Published: November 03, 2009 10:21 pm      

Wells sheds light on Indians’ playoff possibilities

By Jay Neal

sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com



The $64,000 question being asked all across Jacksonville this week has to do with the Tribe’s forthcoming state Class 4A playoff adventure.

It seems everyone is asking who, when and where when it comes to the inevitable first-round contest slated for Nov. 12-14.

The Tribe (7-2, 3-1) clinched a post-season berth, regardless of the outcome of this week’s final regular-season affair with Lindale (5-4, 3-1), with last week’s 28-10 win over Kilgore.

While the District 14-4A by-laws can be decifered in different ways, according to Wells, who says he thinks he has a handle on what the guidelines state.

“The way I read the district minutes is that the only way we could face Longview (No. 3 -ranked team in Class 4A and the District 14-4A, Division I champion, 9-1, 6-0) is for three things all to happen,” Wells said. “We (Jacksonville) would have to lose Friday night, Whitehouse would have to beat Henderson in Henderson and Kilgore would have to lose to Nacogdoches. Now, other people in the district day different things, but that’s the way I see things.”

Wells also said a district meeting would take place today for all parties to come together for a concise understanding of the conference’s doctrines, prior to Friday’s games.

Should Jacksonville and Longview meet in the first round, Wells stated the two schools would meet at 7:30 p.m., Thursday Nov. 12 at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler.

“There are advantages and disadvantages to playing on Thursday, and even though we would lose a day of practice, I think we could still be ready,” Wells said. “The big advantage is a Thursday game gives the winning team an extra day to prepare for their (area round) opponent while also allowing the coaching staff to (physically) be able to scout their next-round opponent in many cases.”

At this point it appears more probable that the Indians will be lining up across from Texarkana Texas High next weekend as opposed to facing the Lobos for the second-straight year in the opening round.

Should the Tribe and the Tigers, who are 5-3, 3-2 heading into their regular-season finale Friday at cellar dwelling Pine Tree, face off, the game will be played at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Homer Bryce Stadium on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.



Note: The number in parenthesis is the rank of each school by enrollment in its district. In Class 4A districts, the top-four schools make the playoffs, with the top two in enrollment playing in Division I and he two remaining schools playing in Division II.



District 13-4A Standings

Dist. Overall

Longview (1) 6-0 9-1

Marshall (3) 4-1 6-3

Texas High (2) 3-2 5-3

Sulphur Springs (7) 2-3 6-3

Hallsville (6) 2-3 3-6

Mt. Pleasant (5) 1-4 3-6

This week’s games — Texas High at Pine Tree; Sulphur Springs at Hallsville; Mount Pleasant at Marshall; Longview — BYE.



District 14-3A Standings

Dist. Overall

Jacksonville (3) 3-1 7-2

Lindale (5) 3-1 5-4

Henderson (6) 2-2 5-4

Kilgore (4) 2-2 4-5

Whitehouse (2) 2-2 2-7

Nacogdoches (1 0-4 3-6

This week’s games — Lindale at Jacksonville; Whitehouse at Henderson; Kilgore at Nacogdoches.