Mineola returns from bye for battle with Bears

Posted 10/10/19

The very first comments from Mineola Athletic Director Luke Blackwell when sitting down during a football bye-week interview were about the state eighth-ranked girls cross-country team. “They have simply worked very hard, and continuously, to get where they are today,” he stated. He credited the program run by Coach David Smith and the willingness of the squad to want to improve as rationale for their success.

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Mineola returns from bye for battle with Bears

Posted

The very first comments from Mineola Athletic Director Luke Blackwell when sitting down during a football bye-week interview were about the state eighth-ranked girls cross-country team. “They have simply worked very hard, and continuously, to get where they are today,” he stated. He credited the program run by Coach David Smith and the willingness of the squad to want to improve as rationale for their success.

From cross country to the contributions of freshman in varsity sports, Blackwell remarked just how special freshmen athletes are who compete at the varsity level. “They must have physical readiness certainly, but they also must be mentally ready for the pressures of varsity competition,” Blackwell explained.

Mineola is benefitting from some mature freshman in their varsity teams this fall. Mylee Fischer is recording a huge number of assists with the Lady Jackets volleyball team. On the gridiron, Dawson Pendergrass has made key plays in each of the Jackets’ games this fall, while quarterback T.J. Moreland has contributed as well. “They are special athletes,” added Blackwell.

Turning to the football team, Blackwell expressed how proud he was of the team, especially how they continue to perform after some very close losses. In the narrow, last-minute loss to West Rusk, Blackwell cited “the impressive effort and execution the team showed throughout the game.” 

“Naturally, the kids are disappointed and hurt after a loss like that, but as coaches we must lead them to build on the many, many positives within the football game,” said Blackwell. He described his team as a fun group of athletes who want to do everything well, and are extremely coachable. Blackwell admitted, “If you want to compete and win, you have to be coachable.”

After an opening loss to 4A Wills Point and a close loss at Canton, the Yellowjackets defeated Farmersville and Big Sandy, before dropping the West Rusk game. The Gladewater Bears loom on the horizon this Friday. 

Using the past week as both a mid-season review as well as preparation for the trip to Gladewater, Blackwell laughed at a discussion of trends in the district. “Our district is trending to be really, really tough competition,” he exclaimed. District 8-3A certainly holds some powerhouses this year. In addition to Gladewater and West Rusk, Tatum, Sabine and Winnsboro all have talented teams. 

There was no doubt just how Mineola views preparation for the next five weeks of district play. “You have got to want to go to work on Monday if you want to win on Friday,” Blackwell summarized. 

The Jackets, as healthy as they have been in weeks and with a sense of renewed purpose, will travel to Gladewater Friday. It could be another East Texas gridiron classic.