Schools & Sports

WITH LUKE CLAYTON

HUNTING AND COOKING GO HAND AND HAND

McPherson College Announces Fall 2023 Honor Roll

All photos by EDDY TAYLOR and JIM KLENKE

All photos by EDDY TAYLOR and JIM KLENKE

Congratulations to Forney High School Volleyball players Ryann Jones and Mia Santos for being named to the All-State Academic Volleyball Team. The student athletes were recognized at the December Board of Trustee meeting on Monday, December 4.

Pucker Up Close Your Eyes Kiss Your Winning Streak Goodbye

All hope seemed to be lost.

After pushing through their regular seasons for successful outcomes (the Forney Jackrabbits at 9-1 and the second seed in district, and the Port Arthur Memorial Titans right behind them at 8-2 as the third seed in district), the Jackrabbits and the Titans faced off for the bi-district championship title last Friday. The Titans were familiar with the routine, after making a run for the state title last year and being crowned area champions. For the Rabbits, things were a bit more fresh as they would be making their second playoff appearance after a 5-year drought and being eliminated in the first round by the Barber Hill Eagles last year. However, the newcomer Jackrabbits ended up securing the victory in the end with a 44-7 score.

On the sunny morning of November 7, 2023, the Crandall Independent School District community gathered in the Heartland community to witness a momentous occasion— the Opal Smith Elementary School ribboncutting ceremony. The event celebrated education, unity, and the legacy of a beloved teacher, Opal Smith.

The Forney High School Band placed 4th in the State UIL Marching Band Finals Competition on Tuesday night November 8. This was the 4th time that the band has made it to the UIL Finals. 4th place is the highest rating the band has ever received. The band went into the finals after achieving a 5th place spot in the State 5A Prelims on the previous night. There are 252 5A high school bands in Texas. In the State Finals, the top 12 of 5A bands compete.

A couple of weeks ago, my son TJ and I were on a Frontier Airlines flight to Phoenix to see games 4 and 5 of the World Series. We didn’t even have tickets, but that would soon change.

Forney had already secured their spot in the playoffs and clinched a firstround home game after their 40-7 victory against McKinney North on October 28th. Regardless of the outcome of last Friday’s game, the Jackrabbits would end their regular season on an extremely high note, finishing second in the district with an almost perfect record. However, the Jackrabbits still came together and put up a strong front with a 53-29 win against the Tyler Lions, making them 6-1 in district play. Not only was it the Lions’ “Senior Night” and last game of their regular season, but a win could have potentially put them in the running for a playoff spot depending on the outcome of Lancaster’s game against Lufkin. Unfortunately, it seems like choosing to schedule the #21 school in Texas for that specific night, the same school that bested them by 44 points for a 57-13 score last year, wasn’t the brightest decision– or maybe it was, considering their seniors were celebrated during their final hurrah. Among these seniors is Derrick McCall, a four-star running back committed to UCLA who can also suit up at quarterback. But even a star like that can only shine so bright when the Jackrabbits come out to play.