StingEmALTO

District 11-2A Scrimmage Thursday Schedules: - Shelbyville @ Alto - Bruceville-Eddy vs. Dawson @ Centerville - Grapeland vs. Frankston @ Cushing - Groveton @ West Sabine - Leon @ Hubbard - Normangee @ Wortham

Yes sir! I haven’t seen many folks from Crockett on here.

Hey man! Good luck this season. I think y’all take Crockett in this game. Just a hunch.@Maxjean will probably disagree. Lol

Shelbyville @ Alto Thursday, August 20th

Alto starts in-school classes on Monday with the option for online learning. Only those in the classroom may participate in extra-curricular activities (or attend them). We have gone from a six-week grading cycle to nine-week. You can’t go back and forth during the grading period, AND if you don’t attend school in the fall, you may not participate in extra-curricular activities in the spring. I applaud our administration and school board for making this local policy. In my opinion, if you can come and participate in practice for hours with your fellow students during the day and after school, load a bus and travel to games, then you can come to school and learn in the classroom.

There’s a first time for everything. .

Alto - 42ish (missing those 17 seniors who graduated!)

I propose Alto and Carlisle meet at the Tomato Bowl in Jacksonville and let every single person that wants to come in....come! (even at 50% I think we could get almost everyone in!!) Y’all head west on 79 and we’ll head north on 69 and BAM! A good time can be had by all. What do you think, Chain? Lol

Yellowjackets will have to grow up fast this year By Jay Neal [email protected] ALTO — With only four starters back from last season's 11-1 Area finalist team, it is safe to say a large number of Alto Yellowjackets have something to prove, as they attempt to nail down a starting spot during fall training camp, which got under way on Monday. Among the Yellowjackets top returnees are Jay Pope and Jackson Howell. Pope, who plays wide receiver and free safety is an electrifying player who can ignite a team in a hurry from either position. Pope is the Jackets' top returning pass catcher and interceptions leader. Howell is Alto's leading returning tackler and a mainstay on the Yellowjacket defense from his linebacker slot. Howell should see some minutes at tight end on the offensive side. Will Dixon will be handling the quarterbacking duties this year, while Isaack Weatherford, Jer'Darious Bolton, and Jackson Duplichain could all see time in the backfield. Landry Smith, Jesus Tellez and Clayton Gresham will be the team's key offensive linemen. The trio also play on the defensive line. Alto will launch the 2020 campaign at home on Aug. 28, with Troup providing the opposition. The Jackets, in UIL Region III, will be members of District 11-2A-I, which also includes Centerville, Groveton, Grapeland, Jewitt Leon and Normangee. Despite their youth and inexperience, at least one state-wide publication, Dave Campbell's Texas Football, believes the Jackets will make their presence known this fall by winning the conference championship. That is respect in the purest form. https://www.jacksonvilleprogress.com/sports/yellowjackets-will-have-to-grow-up-fast-this-year/article_39140d3e-d76c-11ea-a92d-4b53421491ed.html#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

We’re gonna have to grow up/step up fast! Almost all juniors and sophomores with a handful of seniors. Much different than last year when we had 17 seniors!

Glad to be back in a district with Groveton and Grapeland. Our schools go way way back! I thought it was gonna be fun having both schools as the last two games on our schedule since we are picked to be the top 3 finishers. Now that Grapeland has been moved to the FIRST district game for us, we have book ends! Lol Looking forward to the season.

Definitely a re-loading year! https://www.ktre.com/video/2020/08/04/new-alto-leaders-ready-pick-up-where-old-ones-left-off/

Condolences to our wonderful leader and his family in the loss of their extraordinary father. Coach Meeks was blessed to see his son take on his first head coaching job at Alto and to enjoy coming to most of the games over the last two years. I know how proud Debbie and Coach Meeks have been and what an amazing experience for our Coach Meeks to have been able to coach with his dad those years. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family. Service Schedule: Saturday, August 8th 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm visitation 2:00 pm is the service Mobberly Baptist Church, Longview TX https://www.kltv.com/2020/08/03/legendary-coach-dickey-meeks-passes-away/

Condolences to our wonderful leader and his family in the loss of their extraordinary father. Coach Meeks was blessed to see his son take on his first head coaching job at Alto and to enjoy coming to most of the games over the last two years. I know how proud Debbie and Coach Meeks have been and what an amazing experience for our Coach Meeks to have been able to coach with his dad those years. Our hearts and prayers go out to the family. Service Schedule: Saturday, August 8th 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm visitation 2:00 pm is the service Mobberly Baptist Church, Longview TX https://www.kltv.com/2020/08/03/legendary-coach-dickey-meeks-passes-away/

Lol No test! Lots of planning, thought, and huge headaches I’m sure. Just the craziest of times we are living in now. Ugh All the best to Joaquin this season!

Awesome tribute to your dad. Prayers for your family as you adjust.

Alto released season ticket info today. I was surprised to find out that no other school in our district has season tickets anymore. Our chairbacks and reserved bench are sold out each year and are a hot commodity when someone decides to release their tickets! Many folks have owned the same seats since the stadium opened in 1994 so you can imagine the thought and planning that has gone into the info released today. No one will be completely happy, but hats off to the admin for putting together a plan with participants’ parents first and those folks who invested in the current stadium from the start (the ‘94 lifetimers). https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1596212258/altoesc7net/samvs1fpctgkp5rxvulf/CoronavirusFootballTicketSystem1.pdf

The 11-2A District Executive Committee met earlier this week and made the decision to move the Week 11 games to the Week 6 bye week. Week 11 will now be a bye week. Here is the revised Alto Football schedule:

PLAY BALL!!! I am so thankful that the UIL chose to play football this fall and ESPECIALLY thankful 2A gets to start ON TIME! Let’s goooooo! Graphic by Coach Reagan.

