Plowboys Blast Bronte 54-19, Wink Next

Plowboys Vincent Pantoja (30), Kevin Lavalais (19), and Rafael Aguayo (25) show off their trophy after defeating Bronte for a 5-0 district record. (Photo by Lus Pantoja)

The Plowboys played their final regular season game with a convincing 54-19 win over the Bronte Longhorns to finish district play with a perfect 5-0 record. They now move on to the playoffs with a game against Wink at Memorial Stadium in Big Spring tomorrow evening.

The Plowboys used the same formula for success that they used in their previous three games—jump out to an early lead in the first quarter and then cruise for the next three. It didn’t seem that easy at the outset, though. On their first drive, the Plowboys moved effectively down the field only to bog down in the red zone. They were stopped on a fourth-and-goal at the three-yard line, and Bronte took over. With two big running backs, the Longhorns initially moved the ball well against the Plowboys, but they had two critical fumbles, both covered by Roscoe, and the Plowboys were off to the races.

Their first touchdown came when Brayden Beal pitched out to Jose Ortega, who ran down the right sideline 24 yards into the end zone. The extra point was good, and the Plowboys were ahead 7-0. They completed their next possession with Francisco Garcia running up the middle for an 11-yard TD to make the score 14-0. Rafael Aguayo was next when Beal hit him on a 27-yard pass play that put the Plowboys up 21-0. Then, on the next drive Beal hit Diego Garza on a pass play that covered 83 yards before Garza was stopped at the Bronte one. On the next play, however, Vincent Pantoja ran untouched into the end zone to make the score 27-0, which is what it was when the first quarter ended.

The Plowboys extended their lead to 34-0 in the second quarter on an 8-yard Beal pass to Kevin Lavalais. Bronte then regained some momentum by scoring the next two touchdowns, and at halftime the score was 34-13.  In the third quarter, though, the Plowboys held the Longhorns scoreless and got another touchdown on a Beal pass to Pantoja for 19 yards to extend their lead to 40-13.

Bronte opened the scoring in the fourth quarter to make it 40-19, but the Plowboys responded with two more touchdowns, one on a 43-yard pass play to Lavalais and the other on a 7-yard interception return by Ortega to make the final score 54-19.

The Plowboys dominated the statistics as well as the score, making 26 first downs to Bronte’s 15 and 576 total yards to Bronte’s 295. Beal completed 23 of 34 passes for 370 yards and 4 TDs. Lavalais had 10 receptions for 130 yards and 2 TDs, Max Nemir 4 for 59 yards, Ortega 3 for 38 yards, Garza 2 for 98 yards, Pantoja 2 for 22 yards and 1 TD, and Aguayo 1 for 27 yards and 1 TD. Pantoja led the Plowboy rushing with 20 carries for 94 yards and 1 TD, while Ortega had 4 for 69 and 1 TD, Beal 4 for 23, and Garcia 4 for 11 and 1 TD. Erick Huidobro was 6 of 6 on extra-point kicks. (Two other attempts failed when he never got a chance for a kick.)

On defense, Ortega had 9 tackles and 2 assists, Paul Pantoja 7 and 2, Aguayo 6 and 3, Garcia, 5 and 2, Nemir 3 and 3, while several others had one or two tackles.

The game with Wink on Thursday will be a re-match of last year’s bi-district game in Big Spring, a game played in bitter cold and won by the Wildcats 36-28, who came from behind in the fourth quarter to take the victory and end the Plowboys’ season. This year Wink is 5-5 and coming off a 34-7 win over Irion County to earn the right to move on to the playoffs. Like the Plowboys, they have an effective passing attack. The two teams’ only common opponent is Eldorado, who beat Wink 31-24 and whom the Plowboys beat 33-27.

Kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Big Spring tomorrow is at 7:00pm.

Here are some video highlights of the Bronte game:


Click four-cornered icon in lower left-hand corner for full screen.

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KIM ALEXANDER NAMED TO TEXAS STUDENT ASSESSMENT/ACCOUNTABILITY COMMISSION

Kim Alexander

RISD Superintendent Kim Alexander was appointed yesterday to the newly created Texas Commission on Next-Generation Assessments and Accountability. The Texas House of Representatives  (HB 2804) has established the commission to develop and make recommendations for new systems of student assessment and public school accountability. The commission’s work will be completed on or before September 1, 2016.

