Week Two On the Road Again Somehow it seems Willie Nelson should be an unofficial spokesperson for the Clovis East football team this year. Fresh off their trip to Texas two weeks earlier, the Timberwolves were on the road again, taking the “five by five” trip to Southern California – five hours on Interstate 5. This time they arrived at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains in Redlands. The Redlands High School Terriers made the trip north last year and lost to Clovis East in overtime. It was the second meeting ever of the two teams who are in the final year of a home and home series. Clovis East once again leaned on its punishing ground game to control the clock and the tempo while scoring first. Paul Jimenez scored on a 20 yard run to put the Timberwolves up 7-0. Redlands then came right back with a score of their own to tie the game. The Timberwolf defense played well early and often, bringing big hits and trying to create turnovers. Easily three passes should have been intercepted and one fumble lay on the ground seemingly waiting for someone – anyone – to put their hands on it. In spite of the missed opportunities on defense, the offense got two more scores from Hunter Hauschel and Taylor Scott and took a 21-7 lead late in the game. Redlands scored with one minute left to make the score 21-13, however the ensuing onside kick was recovered by Clovis East and they simply ran out the clock. The Timberwolves travel next to Sanger for the Silver Spear game against the Apaches. Though these two teams have played games before, this is the third meeting for Silver Spear Trophy. Both teams will bring high-powered ground games into Tom Flores Stadium and hard-hitting defenses that will surely get the attention of players and fans alike. It should be an electrifying environment and exiting game. At this point, though, I would guess the Timberwolves and their fans are just happy to not have to drive more than a few minutes between towns.   Week One Texas – Take Two Clovis East opened the 2008 season by returning to Texas to play in the Kirk Herbstreit classic at Texas Stadium. The Timberwolves’ first foray into Texas occurred three years ago when they visited Midland, Texas to play Midland Lee High School, a thriller they won in double overtime, 38-37. This year’s contest was part of a seven game showcase featuring some of the best high school football programs in the country. The home of the Dallas Cowboys hosted Clovis East in the showcase finale against north Dallas juggernaut Heritage High School. The school from nearby Colleyville marched into the stadium almost one hundred strong with a gun slinging quarterback intent on tossing the ball all over the field. It turned out to be one of the most highly anticipated match-ups of the weekend featuring two distinctly different teams and styles. Clovis East’s ground game controlled the clock and the line of scrimmage early, taking a 20-12 lead into the locker room at half-time. A fourth-down touchdown pass from Taylor Scott to Steve Bolinger and timely Paul Jimenez punt return for another score helped the Timberwolves keep the high-flying, spread offense of Heritage in check and off the field. The game, however, proved to be a tale of two halves. Heritage quarterback Steven Hill, the top baseball prospect in the state of Texas, found his rhythm and began to throw strikes of his own. Along with the help of a few advantageous bounces, including a Heritage fumble that made a incredible hop toward a fortuitous Heritage player – and the their end zone- the Panthers quickly began to close the deficit and, ultimately, take the lead. Clovis East scored again to close the gap once more, but the Heritage passing game and some untimely Timberwolf mistakes proved to be too much as the Panthers went on to win the game, 41-26. In spite of the loss, the players experienced the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of playing in Texas Stadium and sharing the same locker room roamed by the Dallas Cowboys and numerous NFL legends. Seeing them take pictures on the star at Texas Stadium and look up through the famous open roof was something none of us will ever forget.