The JV Lions blanked the visiting Dublin -Lions, 32-0, in the home opener for Albany’s JV last Thursday at Robert Nail Stadium.

The team will be on the road this week in Eastland on Thursday (today). The Mavs are also hosting an opponent to play against their freshmen squad starting at 5:00 p.m., with the JV Lions following at about 6:30 p.m. 

The junior high games will be played in Albany to allow Eastland to play a freshman game at home.

The win over Dublin last week improved the JV to 2-0 for the season.

The Bulldogs and head coach, Harley Ethridge opened the season with a decisive 46-0 win in Rising Star on Friday, Sept. 7.

The junior high game tonight has been moved to Sidney, starting at 6:00 p.m.

Moran plays host to Sidney on Friday, Sept. 14, at Bulldog Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff in front of homecoming fans. 

“I was pleased with our first game,” said Ethridge. “The kids are smart, have been well coached in the past, and are eager to learn.”

The Bulldogs scored mostly on the ground, with only one passing TD.

The junior high Lady Bulldogs played their first game of the year in Moran on Tuesday, taking on Strawn.

“The junior high girls were very excited about their first game,” said girls head coach Dakota Fowler.

Afterwards, the varsity volleyball team faced Strawn’s Lady Greyhounds.

Scores were not available at press time.

Parents of boys and girls at Nancy Smith Elementary only have one more day to sign their children up to participate in the Albany NFL Flag Football league before tomorrow’s registration deadline.

Registration

The forms were sent home with students, and parents need to fill out the registration form and return it to the front desk of NSES by Friday, Sept. 7 along with the participation fee of $60 per child. 

“The fee covers insurance, shorts, jerseys, belts, field maintenance, refs, and trophies,” said league organizer Anthony Ceder.

By Donnie A. Lucas

For just the second time in 11 years, the Lions lost a home game at Robert Nail Stadium, falling Friday to the Colorado City Wolves in the season opener for both teams.

The visiting Wolves posted a 32-13 win over the Lions with the help of four Albany turnovers, but coach Denney Faith said he saw bright spots in the game and reminded his team that there is still a long season that lies ahead.

“You never want to start a season with a loss, but we saw some good things,” Faith said.

The varsity girls volleyball team ended the pre-district portion of their schedule this week, preparing for the opening of District 6-2A in Strawn on Saturday.

Albany will travel to Strawn for an 11:00 a.m. game for the varsity squad. Strawn does not have a JV team.

The Lady Lions will be back at home on Tuesday, Sept. 11 to host Newcastle in a pair of bouts starting at 5:00 p.m.

The Albany Cubs will open the 2018 season at home this Thursday, Sept. 6, when they host the Dublin Cubs.

A total of 35 students are participating on the two teams, including 18 seventh graders and 17 eighth graders.

Unlike recent seasons, both teams should be able to play separate games throughout the season. Two years ago the Cubs had to be combined on one squad due to low numbers of players, while last season several Albany opponents only fielded one team.

The team of Barton and Hughes won the Championship Flight at the annual Albany Labor Day Golf Tournament with a two day total of 124 strokes, followed by Mitchell and Holson in second with 130, and Echols and Echols with a score of 136 for third place.

Sixty-eight players, grouped into 34 teams of two players each, ended up competing in the tournament after six of the 40 teams originally registered for the event had to cancel due to various last minute conflicts. 

Scores from Saturday’s rounds were used to divide the teams into four flights on Sunday.

The Moran Bulldogs will begin regular season Friday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m. in Rising Star, one week later than originally planned, after Benjamin was unable to field a team and had to cancel their Aug. 31 game.

Tomorrow’s game will be the first time new head coach Harley Ethridge will see his players in true game conditions. 

“Scrimmages have been productive,” Ethridge said. “My main challenge is to find kids who have little experience and get them ready for varsity play. I am pleased with their eagerness and attitudes.”

The Lion football team was put to the test last Thursday during a scrimmage in Anson, with the varsity’s first team coming up short against the Tigers.

The varsity will open the regular season at home Friday, hosting the Colorado City Wolves at Robert Nail Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. The visitors are moving up to Class 3A Div. II this year and typically provide a competitive start to the season.