2010 Classic: 'Awesome" describes the event!

Wow! Saturday, a huge contingent from Franklinton, Louisiana, came to town to support their Demons against the Abilene High Eagles in the third game of the 2010 Action Sports Medicine Champions Classic in Abilene's Shotwell Stadium. The visitors almost pulled off the upset, before the reigning Texas state champion Eagles rallied to win, 35-20. In the Classic's finale, the Hamlin Pied Pipers held on to defeat the Quanah Indians, 38-34.

Wow again! Abilene Cooper and Austin Westlake racked up 24 points in the 4th quarter Friday night in the second game of the Classic, but the Cougars scored the final points of the evening with seconds left to win, 35-31, in what is arguably the most exciting game in the history of the event.

Everyone was getting deja vu all over again on the first night of the Classic. Thunderstorms were all around, but held off until after the game, won by the Newcastle Bobcats over the ACHS Panthers, 73-28. .

Abilene High captured the Class 5A Division II state championship last season, while Austin Westlake lost in overtime in the Class 5A Division I title game. Abilene Cooper went three rounds into the playoffs, while the Franklinton Demons, the highest scoring team in Louisiana, were Class 4A state finalists, so the Classic field was loaded with talent from the outset.

And ACHS finished last season with two straight wins and returns several players to a veteran team. The Panthers are picked to win their district this season, and held in against Newcastle until the second half Thursday.

The fourth and final game with Hamlin vs. Quanah, featured two teams that return many starters from last season.

The fireworks started with the first game (101 points), and didn't end until the finale. The four winners scored 181 points ... but what is even more amazing is that the losers scored 113. If you like offense, the 2010 version of the ASM Champions Classic was just your ticket.

The Abilene High game was broadcast live on KTAB-TV, and the Cooper game was shown on tape-delay on Saturday from 7-10 p.m. on KTAB and in Austin. MTV crews were in attendance Saturday for the Abilene game.

The Classic finished its 6th year and was 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 $30,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors from Abilene High, Cooper High, Wylie High and Abilene Christian High schools.

2010 Featured Games

GAME 1: Newcastle 73, Abilene Christian High 28......................story | stats | slideshow

GAME 2: Abilene Cooper 35, Austin Westlake 31 ......................story | stats | slideshow | video

GAME 3: Abilene High 35, Franklinton 20 ...................................story | stats | slideshow | video

GAME 4: Hamlin 38, Quanah 34 ............................................... story | stats | photo

GAME PREVIEWS
ACHS vs. Newcastle | Cooper vs. Westlake | Abilene vs. Franklinton | Hamlin vs. Quanah

ROSTERS
Abilene | Franklinton | Cooper | Westlake | ACHS | Newcastle | Hamlin | Quanah

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASES

Champions Classic's 6th Year Features Big Games