive line. Dodging D’Hanis Running backs James Jones and Jacob Bill protects the ball while dodging some D’Hanis Cowboys on Friday in SeJosh Anderson are returning as a guin. The Hornets will play Bremond on Friday in Bastrop for the regional round strong backfield combo after each bein the playoffs, a game that’s believed to be the deepest playoff run for Louise. ing named All-District in 2013.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28
vs
7:30 P.M. CEDAR CREEK MEMORIAL Among the defensive players are Evan Sargent (6-2, 180), who ended the 2013 season with 74 tackles and 9 interceptions, and Jarvis Jones (510, 210). “They play a 3-4 defense, and on offense they run a spread, and they’ll power through and run right through,” Lucio said. With a No. 1 ranked team, they are sure to have stand-out players. “Their quarterback (Roshauud Paul) is pretty good, and RayAndre Browning and Jacobly Davis are outstanding ball players,” Lucio said. “They just have a lot of good ball players. But they’re kind of young, they have a lot of sophomores and juniors.” Paul has completed 54 of 78 passes for 1,033 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. He also has 103 carries for 1,064 yards and 17 touchdowns. Browning has 30 catches for 565 (See HORNETS, Page 5-B)
Page 2-B
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
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Notre Dame, Maryland at Michigan, USC at UCLA and Jets at Bills. Renay Williams finished in third place, with the tiebreaker guess of 43 points being the next closest to the actual number of 45, and will take home the $10 cash prize. Williams missed Ole Miss at Arkansas, Louisville at Notre Dame, Ariona at Utah and Bengals at Texans. The contest can be found each Wednesday in the sports section of the Leader-News. Remember that we will not accept any photocopied entries, but entries may be faxed. Deadline to enter is 2 p.m. each Friday. Be sure to take a stab at the contest each week. Who knows? You might win a prize.
at Michigan, Browns at Falcons, Bengals at Texans and Cowboys at Giants. Coming in first place with only 3 missed games is Kenny Stinson. He missed Louisville at Notre Dame, Maryland at Michigan and Arizona at Utah. Stinson will take home the first place prize of $25 cash and a $25 dine-in voucher at Pizza Hut. Multiple contestants missed 4 games, so the second and third place winners were determined by the first tiebreaker. The tiebreaker was to guess the total number of points between the Bengals at Texans game. The actual number of points was 45. Betty Roades earned the second place finish, guessing the exact number of points between the Bengals and Texans. She earned $15 cash. Roades missed Louisville at
By KAITLYNN BIANCONI sports@leader-news.com
Although regular season NCAA football is winding down to prepare for bowl season, the NFL is preparing to buckle down for the playoffs. The NCAA rankings are beginning to settle, but some teams are still clawing their way into the top. Texas Tech took out Iowa State, while the Razorbacks shut out Ole Miss for their back-to-back SEC shutout victories and Maryland narrowly defeated Michigan. In the NFL, the Texans fell to the Bengals in a close game and the Cowboys upset the Giants in a last-minute Dez Bryant catch. The most commonly missed games in Week 13 of the Leader-News Football Contest were: Texas Tech at Iowa State, Ole Miss at Arkansas, Louisville at Notre Dame, Maryland
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Page 3-B El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
at
