Brownwood tops Graham, but Shipley-McCoy friendship remains strong

By GARY WEST

gwest@star-telegram.com

BROWNWOOD — Friends for 25 years, teammates and roommates, they suddenly found themselves on opposite sides of the field Friday night. Their families had shared many campfires and just as many victories. But here at Gordon Wood Stadium, teeming in Brownwood maroon, they were divided, set in headlong opposition.

The Shipley-McCoy friendship became a rivalry Friday, when Brownwood defeated visiting Graham 28-27 in a crucial Class 3A game.

Brad McCoy is the coach of Graham; Bob Shipley the coach of Brownwood. They were teammates and roommates when they played at Abilene Christian. And their sons, Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley, are teammates and roommates at Texas. But they were all rivals Friday.

Theirs, though, could be a model for what sports rivalries should be. Yes, Friday’s game was intense, and the lifelong friendships and relationships only added to the pressure and the significance of it.

Ultimately, though, the Shipley-McCoy rivalry may be like the blizzard in a snow globe. Shake it all you want, stir up the snow, but in the end everything’s going to settle down and return to normal.

The blizzard began with the coin toss, when Jaxon Shipley, as one of the Brownwood captains, and Case McCoy, as one of the Graham captains, met at midfield. They’re already planning to go to Texas, planning, too, to be teammates and roommates, just like their older brothers, but Friday night they confronted each other as rivals.

Early in the week, regarding the Brownwood-Graham game, Colt McCoy said the friends "may trash-talk a little bit, but it’s all in fun."

And Jordan Shipley explained that the families are "so close" that he wished only the best for the McCoys. Referring to his Longhorns teammate and to the younger brothers, Shipley said, "We don’t want to see either of them have to lose."

Bob Shipley explained that he had seen competition put extreme stress on some friendships, some relationships. But that, he said, couldn’t happen to the Shipleys and the McCoys. They all go hunting and fishing together, on vacations together; they’re as close as families can be.

Still, there was quite a blizzard.

The first half belonged to the Shipleys. Jaxon Shipley, who plays wide receiver and defensive back for the Lions, caught a 34-yard pass that set up a touchdown, leaping high to outreach two defenders. And then he caught a 26-yard pass from Vance McShan for a score.

Graham, meanwhile, had more frustration than success. Twice the Steers failed on fourth-and-short yardage near the goal. Case McCoy, the Graham quarterback, saw many of his passes slip through the hands of his receivers and fall harmlessly to the ground, including one in the end zone.

Brownwood led 14-0 at halftime, but the third quarter belonged to the McCoys. Case McCoy threw an 82-yard touchdown pass and then, a moment later, a 6-yard pass for another score, both to Dylan Fulford.

Yes, this blizzard was intense. Shipley caught a 61-yard touchdown pass for a score. He finished with eight receptions for 240 yards.

McCoy threw 40 yards for a touchdown. And as time was running out, he threw 17 yards for another touchdown, his fourth of the night, to go with more than 370 yards passing.

But the extra point was blocked, there was a maroon eruption, and Brownwood won, pushing its record to 6-2. Graham lost for the first time in eight games. And a moment later, the coaches, having rushed onto the field, embraced each other, each with a hearty pat on the other’s back.

"It’s a shame somebody had to lose," Bob Shipley said, but in the end, after the blizzard, everything returned to normal. And today in Missouri, sometime before the Texas game, Brad McCoy and Shipley will sit down together and possibly share a pot of coffee. They might even talk a little football, Shipley said.

Gary West, 817-390-7760

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