Lone Oak tops rival in overtime thriller

LONE OAK – In a game that hangs on every inch, it was the one the visiting Caddo Mills Foxes couldn’t get that cost them dearly Friday night. Despite a tremendous effort by quarterback Tre Couvillion, the Foxes (0-1) fell short in a thrilling overtime game at Buffalo Stadium, falling to Lone Oak by a 21-14 count.

After the Buffaloes took the lead in overtime on Ty Tolleson’s 10-yard run, the Foxes moved the ball down to the 11 and faced a 4^th and 8 when the game ended on a crazy note. Couvillion weaved through Lone Oak defenders and appeared to have a clean shot at the end zone when the ball was stripped from his grasp, and rolled into the end zone. Trever Lasseter didn’t make a clean recovery, but managed to have the last touch on the ball, knocking it away from Couvillion and out of bounds to end a sloppy contest played in front of a capacity crowd. Lone Oak (1-0) committed five turnovers, and Caddo Mills was plagued by 17 penalties totaling 135 yards.

The Buffaloes turned the ball over on their first two possessions, losing a fumble on the first series that was recovered by Caddo Mills senior Jerome Grant, and then Lasseter was intercepted by Dalton Curry the next time out. On their third possession, the Foxes got on the board when a Lone Oak holding penalty in the end zone resulted in a safety for a 2-0 lead. The Buffaloes answered right back on their next series, as Lasseter connected with Zach Douglas on a 75-yard touchdown strike. Reed Elmore’s extra point hit the upright and missed, leaving Lone Oak with a 6-2 advantage.

Dakota Monroe picked off a Lasseter pass to set up the Foxes’ first touchdown. Caddo Mills moved the ball down to the 10 yard line and faced 4^th and goal from that spot, when Couvillion rolled right and found DaQuan Stoker for a touchdown. Lone Oak blocked the PAT, but the Foxes held a slim 8-6 lead at the break.

Just three plays into the second half, the Foxes widened the gap, courtesy of a 34-yard interception return touchdown by Josh Jackson. Tyler Kirkpatrick missed the PAT and the score stayed at 14-6. With just 57 seconds left in the third period, Lone Oak pulled even at 14-14 with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Lasseter to Douglas, followed by Douglas’ conversion run.

In the overtime period, Lone Oak needed just four plays to score, the last being Tolleson’s 10-yard game-winner, push the junior past the century mark in rushing. Tolleson finished with 108 yards on 18 carries. Couvillion led all rushers with 147 yards on 27 carries. Lasseter passed for 155 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, while Douglas hauled in three passes for 107 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. Lone Oak outgained the Foxes by a 297-255 margin.



Lone Oak will take to the road next week to face Clarksville, while the Foxes will open their home schedule against Community. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m.

Hand Over Your Burden

I can remember seeing that phrase a number of times in a number of different places. It sounds so simple, but if you really dig down and look into what God wants in a relationship with us, the phrase is entirely accurate.

Of course, it's easy to lose sight of that at times, especially if you're like me. I'm getting better at bringing my problems to God through prayer, and trusting that he will relieve me of my burdens and give me direction through difficult times, but I still have times when I forget to do that, and I hold it all in.

I've never been one to take my problems to other people, I don't complain about my problems and I certainly don't dump them on anybody else. I don't tolerate whining in my house and a big reason why I don't communicate problems I'm having to others is because it's always sounded like whining to me. I also don't like attention, and I don't like for others to know my problems. I'd just assume to keep them personal.

It's worked for me, because I have been good at remembering to bring these issues to God during the many times I find myself openly praying for whatever reason. But recently, I lost track of that again, and resorted back to old ways. It wasn't pretty. I let the pot boil over with all of the things I was holding back, and when it finally started spilling out, I was a wreck, emotionally, physically - and worst of all - spiritually. I was unpleasant to everybody, even those closest to me, I felt like crud, and I finally just had to let my wife know, in the middle of a crowded grocery store, that I'd let it get out of control.

