2018 High School Football

2018 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

GUARDIANS OF THEGOAL LINE Franklin’s Jared Pedraza, from left, College Station’s Brandon Joseph, A&M Consolidated’s Josh Ellison and Lexington’s Aaron Allert are among the Brazos Valley’s best defenders heading into the 2018 season.

Eagle photo

by Dave McDermand

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

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High School Football 2018

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High School Football 2018

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

INDEX

UIL District 14-6A Bryan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 District 8-5A Division I College Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 District 10-5A Division II A&M Consolidated . . . . . . . . 10 Rudder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 District 13-5A Division II Brenham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 District 12-4A Division I Navasota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 District 8-4A Division II Madisonville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 District 12-4A Division II Caldwell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 District 10-3A Division I Cameron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Rockdale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 District 11-3A Division I Franklin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 District 8-3A Division II Lexington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 District 12-3A Division II Anderson-Shiro . . . . . . . . . . . 26 District 9-2A Division I Centerville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Leon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Normangee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 District 13-2A Division I Hearne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Milano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 District 13-2A Division II Bremond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Iola . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 District 14-2A Division II Burton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Snook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Somerville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 District 14-A Division II (6-man) Calvert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 TAPPS Division IV District 4 Brazos Christian . . . . . . . . . . . 43 6-man Division II District 3 Allen Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 St . Joseph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 TAIAO 6-man BVCHEA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Et cetera Media Day Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Brazos Valley’s new coaches . . 29

Defending champs lead way into 2018

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

There’s plenty of buzz in the air as local high school football teams prepare to take the field and the Friday night lights flicker to life.

College Station and Rockdale are returning to action after bringing home state titles last year.

The Cougars, who edged Aledo 20-19 in the Class 5A Division II championship game for the school’s first state title in football, have a tight-knit senior class and return several playmakers on defense, including starting defensive backs Brandon Joseph, Ryan Stapp and Jordon Bellows as well as linebacker Garrett Draper. Offensively, Brandon Williams looks to take over at quarterback, and Logan Flasowski is one of a bunch of linemen taking over a leadership role.

Rockdale, which rallied to beat Brock 45-29 in the 3A Division I title game for its first championship since 1976, returns PERRY linemen Cayden McBride and Josh Davenport, linebackers Jackson Perry and Nathan Newlin, NEWLIN defensive back Will Storey and receiver Quintin Hughes.

Both teams are highly touted, but they aren’t the

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie College Station head football coach Steve Huff holds up the trophy after winning the Class 5A Division II state championship over Aledo only teams in the Brazos Valley with high hopes after strong seasons that continued into December.

Burton reached the 2A Division II semifinals and returns a potent offense featuring TCU pledge Dee Winters at wide receiver, quarterback Caleb Harmel and all-state lineman Cade Weiss, all of whom made the preseason AllBrazos Valley team.

Lexington, which reached the 3A Division II quarterfinals, looks to be a contender and returns 3,000-yard rusher Ja’Kobe Cooper and all-state linebacker Aaron Allert.

Iola, Milano and Franklin reached the regional round of the playoffs last season and appear ready for more along with Hearne, which won

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its first outright district championship since 1983 and reached area in 3A last season and now moves down into 2A. In 5A, A&M Consolidated returns much of its young core from 2017, including Texas A&M pledge Josh Ellison.

Rudder failed to reach the playoffs again last season but showed promising signs with its first victory over school-district rival Bryan. The Rangers look to use the momentum from that late-season win to continue building their program under secondyear head coach Greg Morgan. The Vikings, meanwhile, return several veterans, and head coach Ross Rogers is confident in his team as it moves up to 6A.

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preseason all-brazos valley OFFENSE

QB — Caleb Harmel, Burton, sr.

RB — Ja’Kobe Cooper,Lexington,sr.; Grant Hancock,BVCHEA,jr.

WR — Javareyon Bailey, Hearne, sr.; Brian Darby, A&M Consolidated, jr.; Devin Price, Consol, jr.

TE — Tyquez Tindle, Hearne, jr.

OL — Cade Hawley, Lexington, sr.; Victor Killebrew, Hearne, sr.; Jordan Jefferson, Navasota, sr.; Reid Francis, Consol, sr.; Cade Weiss, Burton, jr.

UTILITY — Dee Winters, Burton, sr.

DEFENSE

DL — Josh Ellison, Consol, sr.; Sam Dawson, Allen Academy, sr.; Truce Tumlinson, College Station, sr.; Cayden McBride, Rockdale, sr.

LB — Will Fannin, Franklin, sr.; Aaron Allert, Lexington, jr.; Garrett Fowler, Brazos Christian, sr.; Nico Vargas, Cameron, jr.

DB — Jared Pedraza, Franklin, sr.; Brandon Joseph, College Station, sr.; Nate Floyd, Consol, jr.; Xavier Johnson, Bryan, jr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

K — Alan Guerrieri, College Station, sr.

