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Daily Newspaper and Travel Guide
for Pecos Country of West Texas
Sports
Tuesday, August 10, 1999
Boosters plan event to meet Eagle teams
PECOS, Aug. 10, 1999 -- The Pecos Eagles Athletic Boosters Club will sponsor
a fall sports spaghetti dinner and watermelon feed on Friday, Aug. 27 from
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pecos High School cafeteria.
The dinner will be to introduce all coaches and athletes on the 1999
Pecos Eagles fall sports teams, which include football, volleyball, tennis,
cross country and swimming. Cost per plate for the event will be $3.50
per person.
The booster club will also hold a business meeting on Monday, Aug. 23
at 7 p.m. at the PHS cafeteria.
The dinner will be on a Friday night, the day after Pecos holds it's
second preseason football scrimmage, at Midland against the Greenwood Rangers.
It will also be after the first day of the Pecos Cantaloupe Classic Volleyball
Tournament, which will be held at the Pecos High School new and old gyms.
Browns return with OT win over Cowboys
By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
CANTON, Ohio. Aug. 10, 1999 — Their prized rookie quarterback played
like a seasoned veteran. So did the first-year cornerback. The defense
was as tough as advertised and their special teams were terrific.
Born again after three years, the Cleveland Browns aren't a typical
expansion team. And in their debut Monday night on national TV, they didn't
play like one.
Capping a night of pageantry and passion, the new Browns made a victorious
return to the NFL with a 20-17 overtime victory against the Dallas Cowboys
in the Hall of Fame game.
For the Browns and their fans, there couldn't be a sweeter ending to
their three-year comeback.
"I think what was impressive is how we won it," said linebacker Chris
Spielman, who played his first game in two years. "We competed. I'll tell
you what, we're going to be a competitive football team."
Before the Browns start getting ahead of themselves, their performance
wasn't flawless. But for an expansion franchise given just 11 months to
get ready for its first game — Jacksonville and Carolina had two years
— the Browns are off to a flying start.
Phil Dawson kicked a 20-yard field goal with 8:06 remaining in overtime
for the Browns, who had a chance to win in regulation. But Danny Kight
missed a 47-yarder as time expired.
The winning drive was set up by rookie cornerback Daylon McCutcheon's
second interception.
"This is a great start for me," said McCutcheon, whose father, Lawrence,
a former NFL running back, was in the stands. "But that's all it was. Now,
I have to build on this. We all have to build on this."
Browns rookie quarterback Tim Couch dazzled in his pro debut. Couch,
the No. 1 overall pick in April's college draft, showed great poise in
his first appearance in an NFL uniform.
He completed 11 of 17 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown, and ran
twice for 144 yards.
After replacing starter Ty Detmer early in the second quarter, Couch
overthrew his first attempt before completing 10 straight. He and rookie
Kevin Johnson hooked up for 24-yard scoring play in the second quarter,
giving the Browns a 14-7 lead.
"It was good to get that first touchdown pass out of the way," Couch
said. "Especially to get it to Kevin. Hopefully, that will be the first
of many for us."
Cleveland president Carmen Policy grinned from ear to ear talking about
Couch, signed by the Browns to a seven-year, $59 million deal before draft
day.
"You saw a little bit of why we wanted him," Policy said. "A little
bit."
Jason Garrett threw two TD passes for Dallas, which rested most of its
regulars after the first quarter. Troy Aikman finished 9-for-11 for 85
yards in limited action.
"I thought Jason executed the offense very well," Dallas coach Chan
Gailey said.
But whether they had won or lost, the night belonged to Cleveland and
the Browns, whose first win also came in Chris Palmer's debut as an NFL
head coach.
"It was emotional," Palmer said. "This is for the fans of Cleveland.
They've suffered for three years."
Browns fans hadn't been able to cheer their beloved team since Dec.
17, 1995, the final game at Cleveland Stadium after former owner Art Modell
announced he was moving his team to Baltimore.
But once Modell left and the shock wore off, Cleveland fought back and
convinced the NFL to bring a team back in 1999. The league also agreed
to keep the new team's nickname, colors and history the same.
Pecos Enterprise
York M. "Smokey" Briggs, Publisher
Division of Buckner News Alliance, Inc.
324 S. Cedar St., Pecos, TX 79772
Phone 915-445-5475, FAX 915-445-4321
e-mail news@pecos.net
Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium.
Copyright 1999 by Pecos Enterprise
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