For those of you who are like me, and don't like to burden your friends and  family with your problems, or maybe you have trouble communicating your feeling to others (another of my annoying traits), there is ALWAYS somebody you can talk to without feeling embarassed. God is always there to listen and take your troubles from you.

The words of Jesus found in John 14 say this: "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father's home."

GOD WANTS YOUR BURDENS. He already knows what is troubling your heart, but also wants to see that you are willing  to trust Him in times of hardship. If you're carrying around your troubles and burdens, and feel like you have nobody to talk to, TALK TO GOD. He is the only one who can take your troubles away. 

Buffaloes showcase ground game during scrimmage

EMORY - Lone Oak's varsity squad pounded out 10 yards per carry on the way to gaining 250 yards on the ground during Thursday's scrimmage against Class 3A Rains at Wildcat Stadium. The Buffaloes gained a total of 592 total yards between the varsity and junior varsity units, compared to just 215 for Rains.

Ty Tolleson scored all three Lone Oak touchdowns during the live half, in which the Buffaloes outscored Rains, 20-7, and the Buffaloes put up two more touchdowns during the controlled portion, while the Wildcats struggled on both sides of the ball.  During the live half, Lone Oak ran just 18 plays, but churned out 173 yards on the ground, and 261 total  yards.

The Lone Oak varsity scored during the controlled portion, on a 47-yard touchdown pass from Trever Lasseter to Austyn Hooten. The junior varsity Buffaloes added a touchdown on a 70-yard pass play. Lone Oak's varsity held a 196-103 advantage in yardage over the Wildcats, while the junior varsity outgained Rains by a margin of 134-11.

During the live half, Lone Oak scored touchdowns on its first three possessions. Tolleson hauled in a 17-yard pass from Lasseter to make it 6-0, then sprinted for an 82-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 13-0. Tolleson scored again on a 20-yard plunge to make it 20-0. Rains scored with just over two minutes remaining to avoid the shutout.

Lone Oak will open its 2011 season next Friday at Buffalo Stadium against rival Caddo Mills. The game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

When Times Get Tough

I've always been a firm believer in the old saying, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". To me it makes perfect sense, because although these things that do not kill you may not make you physically stronger, there is always a lesson to be learned, adding to you mental or emotional strength level. This concept usually applies some time after the event in question has come and gone, and does nothing for us when we are dealing with struggles in life as they happen.

I have no trouble with the "lesson learned" portion of overcoming hard times, but I have all the difficulty in the world dealing with troubles as they are happening. And I'm not just talking about dealing with things that happen directly to me, but moreso with problems that others who are close to me may be having, people who are close to me and need my comfort. That's where I struggle.

It seems that recently, quite a few people close to me have been dealing with difficult situations, and I just don't know how to comfort them. I'm always afraid of saying the wrong thing, which leads me to most often say nothing at all (the worst possible scenario). But I took some time today to think about all of the friends and  family members I know who are struggling with this or that, and came up with something spiritual that shocked me.

Just hang in there!! God allows for trials and tribulations to exist in our lives, and for good reason. Without these difficult times, we would be less likely to see out God, because most people are less likely to talk to the Lord during good times than they are during the bad times. It's a true test of faith.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; for I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

 The further into the fire of life we travel, and the hotter the flames become, the more shiny and pure the gold will be that awaits us in the end. God will never expose you to more than you can handle. We need to focus on our blessings, we all have them. Count them and add to them each day. Thoughts are powerful weapons, so stay as positive as you can. Focus on helping others, finding others who need a shoulder and being there for them, it will bring you strength and happiness during your own difficult  times.