P — Chalon Pratt, Anderson-Shiro, jr.

High School Football 2018

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BRYAN VIKINGS

Ready for the climb

With solid defense and speed on offense, Bryan will jump into fray in Class 6A

By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

Bryan head football coach Ross Rogers knew a step up to Class 6A was in his team’s future long before the UIL announced the biennial realignment in February. Which direction the former 5A team would head was the bigger question.

Rogers likes where the Vikings fell, helping make up a nine-team District 146A, which includes powers Langham Creek and Cypress Ranch.

“On paper it’s the best scenario,” Rogers Said.

“You’ve got two schools that have never played a varsity game and don’t have seniors and one [school] with two years of experience but is young, haven’t had a lot of success, and Tomball Memorial is really good offensively, but they’ve been varsity with five or six wins with mediocre success. Compare that to going to The Woodlands with that group of Kleins, which that is salty, or deal with the Killeens, Copperas Cove, Temples and all them, and you don’t want any of that.”

So despite missing the playoffs last season and having to jump a class, Bryan has a chance for success in its first venture into 6A football.

And there’s more than the schedule for optimism in 2018.

Bryan played a lot of underclassmen last season — partially out of necessity — so it has more experience

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this season to go with a solid defense and enough speed on offense to strike quickly.

“Probably since 2014 when George Ranch beat us [in the 5A Division I regionals], this is probably our best [defensive] group overall, more speed at linebacker, better kids, secondary has good, talented kids,” Rogers said.

“We need to be ahead on defense because we need to get a lot of possessions.

We need them to get off the field, and then we need to try and figure out how to score.”

It starts up front where the Vikings played a twoman defensive line most of the time last season. This year, Rogers says he can go two deep with a three-man line. Ja’Various Sullivan, Dylan Carroll, who Rogers commended for his huge improvement, and Alex Young, last year’s starting fullback, opened the final scrimmage as the starters.

Ethan Wicht, Trehbyen Nobles and Titus Mitchell, who Rogers said could be the best of them all, will get in plenty of snaps.

The linebacker corps i s l e d by s e n i o r De’Terious Bryant, while second-team all-district cornerback Xavier Johnson and safety BRYANT Jo n at h a n Sparkman lead the secondary. Rogers said Johnson is among the best he’s

High School Football 2018

coached at corner and considers Sparkman, who runs the fastest 40-yard dash on the team, one of Bryan’s most improved players.

“A lot of times [Johnson] is on his own, and he likes it that way,” Rogers said.

“He plays with such tenacity. He eats it up.”

The secondary has depth because of a wide receiving corps full of players capable of flipping over to defense when needed. And the Vikings now have sophomore safeties Kenny Collins and Darius Peterson, who already have gained Rogers’ trust.

“They will fill the holes we had in the secondary,” Rogers said. “Peterson is a fast, quick athlete, smart kid,and KennyCollinsisthe same way and a little taller.

Peterson can be like Xavier wasforuslastyear.Goingin across the board it’s the best [secondary] we’ve had, best we’ve felt about it since I’ve been here. In the past we’ve always had to cover up one guy.”

With spread offenses making it nearly impossible for defenses to dominate, Rogers said defense alone won’t help Bryan grab one of what he believes will be two playoff spots left over after Langham Creek and Cy-Ranch claim two. Bryan will need to score points, and junior quarterback Kerry Brooks is poised to run an improved offensive unit after accounting for more than 1,600 yards and 10 touchdowns while earning second-team All-District

