(Friday’s games are non-district)

Victoria East Titans at Victoria West Warriors

7:30 p.m., Memorial Stadium

Last year: West, 32-29.

Notes: East (0-0) and West (1-0) meet for the 17th time. The series is tied 8-8. West has won the last two games. West opened the season with a 35-28 win over Calhoun. East’s game at San Antonio Southwest was called because of the weather.

St. Joseph Flyers at Palacios Sharks

7 p.m., Palacios Shark Stadium

Last year: St. Joseph, 35-21.

Notes: St. Joseph (2-0) and Palacios (0-1) play for the third straight season. They split the previous two games. St. Joseph is coming off a win over Hallettsville Sacred Heart. Palacios dropped its season opener to Flatonia.

Gonzales Apaches at El Campo Ricebirds

7 p.m., El Campo Ricebird Stadium

Last year: Did not play.

Notes: Gonzales (0-1) started the season with a one-point loss to Marion. El Campo (1-0) defeated Wharton County rival Wharton.

La Marque Cougars at Bay City Blackcats

7 p.m., Bay City Memorial Stadium

Last year: Did not play.

Notes: La Marque (0-1) and Bay City (0-1), ranked No. 10 in Class 4A, Division I, played nine times from 1990 to 2005. La Marque lost its season opener to Hamshire-Fannett. Bay City lost to Columbus, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, Division I.

Cuero Gobblers at La Vernia Bears

7 p.m. La Vernia Bear Stadium

Last year: Cuero, 49-41

Notes: Cuero (1-0), ranked No. 5 in Class 4A, Division II, and La Verna (1-0), ranked No. 3 in Class 4A, Division I, play for the third straight season. Cuero won the previous two games, both by one score. Cuero opened the season with a win over Yoakum. La Vernia beat San Antonio Harlandale.

Edna Cowboys at East Bernard Brahmas

7:30 p.m., East Bernard Memorial Stadium

Last year: Did not play.

Notes: Edna (1-0) and East Bernard (1-0), ranked No. 5 in Class 3A, Division II, last played in 2023. Edna opened the season with a win over Columbia. East Bernard beat Sweeny.

Yoakum Bulldogs at Industrial Cobras

7:30 p.m., Vanderbilt Cobra Field

Last year: Yoakum, 45-27.

Notes: Yoakum (0-1), ranked No. 10 in Class 3A, Division I, has won three straight games against Industrial (0-1). Yoakum lost to Cuero in its season opener. Industrial lost to Shiner, ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, Division II.

Tidehaven Tigers at Goliad Tigers

7:30 p.m., Goliad Tiger Field

Last year: Tidehaven, 38-7

Notes: Tidehaven (0-1), ranked No. 4 in Class 3A, Division II, and Goliad (0-1) play for the fourth straight season. Tidehaven has won two of the three games between the teams. Tidehaven lost its season opener to Ganado, ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, Division I. Goliad was defeated by Rockport-Fulton.

Shiner Comanches at Orange Grove Bulldogs

7:30 p.m., Orange Grove Bulldog Stadium

Last year: Did not play.

Notes: Shiner (1-0), ranked No. 2 in Class 2A, Division I, travels 124 miles to play Orange Grove (1-0), its second consecutive Class 3A opponent. Shiner opened the season with a win over Industrial. Orange Grove defeated Corpus Christi London.

Friday’s Games

Non-District

Victoria East at Victoria West, 7:30 p.m.

St. Joseph at Palacios, 7 p.m.

Gonzales at El Campo, 7 p.m.

La Marque at Bay City, 7 p.m.

Mexico City at Calhoun, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi London at Beeville, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi Carroll at Calallen, 7 p.m.

Cuero at La Vernia, 7 p.m.

Edna at East Bernard, 7:30 p.m.

Fort Bend Willowridge at Wharton, 7 p.m.

Yoakum at Industrial, 7:30 p.m.

Hallettsville at Brazos, 7:30 p.m.

Tidehaven at Goliad, 7:30 p.m.

Schulenburg at Refugio, 7:30 p.m.

Boling at Ganado, 7:30 p.m.

Hempstead at Rice Consolidated, 7:30 p.m.

Van Vleck at Brazosport, 7:30 p.m.