NO. PLAYER CLASS 02 JD HENDERSON 12 03 ALONTAE HARRIS 11 04 JERRIC CHAPMAN 10 05 ANDREW SAUCEDO 12 06 ADRIAN ALAMEDA 12 07 DEMARCUS WILSON 11 08 DJ WASHINGTON 12 09 BRYLAN CRIVELLARI 12 10 CHARLES ACOSTA 12 11 KYLE KERZEE 12 12 JABOUS DAVIS 11 14 CLAYTON HARP 12 17 CESAR RIVERA 12 19 ERNEST ARRAMBIDE 11 20 JACOB SUPAK 11 21 RILEY STOCK 11 22 WESLEY ARRAMBIDE 10 24 TAYTON PRIESMEYER 11 25 DEADERICK HOLLAWAY 10 28 CLINT KRUPPA 12 30 KEVIN DOVE 11 32 XAVIER MIRELES 10 33 BLAINE FUECHEC 12 34 LOTHARIO PRATT 10 36 DAMYEN CRUZ 11 40 SETH ESCOBAR 11 42 SETH PUSTEJOVSKY 12 44 DEMETRIS WASHINGTON 12 46 ILLARIO UNREIN 10 50 CHARLES POWERS 12 52 RHETT SPENRATH 11 54 DAWSON MACH 10 55 COLT DUBROC 12 56 LETRENT GREELY 11 60 JOSH CANTU 11 61 VICTOR HERNANDEZ 12 62 CHRIS MELCHOR 10 63 TY LILIE 10 64 SIXTO MONTOYA 12 65 AARON AGUILAR 11 68 ANTONIO COOPER 12 70 PEDRO MARTINEZ 12 71 BRANDON WILLIAMS 10 72 NOAH JASEK 11 73 REID ZBORIL 10 74 RAUL GONZALES 11 75 HUNTER MERTA 12 76 BRENT HAYES 12 77 TYRESE WASHINGTON 10 78 JESUS LEON 12 80 KYLER VALENTA 10 81 BROCK BRANDL 10 82 ANDREW ROD 12 83 NIKOLAS PANAGIOTOPAULOS 11 84 SPENCER DAVID 10 85 ZARIAN BAYLOR 10 86 LARRY HAYNES 11 88 NICK SALYER 12 89 BJ BAYLOR 10
POSITION RB/LB RB/DB RB/LB REC/DB REC/DB REC/DB QB/DB REC/DB REC/DB REC/DB RB/DL REC/DB REC/DB QB/LB RB/LB REC/LB RB/DL REC/DB RB/DB REC/DL RB/DL REC/DB RB/LB RB/DL REC/DB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB RB/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL TE/DL QB/LB REC/DB TE/DL TE/DL REC/DB TE/DL TE/DL REC/DB
EL CAMPO RICEBIRDS
Good Luck
GO RICEBIRDS! P.O. Box 1541 El Campo, TX 77437 Phone: 979-543-1453 Fax: 979-543-1533
202 E. Jackson • El Campo, TX 77437 (979) 543-3349
We Are Cheering For You!
Good Luck Ricebirds!
Good Luck from the Freeman Family!
Member
Show your support for the Ricebirds!
Cut out this sign and take it to the game or hang
1106 N. Mechanic • El Campo (979) 543-4291
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the Be att le rs ! R at Let’s Go Let’s Ricebirds... Go FloorThe the Floor Ricebirds! Lions! Bulldogs!
2371 East Jackson St. • El Campo, TX
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El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
GO BIG RED
!
Page 4-B
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Sports Beat
Page 5-B
JJ Bubela's
Dr Tom Johnson
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LHS, Bills making memories in 2014 This was the night that Louise Athletic Director and Assistant Coach Joe Bill had been waiting for his entire coaching career. Over the past six years I have watched four Louise head coaches and all the other assistant coaches come and go. The one constant on the Louise sideline has been Joe Bill. Coach Bill has always been the emotional and spiritual heart of the Hornets. He has stayed on while the others left in order to watch his boys grow up and play varsity ball. Last Friday under the dazzling lights of the beautiful, spanking new Texas Lutheran University Stadium, his loyalty, patience and perseverance finally paid off. With the D’Hanis Cowboys effectively bottling up Louise’s fleet, shifty speedster Chris Kutac, the Hornets unleashed their secret weapon in the form Jase Bill. Mostly relegated to a secondary role throughout the season, Jase had a night for the ages. The 5-5, 140-pound junior flanker came out of nowhere and was suddenly everywhere, hauling in 8 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. A 40-yard reception in second quarter got the Hornets out of deep enemy territory and kept a scoring drive alive. Louise had lost two district games after leading very late in the fourth quarter, giving up late big plays to lose in heartbreaking fashion. A sense of dread overcame Louise faithful as it looked like it was all happening again. With a one touchdown lead and just over two minutes left in the game, the Hornets faced a crucial 3rd and ten on their own 43 yard line. This time, Jase Bill never gave them a chance. He caught a perfectly executed screen pass, took it 57 yards to the house and the celebration was on. Yes, this biggest win in Louise history was a total team effort with outstanding defense, great offensive line protection, and stellar quarterback play. But the night will hold a special place in the hearts of the Bills – Joe, Jase and Jacob.