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ROSTER 2 RB Jalen Davis, 5-5. 145, sr.; 3 WR Jeremiah Manley, 5-9, 175, sr.; 4 DB Kenny Collins, 6-0, 165, soph.; 5 DB Elyja Harper, 6-0, 170, jr.; 6 WR Matt Moreno, 5-8, 155, sr.; 7 DB Bryan Ponzio, 5-5, 140, sr.; 8 QB Kerry Brooks, 6-1, 190, jr.; 9 QB James Petty, 6-0, 185, sr.; 10 K Cesar Silva, 5-7, 140, jr.; 11 LB Ja’lijay Tyler, 5-8, 180, jr.; 12 DB Leonard Johnson, 5-10, 160, sr.; 14 DB Reuben Arredondo, 5-11, 160, jr.; 15 RB Keaton Young, 5-10, 165, jr.; 16 WR Isaac Diaz, 5-11, 155, sr.; 17 DB Xavier Johnson, 5-8, 160, jr.; 18 LB Ja’corrius Lynch, 5-9, 170, jr.; 19 RB Willy Jones, 5-10, 145, jr.; 20 RB Fernando Rangel, 5-6, 145, sr.; 21 DB Darius Peterson, 5-9, 165, soph.; 22 RB Joseph Jones, 5-6, 145, sr.; 23 DB Nicholas McDaniel, 6-0, 175, jr.; 24 DB Jonathan Sparkman, 6-2, 190, sr.; 25 WR Jose Gandara, 5-8, 180, jr.; 26 LB De’Terious Bryant, 5-11, 180, sr.; 27 DB Caleb Merrell, 6-1, 200, jr.; 28 RB Christian Richardson, 5-10, 185, jr.; 29 LB Garrett DeAtley, 6-2, 180, sr.; 30 WR Camden Gray, 6-0, 205, soph.; 31 DB David Parks, 6-0, 190, sr.; 32 WR Nathan Ramirez, 5-6, 150, sr.; 33 DL Titus Mitchell, 6-4, 230, sr.; 34 RB Alex Young, 6-1, 185, sr.; 35 DL Devin Jefferson, 6-1, 190, jr.; 40 DB Mason Martinez, 5-9, 145, sr.; 42 RB Isaiah Taylor, 5-6, 165, sr.; 44 DL Aaron Balandran, 5-6, 210, jr.; 45 LB Jacob Incardona, 6-0, 220, jr.; 46 DB Charles Reynolds, 5-6, 125, jr.; 47 LB Hayden Ehrhardt, 6-1, 165, sr.; 50 OL Blaine Bright, 5-9, 230, sr.; 52 DL Ethan Wicht, 6-0, 260, sr.; 55 OL Colby Fagan, 6-4, 225, jr.; 55 OL Marco Menjares, 6-0, 180, sr.; 56 LB Patrick Menjares, 5-9, 190, jr.; 57 OL Troy Chumchal, 6-0, 200, sr.; 59 OL Jose Rodriguez, 5-9, 240, jr.; 60 OL Seth Reynolds, 5-6, 200, jr.; 63 OL Justin Sheridan, 6-2, 230, jr.; 65 OL Marc Barrera, 5-8, 200, sr.; 66 OL Josh Pineda, 5-9, 205, jr.; 67 OL Jacob Bennett, 6-1, 225, jr.; 68 OL Mark McMath, 6-0, 230, jr.; 71 OL Jonathan Flores, 6-0, 240, jr.; 73 OL Joseph Cruz, 5-11, 235, jr.; 74 OL Jayson Sowell, 6-2, 320, sr.; 77 OL Talon Crouse, 6-0, 280, soph.; 78 OL Charlie Buban, 6-1, 205, jr.; 79 OL Tyler Allen, 6-4, 310, sr.; 80 DB Tyler Grey, 5-6, 135, jr.; 81 PK Ramiro Vazquez, 5-9, 145, sr.; 82 DB Nick Orta, 5-10, 155, jr.; 83 WR Dylan Benson, 5-10, 155, jr.; 86 DB Nathan DeSantiago, 5-5, 145, sr.; 87 WR Carlos Reyna, 5-9, 145, jr.; 88 Gary Lynch, 6-0, 185, jr.; 90 DL Ja’Various Sullivan, 5-11, 285, sr.; 91 DL Dylan Carroll, 6-0, 280, jr.; 93 DL Martin Longoria, 5-9, 200, sr.; 94 DL Trehbyen Nobles, 6-3, 220, sr.; 97 DL Hayden Wicht, sr.

Assistant coaches: Keith Muehlstein, Bret Page, Robert Jesurun, Mike Woodward, Matt Rice, Chris Biggs, Michael Gibson, Enrique Luna, Paul Ruiz, Ben Gallego, Koby Martin, Chris Johnson, Keith Jackson, Andre Brown, Russell Young, Cody Wilson, Dennis Smelser and John McCrary

18-5A honors last season.

Brooks, who never shied away from contact last season, is up to 190 pounds.

He has speed all around him in Joseph Jones, Matt Moreno, Jeremiah Manley, Gary Lynch, Jalen Davis and Christian Richardson among Bryan’s top running backs and pass catchers. Richardson, a cornerback as a sophomore, will start in the backfield and at 185 pounds gives the Vikings decent size behind Brooks.

Last season the Bryan offensive line stayed on shuffle, and even when the starting five didn’t change in BRIGHT name, they often lined up in a different order.

The troubles continued in the spring with three starters either missing spring practice or having to work at less than 100 percent because of injury.

