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OCTOBER 6 | 2016 | DEFENDER
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sportsbriefs Tigers on a roll
Yates on the rise to face old rivals
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By DARRELL K. ARDISON Defender
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See the Defender’s midseason choices to win state championships
he Yates High School Lions are up to their old tricks. the improvement of sophomore quarterback Taj GregAll but given up for dead after missing ory. When an injury sidelined standout running back the playoffs last season for the first time in 38 years and beginning the 2016 season with Reginald Bryant for most of the second half against Wheatley, Gregory and his teammates had to shoulder a couple of lackluster performances, the Lions have more of the load. conjured up images of yesteryear while facing “When you lose a great player I had to some longtime rivals. trust in my teammates to get the job done,” The renaissance began when Yates consaid Gregory, who transferred in from quered Kashmere 38-0 to begin league play in Manvel High School. “We’ve been workDistrict 11-4A. It continued when Yates rallied ing hard in practice to get better and we’re from a 6-0 deficit to defeat Wheatley 30-6 in a starting to get there.” rivalry that dates back to 1927. With the score tied at 6-6 going into Another longtime rival awaits Yates when the third quarter against Wheatley, Gregory the Lions encounter Worthing on Oct. 7 at engineered a 74-yard, 11-play drive that he Barnett Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Worthcapped with a nine-yard touching was opened in the late 1950s down run that gave the 4-2 Lito relieve student enrollment at ons the lead for good. Senior Yates. It will be Third Ward Javar Brown, who replaced versus Sunnyside all over Bryant, added a two-point again. Both schools are 2-0 in conversion run that made district play. the score 14-6. First-year Yates head The Lions began adding coach Michael Watkins says points like the Yates of yesit’s an honor to represent Yates teryear. Alan-Michael Youngand go up against teams he blood returned an intercepfaced as a player wearing the tion 10 yards for a touchdown. crimson and gold. Gregory connected with Troy “Coach [Maurice] McRobins on the two-point converGowan used to tell us [players] sion pass and a 22-6 advantage. that it was unacceptable to play Sophomore receiver Jarless than your best whenever michael Cooper hauled in a you took the field,” Watkins 21-yard TD pass from Gregory said. “That’s what my staff in the fourth quarter. Gregory’s and I have tried to convey to two-point conversion run these players. completed the game’s scoring “It means a lot for me (30-6). to follow in the footsteps The Yates defense led by of former Yates coaches junior linebacker Sherman like Pat Patterson, Luther Richardson has given up only Booker and Maurice six points in the last eight McGowan. I plan to be quarters. the coach at Yates for a “The 18 seniors have About Taj Gregory long time. My wife and I bought in and the younger are both Yates graduates Favorite NFL player – Cam Newton guys have followed suit,” and live in the Third Ward Favorite subject – Math Watkins said. “We want to community. This is the bring the pride and tradition only job I ever wanted.” Possible college major – Psychology back to Yates and this was an A key figure in the Favorite meal – Spaghetti important win for us.” Yates turnaround has been
World problem to solve – Stop the killing of innocent Black people
Congratulations to head coach Mike Haywood and the Texas Southern University football team for winning a thrilling SWAC game. The Tigers defeated Alabama A&M 34-31 on the strength of a 51-yard field goal by placekicker Eric Medina as time expired. The win was their third straight conference win, the first time that’s happened since 2000. “Tonight’s game wasn’t pretty by any means,” Haywood said. “We have a lot of things we need to correct but we played hard for 60 minutes and gave ourselves an opportunity to win the football game at the end.” If there is a downside to the Tigers’ triumph it’s the fact that attendance was horrible. The official count was 4,282, but that was probably 2,000 more than who actually attended. TSU has a bye next and travels to Alcorn the following weekend.
Gordon at crossroads In what seems like an annual occurrence, the career of Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is in serious jeopardy, again. The former Lamar High School standout and Baylor star recently decided to check into an inpatient rehabilitation facility, citing a need to “gain full control of my life.” Gordon was one game away from completing a four-game suspension for substance abuse. He has had multiple violations throughout his career and was suspended for the entire 2015 season. He was reinstated conditionally on July 25 by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Indications are the Browns are prepared to release Gordon.
Game tops marquee Unbeaten Atascocita (4-0) will host defending Class 6A Division I state champion North Shore (4-1) Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. in perhaps the marquee matchup of the week seven high school football season. The winner will have the inside track to the District 21-6A championship. Atascocita is coming off a 52-0 victory over Channelview where quarterback Daveon Boyd threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score. Randall McCusker had TD receptions of 20 and 19 yards. North Shore cornerback Thomas Davis had a big game in the Mustangs’ 56-3 win over C.E. King. Davis returned the game’s opening kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown. Later in the game he returned an interception 82 yards for a score. North Shore’s only loss (26-13) was to Manvel.
Dickinson thriving The 2016 high school football season was supposed to be a rebuilding year for Dickinson High School as nearly all the starters from back-toback appearances in the regional finals graduated. Yet the Gators are off to a 4-0 start following a 47-6 victory over Clear Lake in District 24-6A. Dickinson quarterback Jordan Grigg threw for three touchdowns on 13-of-20 passing for 240 yards. Ten different Gators caught at least one pass, including TD receptions from Tyler Jackson (50 yards), Montel Parker (33 yards) and Jalen Wydemyer (16 yards). Head coach Bo Snelson saw some signs of life during the summer 7-on-7 sessions when Dickinson qualified for the state 7-on-7 tournament in College Station. The Gators will host Clear Springs on Oct. 7. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
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