Battle to be top Dog

Bulldog Sports

Related Photos

Item file photo

October 13, 2009

New Waverly-Corrigan rivalry shaping up to be one of best in 2A

By Gene Schallenberg

After earning a hard-fought victory, most coaches try to keep their players focused by telling them to enjoy the win, but to come ready to work the next day.

After the Bulldogs’ resounding district-opening win over Centerville, there was no need to remind them about their next task. Instead of leaving the field yelling, “Champions” as they have done all season — reminding all that New Waverly is the defending District 21-2A champions — the Bulldogs barked out the name of their upcoming opponent, “Corrigan.”

At this time last season, New Waverly had rolled to four straight wins to begin the season with victories over Teague, Hearne, Huntington and Centerville, but had yet to be given a stern test.

New Waverly was not only hoping to knock off the state-ranked Dogs, but gain a little respect at the same time, especially after being listed as double-digit underdogs going into the game.

After New Waverly scored the first points of the game in the first quarter, it was a stalemate for the rest of the half. But then both offenses started to click and exploded for big plays.

Corrigan-Camden running back JoCourtney Johnson hit the open field twice for a pair of 56-yard touchdown runs. New Waverly also had a big play when quarterback Rhett Bohannon hit Tyren Watts for a 47-yard touchdown.

With the score tied at 14, New Waverly took the lead with a little more than six minutes to play.

Corrigan-Camden attempted to tie the game in the final minutes. On a fourth-and-25 from the New Waverly 47, quarterback Chris Drayton heaved the ball down field to one of his four receivers, but defensive back X’Zavious Harrison swatted the ball down, ending Corrigan’s comeback bid.

Being a year older and more experienced, this season’s game could be even better. That’s one of the reasons why Dave Campbell’s Texas Football listed Corrigan-Camden at New Waverly as its Class 2A game Dream Tour.

The Bulldogs, from New Waverly and Corrigan-Camden, know what’s at stake when they clash on Friday. After opening district play last week with lopsided victories — New Waverly blasted Centerville 54-19 and Corrigan-Camden blew out Buffalo 30-0 — it appears that just like last season, the tilt between the Bulldogs may ultimately decide who will have the upper hand in the pursuit of the District 21-2A championship.

The teams and personnel may be different, but one thing hasn’t changed from last season. Both teams will have to play their best game of the season to come away unscathed and remain atop District 21-2A.

Text Only

Bulldog Sports

All-State Bulldogs
After advancing all the way to the regional semifinals as relative unknowns with little playoff experience in 2009, the Bulldogs knew they would have a lot more attention in 2010.
Ranked among the top five in the state for most the season, New Waverly did not disappoint.

June 22, 2010
Dynamic Duo
NEW WAVERLY — The taste is still bitter for the Bulldogs.
The New Waverly baseball squad is still haunted from last year’s surprising exit in the regional semifinals against White Oak. The Dogs took game one of the best-of-three series and had a 6-1 lead in the second contest heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.
Things went terribly wrong from there and New Waverly was left wondering what happened as White Oak rallied to win two in a row and steal the series.

May 12, 2010 1 Story
Complete package
NEW WAVERLY — New Waverly baseball coach Tommy Bohannon was hoping he could talk Hardin, the Bulldogs’ area-round playoff opponent, into moving up next week’s series to accommodate the state track and field meet.

May 7, 2010
New Waverly boys still within range of advancing to state
After finishing their first round on the Oak Hurst Course at Peach Tree Golf Club in Bullard, things looked bleak for the New Waverly boys as they turned in a team score of 372.

April 19, 2010
Bulldogs are back again in 2010
They’ve been here before and know Austin all too well.Two years ago, the New Waverly Bulldogs made their first trip to the state tournament, but it ended rather quickly in a disappointing blowout loss to Tuscola Jim Ned.
Then last March, the Bulldogs got past Shallowater and advanced to the state championship game only to fall to defending state champion Ponder 51-39.
This time around, the Bulldogs are determined to take another step forward and come back with a state championship. They’re back again in 2010, and they say they’re going to finish the job this time.

March 11, 2010
Bulldogs pass first test
NEW CANEY — Though it had been more than a week since the New Waverly boys played a meaningful game, the Dogs didn’t show an ounce of rust Thursday night.
With a strong defensive effort, the top-ranked Bulldogs cruised past East Chambers 78-36 and into the Region III quarterfinals where they’ll face either fourth-ranked Kountze or Buffalo early next week.

February 25, 2010
Lady Dogs live to play another day Leading by 16 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, it appeared as if the Lady Dogs would coast to an easy playoff victory.

The only problem was that Kirbyville never stopped playing. The feisty Ladycats made a game out of it.

Barely, the Lady Dogs held on, escaping with a 52-51 victory in Angelina College’s Shands Gym to advance to the area round of the Class 2A playoffs.
February 15, 2010 2 Photos
Lady Bulldogs start playoffs Monday night in Lufkin
February 13, 2010
Dogs clinch outright district title NEW WAVERLY — If the Bulldogs haven’t already made space in the trophy case, they can do so now.
February 12, 2010
Lady Hornets set playoff date The Lady Hornets might have lost out on an outright district title Tuesday night at Willis, but the Lady Hornets got a big win Wednesday.
February 11, 2010
More Bulldog Sports Headlines