GAMES
RANKINGS
VYPE U: Episcopal Takes on Westfield and Stafford
The Episcopal Knights went 1-1 this week in games against public schools, Westfield and Stafford.
Wednesday, December 9th
The Knights took a win against the Westfield Mustangs. The Mustangs scored after securing the tipoff with an easy layup. Though besides their first layup of the game, Westfield missed many of their opportunities to add some points to the scoreboard in the first quarter. The Knights zone defense against the Mustangs worked effectively to prevent their scoring chances. By the second quarter, Westfield switched their offense up and found their way to the basket.
As for the Knights offense, they began to miss the basket several times. Furthermore, their defense became more aggressive in the second as the team collected ten fouls just in the first half. Heading into the second half, there had been a double technical foul called on both teams. The Knights continued this foul streak, as C. Montgomery led the team with four fouls at the time. Westfield led 35-34 after the third quarter, which would be their only lead of the game.
The last quarter showcased the Knights offense. In the first three quarters, the Knights failed to make 3-pointers. The fourth quarter was their opportunity to redeem themselves. J. Begg who went 0-5 on three-point shots, went 4-4 in the final quarter. Though a close game, the Knights eventually defeated the Mustangs 65-58.
Friday, December 11th
Episcopal took a tough loss to Stafford High School. Stafford's high intensity was led by Z. Haynes, who led the team scoring 9 of 15 first quarter points. Episcopal didn't do much damage in the first half, collecting only 17 points. Leading scorers in the first half for the Knights were be J.Begg and B. Mwamba.
The Second half sparked a major comeback for the Knights. In the third quarter, B. Mwamba manage to score 14 points alone, bringing the Knights back into the game. However, the Spartans managed to extend their lead by 18 with X. Lyalla and G. Bishop contributing four points each.
In the final quarter, Episcopal managed to tie up the score with Stafford. In the final quarter both teams consistently utilized timeouts to slow the flow of momentum. D. Brodie led Episcopal in the fourth quarter with a total of 11 points, three of those being 3-pointers. Alongside Brodie, W. Turlington and W. Taylor both made clutch free throws to close the gap in the final seconds. However, the Knights fell short of the win and lost 56-61.
FRANCIS: Texas High School football in the Age of Covid
I grew up, like many others do in Texas, as an avid High School Football fan.
I've been at the field under those Friday Night Lights nearly every fall weekend for the better part of twenty years. There is something so special about High School Football, and how it permeates an entire community. Even now, when I go home for a game, I eat at the same burger joint. I ride the same shuttle bus to the stadium with the same people. I sit in the same seats, and so do many around me. The important thing, though, is I'm not the only one. In a fairly large city, over nearly two decades, almost nothing has changed.
In the fall, a community and it's team become one.
When the UIL announced its plans for the fall season many of us were delighted at the prospect of football, even if it meant a drastic change to the norm. The possibility of no fan attendance, a delayed, and possibly shortened, season and even spontaneous cancellations were all okay as long as it meant football had a chance. We've all sacrificed for football before. We've sat in the rain, sleet, snow, boiling hot, and freezing cold. We've traveled hundreds of miles, spending hours in the car to travel to games. We've dropped everything on our calendar.
We'd sacrificed before, we could do it again.
Or, at least, that's what I hoped. Just because I was willing to sacrifice for football didn't mean others would be, and in the age of COVID sacrifice is everything.
I have to admit, I was not very optimistic when I pulled into Stafford MSD Stadium on Saturday evening. I was expecting a fairly low turnout, and not much in the way of COVID precautions by those that did attend. In my mind, it certainly wouldn't help that this game had been hastily rescheduled after Stafford's Friday contest in Texas City was cancelled due to Hurricane Laura. I was preparing myself for the worst.
Huffman Falcon fans traveled well.
Instead, after the strangest eight months of my life, I was treated to a perfectly normal evening of high school football.
When I walked into the stadium I was greeted by the staff at the gate who all had smiles beaming from behind their masks. The Stafford and Huffman football teams were on the field warming up, while coaches and staff finished their pregame preparations. When I sat down, I found a surprising amount of people. It felt like nearly 75% of the Stafford bleachers were full. Once I began to look around though, I started to see all of the open space. Fans throughout the entire stadium were, in fact, social distancing. Not only was there ample space, it took quite a while for me to find someone without a mask on. I was astonished. Maybe this could actually work.
As the game began things started to become...normal. People were talking among themselves about life, home, work, school, and everything else that wasn't football. I saw people smiling and waving to others they knew as they entered and exited the bleachers. Cheer squads, on both sides, were leading the crowd to support the teams. The action on the field was as genuine as I've ever seen it. The referees were sharp, and called the game with conviction. The players and coaches were so visibly excited just to be playing one game. This game.
That action, by the way, didn't disappoint.
Both defenses stood strong early, with the Stafford defense forcing a turnover on downs, all from inside their own 10 yard line. When they took over from inside their own five, Huffman forced a safety for the game's first score, before they were again stopped on downs on offense. The first half saw all matter of balls batted at the line, big sacks, interceptions, fumbles, and well defended passes. The second half brought some offensive flair, but it was too little too late for Stafford as the Spartans fell 28-14 to the Falcons.
As I walked out of the stadium gates to head home, I took one last look inside. I actually forgot what was supposed to be different about this game. I had expected to find some new experience, some different feeling that wouldn't live up to what I had remembered. What I had found instead was that same passion, joy, and sense of community that Texas high school football always brings.
Stafford MSD Stadium filled with Spartans