It was perhaps a tougher game than expected for the Albany Lions when they hosted Cross Plains last Friday, holding on for an 18-10 win to remain undefeated in district play.

But the win locked the Lions into the District 7-2A playoff picture with two more games remaining in the regular season.

Albany will travel to Haskell this week for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff in Indian Stadium.

Haskell is entering the fray with a 1-2 district record, with hopes of hanging on to the possibility of a playoff spot.

The Moran Lady Bulldogs ended regular district play at home, on senior night, with a win against Woodson on Tuesday, Oct. 23. Moran won in four sets 25-9, 25-14, 19-25, 25-10, and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

“My girls accomplished so many things this season, including making it to the playoffs,” said coach Dakota Fowler. “By doing that, they definitely proved themselves. Moran has not been to the playoffs in 24 years.”

The JV Lions had to travel to Roscoe last week, but didn’t play the Plowboys.

Roscoe has canceled the remainder of its JV schedule due to low numbers of players, but the Lions met the Post Antelopes’ JV on the Plowboys artificial turf field, remaining perfect for the season with a 24-0 win.

Improving to 7-0 for the season, Albany mounted a long campaign to score on a three-yard run by Brooks Neece. The Lions also scored on the two-point play on a pass from Cade Neve to Neece.

The Lion football team proved to doubters that they are the real thing last Friday, plowing over Roscoe 49-6 for a second straight district win.

Starting the season with an 0-5 pre-district record, the Lions opened District 7-2A with a victory over Baird and now added a second decisive win over the Plowboys in Roscoe.

Albany will be at home this Friday to host the Cross Plains Buffaloes at Robert Nail Stadium as the district race continues. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

The Lady Lion volleyball team wrapped up regular season play on Tuesday, hosting Ranger in a battle for third place in District 6-2A.

Albany won the game in  four tough sets to tie third overall with Ranger out of the six district teams, ending district with a 7-5 record. The win has no effect on the playoff picture.

The Lady Lions advance as the runner-up behind Hawley in the 2A bracket of the playoffs, while three of the other five Class 1A teams will play in the 1A bracket.

The Albany Cubs traveled to Roscoe due to a soaked field at Robert Nail Stadium, bringing back a pair of wins from the road trip.

The junior high teams will be on the road again this Thursday (today) for games starting at 4:00 p.m. The JV is scheduled to follow the two junior high games at 6:30 p.m. if Cross Plains still has enough players to field a team. The JV Buffaloes were down to just 12 players last week.

The eighth grade Cubs picked up a 22-8 win over Roscoe last week.

The Moran Bulldogs tied up their season 3-3 with a 46-24 win in Gustine last Friday night.

Tomorrow, Oct. 26,  the varsity boys play their first ever game in District 6, in Bulldog Stadium, at 7:30 p.m., coming in as 45 point underdogs to the visiting Blackwell Hornets. 

Blackwell, also new to District 6, is expected to be the powerhouse. The Hornets did not lose a single game last year until the second round of the playoffs, and so far this season they have defeated four of their seven opponents by 45 points or more.

The Lion varsity football team delighted a large homecoming crowd last Friday with a decisive 48-12 victory over Baird, also breaking into the win column for the first time this season in the district opener.

Albany (1-5, 1-0) will travel to Roscoe (2-4, 0-1) this week as the District 7-2A race continues. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

The Plowboys opened district last Friday with a 50-21 loss to Hamlin, but have two pre-district wins over Munday and Miles while dropping games to Hawley, Gruver, and Stamford.

With the district race winding down, the Lady Lions volleyball team split games over the last week with just two regular season bouts remaining.

Albany will be at home for the final pair of District 6-2A games, with Woodson coming to town Saturday for a 10:00 a.m. game. The last regular season game is set for next Tuesday, Oct. 23 against Ranger in a parents night finale starting about 6:00 p.m. after the JV bout.

Although none of Albany High School’s cross country runners will advance to the regional meet, several local junior high runners medalled at last week’s district competition.

Included in that elite group are eighth grader Isaiah Carrillo, who came in second among all junior high boys at district after medalling at every meet he participated in this season.

Other medalists were Cason Fairchild, Lute Wheeler, and Ashlyn Holson.

The district meet was held Wednesday, Oct. 10 in Haskell.