Wednesday, September 24, 1997

Cross-town game brings long lines, scalpers

By LANCE FLEMING / Abilene Reporter-News

How big is Friday night's cross-town game between Abilene High and Cooper?

So big that a man was scalping tickets outside the AISD administration building Tuesday afternoon. He was later escorted from the premises by Abilene police.

So big that lines to buy tickets Tuesday morning -- the first time they had gone on sale to the public -- started forming at 5:30 a.m. By about 10 a.m., the line was all the way back to the Abilene High tennis courts next to the administration building.

And so big that as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon both the Abilene High and Cooper sides had sold out.

The berms on each end zone will be filled by elementary and middle school students, and those are already filled. AISD athletic director Robert Starr said that approximately 300 standing room only tickets will be sold at the stadium (Northeast and Northwest gates only) for $6. Fans buying those tickets will stand around the north concourse of the stadium.

AISD employees will be able to buy family and spouse tickets at the stadium (Southwest gate only) for $2.

Why all the interest?

Because for the first time ever, the Eagles and Cougars are undefeated going into the cross-town game. And for the first time since 1967, they are each 3-0 to start the season.

Cooper, ranked fourth in the state, reached the 3-0 plateau last Friday with a 56-12 pasting of Lubbock Monterey. The Cougars were ahead 35-6 at halftime, and that comfortable margin allowed them to enjoy all the homecoming festivities.

"I was glad we were able to come out of the ballgame healthy and without any more serious injuries," Cooper head coach Randy Allen said. "It was a great homecoming win and an exciting game for our players and fans."

Going into the AHS game -- and the beginning of District 4-5A play -- Allen said he's comfortable with the level of play his team has achieved in its first three games.

"I feel like we've made improvement in our ball security and our kickoff returns," he said. "As with any team, every snap our first-year varsity players take they're getting better. I think we have a lot of confidence going into district."

The Eagles are a team full of confidence, too.

That confidence grew in last Friday's 21-8 win over Cleburne. Not just because of the win, but because of how they won the game.

The Yellowjackets stacked nine men on the line of scrimmage, daring the Eagles to beat them with the pass. And they did just that as Ahmad Brooks threw for 141 yards -- 132 of them to Odis Dolton. The big blow was a 68-yard scoring pass from Brooks to Dolton that gave AHS a 15-8 cushion early in the fourth quarter.

"That's probably something we'll see a lot in district," AHS head coach Steve Warren said of the nine-man front. "We threw the ball because we had to throw it. It's the first time in a game situation where we've had to throw the ball, and I felt good about the way we performed in the passing game."

Rhodes update

Former Cooper running back Dominic Rhodes had a big day Saturday to lead Tyler Junior College to a 48-22 win over defending junior college national champion Blinn.

Rhodes rushed for 167 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries, and caught two passes for 53 yards and one score. His touchdown run was from 42 yards out, while the touchdown catch was from 38 yards away.

Tyler (3-0 overall and 1-0 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference) is ranked sixth in the nation this week. The Apaches will play 13th-ranked Northeast Oklahoma at 6 p.m. Saturday in Tyler.