Indians to meet Perryton in bi-district round
Stretch to score– Junior running back Cade Barnard puts the ball over the goal line during a 13-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter in Fort Stockton on Oct. 28. The Indians defeated the Panthers, 39-14, for their third win in district and the fourth place spot for the playoffs.
The Indian football team will face Perryton in bi-district action in Plainview on Nov. 11 after taking out Fort Stockton, 39-14, in the last district game to claim fourth place to advance.
“It’s been exciting since we haven’t made it into the playoffs in two years,” senior quarterback Brett Hicks said. “We dumped water on Coach Jackson after the game against Fort Stockton to celebrate.”
Coach Kent Jackson said the Indians have worked hard to get to bi-district.
“I am really happy for our guys,” Jackson said. “They had such a rough year a year ago, and to go through all that, and to work as hard as they did through all spring and summer makes going to the playoffs a real opportunity for them.”
Senior linebacker Jarryd Karr is expected to be available to play against Perryton.
“Being a senior it was upsetting to be injured,” Karr said. “Playing football is something I have loved since I was little, really ever since I learned to walk. My teammates have worked hard without me. I know they are excited for me to come back. Being out was kind of frustrating, but it will be okay because my teammates are determined.”
With the leg injury to senior safety Blake Dominguez, freshman Dagoberto Esquivel moved from the freshman team, seeing his first action against Fort Stockton.
“It’s different playing with the varsity, but it feels good,” Esquivel said. “I wasn’t expecting to go in, and when I did I got nervous. It was exciting making a big play, and playing as a team was a great experience.”
The Indians face the No. 7 team in Perryton, who are 9-1 on the season with one district game to play.
“We learned we can play with anyone,” junior linebacker Cade Barnard said. “I feel like we belong in the same group they are. The only reason they are ranked higher is because we had a tougher district than they did. We have to be confident that we can play with anyone, and we just have to go out and play defense and shut them down from the very beginning.”
The Indians want to go deeper in the playoffs.
“They are a good team, but so are we,” senior wide receiver Drayton Perez said. “Playing teams like Sweetwater and Monahans have made us better. Going into the game with Perryton we just can’t make mistakes or let them affect us.”
The bi-district game will be played at Plainview High School with kick off at 7 p.m.
“Because this could be the last game for us seniors, we have to play with everything we have,” Karr said. “We have to remember to not get down on ourselves and to play as brothers. We have to forget about the rankings and about the records. We have to remember to stay focused and never believe we have won until we have won. So how do I feel about playing No. 7 in the state? I think we are going to win.”
