Tuesday, September 23, 1997

Cooper moves up to number four; AHS receives nine votes

By JAIME ARON

Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) - The Elysian Fields Yellowjackets received a nice present Monday to help celebrate the school's 40th year of playing 11-man football: its first No. 1 ranking.

Elysian Fields became the third team to lead the Class 2A this season, replacing Mart, which ended a two-week stay at No. 1 following a 20-13 loss to 3A La Vega. Groveton, the preseason poll-topper, lost its season opener.

It was a good week for most area teams in the statewide poll, too.

Cooper moved up to No. 4 in Class 5A. The Cougars' opponent, Abilene High, in Friday's cross-town showdown, received nine votes again in this week's poll and is rated 13th.

Sweetwater and Brownwood each moved up one spot to No. 3 and No. 8, respectively, in Class 4A.

Breckenridge jumped two spots in No. 4 in Class 3A. Despite beating Haskell last week, Stamford slipped from No. 6 to ninth in this week's Class 2A poll. Cross Plains jumped two notches to No. 8 in Class A, but Munday fell out of the top 10 after its loss to Quanah.

The poll had four newcomers this week, and three of them are really new.

Aledo (No. 10 in 3A) is ranked for the first time since spending all of 1976 atop 2A, while Winnsboro (No. 9 in 3A) and Waco Midway (No. 10 in 4A) are making their first appearances since at least 1974, according to Walk Sports Services, which has tracked every AP poll since then.

Menard returned to the Class aA poll after a one-week absence at No. 10.

For Elysian Fields, the climb to the top has been a long one.

The Yellowjackets have always had decent teams, but never good enough to draw much attention. They've been to the playoffs seven of the last 10 seasons under Mitchell, but they didn't reach the area round until last year.

Poll voters had an idea Elysian Fields would be solid last season, voting the Yellowjackets No. 7 in the preseason poll. They dropped out following a 28-6 pounding by 3A Omaha Paul Pewitt.

Two weeks later, Beckville surprised Elysian Fields, dropping it to 1-2 going into district play. The junior-led squad then pulled together to win seven straight and capture the district title.

An eighth straight win followed, marking the school's first in the playoffs since starting 11-man football in 1958. The streak ended a week later with a 42-22 loss to Arp.

Poll voters ranked Elysian Fields sixth to begin the season. Season-opening losses by 2A's top four teams shot the Yellowjackets to No. 2.

Now that it's No. 1, Mitchell's crew hopes to stay there. The odds are good considering they went undefeated last year with 10 juniors leading the way and all 10 coming back this season. That group also started together on varsity as sophomores.

"I think we have the potential to do it," Mitchell said. "But we've got some good teams in our district that are perennially strong and they will knock you off if you're not minding your Ps and Qs."

Elysian Fields has already avenged last year's early losses, beating Paul Pewitt 14-6 in the opener and drubbing Beckville 60-0 last weekend. In between there was a 42-20 victory over San Augustine.

Mitchell was reluctant to praise specific players for fear of leaving anyone out. But it's no secret the stars include running back Johnny Mosley (who had 2,374 yards last year, tops among returning 2A players), quarterback Clifton Harris and receiver Moned Sneed, and defensive end Beau Hodges.

The team is stocked with talented, experienced players. They learned how to win in the playoffs last season and will soon have to face the pressure of being No. 1.

So, could this team still be around in the middle of December?

"That's this year's goal, and we know it's a mouthful," Mitchell said. "It takes a lot of hard work, dedication and luck.

"But we tell our kids that somebody's got to win it, so it might as well be the Yellowjackets."