And then there was one. After three of Bosque County’s five six-man football teams advanced to the Class 1A, Division II state tournament, only the 14thranked Iredell Dragons came off the field following a round of Bi-District Playoff games under the Friday night lights victorious.

Without a doubt, it just wasn’t their night. After making their second straight trip to the Class 3A, Division II football state playoffs, the Clifton Cubs came up short in their quest to capture their first postseason victory since 2019.

After winning a playoff game for the first time in 20 years, the Clifton Lady Cubs received the volleyball accolades that came as a result of their third straight trip to the Class 3A state tournament. Led by senior Kate Humphreys selected as the All-District 17-3A Server of the Year and freshman Brystel Wise named Blocker of the Year, the Lady Cubs placed two more on the first-team, two on the second team, and drew two honorable mentions.

TePs Despite the football program taking steps in the right direction and working hard to improve throughout the 2023 Texas high school football regular season, the Meridian Yellowjackets did not get the ending to their season they wanted. In a hard-fought, even-matchup against district 10-2A, Division II rival Frost, the Jackets could not overcome a disastrous start as the Polar Bears hung on for a 22-14 victory in the regular season finale for both teams last Friday night at Jacket Stadium.

Continuing to rebuild the young volleyball program rebooted only four years ago, the Meridian Lady Jackets advanced to the Class 1A state playoffs for the fourth straight season. Unfortunately, the success story ended there...for now.

With the clear understanding that making the playoffs will always be an expectation for the Clifton Cubs, not a goal, the accomplishment of back-to-back trips to the Class 3A postseason and wrapped up the regular season with a convincing win at home remained plenty to celebrate for the senior-laden squad. As the Cubs dominated all facets of the game, the Clifton faithful had plenty to cheer about on Senior Night last Friday as Clifton ran all over the Florence Buffaloes, 42-0, to secure third place in District 13-3A, Division II and build momentum heading into a second straight trip to the postseason.

Carrying confidence and momentum into the Class 3A volleyball state postseason tournament, the Clifton Lady Cubs accomplished something that hadn’t been achieved in 20 years – win a playoff game. Led by senior Brianna Gonzalez and Kate Humphreys along with freshman Brystel Wise, the Lady Cubs surged to an impressive four-set victory over the Palmer Lady Bulldogs, 25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 25-13, in a Bi-District playoff showdown last Monday in Hillsboro.

As three of the five Bosque County six-man football teams advanced to the Class 1A, Division II state playoffs from two different districts, the 13th-ranked Iredell Dragons led the way by capturing the District 12-1A, DII title. But the Walnut Springs Hornets surged into the postseason with a win over defending District 12-1A, DII champion Bluff Dale, and the young Kopperl Eagles advance to the postseason for the first time since 2018 despite losing the District 10-1A, DII title to Bynum in the regular season finale.

In their first appearance at the Class 3A Cross Country State Championship as a team in school history, the Clifton boys made their presence known. And in the meantime, the lone Lady Cub advancing to state delivered a personal best performance on the biggest stage.

OwN Even without the torrential rains last week, the Meridian Yellowjackets entered the final two games of the 2023 Texas high school football season on slippery ground. After all, the Jackets needed to win their final two games of the regular season to make their first trip to the playoffs since 2017.