Jourdanton at Nixon-Smiley, 7 p.m.

Karnes City at La Pryor, 7 p.m.

Poth at Falls City, 7 p.m.

Stockdale at Weimar, 7 p.m.

Shiner at Orange Grove, 7:30 p.m.

Bloomington at Shiner St. Paul, 7:30 p.m.

Flatonia at Louise, 7 p.m.

Natalia at Kenedy, 7:30 p.m.

Yorktown at Skidmore-Tynan, 7:30 p.m.

Woodsboro at Corpus Christi John Paul II, 7 p.m.

Hallettsville Sacred Heart at Austin St. Andrew’s, 7 p.m.

Six-Man

Non-District

Knippa at Runge, 7 p.m.

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Chris Doelle sits down to discuss Yoakum Bulldogs Athletics with their Athletic Director, Bo Robinson.

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Ganado prepares for Friday night’s home opener against Boling.

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Friday’s Games

Non-District

Victoria East at Victoria West, 7:30 p.m.

St. Joseph at Palacios, 7 p.m.

Gonzales at El Campo, 7 p.m.

La Marque at Bay City, 7 p.m.

Mexico City at Calhoun, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi London at Beeville, 7 p.m.

Corpus Christi Carroll at Calallen, 7 p.m.

Cuero at La Vernia, 7 p.m.

Edna at East Bernard, 7:30 p.m.

Fort Bend Willowridge at Wharton, 7 p.m.

Yoakum at Industrial, 7:30 p.m.

Hallettsville at Brazos, 7:30 p.m.

Tidehaven at Goliad, 7:30 p.m.

Schulenburg at Refugio, 7:30 p.m.

Boling at Ganado, 7:30 p.m.

Hempstead at Rice Consolidated, 7:30 p.m.

Van Vleck at Brazosport, 7:30 p.m.

Jourdanton at Nixon-Smiley, 7 p.m.

Karnes City at La Pryor, 7 p.m.

Poth at Falls City, 7 p.m.

Stockdale at Weimar, 7 p.m.

Shiner at Orange Grove, 7:30 p.m.

Bloomington at Shiner St. Paul, 7:30 p.m.

Flatonia at Louise, 7 p.m.

Natalia at Kenedy, 7:30 p.m.

Yorktown at Skidmore-Tynan, 7:30 p.m.

Woodsboro at Corpus Christi John Paul II, 7 p.m.

Hallettsville Sacred Heart at Austin St. Andrew’s, 7 p.m.

Six-Man

Non-District

Knippa at Runge, 7 p.m.

Calhoun and Victoria West played for the first time since 2019 in the season opener Friday night at Victoria’s Memorial Stadium.

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A Ganado Freshman Won the Night.

Ganado tried an onside kick on the very first play of the season and it blew up in their face. Two and a half hours later though, they walked off the field at Delvin L. Taska Tiger Stadium with 49 points and a road win.

That was just the start of opening week Friday night in El Maton.

The Final

Ganado 49, Tidehaven 26.

It looked lopsided on the scoreboard. It did not feel that way in the stands.

Understand who was on that field. Ganado went 11-2 last season and won their district at 2A. Tidehaven went 13-1 and won theirs at 3A. Two teams that were undefeated in league play last fall, opening the season against each other in a non-district game nobody had to schedule. Then both of them lost the quarterback their offense was built around, in the same game, and kept swinging anyway.

The First Quarter Was a Demolition Derby

I have covered a lot of season openers. This first quarter had everything you expect when young teams take their first live snaps since November.

Tidehaven recovered the failed onside kick and drove into the red zone on the opening possession. Then they threw one into coverage in the end zone and Ganado freshman Beau Bures picked it off for a touchback. Not to be outdone in the turnover battle, the Indians answered by marching 78 yards, including a scramble and throw down the left sideline that got them to the 2, and promptly put the ball on the ground at the goal line.

Ganado finally broke through when quarterback Landyn Arriaga rolled left and threw left-handed to Cade Nixon, who caught it at the 2 and dove in. On the next Tidehaven series, a botched exchange gave the Indians the ball back at midfield, and Logan Bures took the handoff up the gut 65 yards to the house.