LOOKING SHARP: Buffaloes dominate scrimmage

- Photo by Buster Clem (www.clemphotography.com)

LONE OAK – A surprising rain shower cooled off temperatures in Hunt County on Saturday morning, but the Lone Oak Buffaloes were still red hot on both sides of the ball during a football scrimmage against Quinlan Boles at Buffalo Stadium. Trever Lasseter passed for three touchdowns and ran for another to lead the offense, while the Red Storm defense held the Hornets scoreless during both the controlled portion of the scrimmage, as well as the live quarter.

Lone Oak’s varsity and junior varsity teams combined to gain 507 total yards on 50 snaps while Boles picked up only 100 yards on 59 plays. Lone Oak’s varsity accounted for 419 yards (247 passing, 172 rushing) while the Hornets’ varsity was held to 81 yards. Lasseter finished the day with 153 yards and 3 touchdowns on 10-of-12 passing.

During the controlled action, Lone Oak’s offense wasted no time, covering 80 yards in just five plays and scoring on a 16-yard pass from Lasseter to Austyn Hooten. The Buffaloes’ scored again on their second series, this time on a 39-yard pass from Kyle Crow to Hooten. Reed Elmore hit 1-of-2 extra points.

During the live quarter, Ty Tolleson started the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown run around the right end. The PAT was no good, leaving the score 6-0. On the Buffaloes’ second series, Lasseter kept the ball around the end, broke a couple of tackles and tip-toed the sideline for a 51-yard scoring run. Elmore connected on the kick to make it 13-0.

As time expired in the period, Lasseter hooked up with Zach Douglas on a 35-yard touchdown pass, and Elmore made the PAT to leave the score at 20-0. Lasseter went 6-for-6 passing for 105 yards, Austin Nichol registered a sack and the defense held Boles to just 12 yards and one first down during the live quarter.

Lone Oak will hit the field again Thursday, when the Buffaloes travel to Emory for a scrimmage against the Rains Wildcats. The time is tentatively set for 5:30 p.m.

APPinions: Lots of Love

I'm a sucker for iPhone apps, particularly those of the social networking kind, or anything that enables me to communicate with a large audience of people at once. I'm a Twitter junkie, but I've cut back on my Facebook use as of late (mainly due to the glitches in Facebook's mobile app), but I'm always on the lookout for the newest app that lets users speak their mind.

I stumbled upon an app the other day called iLoveTh.is, which was listed in the "Featured" tab on the iTunes App Store. Being the curious consumer I am, I downloaded it and gave it a test run. It didn't take long for me to size this one up, and the description is pretty simple: Log into the app using your Facebook account, then using the tabs, you can publish to your friends all the things you love, whether it be an iPod track you're listening to, food from your favorite restaraunt, or just about anything else.

The concept is simple and there are no hidden features. It's a simple app for one basic purpose. If you're looking for an app loaded with features or if you're seeking out something groundbreaking in the world of mobile apps, look elsewhere.

As you can tell from the screenshot, the layout is minimal, and there is pretty much nothing to do with this app other than to tell your friends what you love. Other than its limited functionality, there was one other  glaring issue with  this app. In the time that it took me to get familiar with it, the app crashed several times just upon opening it. For a meaningless app with absolutely no features, this is a dealbreaker.

The app is available for free from the iTunes App Store, but unless you feel like having a serperate app for something you can easily do via other, more popular social networking apps (Twitter, Facebook, Google+), there's really no need in wasting your time.

Too Much, Too Soon: Why the Longhorns' ranking is too high

In keeping with tradition, it's about time I take a long look at the Texas Longhorns as they prepare to enter the 2011 season. To clear the air a little, I'll admit once again that I'm a diehard Horns fan, but I also always stay true to the ways of ethical journalism by not letting my allegience cloud my writing. So, what you read here is not personal bias, but personal opinion.

Last season was a disaster for the Longhorns, who had played for the BCS National Championship the previous year and fell short. The trasition from Forty Acres legend Colt McCoy to All-Hype freshman Garrett Gilbert was supposed to be bumpy, but not as rough as what transpired during the 2010 campaign.

