Archer City's most memorable games covered

The 2008 campaign was a special, unforeseen run by the Wildcats

Author note: Periodically, Red River Roundup takes a look at an area team’s most memorable games I’ve covered in the past 23 years. This week is Archer City’s turn.

I associate certain years of my life with area football teams’ success.

I’m not necessarily proud of it. It’s not something I brag about at dinner parties or in group chats.

But for instance, I know my sister-in-law got married in 2009 because Munday’s Kenyin Thompson led an upset of Seymour during their dress rehearsal. And 2009 was the year of Thompson’s breakout season. That was a great year for quarterbacks as Henrietta’s Seth Crumpton and Graham’s Case McCoy also shined.

Mention 2013, and I think of Crowell’s unforeseen first state title and Old High’s state quarterfinal run (it’s also the year my boss Nick Gholson passed away. I covered multiple Coyote games because of that).

Both of my daughters’ birthdays are in November. The first one coincided with Windthorst’s surprise run to the state finals. The second run coincided with a Graham state semifinal appearance that included a home playoff game against Seminole that I covered three days after my youngest was born (Don’t judge… it was the third kid. Parents who have that many will understand).

The year 2008 will forever be linked in my brain with Archer City. It was the year of Sam Smith. It was Steve Smith’s best team. It kind of came out of nowhere – the Wildcats missed the playoffs the year before and the year after.

The Wildcats went four rounds deep in 2008 (granted one was a bye, but it was an earned bye). They’ve won four total playoff games since.

I remember Patrick Dayton was smooth running the veer. Man, do I love a good veer. The Wildcats haven’t always been great up front, but they were stout that fall.