Another Great Classic in the Books!

The 2011 Action Sports Medicine Champions Classic at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, Texas, is history for another year ... but the annual event packed another weekend full of girdiron excitement.

The festivities got off to a resounding start Thursday night with the Stamford Bulldogs defeating the Munday Moguls, 47-21. The offensive fireworks continued Friday as the Abilene Eagles brought their A Game and then some, defeating El Paso Hanks, 77-13. Those two games set up a great finale won by Merkel over Colorado City, 34-21.

This was the AHS Warbirds' 6th appearance in the annual event, missing only the 2006 version. Abilene has now averaged 49 points per game and has never lost at the Classic. There was some concern that the Eagles might be light on offense with the graduation of so many top stars, but running back Paxton Grayer (pictured) soon put that doubt to rest with 115 yards rushing, 3 TDs on the ground, 1 TD reception and a kickoff return to paydirt.

And this is what the Abilene Reporter-News had to say about the Stamford/Munday opener: "Paced by a monster performance from quarterback Hagen Hutchinson, who racked up 549 total yards and accounted for six touchdowns in less than three quarters, the Bulldogs scored four touchdowns of 60 or more yards in a 47-21 win to kick off the Action Sports Medicine Champions Classic."

Read the Official Press Release.

The final game on Saturday night lived up to expectations, as the Merkel Badgers had their hands full with the Colorado City Wolves. Both Class 2A powers made it to the playoffs last season, and the game was close to the very end. Merkel tailback Frankie Harris rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns.

The Classic finished its 7th year and is promoted by the Sports Alliance Committee of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is an affiliate of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. The Sports Alliance was formed to increase the economic impact in the Abilene community through sporting events. One goal is to raise money for scholarships awarded each year to graduating seniors from each of the local high schools. To date, the Champions Classic has awarded $38,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors from Abilene High, Cooper High, Wylie High and Abilene Christian High schools.

2011 Featured Games

GAME 1: Stamford 47, Munday 21....................................... Story | Slideshow | Stats

GAME 2: Abilene High 77, vs. El Paso Hanks 13 ............ Story | Slideshow | Video | Stats

GAME 3: Merkel 34, Colorado City 21 ........... .....................Story | Slideshow | Stats

STORIES
Season kicks off with Munday-Stamford matchup in Abilene
Football Classics dot early schedules
AHS, area teams spotlighted in Champions Classic

ROSTERS
Abilene | Hanks | Stamford | Munday | Merkel | Colorado City

TEAM/GAME PREVIEWS
Abilene | Hanks | Stamford vs. Munday | Merkel vs Colorado City