By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions entered the 2022 football season ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 2A Division II.

Despite some bumps along the way, they lived up to that lofty billing with their 41-21 victory over the Mart Panthers on Wednesday, Dec. 14 at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.

Four previous trips to the championship game under head coach Denney Faith ended in losses. Faith said the difference between state champ and state runner-up is often minimal.

By Sam Waller

In 1991, Clint Chapman quarterbacked the Albany Lions, coached by Denney Faith, to their first appearance in a state championship game since 1961.

In 2022, Cole Chapman did his father one better, quarterbacking the Albany Lions, still coached by Denney Faith, to their first state title since 1961.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lions dominated the District 6-2A Division II race on their way to winning a state championship.

They were rewarded for the efforts with 29 selections on the all-district team, selected by vote of the district coaches after the district schedule ended several weeks ago, but the team was not announced until after the Lions defeated Mart 41-21 on Wednesday, Dec. 14, in the Class 2A Division II state championship game.

[This article was written by Albany High School Class of 1974 graduate Mike Parsons for the Albany News Homecoming section in 2019, and it is being reprinted this week in honor of Coach Denney Faith’s fifth trip to the state football championships and his title-winning season with the 2022 team. Although there are a few updates noted within the article, readers should keep in mind that it was written three years ago.]

By Mike Parsons

By Sam Waller

Students at Moran ISD are on holiday break following the end of classes on Wednesday, Dec. 21.

The school district will conduct a staff development day on Monday, Jan. 9, before starting the spring semester on Tuesday, Jan. 10. Classes will be held that Friday, Jan. 13, the last scheduled Friday classes for the school year.

By Sam Waller

Just five days after the Albany Lions won the Class 2A Division II state championship in football, eight athletes moved to the basketball court for a late start to the next sports season.

With one short practice to get the team ready, Albany played its first basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 19, losing to Haskell 44-37 at home in the District with their District 10-2A opener for both teams.

By Sam Waller

The Albany Lady Lions basketball team entered its final game before the holiday break still in search of their first District 10-2A win.

After dropping district games to Cisco and Hawley last week, the Lady Lions hosted Haskell on Tuesday, Dec. 20, losing 41-30. Details will be reported in the Jan. 5 edition of The Albany News.

“I feel like we’re at a standstill,” Lady Lions coach Tate Thompson said. “We’re still trying to find some roles for people and find a groove.”

By Sam Waller

The Moran Lady Bulldogs endured a rough week, dropping two games by large margins.

On Tuesday, Dec. 13, Moran lost 72-12 at Rotan. Alyssa Allred led the Lady Bulldogs with five points, followed by Kacenda Thompkins with four, Alli Scott with two, and Neveah Huskey with one.

On Friday, Dec. 16, the Lady Bulldogs dropped a 34-15 decision at Brookesmith. Allred again led Moran in scoring with seven points. LeAnna Sikes, Alayna Baker, Samantha Hinkle, and Thompkins each had two points.

By Sam Waller

Moran’s Connor Hail was named first-team punter on the Texas Six-Man Coaches Association All-Region IV Division II team.

Hail, a junior, averaged 26.1 yards on 16 attempts with a long kick of 47 yards. Six of his punts were downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

The team was selected by a vote of coaches from the region’s four districts with 11 schools represented. Loraine, which reached the state finals, had 10 selections, including Coach of the Year, Offensive MVP and Defensive MVP.

By Donnie A. Lucas

For a third consecutive year, Albany will honor its veterans at the Albany Cemetery with a Christmas wreath laying ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Volunteers and family members will gather at 11:00 a.m. at the pavilion in the cemetery for a brief ceremony, then fan out across the cemetery to distribute 560 fresh wreaths on the graves of veterans.

The program is held as part of the National Wreaths Across America Day, with Henry and Melinda Musselman donating the wreaths.