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Hornet quarterback Eric Lucio completes a pass downfield in Friday’s game. Louise will travel to Bastrop to face the No. 1-ranked Bremond Tigers on Friday night in the regional round of the playoffs.
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—Hornets look for third playoff win 107 of 206 and passing for 1,492 yards and 17 touchyards and 6 touchdowns this downs. season. He’s tallied 69 totes for Chris Kutac is the leading 450 yards and 9 touchdowns. receiver with 40 catches for Josh Anderson has 564 yards and 7 84 carries for 539 touchdowns. Caryards with 9 touchlos Garcia closely downs. follows with 29 The offense catches for 410 has piled up 4,949 yards and 5 touchyards this season. downs. Jase Bill Paul and Browning has 20 catches for are the two highest 294 yards and 3 scoring players on touchdowns, and the team with 102 COACH LUCIO Hunter Koudela TD points each. tallied 16 catches “We’ve got a for 213 yards and 2 couple things we’re working touchdowns. on. We’re going to try to take Eric Lucio is the leading advantage of their aggressive- rusher with 145 carries for ness,” Lucio said. 1,108 yards and 16 “On offense and touchdowns. Clay defense we’re just Gonzales has 70 working on fundatotes for 306 yards mentals. We have and 3 touchdowns. to go out there and Kutac has 24 carcover them and ries for 213 yards tackle. Every week and has added 4 we just try to get touchdowns. better and we’re Overall this seagoing to treat it the son, the Hornets JASE BILL same and get more have 1,503 passing precision in passyards, 1,503 receiving, and get better downhill ing and 1,921 yards rushing with the ball. We’re going to and 43 touchdowns. do what we can do.” Although the Hornets have In the Hornet’s season far exceeded expectations stats, Eric Lucio leads the thus far, they’re still being team in passing, completing doubted. (Continued from Page 1-B)
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“It’s a big deal to play number one, but they’re not intimidated. We’ve been the underdog all year, this is just a legit one,” Lucio said. “Our kids don’t know any better.” The Hornets will play Bremond in Bastrop at Cedar Creek Memorial Stadium at 755 Hwy 21 Friday night at 7 p.m.
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Registration Deadline: December 12
NO LATE REGISTRATIONS! Fee: $60 (current members) or $80 (non-members) Forms are available online at www.bgcelcampo.org or at the Club Office, 713 Fahrenthold Street. If you are interested in sponsoring a team, contact the Club’s office at 979-543-8320 or email us at cpo@bgcelcampo.org. Team sponsorship your companies name will be printed on the back of the team jersey.
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Page 6-B
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Sports Beat
ZOEY RASCH Our 16 year-old granddaughter, Zoey Rasch from Austin, shot her first buck at our ranch in Francitas on the CCR! L-N Photo by Kaitlynn Bianconi
Shake It Off
Quarterback DJ Washington eyes open receiver Adrian Alameda while a Bulldog tries to drag him down at last week’s game against Carthage. The Birds will face the Navasota Rattlers on Friday in Conroe for the regional round of playoffs.
