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Updated Monday, October 24, 2011 4:42 PM

Game Recap — Denison at Sherman

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job with a timber merchant, and he got it.
His boss gave him an ax and showed him the area where he was supposed to work.
The first day, the woodcutter brought down 18 trees.
“Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!”
Very motivated by the boss’ words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but could bring 15 trees only.
The third day he tried even harder, but could bring 10 trees only. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.
“I must be losing my strength,” the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.
“When was the last time you sharpened your ax?” the boss asked.
“Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my ax. I have been very busy trying to cut trees...”

It was over when — Elijah Butler caught a swing pass and worked his way through a pair of defenders for a 24-yard touchdown catch from Gus Daniel with 11:09 left in the fourth quarter. The score gave Sherman a 35-17 lead and answered a Denison touchdown just three minutes earlier.

It was really over when — J.T. Luper intercepted Clifton Hines and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown six plays after Butler’s score. The Bearcats then had a four-score lead with just over eight minutes remaining.

Player of the Game — Braylon Mitchell scored all three of his touchdowns in the first half as Sherman built a 21-3 lead. The senior scored on a 31-yard touchdown pass and had TD runs of 21 and five yards. He finished with 14 carries for 95 yards and also chipped in on defense.

Play of the Game — Ryan Reid opens the second half with a 63-yard kickoff return. If the Jackets were going to get back in the game they needed a stop at the start of the third quarter. But Reid avoided tackles and his own blockers as he made his way down to the Denison 13-yard line. Sherman scored on the first play from scrimmage and just 26 seconds into the second half had a 28-3 lead.

The good — The Jackets outgained Sherman (367-343) and looked a lot better moving the ball after struggling against Royse City. Denison almost had a pair of 100-yard rushers and Keondrick Golston provided a spark with his first action on offense. The Denison offense did go for it once on fourth down and converted. Denison recovered an onside kick, although nothing came of it on the ensuing possession. Dalton Hestand kicked another long field goal, this one from 43 yards.

The bad — Five turnovers (four fumbles), which in turn led to 21 Sherman points. Another fumble took seven points off the board as it came near the goal line when Denison was about to tie the game at seven. The kickoff coverage was obviously an issue on the aforementioned play of the game, a couple of other kickoffs went out of bounds and when Denison tried to run out the final three-tenths of a second of the half, illegally touched the ball on a kickoff giving it to Sherman at the Denison 43. Luckily the Cats just took a knee.

District dish — In addition to Denison’s loss against Sherman, Texas High defeated Mount Pleasant, 49-6, and Royse City defeated Greenville, 35-27. Three of the playoff spots are now taken: Sherman and Texas High will go Division I and Sulphur Springs will go Division II. Royse City can clinch the other postseason spot with a victory this week against Mount Pleasant (and yet if Mount Pleasant and Denison win there is still hope for a three-way tie for third). In addition to those games, Denison hosts Greenville and Sulphur Springs host Texas High in a game that has 13-4A title implications. Sherman has the bye.

Stinging stats of the week — The Jackets lost consecutive Battle of the Ax contests for the first time since 2001-02...It is the first time Sherman beat Denison in back-to-back meetings scoring at least 39 points each time...The loss means Denison is guaranteed back-to-back seasons of no more than three victories for the first time since 1980-81...Denison snapped its streak of four straight games without scoring more than 14 points...The 24 points was the most scored in a district contest by the Jackets...Golston had his first varsity carries and touchdown...Seniors Austin Ratcliff and Irving Gonzalez made their first varsity catches...Dre Butler had a career-high 97 yards on a career-best 21 carries...Quamie Bush and Clay Stubblefield led the team with 38 yards receiving while Stubblefield and Roy Patti each had two catches...Jaleel Dade caught his second touchdown pass of the season...Both teams had eight penalties but Sherman had more yards acrrued (74-55)...Sherman’s interception return for a touchdown by Luper made a return TD for the Bearcats in all five district contests...Sherman completed 12 passes. Nine went to Luper and he didn’t score on any. The other three (Butler, Mitchell and Brandon Colon) went for touchdowns.

Comments ... 9 found!

new kid : 10/27/2011
The paper said he could play. I didn't realize 6 others have transfered. But you know when your reputation starts to build, so does the popularity. This happens everywhere, especially in bigger areas.

spectator

?????? : 10/26/2011
Who is this mysterious transfer and where is he from? How many years does he have left? Also, since the UIL said he is ok, can this kid play this year?

Fan

Spectator : 10/26/2011
Yes, it truly could be an innocent transfer, especially since the kid is a senior. What about the other SIX? WHO is this boy? Why is it such a secret anyway? What did the UIL rule?

JJ

new bearcat : 10/26/2011
Unfortunately that happens more often than you think. PLayers will move to a district they feel they will get recognized. And currently Sherman has the better reputation. It also could be as innocent as the parent finding a new job and why should the kid miss out on opportunities to play because of the economy

spectator

UIL APPEAL : 10/26/2011
Yet another player has transferred into the SISD to play for the Bearcats. He supposedly was a 2,000 yard rusher at a 2A school, at least that is what is said on the Smoaky site. He was ruled ineligible by the district committee, and is now appealing to the UIL to overrule that decision TOMORROW. Why in the world has this been such a secret? Does anyone know who he is/?Boy, the rich get richer.

Just Wondering

Hmmmmm : 10/26/2011
Oh, my son googled the moral of the woodcutter story. It says that it means that you need to work hard, but you must also WORK SMART.

Jacket Fan

Hmm...answered. : 10/25/2011
It means that working hard sometimes isn't all that it takes to accomplish success. You have to also work smart. It's actually a good and fitting story, I think. It could also mean paying attention to small details in order to accomplish a larger goal, depending on which way wants to look at it, but both similar. Either way works here. I think the Jackets have worked very hard to get where they want to be and win some games. They just haven't worked smart. Be it through costly penalties or careless mistakes. It's a good fit.

KRH

Hmm : 10/25/2011
I think he still might be trying to figure this out.

Just guessing

Jason- : 10/25/2011
I would love to know what YOU see as the meaning of your ax story at the beginning of this article. I'm sure that each of us might find a different one. My understanding is that the Jackets are working thier tails off every week to chop down the tree (WIN THE GAME), but the problem is that they aren't taking care of the FUNDAMENTALS and small details.... like sharpening the ax!! What's your take? You had to have some point here. Don't leave us guessing.

Long Time Fan
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