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Memorial graduate works way back into Rice's starting lineup

Garley had 4 tackles in loss to UCF

Memorial graduate Willie Garley (32) comes up to make a stop against Navy earlier this season. Garley recorded two tackles in the loss.
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  • BY WES BLOOMQUIST - WBLOOMQUIST@VICAD.COM
  • Originally published October 28, 2009 at 11:27 p.m., updated October 28, 2009 at 11:35 p.m.

An injury and no wins through the first eight games of the season isn't how Willie Garley envisioned his junior season going.

The Rice defensive back suffered a strained ACL in his right knee in a game against Texas Tech and missed three games. His team is coming off a 10-win season but is being outscored 364-119 this year. Garley and Rice are in an open week before playing at SMU next Saturday and are using this time to regroup.

"It has been a little rough this year," said Garley, whose team is 0-8 after suffering a 49-7 loss to the University of Central Florida on Saturday. "I don't feel that we have finished all of our games the way we need to in order to win. All we can control is our attitude. We have to get back to being aggressive like we played last year.

"It's tough right now but we're getting better. We've lost a lot because of graduation and injuries, but we're making the most of every thing."

A Memorial graduate, Garley started 10 games last year for the Owls who went 10-3 and won the Texas Bowl. This year, he has 14 tackles in five games played.

"I'm able to see things and react a lot quicker this year because of my experience," Garley said. "Just knowing what to expect and feeling comfortable at this level."

A sports medicine major, Garley plans on going to physical therapy school after graduating from Rice. In his college career, Garley has recorded 33 tackles in 28 games played. This season, it's been the ones he didn't get to play in that have had the biggest impact on him.

Garley was unable to travel with his team to Oklahoma State this year and said being sidelined with his injury was tough to take.

"I just wanted to be out there playing and helping my team," he said. "It was real hard not playing. They were all out there sweating and bleeding trying to win and all I could do was stand on the sidelines and clap my hands."

Kier Wells (St. Joseph) recorded his first collegiate sack and added two tackles to help Texas A&M-Kingsville to a 38-31 Lone Star Conference win over Eastern New Mexico on Saturday. Aaron Buckley (Palacios) added three tackles for the Javelinas who move to 8-1 overall and to 3-1 in conference play. Texas A&M-Kingsville plays at 2 p.m. Saturday at Abilene Christian.

D.J. Yendrey (Edna) had two tackles and a sack in TCU's 38-7 win over BYU on Saturday. Yendrey, a true freshman, sacked BYU's Max Hall for a 13-yard loss as the Horned Frogs moved to 7-0 overall and 3-0 in Mountain West Conference action. TCU is ranked No. 7 after the win.

Tre Gray (Cuero) had one kickoff return for 19 yards in Richmond's 34-12 win over the University of Massachusetts. The Spiders are now 7-0 and ranked No. 1.

Rocky Vaclivik (Edna) contributed four tackles and recovered a fumble in Mary Hardin-Baylor's 21-0 win over Southern Oregon on Saturday. Kyle Noack (Cuero) threw one pass in the Cru's win.

Texas State claimed a 20-17 win with two area receivers combining for 13 receptions. Da'Marcus Griggs (Bay City) led the Bobcats with 11 catches and 129 yards while Corey Scott (Cuero) secured two passes for nine yards. Texas State is 4-3 overall and 2-1 in Southland Conference play coming into a 2 p.m. kickoff on Saturday in San Marcos.

Anthony Smith (Bay City) ran for 63 yards but Texas Lutheran remained winless this season, dropping a 36-23 game against McMurry.

Lauren Alkek (Memorial) played 83 minutes and had a shot in the Oklahoma Sooners' 3-0 loss to Oklahoma State last Friday. Oklahoma is 7-10-1 after the game.

Kourtnie Espinoza (Bay City) had a shot on goal in Concordia's 2-1 win over Huston-Tillotson and another shot in a 2-1 loss to the University of Texas at Tyler last week.

Haley Phillips (Calhoun) had eight digs in a three-game loss Concordia to Texas Lutheran. Nicole Cowan (Yoakum) had three kills and three blocks for Mary Hardin-Baylor in a four-game loss.


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