As a sophomore quarterback, Gilbert and the Longhorns stumbled to a 5-7 record, their first losing season since 1997. Gilbert threw 10 touchdown passes and was picked off 17 times. He had just two games in which he passed for more touchdowns than interceptions. For a former top QB recruit in the nation coming out of high school, things just weren't supposed to be this bad.

But what's done is done. Let's talk about the 2011 season. In particular, let's discuss Texas' preseason ranking. The USA Today poll has Texas at #24.

That's too high. Here are 3 reason why:

1. QB Controversy

One of the biggest questions Texas has to answer entering the 2011 season is, "Who will play quarterback?" While Gilbert has the experience, his performance last season coupled with a subpar showing during the Longhorns' spring game has the Burnt Orange Nation begging for a change. But the other options aren't much better. Case McCoy was good during the spring game, but he's inexperienced, and the other QB's on the roster are freshmen. Some reports have leaked tat Mack Brown has secretly informed Gilbert he will be the starter, but just how short will the leash be if Gilbert can't succeed early?

2. New Schemes = Adjustment Period

Finally, Texas parted ways with offensive coordinator Greg Davis, who caused me more headaches last year than anybody. I blame Davis for most of Gilbert's failures as a QB last season, for dumbing down the offense and clamping down Gilbert's arm instead of giving him the chance to make plays downfield. Replacing Davis is Bryan Harsin, who spent the last decade at Boise State directing an offensive attack that was consistently among the best in the nation. However, the Horns will also have to adjust on the defensive side, where Will Muschamp vacated his DC position to take over as head coach in Gainesville. To me, the biggest adjustment will be on the defensive side. It will take some time.

3. The Competition Has Caught Up

One of the most overlooked reasons why I believe Texas' ranking to be too high is because their list of opponents is better than ever. Many of the teams on the schedule are the same, including non-conference foe Rice, but most of them have made big improvements over the past few years. Just taking a glance at the schedule, I see a handful of likely losses for this Longhorn squad, including BYU, UCLA, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Baylor. In case you lost count, that's seven potential losses, just like last season.

Now don't get carried away, thinking I'm jumping off the bandwagon after last year's dismal season and bagging on the Horns now. That's the last thing I'd do. Texas could very well win eight games this season, and I still believe that Gilbert will develop into a top quarterback (I honestly see 2011 as his breakout year). But I am gonna give it to you straight: Righting this ship will take more than one season.

Texas will get back to its dominating ways in the years to come, and they may even finish the 2011 good enough to be in the Top 25, but it's way too early to call this Texas team one of the best in the land. Much too early.

Cherish The Moments

It's always fun for us to hit the road and spend some time with loved ones we rarely get to see for an extended period of time. That's what our little clan did this past weekend, loading up early Saturday for the drive to Longview to see my wife's aunt and uncle. To be honest, we didn't do much. The women took the kids into town for some school shopping (7 hours worth), while the men talked sports and weather, made a snack, then crashed for a LONG nap.

On Sunday, we all sat around the table and played some dominoes (Chicken Foot was the game of choice) for about 4 hours. The point is, these trips don't have to be action-packed in order to be fun. We managed to keep it pretty minimal but still had the kind of weekend getaway we had been needing for some time.

The older I get, the more I cherish these little visits with family. A few years back, they didn't really tug at my heartstrings too much, but now they seem to make an impression on me, emotionally. Not to say that I'm weeping on the drive home or anything like that, but I simply appreciate them for their worth a bit more, and now realize that the opportunities for repeat visits are becoming fewer, which is saddening in its own right.

It's important that we cherish what time we have with our loved ones. You never know how many you're gonna have. Spend time with your family, be there for them as you would want them there for you. Take advantage while you still can.

***With that said, I'd like to wish a Happy Birthday to a couple of people, my friend Danny Gladden turns 44 today, and my beautiful niece, Lilly, is celebrating birthday #9 today.

