Austin, TX

Gambler Days Friday: Austin defeated in close match; rider lands on head in scary fall

Published

1 year ago

August 24, 2024

Gambler Days Friday: Austin defeated in close match; rider lands on head in scary fall

Alex Lowe
| Special to Austin American-Statesman

The New York Mavericks rode Friday night into Moody Center and stunned the host Austin Gamblers, scoring a 173-88.5 victory on the opening night of Gambler Days weekend. Also, rider had to be taken away on a stretcher after a scary fall.

Mavericks anchor Mauricio Gulla Moreira took the mount on the team’s final ride needing a score to keep his team in the hunt. Moreira did just that, lasting for the full 8 seconds aboard Triple Aught, good for 86.25 points, leaving it to Gamblers ace Jose Vitor Leme to try and save the game for the home team.

Needing a score of 84.75 for the win, the defending two-time league MVP came up short, lasting just 4.29 seconds aboard Haymaker. Leme’s quick exit left the crowd in a hushed silence as the suddenly hot Mavericks improved to 5-7 on the season, after an 0-4 start. The Gamblers lost for the third time in four outings and now stand at 6-6.

The game closed out four exciting matchups on the evening and pitted the host and two-time regular season champion Gamblers against an upstart first-year expansion team. Hudson Bolton, 18, led off for the visitors and turned in a qualified ride aboard Barracuda that gave the Mavericks 86.75 points right out of the chute.

“To kick it off for my team with a leadoff score was a pretty good feeling,” said Bolton, the overall third pick in the 2024 PBR draft. “It doesn’t get much better than that, coming in here as the underdog and getting booed and being able to contribute to the win in this atmosphere. It is a lot of fun.”

Dalton Kasel (from Muleshoe) answered for the Gamblers with a qualified ride aboard Ridin Salty, good for 88.5 points, which gave Austin the lead. But the bulls took charge from there.

Maverick riders Leonardo Castro, Davi Henrique de Lima and Braidy Randolph (from Stephenville) all failed to cover their bulls in the two through four spots.

The Gamblers had chances to pull away, but Kaique “Iceman” Pacheco was bucked from Constant Payne in 4.57 seconds. Rockdale’s Ezekiel Mitchell was in trouble from the start aboard Mama’s Boy as the bull’s initial kick pushed him off center and he ended up in the dirt after 3.34 seconds.

Ramon de Lima still could have salted away the win for Austin but came up just short of a qualified ride, lasting just 7.80 seconds aboard Locomotive, setting the scene for the eventful showdown between rookie and superstar in the final ride.

Texas Ratter rider Brady Oleson was hurt in a frightening scene Friday. He was tossed from Fast Flow and landed on his head and Oleson tried to rise, he fell back to the ground. Oleson was taken from the arena via stretcher. There were no immediate updates available on his condition. The Outlaws improved to 8-4 while the still struggling Rattlers dropped to 4-8.

In the first game of the night, the Florida Freedom defeated 2022 league champion Nashville Stampede 177-86.5. Florida got scoring rides from Alex Cerqueira (89.75) aboard The Kraken and Elizmar Jeremias (87.25) aboard Black Gold.

Veteran Silvano Alves rescued the Stampede from being shut out with a qualified ride aboard Coco (86.5). The win raised Florida’s record to 5-7. Nashville fell to 7-6 . Florida phenom John Crimber, (Decatur) the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft was jettisoned by Bangarang in 3.11 seconds.

A thrilling second game went to the Oklahoma Wildcatters in a 180-178.25 come-from-behind win over the Arizona Ridge Riders. No. 4 rider Josh Frost turned in what proved to be the winning ride when he bested Gaucho for 87.5 points. Oklahoma improved to 5-6-1 on the season. With the loss, Arizona fell to 4-8.

Cassio Dias came through for the Kansas City Outlaws in the third match with a 90-point ride to defeat the Texas Rattlers 178.5-174.5. Dias took to his bull, Boujee Boy, needing 86.25 points to overtake the Rattlers. Dias turned in a masterful performance and was in complete control.

Still, the Outlaws had to see if Texas Rattler closer João Ricardo Vieira could produce a qualified ride that would have given the defending champs the win. Vieira was no match for his bull, Stryker, getting bucked off in just 2.32 seconds.

The opening night of Gambler Days weekend featured a pregame concert by musical artist Shaboozey. The Gamblers face defending league champ and current cellar dweller, Texas Rattlers on Saturday second night of Gambler Days weekend. The match will be important for the in state rivals as each looks to right their seasons.

Texas has struggled throughout the schedule while the Gamblers are looking for consistent scoring in the middle of their lineup.

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Austin, TX

Austin Wildlife Rescue to relocate intake center to East Austin

Published

2 hours ago

November 25, 2025

Press Room

Austin Wildlife Rescue to relocate intake center to East Austin

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin Wildlife Rescue is set to move its intake center to a new location in East Central Austin starting Dec. 1.

The new center will be located at 811 E. 13th St. and will maintain its current hours of 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.

The new site aims to provide easier access for the community to bring in injured and orphaned wildlife.

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Upon arrival, animals undergo a thorough assessment, which may include medications, wound care, or X-rays to develop a treatment plan.

Animals do not stay at the intake center overnight; they are transported to the Elgin Rehab Center each evening.

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The 7,200-square-foot facility in Elgin features indoor and outdoor enclosures and a surgery suite, where young wildlife grow into healthy adults and injured animals recover before being released back into the wild.

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Austin, TX

Central Texas Food Bank, Austin Pets Alive! team up for Thanksgiving food drive

Published

20 hours ago

November 24, 2025

Press Room

Central Texas Food Bank, Austin Pets Alive! team up for Thanksgiving food drive

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) and Austin Pets Alive! are teaming up once again for a drive-up food distribution ahead of Thanksgiving.

