At the site of its 2009 Class 5A Division II championship-game win over Katy, Abilene opens its 2010 season by surviving a scare from Belton.
Games such as Abilene's 36-27 victory over
Belton (Texas) put the "classic" in Texas Football Classic.
The Eagles on Friday returned to the scene of their 2009 Class 5A Division II championship victory over Katy and once again emerged victorious. But even as
Abilene played well in the role of champ, the Tigers were every bit as convincing as legitimate challengers.
Abilene's Ronnell Sims.
Dan Wozniak
The Sims cousins —
Ronnell Sims at quarterback,
Herschel Sims at tailback — supplied their usual fireworks for Abilene. Ronnell ran for 202 yards and two touchdowns, and also threw for 45 yards. Herschel, an Oklahoma State commit, ran for 184 yards and one TD. Both averaged more than 10 yards per carry to pace an Eagles ground game that totaled 493 yards.
But Texas-bound Belton QB
David Ash put up numbers just as eye-popping. Ash was 36 of 49 for 525 yards and three TDs through the air, and led the Tigers to a third-quarter lead after the teams played to a 13-13 halftime tie.
The Eagles regrouped and, after 17 unanswered points, took a 30-20 lead. Ash brought Belton back, hitting Levi Jordan for 26 yards and a TD with 4:04 remaining to close the Tigers' gap to 30-27. But Abilene put it away with a drive that consumed all but the final 1:24, capped by
Paxton Grayer's 5-yard TD run.
In Thursday's Texas Football Classic opener, QB Brig Gerlich made
Seguin coach Wayne Walker's debut a success by throwing for 242 yards and three TDs in a 35-20 victory over
UvaldeThe five-game kickoff-weekend event concludes today with three games:
Foster (Richmond, Texas) vs.
Hanks (El Paso, Texas) at noon;
Gregory-Portland (Portland, Texas) vs.
Port Neches-Groves (Port Neches, Texas) at 3:45; and
Georgetown vs.
Harker Heights at 7:30.