Down 14-0 with under a minute left in the quarter, Tidehaven took a high snap the quarterback had to catch out of the air, handed it off, and went the distance. Three and a half seconds later the quarter ended.

Tidehaven’s Best Football Was Real Football

Here is the part that will not show up in a box score.

After that wild first quarter, the Tigers put together the best sustained drive of the night by either team. Eleven plays. Ground it out. Mixed the quarterback keeper with the inside run, hit a short pass on third down, and the quarterback fought his way in from close range. No turnovers. No panic. This Tiger squad is a young team, but you could already see signs of them learning to play.

Coach David Lucio told me afterward they came into this game still figuring out who they were, and that they had designed the offense around a dual threat quarterback who was just starting to find his groove. Then the kid tweaked his knee.

“We were kind of shooting from the hip,” Lucio said. “We seen a couple of things we like.”

His replacement came in cold and ran a quarterback draw for a 30-yard gain, converted a fourth down with a keeper around the right side, and hit a rollout touchdown pass in tight coverage with Noah Cortes draped all over the receiver. He also threw three balls into the end zone on one fourth-quarter series that all should have been caught. Two of them bounced off receivers’ hands.

Lucio is right about that. A couple of catches go the other way and this is a very different Friday night.

The Difference Was Everything Except Offense

Ganado head coach Josh Ervin did not hesitate when I asked about special teams.

“That was the difference,” he said. “The kickoff return, the PATs, the PAT blocks. Man, just super special.”

He is not exaggerating. Count it up:

• Cade Nixon returned a kickoff roughly 80 yards to the Tidehaven 2, which turned into a touchdown three plays later

• A muffed Tidehaven punt recovered at midfield that led to points

• Michael Tristan scooping up a fourth-quarter fumble and running it the length of the field for a score

• Two Tidehaven PATs that never made it through, one off the upright and one on a fumbled snap

Tristan was everywhere on that side of the ball. He made a dramatic tackle on a kickoff return, stuffed Tidehaven backs behind the line, and then put the game away with the scoop and score.

It cut both ways, though. Tidehaven’s Stockton picked up a Ganado fumble in the third quarter and took it to the house to make it a one-score game without the Tiger offense ever taking the field. Special teams and turnovers were the entire margin here. The offenses mostly traded haymakers.

The Freshman

Ervin lost his starting quarterback too. Here is who replaced him: Kyle Stancik, a freshman.

That kid came in and hit a fourth-and-nine strike to Cade Nixon in traffic to keep a drive alive. He dropped a deep ball on the money down the left sideline to Logan Bures, who leapt and caught it at the 3. He threw a touchdown to Beau Bures in the right corner of the end zone. The freshmen put everyone on notice that they were here to play!

“The offense just kept going,” Ervin said. “We changed a little bit what we did, but the kids adjusted to it and they executed it well.”

Two teams, two injured quarterbacks, two backups who did not flinch. In week one. Against real competition.

What I Am Watching Next

Ganado has serious talent and it showed. They also got flagged for holding three separate times in the third quarter alone and picked up a personal foul on a kickoff return in the fourth. Against a team that does not turn it over four times, that math gets ugly in a hurry.

Tidehaven has size. I noticed it in warmups before anybody snapped a ball. What they need is reps, and the only place to get those is on Friday nights. Lucio called his kids grinders and said they would clean it up. Watching them go for it on fourth down twice inside the final three minutes while trailing by 23, I believe him.

Nobody looked polished. Everybody looked willing. That is exactly what week one is supposed to be.

Both teams get right back at it next Friday, September 4, at 7:30. Ganado finally plays in front of its own crowd, hosting Boling, then takes on East Bernard at home on September 11 and travels to Brazos on September 18 before a bye. District play does not start until October 2 against Flatonia, which gives Coach Ervin more than a month to get those flags cleaned up.

