Sports
Cowboys get credible win over Falcons
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — How about this for some credibility — the Dallas Cowboys finally beat a team with a winning record and emerging star Miles Austin proved that a record-setting performance in his first career start was no fluke.
Owner Jerry Jones knew his team needed to beat somebody like the Atlanta Falcons, some sense of validation for the Cowboys after getting their first three wins over teams with a combined 3-17 record and going down to the wire in losses against two division leaders.
“I really think this is something that our team will take as a stepping stone to being the team we all want to be a part of,” Jones said Sunday after a 37-21 victory over the Falcons (4-2).
“The reality of it is, we believe in ourselves,” quarterback Tony Romo said. “We think this team has a chance to get better and grow as the season goes along.”
Still, it had been two weeks since the Cowboys (4-2) needed overtime to win at then-winless Kansas City in their last game. That was a lot of time for people to wonder if they were a good team for rallying to win or a bad one for even getting in that situation.
Plus, Dallas had alternated wins and losses — the wins over bad teams sandwiching losses to the NFC East-leading Giants and still-undefeated Denver Broncos, who both rallied late to beat the Cowboys.
“It’s a huge win for us, just to put to rest a lot of the questions about our team,” said linebacker Keith Brooking, a former Falcon. “This was a total team effort, really a dominating performance. Atlanta, they pride themselves on being physical. ... We took it to them. We bloodied their noses and then we stepped on them and kicked them on the ground.”
Austin, an undrafted player from tiny Monmouth College in his fourth season, filled in for injured receiver Roy Williams against the Chiefs with 10 catches for a franchise-record 250 yards and two long TDs, a 59-yarder with 2:16 left in regulation and then the 60-yard game-winner in OT.
Even with Williams back, Austin was the only wideout on the field when the Cowboys opened against Atlanta with two tight ends. Austin went on to catch six passes for 171 yards and two more long TDs.
“Once you do it, then it’s OK and you believe him to do whatever,” said Romo, once the young backup who came out of nowhere to start making big plays.
“I feel confident,” Austin said. “I’ve always felt pretty confident.”
Atlanta drove 80 yards in 16 plays on its opening drive, but Matt Ryan’s day wouldn’t be that easy.
“After that, the Cowboys dominated the rest of the game,” coach Mike Smith said.
Ryan had been sacked only twice so far, both in the season opener. But the Dallas defense got to him on consecutive downs later in the first quarter and pestered him into four sacks, two interceptions and two fumbles. He only lost one, and on the next snap Romo hit Austin with a 59-yard TD pass that put the Cowboys ahead to stay.
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Poolville Hall of Honor induction ceremony scheduled for Saturday
The 2010 Poolville Athletic Hall of Honor class will be inducted on Saturday. Three outstanding athletes and two honor teams will make up the 2010 inductees.
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Sports briefs - March 19, 2010
Coyotes split DH with Cisco nine
Staff Report
Weatherford College continued its early conference -season trend of splitting contests Wednesday, dropping the first game of a double header played at Cisco, but bouncing back in a pitcher's duel to take the nightcap, 2-1.
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Lady Roos blow past Abilene in district premier
It was the delayed kickoff to the 2010 District 3-5A season, and the Weatherford Lady Roos were ready to go. Playing a day later because of wet field conditions, the Lady Roos pulled no punches, handily winning Wednesday night, 9-0, at Shirley Hall Middle Field.
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Weatherford falls to Lady Elks on Senior Night
With a playoff spot sewn us, as well as Senior Night and Spring Break week, the Weatherford Lady Roos had plenty of distractions floating around. Though the effort was there, the Lady Roos came up short against Burleson Tuesday night, 1-0, in Weatherford’s last home game.
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Peaster grad, SAGU headed to NAIA basketball tourney
Little did Southwestern Assemblies of God basketball player Gabby Bruner know two years ago when signing her letter-of-intent to play for the Lady Lions, she might be thrust on the center stage of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ Championship Tournament. But it is indeed a reality, as the SAGU ladies prepare to play in the first round of the tourney on Wednesday, in Jackson, Tenn.
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Woods will return to golf at Masters
PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — For Tiger Woods, this figures to be a Masters like no other.
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Roos baseball, softball rescheduled
Due to Tuesday's local weather, Weatherford High School baseball and softball games have been rescheduled.
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Coyotes split double header, blemish McClennan's record
With McLennan's first pitch to Weatherford College leadoff hitter Bryson Myles Sunday, it appeared the Coyotes' bats were already as warm as the weather at Roger Williams Ballpark.
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Roos lose in shootout to North Crowley, still gain playoff berth
Losing in a shoot out was not something the Weatherford Kangaroos has planned on Friday night, falling to North Crowley, 1-0. However, the sting of the loss was countered by the knowledge that the Roos will still retain a spot in the playoffs in District 3-5A.
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Davis inks soccer plans for Drury University
ALEDO — North Texas Area soccer stand-out and Aledo High school senior Thomas Davis has signed a letter of intent to play NCAA soccer with the Drury University Panthers in Springfield, Missouri.
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Poolville Hall of Honor induction ceremony scheduled for Saturday
