By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion offense didn’t have many chances to score against the visiting Hamlin Pipers last Friday because Hamlin’s defense was just too much for Albany to handle, giving the Lions their first loss of the season 42-6.

Albany (2-1) will play their first road game this Friday, making the trip to Haskell to play the Indians (1-2) with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

Albany fans are able to purchase tickets online in advance by using the TicketLeap website (haskell-cisd.ticketleap.com/haskellsports). Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lion volleyball team picked up three more wins last week to extend its winning streak to 12-1, including a 1-0 district mark.

Albany hosted Class 4A Graham on Tuesday, falling to the Lady Blues in three sets, 14-25,11-25,16-25, to suffer just their second loss of the season. Details will be reported next week.

The Lady Lions will return to District 6-2A action on Saturday, hosting the Hawley Lady Bearcats beginning at noon. The JV II will start the action at 10:00 a.m., followed by the JV I team at 11:00 a.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany cross country girls will run at the Hamlin meet next Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Race time is set for 9:00 a.m.

The four girls competing this season will also participate in the Seymour meet on Oct. 7, followed by a meet in Anson on Oct. 14 and a meet in Munday on Oct. 21.

The district meet will be held at Anson on Oct. 28.

By Donnie A. Lucas

Both junior high volleyball teams picked up a pair of victories over the last week.

The seventh grade girls will travel to Hico on Monday, Sept. 21 for a game at 5:00 p.m. The eighth grade girls will play in Rising Star next Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5:00 p.m.

The eighth grade team hosted Moran last Tuesday, Sept. 8, earning a 25-9, 25-5 win.

“I saw a big improvement from the  first game to this one,” coach Dakota Fowler. “The girls played great together.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Albany Cubs will host their first home game of the season on Thursday (today) at 5:00 p.m. at Robert Nail Stadium.

Only one combined game will be played by Cubs since the visiting Haskell team does not have a separate seventh grade squad. All of Albany’s junior high athletes will suit up for the game.

The seventh and eighth grade players will all have individual and team pictures taken prior to the game starting at 4:00 p.m. Parents can send checks with their students or pay at The Albany News.

By Lynsi Musselman

The Bulldogs lost on Friday against the non-conference Rotan Yellowhammers 19 to 25.

Moran Independent School District athletic director John Hughes said the team continues to improve with each game even if the scoreboard does not show it.

Moran plays Blackwell, who is posting a 1-2 record, away this Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Hughes added that it will be another tough game.

Moran Lady Bulldogs

The Lady Bulldogs played Hawley on Saturday, Sept. 9, losing both games.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lion football team overcame a slow start to thrash the visiting Dublin Lions 64-27 and pick up their second win of the season.

The undefeated Lions will host the Hamlin Pied Pipers, also 2-0, this Friday at Robert Nail Stadium in a highly touted game that will pit the state-ranked rivals. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.

“It is going to be a battle,” head coach Denney Faith said. “It will be a rivalry game that I think the kids are looking forward to and will enjoy. Both teams will be better when it’s over.”

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Lady Lions picked up a pair of easy wins last week, continuing to play District 6-2A teams  including the Moran Lady Bulldogs at home on Tuesday.

Albany came out on top in the battle against the Bulldogs 25-7, 25-9, 25-17. Details will be reported next week.

Head coach M.J. Reneau added a game to the schedule this Friday against Snyder. The varsity and JV will play here at 5:00 p.m., utilizing both gyms.

The Lady Lions will be on the road Saturday in Newcastle for a varsity-only bout starting at 10:00 a.m.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The cross country team ran in two meets over the last week, including the season opener in Haskell and a second meet this week in Eula.

The girls competed in Eula on Tuesday, improving both times and placings.

The team will travel to Hamlin on Wednesday, Sept. 23 for their next contest. The junior high runners will also go to Hamlin, but a day earlier on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

All four Albany runners competed in the two-mile varsity girls race, with one runner medaling in the top 10 places.

By Donnie A. Lucas

The JV Lions posted a 40-0 win in Dublin last Thursday, improving to 2-0 for the season.

The Lions will travel to Hamlin on Thursday for a 6:30 p.m. game against the JV Pipers.

Tickets will be available at the gate in Hamlin, but fans will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing.

Adam Hill, London Fuentes, and Caden Price scored two times each in Dublin, as the Lion offense dominated the game.

Hill scored on a pair of passes from quarterback Lute Wheeler from four yards and nine yards out to score.