By Sam Waller

The Albany NFL Flag Football League got off to a belated start Tuesday with more than 100 elementary students participating on 12 teams in three age divisions.

League organizer Anthony Ceder said the goal of the program is to provide a positive, Christian experience for participants and instill a sense of community unity.

“Football is such a big destination point sports-wise in Albany,” Ceder said. “We want to get them participating and doing what they will eventually do as they progress through sports.”

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Cubs seventh grade volleyball team scored a two-set victory at Ranger on Sept. 28 in the only junior high match of the week.

The Lady Cubs won 25-12, 28-26.

Charlee Hefner served for seven points in the first set with Zayne Lefevre serving for six. The duo was followed by Ashlyn Miller and Amber Miramontes with three points apiece, while Hattie Braly and Tatum Grady each served for two.

By Sam Waller

Lute Wheeler passed for  four touchdowns and Branson Beal scored three times last Thursday as the Albany Lions junior varsity football team defeated Olney 42-0 at Olney.

The Lions JV (6-0) has won for the third consecutive week on the road.

Ashton Bailey opened the scoring with a 12-yard run on Albany’s first possession. The score was set up when Cason Fairchild pulled in a 33-yard pass from Wheeler on the Lions’ first play.

Bailey was also six of six on PAT kicks.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs football teams made the most of limited opportunities last Thursday in recording a pair of victories at Olney.

Both seventh grade and eighth grade games were played with a running clock because of the threat of bad weather.

The seventh grade Cubs won 14-6, scoring on two of three possessions. The eighth grade won 8-0 despite running just nine offensive plays.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions began the second half of the District 6-2A volleyball schedule with a pair of sweeps, moving closer to their goal of a district championship.

“We are excited to start the second half of district and get closer to the playoffs,” Lady Lions coach M.J. Reneau said.

The varsity hosted Abilene TLC on Tuesday, Oct. 5, winning in three sets 25-12, 25-9,  25-6. Details will be reported next week.

On the same night, the JV1 and JV2 hosted teams from Knox City.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions didn’t have very many opportunities on offense last Friday in their final non-district outing.

 It turned out they didn’t need as many as they had.

Despite running just 21 plays and losing two turnovers, the Lions improved to 5-0 with a 55-6 homecoming victory over the Olney Cubs at Robert Nail Memorial Stadium.

The Moran Lady Bulldogs dropped a four-set decision at Woodson on Saturday, falling 24-26,  14-25, 25-17, 25-27.

“This was the best Saturday morning match we have played,” Lady Bulldogs coach Jo Hise said. “We are working well as a team, settling into our rotation.”

Johnnie Hise had five kills, and Hannah Rogers had six assists.

In the first set, Harmony Slaughter and Vivi Green each had five service points. Green had five more in the third set with Rogers adding four. Slaughter served for four points in the fourth set.

By Sam Waller

After getting an unexpected weekend off and struggling through last Friday’s game, the Moran Bulldogs hope to get things on track with their scheduled open date this week.

The Bulldogs’ open District 9-1A Division II play Oct. 8 at Paint Creek.

“It’s going to be good for us,” Bulldogs coach John Hughes said of the bye. “It gives us two weeks to get ready for Paint Creek. Just getting a little bit healthier than we have been is going to be the big thing.”

By Sam Waller

Jonathan Coody finished 11th in the varsity boys race at the Hamlin Cross Country Meet on Sept. 22 to lead Albany’s contingent.

Six runners competed for Albany, including three in the junior high girls race.

The meet was Albany’s first since running Sept. 8 at Eula.

“I believe that the week of not running in a meet helped us to rest and refreshed us,” coach Tate Thompson said. “The kids came out and ran well.”

Albany’s next meet will be Wednesday, Oct. 6 at Anson.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Junior High Cubs split their games at Anson last Thursday with the eighth grade winning 20-8, while the seventh grade suffered its first loss 16-8.

Both teams return to action Thursday (today) at Olney. The seventh grade will play at 4:00 p.m., followed by the eighth grade and junior varsity.

Eighth Grade

Calhan Fairchild had touchdowns passing, receiving, and on an interception return to lead the Cubs (4-0).

“I was very pleased with our effort on both sides of the ball,” coach David Fairchild said.