Seniors Blaine Bright,

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FACTS Head coach — Ross Rogers (244-121-6 overall; 33-34 at Bryan) District — 14-6A 2017 record — 3-7 (1-5 in 18-5A) Playoff appearances (25) — 1921-22, 1925, 1934, 1956, 1973-74, 1982, 1984, 1986-87, 1994-95, 1997-2000, 2004, 2006-07, 200910, 2014-16 Returning lettermen — 19 (8 offensive, 6 defensive starters) Key returners — CB Xavier Johnson (2nd A-D in 18-5A), QB Kerry Brooks (2nd A-D) Key losses — OL Colton Campbell (A-D), PK Angel Quiroga (A-D), DL Monyell Nutall (A-D), OL Ylijaah Hall (2nd A-D), DL Jalynn Bell (2nd A-D) All-time record — 554-456-41 Playoff record — 21-23-0

Tyler Allen and Troy Chumchal return. Junior Colby Fagan joins the group, but he was slowed by a shoulder injury in the offseason. Allen, Bryan’s biggest lineman at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, had knee issues, and junior Justin Sheridan remains sidelined with an injury.

Chumchal played at 207 last season, but has lost weight in toning up with offseason conditioning.

“The Achilles’ heel is our offensive line,” Rogers said. “We don’t always want Kerry on the rollout or sprintout, but that is best for us right now. We feel we got skill, the speed in plac-

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SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Waller Last year: W 35-28

Time 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 at A&M Consolidated Last year: L 12-3

7 p.m.

Sept. 14 open

District 14-6A Sept. 21 Tomball Memorial Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Langham Creek^ Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 5 Bridgeland Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 11 at Cypress Lakes+ Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 19 Cypress Park* Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 25 at Cypress Springs+ Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Nov. 2 Cypress Ranch Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Nov. 8 at Cypress Woods^ Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

* Homecoming ^ Pridgeon Stadium + Cy-Fair FCU Stadium

es on offense that can take it the distance, and Kerry can make things happen.

We just have to get better prepared on the line.”

Bryan will open the season with two familiar foes in Waller and A&M Consolidated then has its open date before jumping into the district schedule, which includes three Thursday road games.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

BRAZOS VALLEY PLAYERS VOTE: Q: What song would you play over and over in an opponents’ locker room to drive them crazy?

Eagle Staff Report

Results

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he catchy tune that helped Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe take over the music world and reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 2012 surely had a hand in it topping the list of most annoying songs as voted on by Brazos Valley football players at The Eagle’s fifth annual Media Day. The next-highest vote-getters with six apiece — Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus and Shake It Off by Taylor Swift — follow a similar mold as dance-pop songs with catchy choruses. Both reached a peak position of No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 during their runs.

A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton, Frozen favorite Let It Go by Idina Menzel and Justin Bieber’s Despacito tied for fourth. All three are big hits.

1. Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen (pictured left — AP photo): 9 2t. Party in the U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus: 6 2t. Shake It Off by Taylor Swift: 6 4t. A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton: 5 4t. Let It Go by Idina Menzel: 5 4t. Despacito by Justin Bieber: 5 7t. No Smoke by YoungBoy Never Broke Again: 4 7t. Rudder’s school song: 4 7t. In My Feelings by Drake: 4 10t. Redneck by Blake Shelton: 3 10t. Gucci Gang by Lil Pump: 3 10t. Fefe by 6ix9ine: 3 10t. Barbie Girl by Aqua: 3 10t. Baby by Justin Bieber: 3 10t. War With Us by YoungBoy Never Broke Again: 3 10t. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) by Katy Perry: 3 10t. Boys of Fall by Kenny Chesney: 3 10t. Friday by Rebecca Black: 3 Two votes each: X Gon’ Give It To Ya by DMX; We Are The Champions by Queen; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star; Set It Off by Lil Boosie; Boo’d Up by Ella Mai; Mo Bamba by Sheck Wes; Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae) by Silento; Who Let The Dogs Out? by Baha Men; What Does The Fox Say?

by Ylvis; The Purge theme song; Hello by Adele; Cherry Pie by Warrant

Q: If you had to change your school’s mascot, what would you pick?

Eagle Staff Report

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ions, Tigers and, well, Cougars, oh my!

Tasked with hypothetically changing their schools’ mascots, many Brazos Valley high school football players turned to big cats at this year’s Eagle Media Day. Lions claimed the top spot, with 17 votes, followed by tigers (15) and cougars (12). Panthers finished high, too, grabbing five votes, and leopards got three.

Some players gave specific answers, like Bremond’s Rykenderia Paul who would change his team’s mascot to a white tiger, and Lexington’s Jordan Kerr, who put “Black Panther.”

Goat was the most popular non-feline mascot with seven votes. Three of the seven votes came from Bremond players Casey Garrett, Dalton Wilganowski and Hunter Wilganowski. The trio weren’t the only Bremond players to pick a farm animal as a new mascot, as Nolan Hop-

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

cus went with sheep. Two Leon players, Peyton Pruett and Dylan Pedigo, also picked Goat.

Among other teammate trends, College Station’s Brandon Joseph, Brandon Williams and Jordon Bellows took a Christmas theme, selecting penguins, polar bears and reindeer, respectively.

