STAFF REPORT

BUDA – The new University Interscholastic League realignment, which placed Hays into the six-school District 17-3A in football, has resulted in a whopper of a football game this year for the Rebels.

The Rebels will play Rosenberg Lamar, the defending state champions in Class 4A Division I, on Sept. 26 at Bob Shelton Stadium. The Rebels will return the game at Lamar in 2009.

Lamar won the state title last December with a 20-14 win against Copperas Cove. Fortunately for the Rebels, they won’t be dealing with running back Jacquizz Rogers, who carried for 240 yards and three touchdowns in the championship game. Rogers has signed to play college ball this fall at Oregon State.

The Hays-Lamar game came about because both schools wound up in small districts for the next two years. Lamar is in a five-team District 23-4A.

Most districts have seven or eight schools, meaning they’re into the district schedule by the fourth or fifth week of the season. The schools in smaller districts are left scrambling for games with few available opponents.

“We were looking for a game, and we were looking for a game,” Hays Coach Bob Shelton said.

The Hays football schedule will open Aug. 29 at Bastrop. The Rebels will play their home opener the following Friday, Sept. 5, against Anderson. The Rebels will play Sept. 12 at Bowie, return home to play MacCallum on Sept. 19, then play Lamar before taking a bye week to prepare for the district schedule.

The Rebels will start the district season on Oct. 10 at Elgin, then play their first district home game on Oct. 17 against Lockhart. The Rebels go to Manor on Oct. 24, play at home against Del Valle on Oct. 31, then close out the regular season on Nov. 7 against Lehman at Bob Shelton Stadium. That finale will count as a home game for Lehman.

RELATED IN THE MERCURY:

• Hays, Lehman take week off from football | October 3, 2008
• Rebels first team holds up in first scrimmage | August 16, 2008
• Rebels begin hunt for district football title | October 9, 2008
• Rebels, Lamar to meet in likely football playoff preview | September 25, 2008
• Rebels take measure in loss to defending state champs | September 27, 2008