Sports and Outdoors

 Lake Info

Normal Lake Level is 322.00 feet above Mean Sea Level.
Current level for Cedar Creek Lake is: 322.05
Water Temperature:
na degrees - top
82 degrees - bottom

Panthers looking to regroup
Monitor Staff Reports
MABANK–There’s good, then there’s bad.
The season opener against Rusk was definitely good, and last Friday’s 20-14 road loss to Athens represented (one hopes) the bad for the Mabank Panthers.
About the only positive thing for Panther head coach Jimmy Cantrell was the play of the defense in the second half.

Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Mabank Panther right guard James Walker (left), center Brandon Carrico (57) and left guard David Cosper set up a pocket for quarterback Kolton Browning (background) against the Athens Hornet rush during Friday’s 20-14 loss in Athens. The Panther offensive line hasn’t given up a quarterback sack in the first two games.

“Offensively, we never got on track. Of course, you can’t win with four turnovers,” Cantrell said.
“It was a reality check, and we were brought back to earth,” he added. “I still think we’ve got a good football team.”
Cantrell said any blame for the loss rested with him.
“I don’t think (the players) were ready to play, and that’s my job – to get them ready to play,” he said. “Not to take anything away from Athens. They’ve got a good football team, and played a very sound ballgame.”
The flawless offensive execution the Panthers exhibited against Rusk just wasn’t there, as receivers had a number of drops, and junior quarterback Kolton Browning had one of his worst games as a starter, with three picks in the first half.
Cantrell said he also usually isn’t as conservative as he was against Athens, especially facing fourth-and-short situations.
“We just weren’t mentally prepared for a good football team, and we may see them again,” Cantrell said. “I would like the opportunity to play them again.”
If both Mabank and Athens make the playoffs, they wouldn’t meet in bidistrict, because Chapel Hill (who knocked the Panthers out of the playoffs last year) would be the big-school (Division I) representative out of 14-3A.
The Panthers need to regain their confidence in time to welcome the Whitehouse Wildcats to Panther Stadium Friday, Sept. 14.
Last year, a revamped Whitehouse offense knocked off the Panthers, and the ’Cats went on to go three games deep in the 4A playoffs.
Despite the loss, Cantrell said the Panthers’ defense played a pretty good game against the Wildcats.
“I think they’re better than last year, especially at the skill positions,” he said. “That said, if we get the offensive production we had in week one, I think we can play with anybody.”
Injuries may force some Panther players to play both ways, and that may become a concern if Friday’s game goes as long as it might.
Both teams run the spread offense, so fans might seriously consider purchasing seat cushions at the Booster Club store.
“The game might go to 11 or 11:30,” Cantrell said. “They throw it a lot, and we throw it a lot.”
Whitehouse has given up more points than the Panthers, but they’ve beaten Forney and Sulphur Springs, both quality 4A teams.
“Their front four are really tough, and they play a very solid defense,” Cantrell said. “They’re going to be structurally sound.”
Will this be a measuring stick game? “Yes,” Cantrell said.
“It would be nice to see if we bring our best game,” he added. “If we do, I think we can compete with anybody.”
 

Eustace heads to Edgewood
Monitor Staff Reports
EUSTACE–New Eustace head coach Doug Wendel admits he is feeling pretty good after Friday’s dominating 33-7 victory over the Grand Saline Indians.
Now 2-0 on the season, the Bulldogs will go on the road for the first time when they visit Edgewood Friday, Sept. 14, for the first of three straight matchups against other Bulldogs.
“I feel better after watching the video, knowing we improved over last week,” Wendel said Monday.
“I feel real good about the effort we are getting from everybody on the team,” he added. “Team unity remains our biggest asset.”
Against Edgewood, the Bulldogs will be going up against a spread offense for the first time this season.
Edgewood has yet to score this year, losing to Mildred 28-0 in the season opener before running into a veteran playoff team from Arp and losing 61-0 Friday night.
“In Edgewood’s defense, Mildred is not a bad team, and Arp is a great team, with speed all over the field,” Wendel said.

Monitor Photo/Kerry Yancey
Eustace Bulldog defenders converge on a Grand Saline runner during their 33-7 win over the visiting Indians Friday.

“This is going to be a great challenge for us,” he added. “I’m anxious to see how we play on the road, and I’m anxious to see how we play against a spread team.”
Running the Edgewood spread is quarterback Weston Jamison, who is good, Wendel said.
“Their formations will spread us out over the field, and we’ll have to see how we fare,” he added. “They’ll be the biggest team we’ve played thus far.”
Edgewood has two running backs, a big guy and a small guy, “and they’re both pretty good, hard-nosed runners,” Wendel said.
“They’ve got a good offense – they just haven’t put it together yet,” he added.
The Bulldogs will be facing a spread offense when they visit Mabank in the second District 13-3A game, and the Eustace defense needs to be able to run to the ball against a team that doesn’t stay between the hash marks.
One thing the Bulldogs have to do is cut down on penalties, Wendel said.
They were flagged 12 times for 120 yards in losses against the Indians, although most of the penalties stemmed from “correctable mistakes,” Wendel said.
“Coming into the season, I thought Edgewood looked just like us, as far as size and team speed goes,” Wendel noted. “It’ll be a great challenge for us. They have a strong athletic tradition there, and they play hard at home.”
 

LSHSRA holds first rodeo of season
Special to The Monitor
CANTON–Tyson Waisath, president of the Lone Star High School Rodeo Association, reported a strong turnout for the first rodeo of the LSHSRA season.
Some 17 juniors entered in 34 events in the first junior rodeo.
Delaney Wolfe took first place in goats with and without a horse, as well as junior breakaway, while Rebecca Roberts took first place in poles and barrels.
The LSHSRA offers several junior events, including barrels and poles, goats with and without a horse, and breakaway roping. Anyone interested in participating in any of these junior events once a month should contact Waisath at (903) 279-6571.
Approximately 200 high school members entered events.
First place winners included:
• bareback – Josh McClintock, Rockwall Rodeo Team,
• saddlebronc – Jason Birdwell, Seagoville Rodeo Team,
• breakaway – Alycia Garson, Wild West Rodeo Team,
• calf roping – Tyler Wade, Wild West Rodeo Team,
• goats without horse – Traci Copeland, East Texas Rodeo Team,
• girls ribbon roping – Kla Wolfe, Seagoville Rodeo Team,
• team roping – Brandon Garson/Garrett McQueen, Wild West Rodeo Team,
• goats with horse – Kla Wolfe, Seagoville Rodeo Team,
• boys ribbon roping – Chance Tuggle, Wylie Rodeo Team,
• poles – Kallie Stanley, East Texas Rodeo Team,
• chute dogging – Justin McEnturff, Rafter J Rodeo Team,
• barrels – Shelby Surls, East Texas Rodeo Team,
• bulls – Justin McEnturff, Rafter J Rodeo Team.
The next LSHSRA rodeo will be held at the Wade Arena in Terrell Saturday, Sept. 15. For more information, see the website www.lonestarrodeo.com.