Other players were even more creative. Riffing off of his own mascot, Snook’s Qwanterrius Young picked “a muscular bluejay.” College Station’s Alan Guerrieri, possibly drawing on personal experience, selected “the black birds outside of Kroger” as his pick to replace the Cougar. Other humorous responses included T-Rex (Clayton Boettcher, Lexington), dingos (Preston Futrell, Iola), a worm (Ronald Lee, Navasota) and the Iolas (Zach Archer, Iola).

We also learned from Milano’s Kevin Garcia that a bongo is an animal. And in his opinion, it would make a great mascot.

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Results

Lions — 17 Tigers — 15* Cougars — 12 Goats — 7 Panthers — 5# Seminoles — 5 Trojans — 4 Spartans — 4 Bulls — 4 Leopards — 3 Eagles — 3 Knights — 3 Bobcats — 3 Rattlers — 3 *White Tiger had one vote #Black Panther had one vote Two votes each: Titans, Ducks, Bulldogs, Komodo Dragons, Dragons, Longhorns, Rockets, Falcons, Rams, Rhinos Creative answers: Iolas, Dingos, Chihuahuas, Rednecks, Pythons, Bongos, “a muscular bluejay”, Wampus Cat, Seagulls, Anteater, Sheep, “the blackbirds outside Kroger”, T-Rexs, Chameleons, Scorpion, Snake Kings, Cobra, Gorilla, Puma, Pigeons, Worms, Hippos, Birds, Bumble Bees, Colors, Polar Bears, Grizzly Bears

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High School Football 2018

AP photo

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COLLEGE STATION COUGARS

No rest for the champs

Senior class keeping Cougars hungry coming off their first state title

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

One day at the beginning of practice, College Station head football coach Steve Huff turned on the music and gave his team 30 seconds to do whatever they wanted. The seniors danced. Sometimes, he notices them performing a chant before practice.

The seniors’ bond makes it fun for Huff and his staff, and he thinks it will make the difference on the field as College Station returns to action after winning the first state title in school history.

“These kids have played a lot of 7-on-7 together,” Huff said. “They’ve played a lot of baseball together.

They’ve played a lot of whatever, and they’re just a tighter group from top to bottom, so that makes it a little different. And there’s also some very good leadership in that class.”

Many of them saw significant playing time during last year’s Class 5A Division II state championship season and are hungry to prove themselves again as College Station moves up to 5A Division I this year.

“We have a huge target on our back, considering we won state last year,” senior quarterback Brandon Williams said. “Since we went 14-2 last year, everyone wants to beat us this year.”

Huff said he’s proud of how his team hasn’t rested on last year’s achievement starting with offseason workouts in January.

“I want them to enjoy it,

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but there’s a point in there where it’s like, OK, you can enjoy it when you’re at home, so let’s go back and go to work,” Huff said. “We kind of take that mentality with them all through offseason, spring, summer, and we came back in and said the same thing. We said, ‘Hey, you’re at the bottom of the heap again, and that’s the way it should be.

Let’s go play now.’”

With several returning playmakers, especially in the secondary, defense will be a strength for the Cougars. Both starting safeties — Jordon Bellows and Brandon Joseph — return along with starting cornerback Ryan Stapp. Outside linebacker Garrett Draper started all 16 games last season, and Truce Tumlinson, a force on special teams with seven blocked kicks, steps in at defensive end with Jay Hannath on the other side.

“We’ve played with a lot of these guys since we were 8, 9 years old, so we’ve got a lot of chemistry together,” Bellows said.

Williams, a starting receiver last year, was the No. 1 quarterback coming out of spring and looks to step in for the dynamic Marquez Perez, but Huff also likes the leadership backup quarterback Blake Bayliss has shown.

Luke Gardner, Logan Flasowski and Erick Pereyra emerged as leaders along the offensive line as has Zach Williams at receiver and Trevor Feese at running back.

Most of those players are seniors who tried setting a

High School Football 2018

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Richmond Foster Last year: did not play Sept. 7 open Sept. 14 at Huntsville Last year: did not play Sept. 22 Nuevo Leon Last year: did not play

FACTS

Time 7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m. noon

District 8-5A Division I Sept. 28 Caney Creek* 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 5 at Waller Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 Lufkin Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Magnolia Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Willis Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 Tomball Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Magnolia West Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

championship tone for the Cougars in training camp.

“Our senior class is very aware of and has taken control of a lot of things that I like to see taken control of, little bitty things but sometimes groups won’t do it,” Huff said. “This group, they’ll do it. They’re already doing things we haven’t seen as a group on the field and before practice and after practice, getting together and doing things and how they talk to each other and talk to the team.”