Tidehaven does not get that luxury. The Tigers go to Goliad next week, host Palacios on September 11, and travel to Hallettsville on September 18. Then district opens on September 25 at Industrial. Three non-district games to sort out the quarterback situation, settle the snap, and get the young guys comfortable. Lucio said the faster they clean it up, the quicker they get where they are going. The calendar agrees with him.

by Chris Doelle

Non-District

Victoria West 35, Calhoun 28

Victoria East at San Antonio Southwest, canceled

St. Joseph 35, Hallettsville Sacred Heart 27

Columbus 34, Bay City 19

Ingleside 45, CC King 7

El Campo 55, Wharton 14

Alice 35, Beeville 15

Cuero 28, Yoakum 21

Marion 35, Gonzales 34

Edna 45, Columbia 12

Flatonia 28, Palacios 24

CC Miller 46, Flour Bluff 41

Hallettsville 49, Schulenburg 0

Rockport-Fulton 28, Goliad 0

CC Ray 69, CC Moody 0

Ganado 49, Tidehaven 26

Sinton 32, Tuloso-Midway 0

Shiner 41, Industrial 12

CC Veterans Memorial 10, Vela 7

Rice Consolidated 28, Houston Wheatley 22

Van Vleck 42, Anahuac 14

Taft 35, Karnes City 12

Alice 35, Beeville Jones 13

Bloomington 35, Woodsboro 0

Kenedy 57, Poteet 12

Boling 14, Weimar 6

George West 40, Refugio 0

Johnson City 14, Falls City 6

Harper 41, Yorktown 19

Gregory-Portland 53, CC Carroll 6

Granger 52, Louise 12

Calallen 76, Kingsville King 18

Nixon-Smiley 22, Luling 18

Shiner St. Paul at Austin St. Andrews

Six-Man Non-District

Runge 48, Corpus Christi Annapolis 31

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brought to you by

Yoakum Lube & Tire

Chris Doelle sits down to discuss Yoakum Bulldogs Athletics with their Athletic Director, Bo Robinson.

SPONSORSHIP: If you’d like to find out how to sponsor an upcoming episode, contact us and we get you out there.

Yoakum and Cuero met for the 117th time in the DeWitt County rivalry Friday night at Gobbler Stadium in Cuero.

CUERO – Cuero showcased some of the past and present in one of the state’s longest-running rivalries.

The explosiveness of newcomer Jarvis Williams and returnee Dae Dae Bonner helped Cuero capture a 28-21 win over Yoakum in the season-opener Frid…

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Key topics include:

• Why South Texas sports history is best remembered through the people who shaped it, not just the records and championships

• Early baseball memories, including Randy Lynch’s Oil Belt Little League experience

• The classic Texas A&I vs. New Mexico Highlands game and the late-game heroics of Larry Kelly and Carl Douglas

• Standout Texas A&I players including Eldridge Small, Carl Douglas, Larry Kelly, and Gene Walkoviak

• Coach Stankey’s recruiting, preparation, and game-planning at Texas A&I

• The quarterback tradition at Texas A&I and the legacy of Richard Ritchie, Randy Johnson, Carl Douglas, and Billy Gardasod

• The coaching legacy of Olivero Garza and his remarkable success across several South Texas programs

• A memorable Mirando City story involving an 11-player roster and one determined mother

• Bill Hooper’s impact on Miller High School football and the program’s breakthrough win over Alice

• Looking ahead to more South Texas track and field memories and stories in future episodes

Host Biographies

1. Manuel Flores: A South Texas native born and raised in Hebbronville. He is a former sports writer for the San Antonio Express, Dallas Morning News, and the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. He has also hosted sports radio shows and provided play-by-play for high school games.

2. Randy Lynch:
   Former alumni director at Texas A&I in the 1970s and a former color
   commentator for the “Andy and Randy show” alongside Andy Cook.

The hosts are eager to hear your stories! If you have a memory of a specific player or team you’d like them to cover, email Manuel Flores at manuelf78407@yahoo.com.

Producer: Chris Doelle, Lone Star Podcast Network.

Calhoun Sandcrabs at Victoria West Warriors

7 p.m. Friday, Victoria Memorial Stadium

Notes: Calhoun and West meet for the first time since 2019. West won that game 28-6. West went 10-3 last season and advanced to the Class 5A, Division II playoffs. Calhoun finished 7-5 and advanced to the area round of the Class 4A, Division I playoffs.

Victoria East Titans at San Antonio Southwest Dragons

7:30 p.m. Friday, San Antonio Southwest Stadium

Notes: East plays its first game under new head coach Brad Smithey. The Titans went 1-9 last season. Southwest went 8-3 and advanced to the Class 5A, Division I bi-district round last season before moving to Class 6A this season.

