By Sam Waller

The Albany NFL Flag Football League kicked off its 2022 season Saturday, Oct. 1 with six games in three age groups and more than 100 players.

“We had a good turnout,” league organizer Zach Maberry said. “I’m really pleased with how it worked out.”

Maberry said games for this season have been moved from the Albany High School baseball field to the football practice field at the high school track.

Maberry said the league is still seeking volunteers to officiate games. Contact Maberry at 325-660-7940 or zmaberry@fnbab.com to volunteer.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions enjoyed an open date last week in advance of the start of district play. Now the games start counting.

The Lions (3-2 overall) enter their District 6-2A Division II opener coming off back-to-back losses against Hawley and Comanche. Albany hits the road to take on the Miles Bulldogs (4-1) at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at Gary Krejci Memorial Stadium.

Albany head coach Denney Faith said the main goal for last week was to rest and heal after going nearly two months without a break since preseason practice started in August.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions junior varsity football team took the field while the varsity and junior high teams had an open date, falling 6-0 to Hawley on Thursday, Sept. 29.

The game was rescheduled from Sept. 8, when Albany pulled out in order to suit up JV players for that week’s varsity game.

“We came out flat from the beginning and just never got anything going,” coach David Fairchild said. “Hawley did a good job of eating up the clock, which took away many of our offensive possessions. We’ll regroup and get ready for the next one.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions didn’t let an open date disrupt their momentum last week, sweeping Coleman in their only outing of the week to push their winning streak to eight.

The Lady Lions (19-7 overall, 3-0 District 6-2A)  then won 25-19, 26-24, 25-16 over Hawley on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Details will be reported next week.

Albany wraps up the first half of the district schedule Saturday, Oct. 8, at home against Ranger. The JV1 will play at 10:00 a.m. with the varsity to follow. Saturday will be Albany’s Pinkout Day for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

By Sam Waller

Health issues continued to be a problem for the Moran volleyball team last week as the Lady Bulldogs dropped their only match in three sets.

The Lady Bulldogs began their last week before the start of district play Tuesday, Sept. 27 at Woodson. Results will be reported next week. On Friday, Sept. 30, Moran will host Rochelle at 5:00 p.m. as the schools match up for both volleyball and football.

The Lady Bulldogs had just seven players available Saturday, Sept. 24, when they lost 5-25, 18-25, 14-25 at Garner.

By Sam Waller

A rough week led to a rough night for the Moran Bulldogs, who lost 56-0 to the Blanket Tigers on Friday, Sept. 23.

The Bulldogs return home to host Rochelle at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30.

At Blanket, the Bulldogs were held to 73 total yards after battling sickness during the week.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs football teams split their games Thursday, Sept. 22 at Comanche with the seventh grade winning 22-18 and the eighth grade suffering a 20-6 loss.

The teams have this week off before hosting Miles on Thursday, Oct. 6 at Nail Stadium. The action gets underway at 4:30 p.m. with the seventh grade game.

Seventh Grade

Clay Chapman ran for two touchdowns and passed for one as the seventh grade Cubs improved to 4-0.

Chapman opened the scoring with a 2-yard run to take an early 6-0 lead.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Lady Cubs split their final home matches of the season Monday, Sept. 26 against Abilene Christian with the eighth grade winning 25-19, 25-21, while the seventh grade lost in three sets 14-25, 25-19, 9-15.

The Lady Cubs play their last four matches on the road, starting Monday, Oct. 3 at Hawley.

Seventh Grade

The seventh grade Lady Cubs (2-6) came back to extend the match, but they were unable to maintain the momentum in the third set after taking an early lead.

By Sam Waller

Two late interception returns for touchdowns were the difference for the Albany Lions junior varsity football team on Thursday, Sept. 22, in a 20-6 loss at Comanche.

While the rest of the Lions teams take an open date this week, the JV ­Lions (2-2) will play at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 at Hawley. The game was originally scheduled for Sept. 15 but cancelled so JV players could suit up for that week’s varsity game.

At Comanche, the Lions were tied 6-6 with three minutes left before the Indians scored on two returns.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions and Lady Lions cross country runners battled the heat as well as the competition Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Hamlin meet.

Albany runners competed in the Rotan meet Wednesday, Sept. 28. Results will be reported next week.

At Hamlin, Albany had five runners in a field of 45 in the varsity boys race, two of 58 runners in the varsity girls race, and four of 25 JV girls entries.