WAKE UP! IT’S FRIDAY! | The high school football season began last night with a bang; Lewis wins debut with Gladewater; Parsons in Green Bay
EDITOR’S NOTE: Wake Up! It’s football season, and we’re ready to roll here on ETB. And Cozy Coffee Station is ready, too, to serve East Texas their fantastic variety of coffees, teas, snacks and even sodas. And they’ve already rolled out their fall menu, and you know what that means: PUMPKIN! Pick up something now at their Kilgore location (110 Midtown Plaza) or their location in Gilmer (at 755 Highway 271 North). Take advantage of their website, Home | Cozy Coffee Station, and see what all they have to offer.
Thursday night
The first night of high school football in 2025 was much like the first night of high school football in 2024: raining and stormy in a lot of spots across East Texas, especially in Beckville, where the Bearcats and San Augustine played the first half of the first quarter before being shut down in a lightning delay.
I wasn’t at Beckville for this one, but I was monitoring it, and I can’t believe they didn’t call it. I wish now for Beckville that it had been. San Augustine took advantage of some big plays in the second half (a turnover, a long scoring run by SA quarterback Tymarion Cartwright) and held off the Bearcats in some tough circumstances.
Up the road a piece (quite a piece) in Winnsboro, receiver Camden Capehart, running back Neree Castleberry and quarterback Nolee Carroll picked up where they left off last year, putting up 28 first-half points and 55 total on a Tatum team that I believe will only get better as we roll along.
Congratulations to Gladewater and to head coach Jermaine Lewis for going ahead and getting Lewis’ first win in the Bears’ first game. Pressure’s off, and now go play loose and do as much damage as you can.
For more on these games, click here: LEWIS WINS FIRST GAME AT GLADEWATER | Weather plays havoc in Beckville; Winnsboro gets a measure of revenge on Tatum on football’s opening night.
Oh, and tonight’s schedule of games involving teams in our coverage area is also in that round-up.
Micah Parsons now a Packer
I hate to say ‘I told you so,’ but I did.
I predicted disaster in this contract dispute between the Dallas Cowboys and edge rusher Micah Parsons from the start. The Cowboys’ negotiating tactics — holding off, allowing the player to get upset before you really offer him a deal — does nothing but aggravate an already-tense situation. And by the way, I actually AGREE with trading Parsons. They got two first-round picks (and defensive lineman Kenny Clark) in the deal. Is Clark the player Parsons is? No. Will those first-round picks help Dallas in the 2025 season? No. And that’s the gamble. Owner Jerry Jones wants to win now. So commend Jones for making this play to help the franchise in the future, when his time (not being morbid) as an active owner and general manager is rapidly running out.
Here’s our story on the trade of Parsons to the Green Bay Packers from Thursday: COWBOYS PULL THE TRIGGER | Parsons shipped to Packers, gets record-breaking deal for non-QB.
A couple of notes
Check out our Eye Spy feature this weekend. In fact, participate in it!
If you’re at a game this weekend, be it a high school game, Kilgore College, volleyball, whatever — take a selfie of the group you’re with and send it to ETBlitz! You might find yourself on the website, and on our Facebook and Instagram.
Just take the photo or video (keep videos eight seconds or less) and keep it clean, then for this weekend, send it to (903) 812-3347. We’ll take the best of the lot, and put them up on Sunday. Eye Spy is presented by Kilgore-Gilmer Eye Care Centers.
Oh, and speaking of Kilgore College: we’ll have a preview of KC’s season opener on ETB Saturday morning. The Rangers open the season at home against non-conference Community Christian.
Tonight’s high school games – and a surprise
ETBlitz staff will be at all four of our games at home (Carthage at Kilgore, Gilmer at Pine Tree, Malakoff at West Rusk and Spring Hill at Sabine). We’re hoping for no rain. And if it’s not raining, check out the ETB Facebook page around 6:45, 7 p.m. for a special feature at the Carthage/Kilgore contest.
Rangers Report
The Texas Rangers had an open date Thursday, and are playing a weekend series at the Athletics, beginning tonight with a 9:05 p.m. (our time) start.
Texas is chasing both Houston and Seattle in the American League West Division. Houston leads the AL West with a 74-60 record. The Mariners are in second place, two games back (72-62). And Texas is in third, a 68-67 overall record. Texas is 6-4 in its last 10 games, and has won two straight.
