Two Hornets suffer season-ending injuries
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

Nick Barrera

The Louise Hornets are preparing to host Boling Friday, but two key members will not join them.

Quarterback Nick Barrera and running back C.J. Clements exited Louise's game against Ganado Friday with knee injuries. Both players received MRIs and Head Coach Rodney Dowell found out Monday that the season will have to continue without them.

Both Clements and Barrera have tears of the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. The two will be unable to play for the rest of their senior year.

"If there are any two kids who work harder...," Dowell said. "They were both up here in the off-season lifting. Those two kids are hard workers. It's heartbreaking. It's one game and two gone."

Both are expected to undergo surgery this week. With a long recovery time, Barrera will miss the entire basketball season and Clements the powerlifting season as well.

At the end of the game, doctors had examined the two Hornets and Barrera's injury was expected, but Dowell only thought Clements would be out a couple of weeks with a meniscus tear.

C.J. Clements

Chris Hicks, who is recovering from a sprained ankle, Kyle Lawson and Antwon Parson and are expected to share Lawson's rushing load this season.

Cory Hajovsky will fill in at quarterback.

Barrera and Hajovsky had a tough competition for the quarterback spot, leaving Dowell to feel confident about his team's future.

"Cory is so ready for this challenge, it's ridiculous," Dowell said. "He has a great relationship with Nick and he loves Nick to death. He hates that he has to get it the way he's getting it, but he also knows that Nick wants to win."

Dowell said he knows Barrera and Clements will remain leaders and motivators for the Hornets even off of the football field.

"The one thing that Nick Barrera and C.J. Clements are all about is winning," Dowell said. "If our kids care anything about them, they'll play way above what they can play and step it up in places they have the opportunity to step up in.

"One of those places is Cory is going to step up. He's not just for himself or for the team, but he's going to do it for Nick Barrera because Nick wants it done that way."

Although both Barrera and Clements are key players for Louise, Dowell said he still expects his team to pursue the playoffs in spite of the injuries.

"It's going to be a motivational factor for us," he said. "It will be something that in the end is positive. If you look at Shiner, they had a rash of injuries last year and went three rounds deep in the playoffs. We aren't going to hand our heads, we're going to work harder and get better. In the end, we're going to be a better football team because of it."

Clements finished his season with 12 carries for 126 yards with a 10.5-yard average.

Barrera completed 8 of 18 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown.