I don't know why it is that some of you (paulbunyan & WestTexasSixmaner) keep wanting to lump me in with the dumb@$$es that were doing all the trash talking. The trash talkers were TotalAccess and WVPlayer (mostly). I challenge any of you to find anything disparaging or derogatory that I have said about any of Water Valley's opponents this year. ANYTHING!! Along with SimplyPut, I tried to get the trash talkers to zip it and show some class - to accord the Ira Bulldogs the respect that they have earned by playing excellent football all year. This, of course, was to no avail.
No Sixmaner, I wasn't the one controlling the horn on the WV side. That's not my gig but I know the guy who was and he's a pretty good dude. So leave it alone.
Yes bunyan, Ira brought their A game just as I told You that they would. As a matter of fact my exact words were - "I seriously doubt that anyone thinks that the Bulldogs WON'T show up with their "A" game. After the year they've had why would anyone expect any less?"
You two especially just don't get it. Your gloating over TotalAccess and WVPlayer (obviously immature kids) puts you squarely into the same category.
Now on to the game...
The Ira Bulldogs played an outstanding game all around but that Lance Morris (#12) is a certified difference-maker. He reminds me of Josh Colunga from Garden City the last couple of years (although I don't think Colunga played defense). Just an outstanding running back and defensive end. I was kind of hoping he might get worn down by playing both ways but he was in high gear all the way to the finish. I'm not saying he's the second coming of TE but he's pretty darn good and the Wildcats just had no answer for him. Not that he was the only Bulldog that played well, but he really stands out. I'm proud of the way Water Valley played to the end and didn't just pack it in when they got behind. It will be tough to replace some of that senior leadership (Glass and Tamplain especially) but don't shed any tears for the Wildcats, they'll be playing good football again next year. They've got some good young players that can hopefully fill the void and, provided they can stay sixman, they should be a force to reckon with for a few years to come.
There was good sportsmanship on both sides - although I would prefer that the Ira coach not be the 7th man on the field - and the facilities at Blackwell are top-notch. I just hope the teachers at Blackwell are seeing some of that windmill $$ too.
I picked Water Valley by 14 so I will admit my error there but it was always a cautious optimism anyway. Good luck to the Ira Bulldogs the rest of the way although I don't think they need luck with Morris lugging the pigskin. You've got to consider them the favorites the rest of the way though Borden County, Valley, and Throckmorton might have something to say about that.