The Cougars’ up-tempo offense will be back, and Brandon Williams said he’ll throw the ball more this season, and he has solid targets in his brother Zach Williams, Bayliss, Spencer Maxwell, Jatavion Tutt, Jansen Shulse and junior Austin Sosa, the Cougars’ third-string quarterback. On the ground, sophomore Roderick Brown, junior Kolbe Cashion and

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Head coach — Steve Huff (145-80 in Oklahoma, Washington and Texas; 58-16 at College Station) District — 8-5A DI 2017 record — 14-2 (6-0 in 18-5A) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. Jacksonville 65-0; area: def. Georgetown 34-31; regionals: def. Port Neches-Groves 66-40; quarterfinals: def. Fort Bend Marshall 49-47; semifinals: def. Austin McCallum 49-21; finals: def. Aledo 20-19 Playoff appearances (4) — 2014-17 Returning lettermen — 22 (4 offensive, 4 defensive starters) Key returners — LB Garrett Draper (18-5A A-D), S Brandon Joseph (A-D), OL Logan Flasowski (2nd A-D), TE Brandon Williams (2nd A-D), CB Ryan Stapp (2nd A-D), S Jordan Bellows (2nd A-D) Key losses — QB Marquez Perez (A-D), OL Jeremiah Williams (A-D), OL Austin Ham (A-D), RB DaDa Anderson (A-D), WR Jaelin Campbell (A-D), DL Matt Rusk (A-D), Marquise Conchola (A-D), LB E.J. Mosley (A-D), DB Quandree White (A-D), WR Harrison Wellmann (2nd A-D), DL KeKe Anderson (2nd A-D), DE Ben Wolz (2nd A-D), LB Trey Barfield (2nd A-D), LB Chris Williams (2nd A-D) All-time record — 58-16 Playoff record — 12-3

Feese will share carries.

College Station starts its season with a big game, hosting Richmond Foster at 7:30 p.m. Friday. The Cougars then will play another fast team in Huntsville followed by Nuevo Leon before starting District 8-5A Division I with Homecoming on Sept. 28 against Conroe Caney Creek.

The Cougars’ district schedule includes an Oct. 12 showdown with Lufkin, the No. 1 team in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s preseason rankings — College Station is No. 6 on that list. The Cougars also will play district road games against Magnolia on Oct. 19 and Magnolia West on Nov. 9; both Magnolia schools made the 5A Division I playoffs last season.

With a schedule that loaded, Huff says the Cougars won’t have time to dwell on their chances at another state title.

TheEagle.com

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand College Station’s Spencer Maxwell is part of the Cougars’deep receiving corps and a member of the senior class that head coach Steve Huff says has had an impressive offseason coming off the school’s first state title.

ROSTER 1 RB Roderick Brown, soph.; 2 WR Cody Smith, sr.; 3 WR Ja’Tavion Tutt, sr.; 4 DB Ryan Stapp, sr.; 5 WR Jansen Shulse, sr.; 6 QB Blake Bayliss, sr.; 7 DB Malik Clarke, sr.; 8 LB Michael Medlin, jr.; 9 WR Mark Taplette, jr.; 10 DB Ashanti Sheppard, sr.; 11 DB Jordon Bellows, sr.; 12 LB Garrett Draper, sr.; 14 WR Zachary Williams, sr.; 15 WR Austin Sosa, jr.; 16 DB Brandon Joseph, sr.; 17 QB Brandon Williams, sr.; 18 DB Harrison Bradford, sr.; 19 DB Logan Graves, sr.; 20 RB Kolbe Cashion, jr.; 21 LB Traeveon Thompson, jr.; 22 WR Spencer Maxwell, sr.; 23 RB Trevor Feese, sr.; 24 RB Angel Padilla, sr.; 25 LB Adair Macias, sr.; 26 DB Khebrian Rumph, jr.; 27 WR Edy Harari, sr.; 28 WR Landon McIntyre, sr.; 29 Marquis McCray, jr.; 30 DB Grant Fairchild, sr.; 31 K Alan Guerrieri, sr.; 32 RB Garrett Muehlstein, sr.; 33 LB Kameron Johnson, jr.; 34 LB Price Davis, sr.; 40 LB Zach Sacky, sr.; 42 DL Jay Hannath, sr.; 43 DL Christian Monroe, jr.; 44 LB Tyler Williams, sr.; 54 OL Hayden Goodlett, jr.; 55 DL Colton Smith, jr.; 56 OL Hunter Norwood, sr.; 62 DL Brian McCord, sr.; 67 OL Noah Hahn, jr.; 68 OL Logan Flasowski, sr.; 70 OL Erick Pereyra, sr.; 72 OL Peyton Blair, jr.; 75 OL Luke Gardner, sr.; 77 OL Xavion Lewis, sr.; 78 OL Landon Melesky, jr.; 80 WR Ethan Cohen, sr.; 81 WR Payton Rusk, jr.; 88 WR Blaine Wagner, sr.; 91 DL Issac Almaraz, soph.; 94 DL Truce Tumlinson, sr.

