Schools & Sports

All photos by JIM KLENKE

There was excitement in the air Friday night as the Pirates took the field for the first time this season under the direction of their new head coach. It was a rough start for Crandall as they allowed a 95-yard bomb and 19-yard run for touchdowns. The score was 12-0 Jacksonville at the end of one quarter.

After a delayed beginning to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Varsity Forney Jackrabbits finally took the field against the Whitehouse Wildcats last Friday. City Bank Stadium was as full as possible, according to this year’s health safety protocols which includes social distancing and mask requirements. The fans were thrilled to enjoy the first socially distanced version of Friday Night Lights of the year, which also happened to be Senior Night. Pre-game ceremonies honored the members of Class of 2021 involved in sports and other extracurricular activities. Unfortunately, though, this season’s debut didn’t turn out the way the fans and players had hoped, ending in a loss for the Rabbits with the final score at 31-15 when the clock ran out.

As the story goes, this child, born in El Dorado, Arkansas, into a family of sharecroppers, had to write a book report about baseball as punishment for “spitting on a teacher.” This assignment/ punishment was designed to teach him about life beyond Collinston, Louisiana, where he lived after moving there at age two, but it also served to introduce him to BASEBALL!

I was driving to a friend’s house to dig up and transplant a plant or four when I saw two “old men” standing at the curb just a little way from that house’s driveway. I wondered what “they were up to,” and then as I inched closer, I noticed that the two guys were friends of mine, who were probably saying to themselves, “What is that ‘old geezer’ doing over here in this neighborhood? Do you think he is looking to steal something?”

One game. It was just one game. The first of what the North Forney Falcons hope will be a 16-game season. However, in this game, played last Thursday at the Star in Frisco, the Falcons served noticed to the state of Texas that they will be a force to be reckoned with in 5A DII football this year.

With much consideration given by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the University Interscholastic League (UIL), and Forney ISD, varsity football games will begin for both the Forney High School Jackrabbits and the North Forney High School Falcons. Games begin tonight, Thursday September 24, with the Falcons traveling to play against Frisco Lone Star and will continue tomorrow, Friday September 25, at City Bank Stadium with the Jackrabbits vs. Whitehouse High.

If you want to the be the best, you have to beat the best. To beat the best, you have to prepare to beat the best. For the North Forney Falcons, a team with playoff aspirations in the tough District 8-5A DII, that meant traveling to Aledo last Thursday night for a scrimmage against last season’s 5A-DII state football champions.

William Frank Yeoman was born in Elnora, Indiana, and later lived in Glendale, Arizona, where he “Bill” was both an athletic and academic “star” and “lettered” in five sports. Most notably, he was “All-State” in football.

The “Covid 19” struck area teams as three had to find new opponents for Sept. 11 games. Nevada Community vs. Paris North Lamar (covid cases), Kaufman vs. Henderson (covid), and Aubrey vs. Gainesville (covid)—the cases, it seems, were very limited, but no one wants to take unnecessary chances. Some rescheduling took place as you will see as results are reported!

School in Forney, Texas, began again, or rather I should say “opened” for the first day of classes for the school year, 2020—2021, and I feel sure it really was a “NEW” experience. I miss teaching, but what I miss is “shutting my door and teaching life.” I feel that I would have a hard time today trying to shut my classroom door on the COMPUTER. My “hat is off” to all the educators and parents and relatives who are undertaking the new experience of “some virtual” and some “in-person” teaching.

Drop that remote and grab those binoculars, the 24th Annual Great Texas Birding Classic (GTBC) is kicking off fall with its annual bird watching competition. For the first time ever, this spring event has moved to the fall due to the public health crisis. Coinciding with the fall migration, the GTBC is perfect for novice birders and nature lovers who want to get outside and take part in the competition.

Want to hunt turkeys on your home turf this fall? You’ll need to create and manage a habitat that will attract them to your property first.