By Sam Waller

The division races of the Albany NFL Flag Football League are heating up as the season enters its final two weeks.

Week 5 games start at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Albany High School track infield.

The Cowboys in the Kindergarten-First Grade division and Broncos in the Fourth-Sixth Grade division remained perfect, improving to 4-0 to lead their respective groups.

The Titans moved into sole possession of first place in the Second-Third Grade division.

By Sam Waller

Albany’s Jonathan Coody and Briley Tabor faced less-than-ideal conditions and strong competition at the Region II-2A cross country meet Monday, Oct. 24 at Grand Prairie’s Lynn Creek Park at Joe Pool Lake.

Coach Ginger Norton said heavy rains during the Class 6A and 4A races earlier in the day left the course sloppy.

“By the time we got to run, it was muddy and slippery,” she said. “The rain did let up while we ran, so that helped.”

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs earned themselves an extra match in advance of the playoffs by splitting their two district outings last week.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Moran hosted Gustine in a playoff warmup match. Results will be reported next week.

The Lady Bulldogs will play Rising Star in a district seeding match at 6:00 p.m. Friday at Cisco College. Moran (3-15 overall, 1-3 District 14-A) forced the match by sweeping Rising Star 25-14, 25-17, 25-17 on Saturday, Oct. 22 at home.

By Sam Waller

Senior Day did not go the way the Albany Lady Lions wanted, ending in a five-set loss to Hawley on Saturday, Oct. 22 in a key District 6-2A volleyball match.

The Lady Lions (23-8 overall, 7-1 district) closed out the regular season Tuesday, Oct. 25, by sweeping Ranger 25-8, 25-13, 25-14 on the road.

Lady Lion coach M.J. Reneau said that since Albany and Hawley, who split their district matches, tied for first place, seeding was determined Wednesday by flipping a coin, with the Lady Lions ending up as the second place seed.

By Sam Waller

Moran ISD will have special programs presented by the District 14 Education Service Center for all grade levels on Monday, Oct. 31.

Principal Jo Hise said separate programs will be presented for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

“We’re going to talk about how to be friends and about bullying with kindergarten through fifth grade,” Hise said. “We’ll cover technology safety with sixth through eighth grades and drug prevention with ninth through 12th.”

The presentations will be about 30 minutes with each group.

I am amazed at your hospitality, love, care, and kindness. You have made me feel so welcome in your gracious communities. I will sincerely miss every one of you.

I am pleased and saddened at the same moment as I announce my retirement. It has been my greatest pleasure to serve you as your UPS delivery man for 17 and a half years. My last day to deliver to you will be Thursday, October 27.

By Sam Waller

The Moran Bulldogs were forced to call an early halt to their game Friday, Oct. 21 in a 41-0 loss to Valera Panther Creek in the District 14-1A Division II opener for both teams.

The Bulldogs (0-8 overall, 0-1 district) make their final home appearance at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27 (tonight) when they host Paint Rock. Tyler Waddell, Moran’s lone senior, will be honored before the game with a Senior Night ceremony.

By Sam Waller

The start of the Albany Lady Lions’ basketball season is on hold pending the volleyball team’s run in the playoffs, coach Tate Thompson said.

Under UIL rules, girls were allowed to begin practicing Wednesday, Oct. 19, with the first scrimmage date being Saturday. Oct. 29. Girls may begin playing games on Friday, Nov. 4.

However, player availability will be an issue until Albany volleyball concludes its season.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Cubs wrapped up their volleyball season Monday, Oct. 24 with a single match at Ranger.

The eighth grade Lady Cubs won 25-14, 25-9 to finish the season at 5-10.

There was no seventh grade match because of a lack of players for Ranger. The seventh grade Lady Cubs finished with a 2-11 record.

Eighth grade coach Elizabeth Martin said the players made progress in the development of their skills.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs football teams came away with a win and a tie last week in home games against Roscoe.

The junior high teams make their final home appearance Thursday, Oct. 27 (today) against Hamlin  at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium. The seventh grade game will start at 4:30 p.m. with the eighth grade and junior varsity to follow.