While the 22nd-ranked Iredell Dragons and the surprising Kopperl Eagles soared to new heights, the three other Bosque County six-man football teams tumbled to non-district losses. And with homecoming weeks approaching for most of the area schools, Bosque County six-man squads hope to find their winning combination before opening district play in three weeks.

Already forced to overcome the obstacle of being one of the smallest 11-man football teams in the state, the Meridian Yellowjackets have their hands full every time they enter a game fully-loaded. But when injuries take their toll and leave them shorthanded, it becomes a bridge too far.

With less than a week until the opening of District 18-1A play, the Meridian Lady Jackets continue to search for that right combination and some winning momentum. As it turned out, they just might have found it last week.

Having won 12 of their last 14 matches, the Clifton Lady Cub volleyball team has come together at just the right time as District 173A competition began less than two weeks ago. But despite playing a challenging non-district and tournament schedule, the road just keeps getting tougher for the Lady Cubs.

Riding a two-game winning streak, the Clifton Cubs ran into a road block in the midst of their three-game road show when they visited McGregor last Friday night as the Bulldogs wore down the Cubs and ran away with a convincing 35-7 victory at Bulldog Stadium. “We knew McGregor would be a challenge for us,” Clifton football head coach Brent Finney said.

Playing for the first time during the 2023 Texas high school football season at Jacket Stadium, the Meridian Yellowjackets could not have scripted a better way to celebrate Homecoming. With senior running back Brayden Wehmeyer scoring three times, the Jackets used a complete team effort to pound the Bartlett Bulldogs, 47-26, last Friday night.

Offering a mixture of dominating and disappointing performances, Bosque County six-man football action featured back-to-back big wins for the Iredell Dragons and the Cranfills Gap Lions, the surprising Kopperl Eagles were knocked from the undefeated ranks, the Walnut Springs Hornets went down for the second straight week, and the Morgan Eagles stayed home due to a cancelled contest. IREDELL 71 MULLIN 12 Jumping out to a commanding 44-0 first quarter lead, the Iredell Dragons burned the Mullin Bulldogs, 71-12, at home Friday night, ending the game at halftime by virtue of the 45-point mercy rule.

After taking their lumps and learning against bigger and better Class 4A, 3A and 2A opponents, the Meridian Lady Jacket volleyball team found themselves still searching for that winning combination. Snapping a seven-match losing streak, the Lady Jackets finally turned their fortunes around with a hard-fought but convincing four-set victory over Aquilla, 25-19, 22-25, 25-18, 25-21, last Tuesday night at Yellowjacket Gymnasium.

Granted, most coaches like fast starts. But make no mistake about it, no matter how well you begin a game, it’s how you finish it that counts.

Playing their finest volleyball at the best possible time, the Clifton Lady Cubs made a statement last week that they will be a force to be reckoned with in District 17-3A. By winning for the 11th time in last 12 matches, the Lady Cubs completely dismantled the 17th-ranked Keene Lady Chargers in straight sets, 25-13, 25-19, 25-7, last Friday afternoon at the Clifton High School Gymnasium.