2009 Classic: In with a bang, out with a bang!
The fourth and final game of the Fifth Annual Action Sports Medicine Champions Classic was a barn-burner for three quarters before the Jim Ned Indians finally overcame a resilient group of Merkel Badgers, 30-16, in front of a raucous Saturday night crowd.
Earlier in the weekend, the scores were almost identical in the second and third games at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene.
The Abilene High School Eagles were too hot to handle in the bright West Texas sun Saturday morning and early afternoon, defeating the Fort Worth Dunbar Wildcats, 56-13. With temperatures in the 90s on the field, the Eagles wore out the talented 'Cats by striking early and often. The final TD for the Wildcats was scored with no time left on the clock.
The night before, it was the Abilene Cooper Cougars who showed some fury, defeating the visiting Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt Chaparrals, 56-7. It was a whirlwind of action, reminiscient of the previous night when 60 mph winds did some rearranging at Shotwell Stadium for the opening game.
Abilene Christian University and Northwest Missouri State survived a brief but powerful thunderstorm on Thursday in a nationally televised game, eventually won by the Wildcats, 19-14.
In pre-season, Northwest Missouri was ranked second in the nation in many NCAA Division II polls, while ACU was as high as 4th. Those numbers could reverse now.
The Champions Classic, completing its fifth year, is promoted by the Sports Alliance Committee of the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau, which is an affiliate of the Abilene Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored by Action Sports Medicine and Rehab, along with Texas Chevy Dealers and WTU Retail Energy and other local sponsors. 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 $27,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors from Abilene High, Cooper High, Wylie High and Abilene Christian High schools.
2009 Featured Games
GAME 1: Abilene Christian University vs. Northwest Missouri...............ACU 19, NW Mo. St. 14
Related: Photo Gallery slideshow of the game ... Video ... Stats
Related: Unlikely heroes lift ACU to win in opener
Related: Defense carries load in Wildcats' victory
Related: QB Stewart gets nod as ACU starter
Related: There is a "revenge factor"
GAME 2: Abilene Cooper vs. Fort Worth O.D. Wyatt.................................Cooper 56, Wyatt 7
Related: Cougars cruise to easy win ... Stats ... Play-by-play ... Video
Related: Photo Gallery slideshow of the game
Related: Coogs hope to slow resurgent Chaps
Related: (Video) Cooper Coach Spradlin talks about Wyatt
GAME 3: Abilene High vs. Fort Worth Dunbar..........................................Abilene 56, Dunbar 13
Related: Eagles run by Dunbar ... Stats ... Play-by-Play ... Video
Related: Photo Gallery slideshow of the game
Related: Victory was Abilene High's 600th
GAME 4: Jim Ned vs. Merkel.......................................................................Jim Ned 30, Merkel 16
Related: Jim Ned ends Classic with win over Merkel ... Stats
Related: Photo Gallery slideshow of the game
GAME PREVIEWS
ACU vs. Northwest | Cooper vs. Wyatt | Abilene vs. Dunbar | Jim Ned vs. Merkel
ROSTERS
ACU | Northwest | Cooper | Wyatt | Abilene | Dunbar | Jim Ned | Merkel
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES
Big Games on Tap for 5th Classic
Abilene Christian University Releases
Fifth Annual Event to be historic and hard-nosed
Teams announced for Action Sports Medicine Champions Classic
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