Dominance can be measured in championships. Consistency can be measured in victories.

Idalou might not have any of the former, but the Wildcats could be considered the dictionary definition of the latter after Friday’s 30-21 victory against Abernathy. It was the program’s 100th win this decade, and with a 100-11 record from 2000 to present, the Wildcats boast the best winning percentage in the state of Texas in Class 2A during that time frame.

“I’ve told the kids throughout the years since we’ve kind of kept track of that number that was a big deal to average 10 wins a season,” said longtime head coach Johnny Taylor, who in 21 seasons is 186-61-3. “It shows we’ve had a lot of good players and this program has had good, consistent, winning teams.”

Since the beginning of the decade, the Wildcats have posted six double-digit-victory seasons, three of which have been of 12 wins or more. Only three times in the past 10 years have the Wildcats lost more than two games, and never more than three.

That gives Idalou – entering the 2009 season finale against Slaton – a record of 100-11 for the decade, a winning percentage of .820. Refugio in South Texas actually has more wins through nine games this season with 102, but the Bobcats have also lost 26 games in that span, putting their winning percentage at .809.

Getting to the mark was more of a struggle this season than it has been in the past. The Wildcats began the year mostly with sophomores and juniors in key spots, and the struggles have come more on offense than defense. But Idalou has played some of its best football of the season the past two weeks in beating Abernathy and Roosevelt.

“I think we are playing better, especially offensively,” Taylor said. “We’re starting to do some things offensively to kind of help our defense out a little bit. The defense has been carrying us for quite a few games, so hopefully now our offense can stay on the field longer and we can keep it away from other teams and score touchdowns.”

What on Earth?

Class 1A has seen many of the usual suspects such as New Deal, Seagraves and Sundown steamrolling toward the playoffs.

But one of the most impressive teams going into the final weekend of the regular season has been one that, while it has been in the postseason the past few years, has struggled once it got there.

Springlake-Earth is looking to change that, and it appears to have all the tools necessary to make a deep run not only this year but next.

“We felt last spring we had a good football team,” said fourth-year head coach Stan Caffey. “I think a lot of people underestimated us, but we knew we had good players coming up and knew that our quarterback had a lot of skill and our receivers could have big years. We’ve played consistently well on defense, and I think that’s been the key to our success.”

Led by junior linebacker Devin Johnson, the Wolverines (8-1 overall 4-0 in District 5-1A) have allowed just 210 yards per game and 59 points all season, and with a 35-6 win against Smyer on Friday secured at least a share of the district championship going into the regular-season finale against Morton.

Junior quarterback Blake Betz has completed 73.5 percent of his passes (111 of 151) for 1,529 yards and 15 touchdowns, which ranks him behind only Olton’s Bobby Wayne Workman among area Class 1A quarterbacks. Isaya Garcia and Tyler Manasco each have caught more than 350 yards worth of passes with 12 combined touchdowns while Betz and Anthony Carrasco have combined for 788 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

But the Wolverines still have one more hurdle to overcome – the bi-district round. Springlake-Earth has been bounced from the postseason in the first round in each of Caffey’s three previous seasons.

“We’ve really had a great year and things have come together well for us,” Caffey said. “But we feel we want to do better than one and done in the playoffs. We’ve said our goal all along this year was not only to make the playoffs but get a victory or two. We’re optimistic about our chances. I feel like we’ve got as good a chance as anybody.”

Injury update

Two scary injuries left area players feeling a little numb Friday, but reports are both are expected to be OK.

Friday night at Lowrey Field, Lubbock High receiver Josh Hester was taken off the field in an ambulance after his helmet came off from a hard shot. Westerners head coach Mike Speck said Hester was feeling numbness in his hands, most likely from his head hitting the turf after losing his helmet.

Speck said Saturday Hester was released form the hospital late Friday night after CAT scans, an MRI and X-rays all came back negative. Speck said Hester would likely not play in Thursday’s season finale against Amarillo.

At Tiger Stadium, Frenship quarterback Brandon Hanslik left the field under his own power late in the second quarter after taking a shot to the neck during a 21-7 loss to Abilene Cooper. Head coach Brad Davis said Hanslik also felt some numbness and tingling in his arms, though Hanslik was not taken from the field for medical attention and remained on the sideline without his shoulder pads the rest of the night.

Davis said Sunday X-rays on Hanslik’s neck revealed no broken bones, but was still waiting Monday afternoon for results of the MRI.

The Tigers face San Angelo Lake View on Friday in San Angelo, with the winner claiming the fourth and final playoff spot from District 4-4A.

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