Trainers: Chelsea Frashure, Ross King Coaches: head coach Steve Huff; defensive coordinator Ken Stapp, offensive coordinator Stoney Pryor, Jarrett Beckhusen, Matt DeBerry, Brian Edwards, Gregg Frashure, Eddie Hancock, Scott Holder, DeMarquis Jones, Kyle King, Chance Locklear, Jacob McMurtry, Dwight Mincher, Chad Peevey, Trent Vittrup, Kyle Walsh

“That’s my mentality — we are not going to look ahead to a game because I honestly think you look ahead, you get beat,” Huff



said. “I like to look at every game as a district championship game because if you’re going to go try to win it, it is.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

TEXAS PROUD OF COACH HUFF! Jerry Merritt, Agency Manager, (right) congratulates Coach Steve Huff (left) of College Station High School on the 5A-2 State Championship at the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame induction banquet.

Texas Farm Bureau Insurance has been active in communities across our great state for more than 50 years. We proudly support the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame and congratulate the 2017 Champions.

877.FARM.BUREAU WWW.TXFB-INS.COM

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

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High School Football 2018

9

A&M CONSOLIDATED TIGERS

Ellison hopes to lead another potent Tiger D

By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, A&M Consolidated senior defensive tackle Josh Ellison is a big guy.

Now he’s the big guy on the Tigers’ defense.

Safety Kolby Peel and middle linebacker Trevor Williams are gone from a defense that allowed just 16.8 points and 270.7 yards per game last season, leaving Ellison as Consol’s veteran playmaker up the middle.

“Josh is doing a great job,” Consol coach Lee Fedora said. “He’s gone from almost 305 pounds down to 280. You can see a difference in his body and how he’s fast, physical and flying around. I think you’re going to see a guy that’s even quicker off the ball, running sideline-tosideline and getting more pressure on the quarterback even more this year.”

If that prediction comes to pass, Ellison will be more than a handful for opposing offensive lines as the Texas A&M pledge recorded 111 tackles and nine sacks in his all-state junior campaign, helping the Tigers to a 9-3 record.

“I’m pretty excited about my senior year,” Ellison said. “I had a pretty good junior season, but hopefully I can make this year better. I’m hoping to be a big leader for my team and help impact and make my teammates better.”

To do that, Ellison said he’s making an effort to point out small mistakes in position drills — making the right first steps, having active hands while pass-rushing — and doing everything he can to

10

FACTS Head coach — Lee Fedora (176-58-1 overall; 9-3 at A&M Consolidated) District — 9-5A Division II 2017 record — 9-3 (4-2 in 18-5A) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def.

Whitehouse, 35-7; area: lost to Hutto, 24-21 Playoff appearances (35) — 1941-45, 194748, 1951, 1953, 1958, 1960, 1989-96, 200103, 2005-17 Returning lettermen — 21 (7 offensive, 5 defensive starters) Key returners — LB Makel Williams (18-5A NOY), OL Reid Francis (A-D), DL Josh Ellison (A-D), CB Nate Floyd (A-D), WR Brian Darby (2nd A-D), WR Devin Price (2nd A-D), DL Connor Hickson (2nd A-D) Key losses — LB Trevor Williams (A-D), OL Zach Ruiz (A-D), WR Cade Williams (A-D), DL Devarion Guyton (A-D), S Kolby Peel (A-D), L Jordan Smith (2nd A-D), RB Aaron CampbellLove (2nd A-D), DE Tre Newton (2nd A-D), CB Chase Martinez (2nd A-D); S Jordan Woodard (2nd A-D), LB Hunter McGary (2nd A-D) All-time record — 481-351-24 Playoff record — 43-31-1

keep the energy up during practice because “positivity makes a big difference.”

That effort hasn’t gone unnoticed by Fedora.

“He’s got a good mentality,” Fedora said. “He’s been coaching up a lot of those younger guys and getting them ready for the season.

He’s doing a good job with leadership.”

Ellison helping younger players allows the Tigers to build more depth on defense, which Fedora described as the team’s biggest concern heading into the season. If it can build that depth, Consol’s defense should be a strength this season with several experienced players primed for bigger roles.

With the departures of Devarion Guyton and Tre Newton on the defensive line, 6-4, 248-pound senior defensive tackle Connor Hickson will help Ellison anchor the unit after posting 34 tackles and three sacks last season.

At linebacker, junior Makel Williams steps into the middle spot previously occupied by all-stater Trevor Williams. Makel Wil-

High School Football 2018

SCHEDULE

ROSTER

Date Opponent Aug. 30 at Killeen Ellison Last year: did not play

Time 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 Bryan Last year: W 12-3

7 p.m.