Governor Greg Abbott appointed Mike Morath of Dallas as presiding officer. He also appointed Andrew Kim, Theresa Trevino, and Quinton Vance. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick appointed Kim Alexander, Paul Castro, and Michael McLendon. Speaker Joe Strauss appointed Pauline Dow, Maria Hernandez Ferrier, and Catherine Susser.

Dr. Alexander is the only commission member from a rural school district.

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U.S. Congressman Rep. Randy Neugebauer was in town yesterday and took a tour of the new STEM Research Center. Here he presents RISD Supt. Kim Alexander with a flag that has flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

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CITY COUNCIL HEARS REPORTS, TAKES CARE OF ROUTINE BUSINESS

Police Chief Felix Pantoja reports to City Council yesterday evening.

There were no earthshaking developments or decisions at last night’s City Council meeting in City Hall. Instead, the Council took care of routine business and heard reports from the City Manager and Police Chief.

City Manager Cody Thompson reported on the success of the West Texas Wind Festival, which ran smoothly and was apparently enjoyed by those who attended. He also said that the Roscoe Christmas Open House on Sunday once again brought in a large crowd of shoppers to Roscoe’s downtown businesses and was considered a success by all who participated.

The City has purchased two additional pre-owned Ford trucks for $20,000. One is an F-250, the other an F-450. Both have utility beds and are in good shape for their miles and year model. Thompson said that City employees are no longer driving their own vehicles but thinks it was nice of them when they did so without complaining.

Two new single-family homes will soon be started at Young Farm Estates. Both will be built for sale by builders from Abilene.

The City is opening bids next Wednesday, November 18, for two road bores under the Union Pacific railroad so that casing and water pipes can be installed for future use on Roscoe’s north side.

A drone video funded by the City’s A and B Boards is being put together to promote future tourism and development for the City of Roscoe.

City trash pickup on Thanksgiving weekend will be on Friday, November 27.

Roscoe’s Christmas Parade will be on Saturday, December 19, at 2pm. Line-up is at 1:30 in the 400 block of Broadway. All are invited to be in the parade.

City Hall is closed today in observance of Veterans Day.

Roscoe Police Chief Felix Pantoja reported on City Police activity for the month of October.

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SHOPPERS GET EARLY START ON HOLIDAY SEASON AT CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE

Shoppers filled the Wildflower Boutique on Sunday. (Photo by Delma Boston)

Cars lined the streets of downtown Roscoe on Sunday afternoon as a largely female crowd partook of some early Christmas cheer and good bargains at several Roscoe businesses.  Sales were brisk as a large number of shoppers showed up to enjoy the event, and the Roscoe Express shuttle transported many of them from one store to another.

Gloria Escabita of Roscoe was the winner of the Grand Prize, a gift basket with a retail value of over $500 with something in it from each of the participating businesses: Vickie’s Gifts, the Wildflower Boutique, the Lumberyard, Southern Belle Salon, Rockin’ S Cantina, McVey’s Nursery, Main Street Antiques, Peppy’s and the Roscoe Thrift Store.

And the winner is . . . Gloria Escabita (right) with Lumberyard Manager Sheree Corzine.

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TALK ON NEW OPEN CARRY GUN LAW DRAWS INTEREST

Janna Atkins takes questions from the audience at the Open Carry Law talk in the Community Center on Thursday.

A larger than expected crowd was on hand at the Roscoe Community Center last Thursday to learn more about the new Texas Open Carry firearms law that goes into effect January 1. Present in the audience were business owners, school officials, law enforcement officers, and citizens who plan to utilize the new law, as well as others from Roscoe and surrounding communities.

The guest speaker, Janna Atkins of the West Central Texas Regional Law Enforcement Academy in Abilene presented details of the new law and the ways it will apply to different public and private spaces. After her talk was done, she took questions from the audience and answered them insofar as possible. She did say that the law as written now will need some fine-tuning by the state legislature. One example she gave was the stipulation that anyone openly carrying a handgun must have it in a belt or shoulder holster, but that the law as now written provides no definition of just what constitutes a belt holster or shoulder holster.

She also emphasized that although the new law has been passed, it does not go into effect until January 1 for most public spaces and not until September 1 for public colleges. People who openly carry handguns before then are subject to arrest and fines. She also explained that business owners who do not want guns in their businesses may prohibit them but may do so only with signs or other notices that strictly follow the exact required wording in both English and Spanish and conform to stated size requirements. She also said the existing laws concerning concealed weapons are being extended to open carry by simply deleting the word ‘concealed,’ so that in almost all cases, the laws for handguns carried openly will be the same as those now used for concealed firearms .

