Loss to Gilmer hasn't shattered Cardinals

All things considered, last week's trip to Gilmer was a big loss, the first one in the very first week of District 15-3A competition.

But for the Sabine High School football team, there's always the next game, at least for the time being. And that 0- 6 record? Forget about it. The Cardinals aren't looking at it that way. They're looking at their season as 0-1 - as in one game behind three other teams in the six-team district.

Sabine has a chance to even its 15-3A mark this Friday when the Redbirds host Mineola. Gametime at James Bamberg Stadium is 7:30 p.m.

Coach Greg Anderson was in good spirits Wednesday, even with the 49-7 loss to Gilmer. Why?

"Our team defense has played so much better (in the last two weeks against Quitman and Gilmer)," the second-year points in the first quarter. After that, even with their starters in for most of the game, we went with them 21-7 the rest of the way. I thought our kids battled and did a good job. Outside of the four early quick ones, I was pretty happy about the way we played."

The unbeaten and 3A top-ranked Buckeyes had 13 first downs in the game (Sabine had 10), and Gilmer outgained Sabine on the ground, 145 yards to 54. The difference was turnovers - Sabine had three, including two interceptions.

The Cardinals will look for their first win of the season, and first district win, Friday against Mineola. And, when you think about it, who better than the Yellowjackets to come to town with Sabine needing a win?

Sabine has won its last four meetings with Mineola (35-6 in 2005, 21-14 in 2004, 41-20 in 2003 and 28-13 in 2002). overconfident at all.

"They're not bad," the coach said of the one-win Yellowjackets - Mineola's lone win this season was a 35-18 victory over Grand Saline in the third game of the season. "They're record's not real good, but they've got three really good skill kids - their fullback, tailback and split end - that are probably as good or better than anybody in the district, except probably Gilmer. They're not huge up front, but I wouldn't say they're small, either."

Anderson wants his team to believe it can win and make the playoffs. Finishing in the top three in the district would do just that.

"If we can go out and play well and get a win Friday," he said, "I think we've got three that we're capable of winning. If we can get a few things fixed offensively, I think we'll be a lot better."