On Monday, crews will operate out of a mobile pantry site located at the Delco Activity Center in Austin to distribute turkeys, fresh produce and other essential grocery items.

“Hunger doesn’t take a holiday and neither do we,” Sari Vatske, President and CEO of the Central Texas Food Bank, said in a release. “Every turkey distributed represents the belief that no table should remain empty during the holidays.”

The CTFB expects to serve around 750 households. Drivers can pull in, load up and head out — no questions asked.

Vatske said before the government shutdown in October, food insecurity was already on the rise in Central Texas. She said the numbers have hit a 10-year high, including during the pandemic.

“People were dipping into their savings. They were maxing out credit cards,” Vatske explained. “We are now serving over 610,000 food insecure individuals throughout 21 counties, and we’ve seen those numbers double over the past month or so as people recover from the shutdown and prepare for the holiday season.”

As of early Monday morning, drivers were already lining up outside of the Delco Center hours ahead of the distribution.

“It’s a help. A blessing for everyone for food to be given and not have to be bought. Prices are so high and some families can’t afford the things that they need,” Patricia Barnett, one of the first people to arrive at the distribution, said.

Austin Pets Alive! also plans to give out pet food to those in need.

The distribution is Monday, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the Delco Activity Center located at 4601 Pecan Brook Drive.

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Austin, TX

Texas football: How the No. 17 Longhorns graded in win over Arkansas

Published

2 days ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

Texas football: How the No. 17 Longhorns graded in win over Arkansas

With its small hopes of a College Football Playoff on the line, Texas football secured a needed win Saturday by racing away from Arkansas 52-37 behind a record-setting game from quarterback Arch Manning.

The Longhorns (8-3, 5-2) scored their most points ever in a SEC game, and they needed almost all of them against the explosive attack of Arkansas (2-9, 0-7). The Razorbacks tallied 512 yards of offense, the most a Texas team has allowed since Washington had 537 yards in a 37-31 win in their 2023 CFP semifinal.

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GOLDEN: Texas football did its part but CFP chances are dim with Aggies waiting

Manning threw for a career-high 389 yards to power Texas to the win and set up a Friday showdown against blood rival and unbeaten Texas A&M, the third-ranked team in the nation.

Here’s how the Longhorns graded out in the 52-37 win over Arkansas:

Texas Longhorns defensive back Jelani McDonald (4) yells in celebration after making an interception in the third quarter of the Longhorns’ game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 22, 2025.

Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Quarterback: A

Manning offered some self-criticism after the game, but it’s hard to find much fault in his career day. He threw four touchdowns, ran for another and even caught a touchdown pass from wide receiver Parker Livingstone on a trick play to become the first Texas player to ever run, catch and throw for a score in a single game. The lone critique: He went 18 of 30 and missed a couple of throws.

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MORE: Texas vs Arkansas: Longhorns blast Hogs 52-37 to set up SEC finale against Texas A&M

Running back: C-

The combination of Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter continues to carry the load, and it continues to plod along. They combined for 91 yards on 22 carries and didn’t catch a single pass. Baxter runs hard, but it looks like he may need another offseason to regain his explosiveness after undergoing knee surgery in August 2024.

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Receivers: A

This unit continues to spread the wealth. DeAndre Moore Jr. stepped into the starring role with a career-high three touchdowns on three catches, and Ryan Wingo continued to be the most productive receiver on the squad with six catches. Tight end Jack Endries also got into the act with two catches for 49 yards. Best of all, no drops for a group that has shown some butter fingers.

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Texas Longhorns wide receiver Deandre Moore Jr. (0) celebrates in the end zone after a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas Razorbacks in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.

Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman

Offensive line: A-

The Longhorns started the same quintet of left tackle Travor Goosby, left guard Cole Hutson, center Connor Roberston, right guard DJ Williams and right tackle Brandon Baker for the third straight game. That continuity is paying off, especially in pass protection. Manning didn’t suffer a single sack and only absorbed three hits with arguably his best protection of the season.

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Defensive line: B-

Texas’ defensive line had its hands full, especially early before Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green and running back Mike Washington Jr. left the game with injuries. Edge rushers Colin Simmons (5 tackles, 1 sack, 1½ tackles for loss) and Ethan Burke (6 tackles) had big games, but the interior had trouble with the big Hogs.

Linebackers: C+

All-American middle linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. missed the game with a hand injury, and it showed. Edge backer Trey Moore played much of the game out of position inside and Ty’Anthony Smith was ejected for a targeting call that will cause him to miss the first half of the game against Texas A&M. Liona Leafu’s scoop-and-score touchdown off a strip sack by Simmons was the unit’s only highlight, even if the ball did end up in Bevo’s pen.

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Secondary: D+

Arkansas threw for 324 yards on 26-of-49 passing even though backup QB KJ Jackson played almost half the game. The Longhorns did get an interception from Derek Williams Jr. on an ill-advised shovel pass by Green, but missed tackles and blown coverages remain a concern. One side note: Freshman Kade Phillips seems to have taken over the starting cornerback spot from Jaylon Guilbeau opposite Malik Muhammad.

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Special teams: B

Moore had a strange punt return in which he fielded the ball in the end zone and barely made it to the 5-yard line. Punter Jack Boumeester dropped two of his three kicks inside the Hogs’ 20-yard line, Mason Shipley made a 44-yard field goal just before the half, and Texas avoided the miscues that have plagued them in several games.

Coaching: B+

Steve Sarkisian is cooking as a play-caller and as a quarterbacks coach, considering Manning’s development over the past month. He also shows that his team usually rebounds in tough weeks; Sarkisian’s teams are 10-0 after a loss since 2022. But defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s group couldn’t handle the Hogs, even with their backup quarterback.

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