Uncontested
DIVORCE
—Ricebirds near halfway point for post-season (Continued from Page 1-B) quarterback who can throw it on the run, and a good group of receivers. They do both phases well.” Returning is quarterback Shelton Eppler, who passed for 2,691 yards in 2013. He added 28 touchdowns and completed 165 of 274 passes. This year however he’s upped his game, completing 202 of 300 passes for 3,869 yards with 54 passing touchdowns. Navasota has a slew of talented runners. Derrion Randle (5-9, 200) tops the team with 101 carries for 1,104 yards and 14 touchdowns. Jarvis Norman has 59
carries for 561 yards and 4 touchdowns. Lamarquis Jefferson (5-9, 180) has tallied 51 totes for 401 yards and 6 touchdowns. On the receiving side, Tren’Davion Dickson has 57 catches for 1,516 yards and 30 touchdowns. Jerbrell Lipscomb has tallied 36 catches for 540 yards with 5 touchdowns, and Sammy Blair currently has 27 catches for 379 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Rattlers currently have 7,471 offensive yards, with 2,994 rushing, 3,700 receiving and 558 kick return yards. Dickson and Eppler were selected as the District 18-
3A Newcomers of the Year in 2013, and are said to be one of the top quarterback/receiving duos in the state. The defense has earned recognition after allowing, on average, just one score a game. “They’re not huge, but they’re very quick. They get off the block and have great technique. They swarm and then tackle,” Gillis said. The Ricebirds defeated the Carthage Bulldogs 28-21 last week in New Caney to take the area trophy. There’s room for improvement. “We’re just working on correcting some things. We had 13 penalties last week, that
—Hard work keeps EC hanging on late in playoffs (Continued from Page 1-B)
more you win, the more you want to win.” For Ricebird coaches, much of their satisfaction occurs after the final horn sounds on Friday night, and during the return home from the game. By Saturday, it’s back to the grindstone and figuring out how to defeat the next opponent. “When you’re on that bus
and you turn around and look at those kids’ faces ... I tell you, that’s what it’s all about,” Gillis said. “To see their satisfaction with accomplishing something as a team, as a unit. It’s a great atmosphere. But then when you settle back in Saturday, you’ve got to put that behind you and go to work. We don’t have time to sit around and be proud of ourselves. It’s on to the next
challenge. Maybe when we’re old and retired we can think about all those things. But not now.” Late Friday night, after both teams return home from Conroe, the light switch will be turned off at one field house for the final time this season. Ricebird nation hopes like the dickens that Friday will be the night the lights go out on the Rattlers.
No children and no property. $375 plus court cost.
can’t happen,” Gillis said. “We’re working on our kicking game at times, just clean it up.” Despite the record and the reputation of Navasota, the players and coaches aren’t letting it intimidate them. “We know that the teams that are left are all really good football teams,” Gillis said. “There’s no doubt they’re good, but we’re pretty good too. We’ve played in some good games.” The Ricebirds are set to kickoff against the Navasota Ratters Friday night at 7:30 at Buddy Moorhead Stadium in Conroe.
Jay T. Strasner is publisher of the Leader-News.
Uncontested
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GO We’re pulling for a win!
CK D LU GOO NETS! HOR
1106 N. Mechanic • El Campo (979) 543-4291
DDental ental CCliniC liniC
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We Are Proud Of You! Louise Independent School District and Louise-Hillje Chamber of Commerce
LOUISE
NO. PLAYER CLASS POSITION 02 JUSTIN DORNAK 12 OLB/TE 03 JACOB BILL 12 LB/RB 04 CHRIS KUTAC 12 WR/S 05 JASE BILL 11 WR/CB 06 BLAINE MACHICEK 11 OLB/WR 07 ERIC LUCIO 11 LB/QB 08 CARLOS GARCIA 10 WR/CB 10 HUNTER KOUDELA 12 OLB/TE 11 CLAY GONZALES 12 MLB/RB 12 ETHAN BELL 10 WR/CB 13 ADOLFO TORRES 09 WR/OLB 21 EDWIN REYES 10 WR/CB 22 COLE YACKLE 11 WR/OLB 23 JACOB MCCOWN 12 WR/CB 29 ISMAEL MENDEZ 11 WR/S 33 CHARLIE ALVAREZ 10 RB/DL 40 CHRISTIAN CARDENAS 11 QB/OLB 50 TARIQ BARRON 10 OL/DL 54 TY TUCKER 11 OL/DL 55 ANTHONY GONZALES 10 OL/DL 57 CHRIS ESPERICUETA 11 OL/DL 59 SAUL VASQUEZ 09 OL/DL 60 MATEO MUNOZ 10 OL/DL 63 JOSE AVALOS 10 OL/DL 65 MIGUEL MONTES 09 OL/DL 66 DUSTIN LUCIO 11 OL/MLB 68 CJ SMITHWICK 12 OL/OLB 70 CHRIS TAYLOR 11 OL/OLB 72 TYLER COLLINS 11 OL/LB 75 MATT MARTINEZ 11 OL/DL 77 KEVIN ROSAS 11 OL/DL 78 HARRISON COOK 09 OL/DL 82 WALTER LILIE 09 WR/CB
HORNETS
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178 DAM RD. • El Campo, TX 77437
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Page 3-C El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
El Campo Leader-News • Wednesday, November 26, 2014
MEAN STING!
Page 4-C