Showdown looms with H-F Friday
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

JASPER'S KIMPTON LEWIS (51) congratulates senior Darren Bronson on one of his two touchdowns in the second half of the Bulldogs' convincing victory over Bridge City last Friday night. Jasper will travel to Hamshire-Fannett this Friday, Oct. 19 to take on the Longhorns in a crucial district contest. Newsboy photo/Georgia Purdy

Jasper may be on a roll but so is their opponent in this Friday's District 21-3A match-up.

Jasper will travel to Hamshire-Fannett to take on the Longhorns in a crucial contest that could go a long way in determining the playoff berths in the district.

"They have some great athletes and we will have to be ready to play,"

said Jasper Head Football Coach Thomas Brooks. "It should be a good football game. We are all fighting for a playoff spot right now.

"We are playing for something and the kids know that," Brooks said. "It brings around a different atmosphere and different attitude with the kids and you can tell that they really want this. Now all we have to do is get it done."

Brooks knows the Horns will pack in a two-tight end set and attempt to run the ball down the Bulldogs' throats all night long.

"They will try to just ground it out and control the clock," Brooks said. "We have to keep it to one and two-yard gains. If they gain four yards, we can't let that bother us but just come back and try to stop them on the next play.

"We have to keep them from having those 12-play drives that eat up a lot of clock," Brooks said.

One issue that Jasper will have to deal with is Hamshire-Fannett's size on their offensive and defensive lines.

Senior lineman Christian Goff was injured during the Bridge City contest with an ankle injury. Brooks said the lineman's status for this week's contest is not known at press time.

"We know we still have a long way to go but we will see how we do this week against a good program," Brooks said. "We're not as good as Jasper was in days past but I can see we are going forward and making progress.

"I know there are people who are saying that Bridge City is not that good but I don't know anybody else that put 68 on them," Brooks said.

Match-up at a Glance

* Jasper will travel to Hamshire-Fannett this Friday, Oct. 19 at 7:30 p.m. * The game will feature two 2-1 District 21-3A teams with the winner moving to a second place tie. * Jasper is coming off a 68-3 thrashing of Bridge City in the Bone Yard last Friday, Oct. 12. * Hamshire-Fannett is fresh off a 35-14 victory over Silsbee last Friday, Oct. 12. * Last year, Jasper defeated Hamshire- Fannett 12-7 for the Bulldogs first victory of the season. * Hamshire-Fannett returns 10 starters from last year's 3-7, 1- 6 squad.