There were many other questions asked and answered, too many to discuss here, and although the state has not yet provided an online site for frequently asked questions, it has made the law public here.  Most people who want to cut through the legalese, though, and just get simple answers to their questions will have better luck consulting this Frequently Asked Questions page (click here) sponsored by Open Carry Texas, a registered non-profit proponent of open and constitutional carry of firearms.

The talk was sponsored by the Roscoe Police Department.

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ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS INTERVIEWS COACH JAKE FREEMAN ON PLOWBOYS

Plowboy Coach Jake Freeman

There is a nice interview of Plowboy head football coach, Jake Freeman, by sportswriter Evan Ren in the Monday, November 9, edition of the Abilene Reporter-News. Ren speaks with Freeman about the recent success of the Plowboys and their climb from a 2-8 season in Freeman’s first year here two years ago to district champions this year.

Although the article can be shared by e-mail or on Facebook and other social media, the availability doesn’t extend to blogs like the Roscoe Hard Times unless you already have an online subscription with the Reporter-News. If you do, you can access the article by clicking here.

Otherwise, you will either have to locate a print edition of Monday’s Reporter-News, or, if you are my Facebook friend, you can find the article on my Facebook page.

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TRAVIS TRITT AT THE LUMBERYARD FRIDAY NIGHT

Travis Tritt

In the past few years, several country greats have played at the Lumberyard—Ray Price, Merle Haggard, Mel Tillis, the Bellamy Brothers, Johnny Rodriguez, and many others. This Friday will add one more to the list when Travis Tritt comes to town. Tritt, a singer and songwriter, has been a major force in country music for the past quarter-century, and his top hits and albums are too numerous to list. He has received two Grammy Awards and four Country Music Association awards and has been a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1992. He has also acted in movies and in several TV shows and episodes.

He has charted more than 40 times on the Hot Country Songs charts, five of which were number ones: “Help Me Hold On,” “Anymore,” “Can I Trust You With My Heart,” “Foolish Pride,” and “Best of Intentions.” Others that made the top five include “Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares),” “This Whiskey Ain’t Workin’” (with Marty Stuart), “Nothing Short of Dying,” “Tell Me I Was Dreaming,” “More Than You’ll Ever Know,” “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” “Love of a Woman,” as well as numerous other hits.

In addition, seven of his albums are certified platinum, one of which, It’s All About to Change, is certified triple-platinum. Originally from Georgia, he’s been married to his wife, Theresa, since 1997 and has two sons and one daughter.

Opening for Travis Tritt will be the new, improved Jamie Tollison Band. Live music begins at 8:00pm. Tritt and his band will take the stage around 10:00pm.

On Saturday night at the Lumberyard, the annual Ducks Unlimited dinner and auction will be held.

Doors open at 5:30pm, and the barbecue dinner is at 6:00pm, followed by both silent and live auctions along with door prizes.

Live music will be provided by Three Stories.

Tickets, available at the door, are $35 per person, $45 for couples, and $25 for green wings (17 and under). Tickets include membership in Ducks Unlimited, the barbecue dinner, three drinks per person, and cover charge for the live music.

Ducks Unlimited is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, other wildlife, and people.

For reservations and more information, contact the Lumberyard at 325-766-2457.

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WEATHER REPORT: MILD AND WINDY

The sunrise on Sunday morning.

Sunny and partly cloudy skies, mild temperatures, and windy weather characterized the weather this past week. The weekend was cooler as a cold front moved in on Friday morning dropping temperatures from Thursday’s high of 81°F to Friday’s 69°, Saturday’s 63°, and Sunday’s 64°. Lows were in the mid-forties on those days, cold enough to turn on the heat in the forties and force people to wear a little extra clothing.

Although it may have seemed chilly on those three days, it’s only because temperatures this fall have been running from three to eight degrees above normal, except for the occasional cold front. Low temperatures especially have been and will continue to be above normal for the next week or so. We have yet to see lows dip below 40° and for at least the next week the lows are projected to be in the mid-forties to low fifties.

Today’s high should be around 72°, but another cold front is due tonight, dropping tomorrow’s high to 67°, Friday’s to 61°, and Saturday’s to only around 57°. Sunday will be a bit warmer with a high of 60° and Monday’s should be around 66°.

Today will continue to be windy with west winds from 20-25mph, but they will diminish considerably when the cool front moves through tonight, and tomorrow will be relatively calm with east winds of only 5-10 mph.

There was no rain this past week, and the only possibility in the coming week is on Sunday when there will be a 30% chance. Otherwise, clear or partly cloudy skies will prevail.

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