Holliday Head Coach Frank Johnson knew his team was in for a dogfight. After being dominated on both lines of scrimmage in a 28-0 loss a season ago against Iowa Park, the seventh-ranked Eagles (1-0) rose to the occasion in 2021.
Holliday outlasted the Hawks 20-14 on Friday, Aug. 27, at Hawks Stadium to kick off the 2021 campaign with a win.
After 2020 saw Archer City win its first playoff game in over a decade, the Wildcats and coach Shad Hanna hope big things are in store for this season.
The Archer City Lady Cats are loaded with senior leadership and talent entering the 2021 season, bringing back all but one player from last season’s district championship team that advanced to the regional quarterfinals.
Lady Cats Head Coach Krissa England knows the pressure is there but emphasizes to the team to execute their role and the big things will take care of themselves.
Archer City senior Mallory Maxwell was born into an athletic family. With parents that both played highend collegiate athletics, Mallory was quickly destined for athletic greatness.
“We’re very competitive, whether it’s playing games at home or something else,” Maxwell said. “I’m very thankful for my mom and dad. Not only did they give me athletic genes, they taught me how to work hard and how to be determined, how to be a leader on the team. I love coming from a family with my mom and dad both being really good athletes and good people.”
Archer City quarterback Ty Bates is among the best returning Class 2A quarterbacks in the state this season after accounting for 36 touchdowns and 2,824 yards of total offense last season.
This season, Bates is putting in the work it takes to be great and hopefully achieve his goal of a state championship.
Last year, Holliday volleyball coach Wendy Parker said she thought they would surprise people.
There’s no sneaking up on anyone this year as the Lady Eagles garnered a preseason No. 3 state ranking after advancing to the regional finals before bowing out against eventual state champion Bushland.
Despite losing all-state performer Bree Zellers and Brittany James to graduation, Parker believes this year the team is set up to be better.