Longview, Malakoff top preseason #bEASTTexas Fabulous 15 polls; San Augustine voted No. 4; Alto No. 8 By Brandon Ogden [email protected] Jul 12, 2020 Longview and Malakoff both ended their 2018 season playing for a state title at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. After earlier than expected playoff exits in 2019, the Lobos and Tigers enter 2020 hoping to return to championship weekend at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Longview tops the Class 6A/5A/4A portion of the #bEASTTexas Fabulous 15 preseason poll, while Malakoff leads the way in the Class 3A/2A/TAPPS poll. In the Class 3A/2A/TAPPS poll, there was plenty of diversity as 35 teams earned at least one vote and five different teams received a first-place vote. Following Malakoff was Daingerfield with three first-place votes and 180 points. Gladewater, which will be under the direction of alum Jonny Louvier after John Berry left to become the defensive coordinator at Longview, picked up five first-place votes and earned 172 points to start the season at No. 3 in the poll. San Augustine (149 points) comes in at No. 4. Paul Pewitt, which played in the Class 3A Division II title game last season, rounds out the top five with 132 points and one first-place vote. Atlanta finished last season outside of the top 15 but checks in at No. 6 in the 2020 preseason rankings. Diboll received the final first-place vote and is No. 7 in the poll. West Rusk, Waskom, Newton and Tenaha join Atlanta as teams to finish 2019 outside of the top 15 but land in the top 15 heading into the 2020 campaign. Voters in the poll were Jack Stallard, Hayden Henry and George Whitley of the Longview News-Journal, Phil Hicks and Brandon Ogden of the Tyler Morning Telegraph, J. Scott Russell of the Panola Watchman, Nathan Hague of the Marshall News Messenger, John Krueger of the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, Josh Havard of the Lufkin Daily News, Mitch Lucas of the Kilgore News Herald, Juwan Lee of the Palestine Herald-Press, Jay Neal of the Jacksonville Progress, Reagan Roy of CBS 19 and Harlen the Sports Guy of the Friday Night Scoreboard Show. https://tylerpaper.com/sports/longview-malakoff-top-preseason-beasttexas-fabulous-15-polls-jt-voted-no-6-lee-no-8/article_a10fef14-c22e-11ea-9680-630dfa404fbd.html

District 9-2A: 1. Carlisle 2. Frankston 3. Hawkins 4. Beckville 5. Union Grove 6. Big Sandy 7. Linden-Kildare

Texas Football slots Alto at No. 14 in Class 2A-I preseason rankings By Jay Neal [email protected] June 30, 2020 Despite the fact that the Alto Yellowjackets are returning just four starters from a year ago, the scribes at Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine, nevertheless, still think pretty highly of the Mean Sting. Alto is ranked No. 14 in the magazine's Class 2A-I preseason poll. Texas Football even goes as far as predicting Alto will advance to the Class 2A, Region III finals, where they will face San Augustine's Wolves. The Wolves are coming off of a 13-1 season in 2019 and are ranked No. 5 in the state. Head coach Ricky Meeks' Mean Sting will be young this year, with just 10 lettermen back from last year's area finalist squad. Jay Pope will be counted on heavily, both at wide receiver and at the free safety position. Pope led Alto in receiving and in interceptions in 2019. Defensively, the Jackets will look for linebacker Jackson Howell to set the tone. Howell, a two-way (tight end) starter, is the team's top returning tackler. Alto will have a brand new backfield, with Will Dixon at quarterback and Isaac Weatherford, Jer'Derious Bolton and Jackson Duplichain expected to see time at fullback and running back. Linemen to keep an eye on are Landry Smith, Jesus Tellez and Clayton Gresham. Cody Watson and Issac Carter are penciled in as some of the candidates trying to win a spot at linebacker, while Carter Pursley should see time at strong safety. Texas Football predicts Alto to win the 11-2A-I title, just ahead of Groveton, Grapeland and Centerville. Normangee and Jewett Leon round out the forecasted order of finish in the conference. Alto is scheduled to open the new campaign by playing back-to-back home games in Weeks 1 and 2. The Mean Sting will host Troup on Aug. 28 before welcoming Timpson to town for homecoming on Sept. 4. The Yellowjackets will then close out the non-conference portion of their schedule with three-consecutive road games, starting with a Sept. 11 date with former district rival Price-Carlisle. The following Friday night Alto will be in Winona, before journeying down to San Augustine on Sept. 25. After an open date on Oct. 2, Alto will open conference play in Centerville on Oct. 9. On Oct. 16, the Yellowjackets will entertain Jewitt Leon's Cougars, in the first of only two home conference affairs scheduled for this season. Alto will be on the road on Oct. 23 (at Normangee) and on Oct. 30 (at Groveton), and is slated to conclude the regular season at Cam'Ron Matthews Field on Nov. 6 by engaging the Grapeland Sandies. All regular season games are schedule to get under way at 7:30 p.m. https://www.jacksonvilleprogress.com/sports/texas-football-slots-alto-at-no-14-in-class-2a-i-preseason-rankings/article_81db9042-ba3d-11ea-a4d9-9b80893e98f7.html#utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has District 11-2A D1 like this:

Alto definitely has a learning curve but I think these guys have it in them to carry on, especially being under Coach Meeks and staff for the third season. 10-0 JV boys will kind of come in with a chip on their shoulder. Definitely high expectations they will put on themselves. We’ll see if they rise to the challenge. Can’t wait!