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FOOTBALL
Grudge match
turns playoff
maker, breaker
By CLAY CORBETT
WISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Wednesday, October 24, 2012
9A
The Battle of Big Sandy
or 2012 has turned into a
ght for both teams’ playoff
ives. With only a few games
eft, each is desperate for a
in to prolong their season.
Bridgeport (2-5, 0-1)
osts the Decatur Eagles
3-5, 0-2) Friday. Kickoff is
cheduled for 7:30 p.m.
The Bulls may go in with
slight advantage in the
ross-county rivalry after
aving an extra week to
repare and with one more
ame left on the schedule
han Decatur.
“It went good and we
eeded the rest,” Bridgeort
coach Danny Henson
aid about the bye week.
It was nice to take care of
ome nagging injuries and
et energized.”
Bull running back Gabe
uerta has been hobbled
y an ankle injury since
he Princeton game and
was limited two weeks ago
against Krum. According to
Henson, Huerta is getting
closer to full speed.
Decatur has injury probems
of their own. Jared
urdon suffered a concusion
last week, and Max
Taped up ...
Continued from page 12A
cause it’s so time consuming.
It’s the same guidelines as
players as far as no-pass noplay.
I need them to be good
communicators. As they get
older in the program they
will gain more responsibilities.”
Before they gain those responsibilities
they have to
get their feet wet, with a lot
of on-the-fly situations.
“The first time Coach
Newsom told me to cover up
a cut I had no idea what to
do,” Bridgeport trainer Taylor
Reynolds said. “Things
are a lot easier now. It’s a lot
different than just handing
out water.”
Although a lot of the students
are not quite sure
what they are getting into,
most end up loving the work
they do.
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Decatur (3-5, 0-2) at
Bridgeport (2-5, 0-1)
7:30 p.m.
at Bull Stadium
Last Meeting: Decatur won
30-16
Decatur: Harris Rating 207
Notable: The Eagles need
a win to keep their playoff
hopes alive.
Bridgeport: Harris Rating 197
Notable: Bridgeport’s defense
ranks the worst in the county,
giving up 412 yards per game.
Harris line: Decatur by 10
Junkert is out for the season
with a high ankle
sprain.
Running back Levi Rust
is still questionable after
sitting out last week
against Krum.
Despite the rash of injuries,
the rivalry should be
even more heated with so
many playoff implications
on the line.
“We want to approach it
like any other game,” Decatur
coach Kyle Story said.
“Everybody wants to beat
their rival, but we don’t
Messenger photo by Joe Duty • Buy reprints at wcmessenger.com/reprints
UPENDED — Decatur running back Hunter Aragon and the rest of the Eagles will be looking for a win against rival Bridgeport
to keep their playoff hopes alive.
want to get too hyped up.
It’s still football, and it’s
fun to be a part of.”
Henson says it’s an enjoyable
week for everyone.
“It’s a good rivalry that
we look forward to each
year,” Henson said.
Not only will the winner
of this year’s game have
“I thought it was going to
be more standing out here
and having a good time,” Decatur
senior Marissa Martinez
said. “You do have a
good time, but you also have
to work. You have to be interested
in the players and
know what each of them
needs to be in this class.
“It’s amazing. I wouldn’t
trade it for anything. It’s an
experience that not everybody
gets.”
The experiences the students
share on a daily basis
create a bond between
fellow trainers and players
that can’t be denied.
“It’s such a family bond,”
Bridgeport’s Sarah Lingo
said. “We really know the
players and each other.”
When high school is over
most students in the program
turn their training experiences
into a career.
Newsom has seen numerous
former students become
physician assistants, nurses,
athletic trainers and
physical therapists.
Current student trainers
at Bridgeport and Decatur
are thinking about following
the same paths.
“It’s going to turn into a
career,” Lingo said. “I want
to be a physical therapist or
athletic trainer.”
Escobar is also a trainer
at Wise Regional Health
System, which gives his students
the opportunity to observe
from that angle.
“It’s fun knowing you get
to help a football player or
any athlete in the smallest
way,” Martinez said. “I
think I will follow this career.
Coach Escobar has fun
while he’s at work, and I
want to have a job where I
can have fun.”
Trainers from both programs
understand that it’s
a year worth of bragging
rights, they look to also be
in line for a spot in the postseason.
The loser of Friday’s game
will have a very difficult
time making the playoffs.
“We definitely have to win
the last two games, or we
are playing for pride,” Story
not just for them; they have
to be in it for the athlete, too.
A lot of the Friday nights
that many high school kids
crave are given up to help
student-athletes.
“I want the students, parents,
athletes and coaches
truly recognize that we are
in it for them,” Newsom
said. “No matter what sport
they are playing or who they
are playing for we are here
to take care of them. If a
player from another team
gets hurt we are just as willing
to help them as anybody
else.”
No matter who wins or
loses Friday, both of these
staffs will be able to take
something with them that
will last a lifetime.
Now that’s something
worth remembering.
said.
Decatur knows they will
have their hands full with
Bridgeport’s versatile attack.
“Their spread is tough to
defend, and Huerta is an
exceptional running back,”
Story said. “They make it
very tough on your defense.”
Henson knows his defense
will have a tough test,
too.
“They [Decatur] are good
offensively, and they have a
multi-threat quarterback,”
Henson said. “They outgained
Krum. They just had
some costly mistakes and
turnovers.”
Messenger photos by Jimmy Alford • Buy reprints at wcmessenger.com/reprints
GETTING READY — Decatur head trainer Fernando Escobar
wraps an ankle in preparation for Tuesday’s practice.
Sponsored by
HARD AT
WORK —
Anagale
Maddox
fills water
bottles for
the Eagles’
afternoon
practice.
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Decatur senior receiver Cain Lowe caught nine
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POLITICAL
HATS IN THE RING
CANDIDATES FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION
TUESDAY, NOV. 6
COUNTY COURT AT LAW NO. 2
STEPHEN WREN
(Republican)
www.wrenforjudge.com
Political advertising paid by Stephen Wren, LaDonna Wren, Treasurer, Decatur
COUNTY ATTORNEY
JAMES STAINTON
(Republican)
Political advertising paid by James Stainton, Elizabeth Strickler, Treasurer, Decatur