Sports

   A focus on the positives and figuring out how to be competitive is what Blackcat Head Coach Patrick Matthews is stressing this week.
   “We’re having a hard time how to handle adversity. It’s one of those things we talk about all of the time – like life,” Matthews added.
   The Blackcats (0-4, 0-1) are coming off a 50-6 loss to Columbia in a District 13-4A-1 season opener at the Roughnecks’ homecoming there last Friday.
   “We have to work them on how to focus on adversity, because it will happen at any football game,” the coach said.
   This Friday, Bay City will host another district opponent in Needville (4-1, 1-0), which toppled previously unbeaten El Campo 47-27 last Friday.
   “Needville has a solid running back, a strong-armed quarterback and receivers who can catch the ball,” Matthews said, also noting that the Bluejays also have a strong defensive front.

   Paced by Tiger running back Jose Martinez’s 157 yards rushing and quarterback Blake Garcia 163 yards passing, Tidehaven began District 14-3A-2 play with a 39-8 win over Danbury Friday, Sept. 27.
   “It was a good game for us,” Head Coach David Lucio said.
   “We were able to put the game away early and got to play a lot of our backups,” he added. 
   “We started district play 1-0 and came away with no new injuries.” 
   Tidehaven (2-3, 1-0) had 496 total yards against Danbury – 333 yards rushing and 163 yards in the air. Garcia was 6-12 – the longest throw was 71 yards – with three touchdowns.
   Mason Perales caught three passes for 80 yards and two TDs and Kaden Henry had two receptions for 71 yards and a TD.
   The Tiger defense held Danbury’s rushing game to 70 yards and its passing to 75 yards and a TD.
   Tiger Jerry Johnson recovered a fumble and returned for a TD.

  The Van Vleck Leopards knew opening District play against state-ranked East Bernard was going to be a tough task, and after the final second ticked from the clock, they realized just how good this Brahma team was.
   East Bernard dominated in every facet of the game, jumping out to a 21-0 halftime lead, and never looking back in coasting to a 56-0 victory. 
   With the loss, Van Vleck drops to 2-2 on the season, 0-1 in District play.
   The defenses were the star of the show early in the contest. 
   Both teams traded off punts to start the game. 
   After a quick first quarter seeing a scoreless affair, the Brahmas got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter.
   East Bernard running back Kobe Brown capped off a 7 play, 58-yard drive, by going in from 14 yards out for the first Brahma touchdown of the night, making it 7-0.

   Matagorda County high school football teams enter district play this week that saw Palacios emerging undefeated after four games, Tidehaven and Van Vleck trying to rebound to losses last Friday and Bay City working to untrack after a two-week hiatus because of Tropical Storm Imelda.
   Blackcat Head Coach Patrick Matthews said Bay City’s game with Westbury last Friday was cancelled by the Houston ISD’s athletic director who cancelled all Friday night games.
   There were some discussions about playing last Saturday but the stadiums already were booked, Matthews added. 
   “Things were discussed logistically, but we had to focus on next week. It’s not a bad thing necessarily,” the coach said.
   Bay City (0-3) will play the Columbia Roughnecks (4-0) there Friday.
   “It’s just a game and an opportunity to get a win.
   “They seem to be more explosive than in the past,” Matthews said of the Roughnecks.

   Mayor Robert Nelson pulled an open session item about Bay City Housing Authority (BCHA) board appointments into a closed-door meeting at council’s regular meeting Thursday, Sept. 12.
   Council’s Thursday agenda included the reappointment of three BCHA board members three members: Danyal Manning, Vidalia Leal and Ronnie Reeves and the appointment of Thomas Battle.
   When the agenda came up, Mayor Pro Tem Jason Childers began to speak, only to be interrupted by Nelson.
   “We’re not talking about that now. We’re going to talk about it in closed session,” the mayor said.
   The Sentinel first asked the mayor and council what provision of the open meetings act allowed council to discuss people who were not city employees as an allowable personnel matter in an executive session.
   City Attorney Anne Marie Odefy said the housing authority appointments were pushed into closed meeting not under personnel, but “legal,” without further explanation.

   Blackcat Head Coach Patrick Matthews is doubling down on consistency and execution when Bay City travels to District 18-6A Westbury this Friday, Sept. 20. 
   While the Huskies (0-3) have struggled so far this season, Matthews said “They’re looking for a win just as we are.” 
   “The biggest thing for us is finding a way for this team to win,” the coach added.
   Bay City is coming off a 37-7 loss to 5A Gregory-Portland last Friday.
   “We need to play well. We haven’t played well since Cuero,” he said, explaining he was referring to the Blackcat defensive game Cuero.
   “Offensively, we’ve got to find a way to put it together. We need to find the right mix of people.
   “We haven’t established our identity as far as offense is concerned.”
   It all boils down to consistency and execution, he said.

   The Tidehaven Tigers have their work cut out for them when they host the District 15-2A-1 Shiner Comanches (3-0) Friday night.
   Tidehaven is coming off a 34-22 loss to cross-county rival Palacios and Head Coach David Lucio is trying to move people into positions because of injuries.
   “We went into the Palacios game down five starters, and left down three more. We are trying to get healthy,” the head coach said.
   “Shiner has a very good ball club, might be the best we see all year. 
   “It would be a tossup between them and Refugio,” Lucio said.
   “They have some great running backs, about four of them that could start for most programs in the state at any level. Their defense is also very good,” Lucio added. 
   “In the meantime, we will be playing a number of young kids and reserves. 
   “I was very proud of how are kids battled last Friday,” the coach said. 

   The Van Vleck Leopards celebrated homecoming night by scoring early and often in a 43-8 blowout of the Kashmere Rams.
   With the win, Van Vleck moves to 2-0 on the season before their first road game this Friday night against Second Baptist.
   The Leopards lit up the scoreboard on their second offensive possession of the night. 
   After a Kashmere punt set up Van Vleck at their own 47-yard line, it only took two plays for the Leopards to score.  
   Van Vleck quarterback Josh DeLarosa connected with Kadarius Woodard on a 50-yard pass-and-catch to start the drive, followed by a DeLarosa quarterback keeper from three yards out for the first Van Vleck score of the night. 
   Slade Huerta booted the extra point through, and the Leopards were out in front 7-0. 
   The Van Vleck defense stood stiff on the next Ram drive, forcing a punt.