Sports

 The Mustangs found themselves in a fight Friday night and when the clock went to all zeroes, the Hughes Springs football team was alive and kicking after all, thanks in large part to a thrilling 14- 6 over the Redwater Dragons.

In the midst of a 4 game losing streak, the Mustangs, a fixture in the postseason discussion seemingly every year, were in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Losing is never an easy thing to have to face, and in the last four weeks, the coaches and players have had to reach for a little extra inside to right the ship. With junior quarterback Alex Bruce leading the way, the Mustangs had the Dragons right where they wanted them.

The game started with both defenses controlling the tempo of the game. Neither team scored in the first half and in a matter of 45 minutes, the home crowd was enjoying the bands before they knew it.

In what coaches were calling “Punch Your Ticket” week, the Daingerfield Tigers were able to ensure their playoff berth, while all but eliminating the New Diana Eagles. In a night where their seniors were recognized prior to their final home game, the Tigers grounded the Eagles, 43 to 9.

Daingerfield again won the toss, and again elected to defer to the second half. Following a kickoff return that was aided by facemask penalty against the Tigers, New Diana set up shop on the Tiger 45-yard line. Less than two minutes later, the Eagles were helped by another Tiger penalty, this time a pass interference, which moved the ball to the Tigers 7-yard line. Following a 26-yard field goal, the Eagles held a 3-0 lead. This would be the Eagles' only lead of the game.

Daingerfield’s 11U baseball team, the Tigers, recently competed in the Fall 2016 World Series, held in Marshall on Oct. 22 and 23. The team is part of the Deep East Texas Baseball Association, and placed second out of six teams.

On Saturday, the Tigers went undefeated in pool play, defeating the Diana Punishers, 14-4, their first game. In their second game, the Tigers held the Texas Cubs, from Sulphur Springs, scoreless. The final score of that game was 12-0.

Sunday saw the Tigers start the day against the Texas Cubs. This time, the score was 7-0 in the Tigers favor. The championship game placed the Tigers against the Pittsburg Pirates. In their only loss of the tournament, the Tigers fell in this game, 9-7. Weston Collard and Ty Byrd both hit homeruns for the Tigers in the Championship.

The Daingerfield Lady Tigers hosted the Queen City Lady Bulldogs last Tuesday, Oct. 18. Freshmen and junior varsity lost in two sets, and varsity lost in three sets.

In the freshman match, Daingerfield lost 25-21; 25-13. Kiara Robinson had two kills; Montrevia Durham had three kills and four aces; Jahkayla Doddy had eight assists and two aces; Jamie Nix had two digs; Tanacia Williams had one kill and four aces; and Mikayla Roberson had two assists and two kills.

The junior varsity lost 25-7; 25-8. Lemerica Alexander had three kills and two aces; Courtlan Peppers had five assists and two digs; and Claire Smith had six digs and one ace.

Daingerfield traveled to Queen City Friday evening, looking to rebound from their first district loss the previous week. The Tigers did rebound, and in a big way, as they defeated the Bulldogs, 49- 17.

In a night where Queen City’s Smith-Wall Stadium was bathed in pink as the Bulldogs honored Breast Cancer Awareness, the Tigers came out looking to solidify their position in the district race. The game started with the now routine song and dance of a coin toss: Daingerfield wins the toss, and elected to defer. Less than a minute into the game, the Tiger defense pounced on a Bulldog fumble, setting up the Tigers first series on the opponent’s 16 yard line. After a 24 yard touchdown pass from Reggie Jeter to Cedric Arthur, the Tigers were up, 6-0. After a huge kickoff return, Queen City was able to knock down a 39 yard field goal, to make the score 6-3.

 By Rick Colegrove

The Hughes Springs Lady Mustangs went 1-1 last week, with a win on Tuesday against the Redwater lady Dragons and a loss Friday to the New Boston lady Lions.

In Tuesday’s home match, Laken Smith was honored on senior night. The ladies got down to business, taking the five set win over Redwater. Scores were 25-12, 23-25, 25-21, 20-25, and 15-4 for the match, with Cypress Wright leading the ladies in kills with 10. Kensley Echols had 20 assists to go with eight kills. Kennedi Northam again was the leader in digs, piling in 27 on the night. The win pushed the season record for the ladies to 20-13, and 7-5 in district play.

Friday brought the New Boston Lady Lions into the gym in Hughes Springs. The Lady Lions must have had other plans, as they didn’t stick around long, winning the match in 3 sets, 25-11, 25-22 and 25-18.

The loss dropped the season record to 20-14 and district to 7-6.

Marisol Kennedy, a sophomore at Hughes Springs Highs School, has verbally committed to play softball for Texas A&M-Commerce upon her 2019 graduation from Hughes Springs.

Since she was eight years old, Kennedy has played travel ball for Rick Wilson. She currently plays with the Firecrackers DFW 16U Gold team, coached by Wilson and Jesse Kennedy. The Firecrackers competed at Nationals in Panama City, FL this past summer, and went undefeated to win the championship.

Kennedy, in her first year at Hughes Springs, was named Newcomer of the Year last season as a freshman at Pittsburg High School. Kennedy is the daughter of Jesse and Susanna Kennedy, and plans to major in Kinesiology

By Rick Colegrove

It was homecoming for Hughes Springs this past Friday, but the New Boston Lions actually made themselves at home. On an evening where Tony Kemp and Breonna Simmons were crowned as homecoming royalty, the Lions were able to outlast the Mustangs, pulling off the 42-26 win.

With the loss, the Mustangs are fighting for their postseason life. On the season Hughes Springs stands at 3-5, caught in a 4 game losing streak. The Mustangs are still searching for the right mix to get back on the winning track.

The Hughes Springs lady Mustangs went 1-1 on the week.

On Tuesday, the ladies beat the Hooks Lady Hornets in rather quick fashion, three sets to one; 25-20, 25-14, 24-26, and 25-22. Leading the ladies on the night were Charlie Mae Reeves, with seven aces, and eight digs. Cypress Wright had 11 kills, while Kensley Echols had 11 kills and 11 assists. Zoe Lanier had nine kills, while Kennedi Northam added 14 digs. With the win, the ladies improved to 19-12 on the year, and 6-4 in district play.

Friday, the ladies traveled to Queen City and took on the Lady Bulldogs. Try as they might, the ladies weren’t able to pull out the win, ultimately losing in five sets; 18-25, 25-14, 13- 25, 25-23, and 12-15. Peyton Blythe had 10 kills and three blocks to go along with 19 assists and five digs. Echols had 10 kills, and 16 assists, while Laken Smith added five aces and 13 digs. Lanier had nine kills and six blocks, while Northam led the team with 14 digs.

Hughes Springs traveled to Jefferson on Friday, Oct. 14. The Mustangs offense came out in the Slot-T, and it felt like everyone had traveled back to some point in the past.

Luckily for everyone involved, it was the best of both worlds. For the Slot-T offense connoisseur, it was a welcome sight to see the trusty offense being run. Spread offense proponents, had their time in the second half of the game.

With offensive genius Coach Stephen Barnes hard at work, and a Hughes Springs offense that needed a jolt, the Mustangs came out in the Slot-T. The hope was that a tried and true offense would provide a spark for a team, that has of late, been lack luster.