Older Crawley moves on, sweeps Super Series 3
2015 world champ is first with three victories this year
Sterling Crawley’s already out.
The standout saddle bronc rider from Stephenville was eliminated from Rodeo-Houston in Super Series II.
Now it’s up to his brother to keep a Crawley in the saddle bronc contestants list.
“I hated to see that happen, so I need to make sure I do my best and one of us keeps moving on,” Jacobs Crawley said.
That’s a tall order here — but older brother is up to the task.
Jacobs Crawley, 28, won a PRCA world championship in 2015, a reserve title last year, and he’s off to a blazing start this week in Houston, winning Super Series III on Wednesday at NRG Stadium.
“When you get a little bit of momentum, you keep riding it, and then it seems like the good horses have great days and things start stacking up,” said Jacobs, the first competitor to win three rounds this year.
Building momentum
Jacobs is riding a mountain of momentum these days.
It started building in 2011, after he graduated from Texas A&M, then multiplied in 2015 at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas — only a few months after he married his wife, Lauren, and moved to Boerne.
He snagged his second NFR average title and first gold buckle, racking up $276,247.
“This is something I’ve really worked on the last few years, after getting out of college and setting rodeo as a full-time career,” Jacobs said. “So to accomplish that after being there four or five years was huge.
“Some guys go their whole career as great rodeo cowboys, but that’s a milestone that, for whatever reason, they don’t reach.”
Some guys burst onto the rodeo scene.
Bull rider Sage Kimzey, 22, is a three-time reigning world champ and two-time reigning Houston champ after turning pro in 2013.
He advanced in fourth behind series winner Brennon Eldred ($7,500).
But most cowboys need time to acclimate to the competition and the lifestyle, especially in saddle bronc riding, which is a more technical event that demands consistency and a sure-handed approach.
‘On the right track’
Jacobs’ excellence was on display in Houston.
He won Monday with an 85, Tuesday with an 89, then turned in the first 91 en route to a $9,000 series sweep.
“I didn’t force anything,” Jacobs said. “The horses bucked and I did my job, didn’t overemphasize anything … and just let it happen.”
Now he’s thinking about adding Houston to his long list of rodeo wins.
Jacobs and Sterling made the semifinals five years ago, and Jacobs went on to the 10-man final that year, but he’s never won RodeoHouston — or made it to the four-man Shootout for the $50,000 prize.
“If there’s ever been a year I’ve been able to put myself in that position, this feels like the year, from how the riding has felt the last couple months,” Jacobs said. “And to come in here and see the same results the first (three) rounds, it’s like, ‘Hey.’
“So I’m on the right track, and I need to keep it rolling for the next few head.”
Will Lowe is on track in bareback.
The 2003 Houston champion won two rounds and the series, advancing to next week’s semis with $5,500.