It's Coming To An End

It's still around 110 degrees outside, so summer isn't technically coming to an end any time soon, but for those of us who have kids, especially those who stay at home with them, our summer is abbout to be over. It's been an interesting one here at The Gibson Acre, where I made the decision to take online classes instead of paying for childcare so I could take classes on campus this summer. One thing's for sure -- last summer was a lot less crazy than this time around.

Staying home with the kids, while trying to juggle a handful of other tasks on a daily basis, was something I thought I was ready to handle, but clearly, I was not. In addition to making sure the kids were fed and clothed each day, I had to balance my time so that I could get homework, housework, and miscellaneous tasks completed while trying to avoid my boys from feeling abandoned. It's far from easy.

But despite the craziness, this summer was very rewarding in many ways. I was able to spend a lot of time with my boys, we had an awesome vacation, and we created/shared a ton of memories. The end of our summer is certainly bittersweet. While I've enjoyed the time together, i'm excited to get back to school in the fall with a full load of courses (on campus). I'm also looking forward to covering another season of high school football for my alma mater.

But there are still two weeks left before the boys head back to school, so we are going to make them count. No sense in letting it go to waste.

A few other things on my mind:

1. Some of the members of my church, including our pastor and youth pastor (the latter is one of my closest friends) just left for Colombia on Tuesday to do mission work in the Amazon for almost two weeks. Any prayers you can send their way would be appreciated. They are doing some amazing work down there and we are definitely keeping them close to our hearts.

2. Speaking of my alma mater, Lone Oak HS will have its Red/White scrimmage next Tuesday at Buffalo Stadium. That means it's time I get geared up and ready for another season. It also means I need to help get the "Best Little Pressbox in Texas" cleaned up.

3. Two of my favorite kids will celebrate their 9th birthday in the next week. My oldest son, Nathan, turns nine a week from today, while my niece Lillian has a birthday in just a few days.

4. I'll be heading out of town with the family this weekend to visit some relatives, so my next post will likely come Monday. Have a great weekend!

I'm Gonna Make It Right

So, as I've previously stated, I've been trying to make an effort to repair some of the broken relationships in my life. I find that I've been spending more and more time with my dad recently, something that is definitely rare for us, but it's already working wonders in our relationship. As far as my mother is concerned, I haven't spoken to her in over a year and  haven't seen her in person for almost four years. My mother and I are total opposites, and the fact that we are so different is what really drove a wedge in between us. But something happened to my wife last night that made me reevaluate what had happened between my mother and I, and why I now see that I was wrong for shutting her out of my life.

Without going into too much detail on what happened, I'll simply say that my wife is the most caring, loving and nourturing person I have EVER known, and that's not just something I say because she's  my wife. She is always willing to help people, in particular, her younger siblings (she's the oldest) who have made quite the mess of their own lives. Even when they take her for granted, use her, and walk all over her, she is willing to help them in any way they need, sometimes when we can't even afford to. That's just who she is.

When I stopped and reminded last night of just how big her heart is, I started to think about how things went down between my mother and I. Once I did, I felt like crap. A real low-life. Then I thought about what the Bible says about honoring your mother and father, and I felt like crawling inside of my own skin and hiding. Here I am, trying my best to glorify God with my actions and the way I live my life, but all along I've been disobeying one of the most basic principles. It's one of the Ten Commandments, for crying out loud!! I'm supposed to be honoring my mother, no matter what, and instead, I've been ignoring her, shutting her out of my life completely for nothing other than convenience (another truth I came to terms with last night). It wasn't the way to make my life better, it was, however, a great way to wither my heart against this woman, who brought me into the world.

The thought of it made me ill. I vowed right then and there to do what I could to repair my relationship with my mother, and to make an honest attempt to embrace her, instead of ignoring her. Hopefully, my mother and I can soon begin to build a bond again. It's the right thing to do. It's what I WANT to do.