Published: November 07, 2007 12:42 pm      

Area grid coaches happy with recent wins

By Don Wallace

sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com

What a difference a week makes.

In recent weeks coaches were reluctant to talk to sports scribes like me because of a lack of football success.

But with Friday’s win by all four teams in the Cherokee Sideline Report area, coaches are smiling and talking like they have a new lease on life.

Jacksonville won for the first time since downing rival Palestine on Sept. 21. To say it was a long time coming is an understatement. The Indians had 41 days without a win, five weeks they got all dressed up, played as hard as they could and had nothing to show for it.

The 27-14 win over Hallsville was like a magic elixir that made everything all right. Indians coach Randy Copeland was seen exchanging high fives and hugs with players. “It’s always good to win” the coach said.

The Rusk Eagles also had a five-game losing streak snapped Friday against Center.

“The sky looks bluer and the sun is brighter,” Rusk coach Wayne Mahaffey chuckled.

To understand why Rusk is so happy you have to relate to their season. They’ve lost to Huntington, a team which hadn’t won a district game in a decade. The Eagles have also surrendered more than 400 points. Amazingly, the 25-15 win at Center kept Rusk in the playoff hunt.

Speaking of the playoffs, Bullard is back in the race after winning its first game in district after several heartbreaking losses. The Panthers were very glad to get a Charlie Moore field goal in the final seconds to claim a 15-14 upset win in Brownsboro.

Alto seems to always win, and joined the party as well. They notched a win for the 23rd time over the last two years with a 59-0 win at Cross Roads. The Jackets need a victory Friday to win their second straight undefeated district title.

Winning cure a lot of woes it seems.