UIL realignment: Super 3A district cut to five-team battle
Monday Feb 01, 2010
Courtesy of the UIL, the district formerly known as 2-3A received a makeover and a title change Monday though four of the league’s six schools will remain rivals for the next two school years.
Graham, headed north into District 6-3A with five Wichita Falls-area schools while Breckenridge, which dropped to Class 2A, are gone. Replacing them is former 4A school Big Spring, which will join Wylie, Brownwood, Snyder and Sweetwater in the five-team 5-3A.
Signing Day preview: Wylie stars still shopping
Saturday Jan 30, 2010
As good as the Wylie program has been under coach Hugh Sandifer, the list of Wylie players to take their football skills to the college level is a relatively short one.
That list could grow by two in the coming weeks, however, as Wylie standouts Matt Preston and Austin Gray hold offers from Division II schools and have other options to weigh with national signing day approaching.
Hugh's staying: Wylie grid coach-AD turns down Barbers Hill
Friday Jan 15, 2010
Wylie’s Hugh Sandifer confirmed Thursday he has taken himself out of the runnig to replace Don Price as Barbers Hill head football coach-athletic director.
Sandifer confirms 4A Barbers Hill likes him for job
Saturday Jan 09, 2010
Hugh Sandifer confirmed Friday that he is a candidate to fill the head football-athletic director vacancy at Class 4A Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill.
However, the 24-year Wylie football coach-athletic director said any talk suggesting he’ll be the next Eagles coach is premature.
“I’m not actively looking to leave (Wylie) or anything like that,” he said.
Keenum's six picks key in Houston bowl blowout
Friday Jan 01, 2010
FOR WORTH — After passing for more than 5,600 yards and 44 touchdowns and engineering fourth-quarter comebacks in half of the Houston Cougars’ 10 victories, Case Keenum’s 2009 campaign will be remembered fondly by Houston football fans for years.
But the former Wylie standout’s junior season ended Thursday with a forgettable game.
3A title: Wylie can't catch Gilmer after fast start
Sunday Dec 13, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK — With a 302-41 first-half scoring advantage entering their Class 3A Division I state title game against Gilmer, the Wylie Bulldogs’ road to their third state championship game was paved with quick starts and stifling defense.
But on Saturday at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium, it was Gilmer that used both of those things to sink the Bulldogs title hopes.
The Buckeyes (15-0), scored the game’s first three touchdowns and went to halftime up 24-7, before settling for a 43-26 win. It was Gilmer’s second state title in school history.
Wylie seniors: 'Tough' ending to season of hard work
Sunday Dec 13, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK — Jimmy Holley stood alone on the field, choking back tears as the fog rolled into SMU’s Ford Stadium.
Losing is never easy, and it’s especially hard falling in the championship game. Gilmer beat the Wylie Bulldogs 43-26 in Saturday night’s Class 3A Division I title game.
“It is very tough,” the senior linebacker said. “Your senior year and everything. We went out there, played a good game. They’re just an incredible team. They deserve everything they got this year.”
Wylie preview: Bulldogs face Gilmer for 3A state title
Saturday Dec 12, 2009
No. 8 Wylie (12-1) vs. No. 1 Gilmer (14-0)
Class 3A Division I State Championship
6 p.m., Gerald J. Ford Stadium, SMU, Dallas, KHXS 102.7-FM, KTAB-TV
Travel notes: After driving about 130 miles east on Interstate 20, take Interstate 30 through the Metroplex. Continue on 30 for 47 miles until you get to Exit 36. Take that exit and merge onto U.S. 75 North toward McKinney. Next, take Exit 3 toward Mockingbird Lane/University Boulevard and turn left at Mockingbird. Turn right at Airline Road and Gerald J. Ford Stadium is on the left.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. All tickets sold at the gate will be $10. Parking is $5.
Wylie, Gilmer live up to preseason hype
Friday Dec 11, 2009
It’s rare that pundits are able to successfully predict state finalists during the preseason, but when it comes to Class 3A Division I, eyes have been on Wylie and Gilmer since the two teams opened fall camp.
With the talent each team returned from successful 2008 campaigns — Wylie reached the Division I semifinals; Gilmer bowed out in the Division II quarters — the two schools were trendy choices for the title game by many this year, including Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine.
And with the success each program has had in its history, it’s not hard to see why so many liked the two teams out of the gate.
Wylie fans excited about championship game
Friday Dec 11, 2009
As Betty Hines can attest, playing for a state championship doesn’t happen often.
So for Hines, who has attended home and away Wylie High football games since 1949 and saw the Bulldogs capture one state title, Saturday’s Bulldog appearance in the Class 3A Division 1 state championship is especially sweet.
As excitement and anticipation builds for the large contingent of Wylie fans planning to attend the game against Gilmer at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, the 73-year-old Hines understands — better than most anyone — that history is being made.
Gilmer locals say near everybody goes to the games
Friday Dec 11, 2009
GILMER — In its deepest roots, Gilmer is a football town.
You might not see the windshield stickers or school T-shirts people don with such regularity in the southernmost reaches of Abilene, where the Wylie Bulldogs, Gilmer’s opponent in the Class 3A Division 1 championship football game, reign supreme. But you don’t have to talk to many of Gilmer’s 4,800 people or travel down many of its streets to see that its inhabitants love their Buckeyes.
On the quaint town square, it’s hard to find a window that’s not decorated with a flag, poster or mural wishing the Gilmer High School football team great success.
Decade of Excellence: Wylie, Gilmer pile up 218 wins
Friday Dec 11, 2009
3A combatants have won state titles and more than 80 percent of games.
Why Wylie wins: Bulldogs defense up to challenge
Friday Dec 11, 2009
Those few brave folks that do pick coach Hugh Sandifer’s Wylie squad are who will be celebrating last. The reason is simple, albeit mind-numbingly clichéd: defense wins championships. And Wylie’s defense is about as good as they come at the 3A level.
Former Gilmer player says program not unlike Wylie's
Friday Dec 11, 2009
Gilmer running back Justin Johnson was supposed to be the decoy but instead threw clearing blocks on his team’s winning touchdown play in the 2007 Class 3A Division I semifinal game.
The play was a screen pass to the opposite side, said Johnson, who was one of five Division I recruits for the 2007 Buckeyes team. Gilmer had tied the game 21-21 after a Johnson touchdown run and had just stopped a late fourth quarter Wylie drive.
Why Gilmer wins: Stats tell the story
Friday Dec 11, 2009
Perhaps borrowing from Bill Parcells, it took Gilmer coach Jeff Traylor only two seasons to turn the Buckeyes into a playoff contender. Following a 6-4 season in 2000 that had the program celebrating like it found luck in Mega Millions, the Buckeyes put together consecutive 8-3 campaigns that ended in the bidistrict round.