Columbus Cardinals at Bay City Blackcats

7 p.m. Friday, Bay City Memorial Stadium

Notes: No. 1 Class 3A, Division I Columbus plays No. 9 Class 4A, Division I Bay City for the fourth time. Bay City leads the series 2-1. Columbus won the state title in 2024 before losing in the regional final last season, and finishing with an 11-3 record. Bay City went 9-4 and advanced to the regional semifinal last season.

El Campo Ricebirds at Wharton Tigers

7 p.m. Friday, Wharton Eddie Joseph Memorial Stadium

Notes: Wharton County rivals El Campo and Wharton meet for the 108th time. El Campo leads the series 79-24-4 and has won 10 of the last 11 meetings. El Campo went 6-5 and advanced to the Class 4A, Division I bi-district playoffs. Wharton advanced to the Class 4A, Division II bi-district playoffs and finished at 6-5. Wharton moved to Class 3A, Division I this season.

Yoakum Bulldogs at Cuero Gobblers

7 p.m. Friday, Cuero Gobbler Stadium

Notes: DeWitt County rivals Yoakum and Cuero play for the 117th time. Cuero leads the series 75-35-6 and has won the last five games. No. 8 Class 3A, Division I Yoakum went 14-2 and won the state championship last season. No. 5 Class 4A, Division II Cuero advanced to the regional final and finished at 12-2 last season.

Goliad Tigers at Rockport-Fulton Pirates

7 p.m. Friday, Rockport Pirate Stadium

Notes: No. 13 Class 3A, Division I Goliad takes on Class 4A, Division II Rockport-Fulton. Goliad advanced to the regional semifinal last season and finished 10-3. Rockport-Fulton went 8-5 and advanced to the regional semifinal last season.

Ganado Indians at Tidehaven Tigers

7:30 p.m. Friday, El Maton Delvin L. Taska Stadium

Notes: No. 1 Class 2A, Division I Ganado and No. 3 Class 3A, Division II Tidehaven play for the third straight season after splitting the previous two games. Tidehaven went 13-1 and advanced to the regional final last season. Ganado advanced to the regional final and finished 11-2 last season.

Industrial Cobras at Shiner Comanches

7:30 p.m. Friday, Shiner Comanche Stadium

Notes: Industrial travels from Vanderbilt to play Shiner for the fifth straight season. Shiner owns a 3-1 edge during that span. No. 23 Class 3A, Division I Industrial advanced to the bi-district playoffs last season and finished at 3-8. No. 2 Class 2A, Division I Shiner had a 15-1 record and advanced to the state final for the second consecutive season.

Week 1 Schedule

Thursday’s Game

Non-District

Nixon-Smiley at Luling

Friday’s Games

Non-District

Calhoun at Victoria West, 7 p.m.

Victoria East at San Antonio Southwest, 7:30 p.m.

Hallettsville Sacred Heart vs. St. Joseph, 7 p.m., at Goliad

Columbus at Bay City, 7 p.m.

El Campo at Wharton, 7 p.m.

Beeville at Alice, 7:30 p.m.

Yoakum at Cuero, 7 p.m.

Marion vs. Gonzales, 7:30 p.m., Seguin Texas Lutheran Bulldog Stadium

Edna at Columbia, 7 p.m.

Palacios at Flatonia, 7:30 p.m.

Schulenburg at Hallettsville, 7:30 p.m.

Goliad at Rockport-Fulton, 7 p.m.

Ganado at Tidehaven, 7:30 p.m.

Industrial at Shiner, 7:30 p.m.

Houston Wheatley at Rice Consolidated, 7:30 p.m.

Anahuac at Van Vleck, 7:30 p.m.

Taft at Karnes City, 7 p.m.

Woodsboro at Bloomington, 7 p.m.

Kenedy at Poteet, 7 p.m.

Weimar at Boling, 7 p.m.

Refugio at George West, 7:30 p.m.

Falls City at Johnson City, 7 p.m.

Harper at Yorktown, 7 p.m.

Louise at Granger, 7 p.m.

Shiner St. Paul at Austin St. Andrew’s, 7 p.m.

Six-Man

Non-District

Corpus Christi Annapolis at Runge, 7 p.m.

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