Sept. 14 open Sept. 21 at Leander Rouse Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

District 10-5A Division II Sept. 28 Huntsville 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 5 at Montgomery Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 Lamar Consolidated* Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 20 at Katy Paetow Last year: did not play

1 Brian Darby, jr.; 2 Steven Ray, sr.; 3 Devin Price, jr.; 4 Jamarquis Stewart, jr.; 5 Valen Jones, jr.; 6 Caden Fedora, sr.; 7 Bryce Linder, jr.; 8 Nate Floyd, jr.; 9 Jacob Hrncir, sr.; 10 Macki Thompson, sr.; 11 Will Harris, sr.; 12 Colby McBerty, jr.; 13 Jaylan Harrison, jr.; 14 Gage Pahl, jr.; 15 Caleb Martinez, sr.; 16 Filip Mlik, sr.; 17 Jr De Los Santos, sr.; 18 Colton Love, jr.; 19 Devyn Hood, jr.; 20 Justin Conrad, jr.; 21 Anaiah Daily, jr.; 22 Xavier Stewart, jr.; 23 Makel Williams, jr.; 24 Sam Presnal, sr.; 26 Wellington Peterson, sr.; 27 Gunnar Coker, sr.; 32 Vince Sheffield, soph.; 33 Vincent Sheffield, sr.; 34 Julius Howard, sr.; 36 Jack Chivvis, sr.; 40 Bryson Foust, sr.; 42 Quentin Hargraves, sr.; 43 Logan Riccitelli, jr.; 44 Haydn Witherwax, jr.; 50 Dylan Wesson, jr.; 52 Jason Record, sr.; 53 TY Williams, sr.; 54 Matt O’Neil, jr.; 57 Joseph Garcia, jr.; 60 Josh Ellison, sr.; 65 Jacob Brooks, jr.; 68 Zane Montgomery, sr.; 72 Reid Francis, sr.; 74 Brandon Waggoner, jr.; 76 Trey Zimmerman, jr.; 78 Connor Hickson, sr.; 82 Johnathon Farrell, sr.; 94 Reed Larson, sr.; 97 Xavios Copeland, sr.

Trainers: Karl Kapchinkski, Michael Patke, Lexi Truex, Molly Pfeffer, Carly Piccolo, Lucy Eimon, Christina Ridenhour, Zach Yeager, Nicole Foster Coaches: head coach Lee Fedora, Bill Hoppers, Sean Witherwax, Mike Mullins, Sonny Soltis, Chad Bruggman, Ray Kavanaugh, Bo Jackson, Brandon Phillips, John Branch, Chris Collins, Keeath Magee, Bart Harris, Jeff Schafer, Justin Garcia, BJ Burton, Gary Lucius

2 p.m.

Oct. 26 Montgomery Lake Creek 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Nov. 1 at Rudder Last year: W 35-7 Nov. 9 Cleveland Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

liams had 62 tackles last season along with a sack and an interception.

“I like everything about [Makel Williams] right now,” Fedora said. “He’s being physical, and we’re even playing him some at tailback on offense. He’s learning it all and doing a great job.”

Makel Williams isn’t Consol’s only candidate to play both sides of the ball as junior receiver Brian Darby will spend some time at cornerback opposite junior Nate Floyd, an honorable mention all-state selection last season. Senior Sam Presnal again will play on both sides after recording 11 catches for 102 yards and 26 tackles last year.

With Cade Williams, the Tigers’ leading receiver last season, now at Texas A&M, the junior duo of wide receivers Darby and Devin Price headline what likely will be an explosive offense once again.

Darby caught 47 passes for 663 yards and six touchdowns last season, and Price had 30 catches



Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie A&M Consolidated junior Devin Price returns after catching 30 passes for 561 yards and sevenTDs last season. for 561 yards and seven scores as Consol’s big-play threat. Senior Steven Ray also will have a significant role in the passing game after catching 24 passes for 315 yards and four TDs last year.

The Tigers will be inexperienced on the offensive line regardless of who earns starting roles, but they have an excellent anchor to build around in 6-4, 297-pound senior tackle Reid Francis, who is coming off an all-state season.

“Our big plus [on offense] is our skill positions,” Fedora said. “Where we’re working hard is up front because

TheEagle.com

you can be great at the skill positions, but if you’re not blocking up front, you can’t get things done. That’s where we need to get better at is our offensive line.

“All of [our linemen] have done a good job in practices, not singling out anyone. Our whole O-line is picking it up and being physical.”

Junior Gage Pahl and senior Caden Fedora are competing for the starting quarterback job, a situation both are familiar with as Fedora beat out Pahl and since-graduated Daylan Faltysek to be the starter in last season’s opener. Both



Pahl and Fedora received significant playing time last season due to injuries, with Fedora completing 100 of 153 passes for 1,386 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions and Pahl throwing for 660 yards and six TDs and just one interception on 60-of80 passing.

“Having both of them with lots of playing experience helps,” Fedora said.

“You always like going into the season where you’re not concerned about having a quarterback, and we’ve got two guys with lots of experience. That helps us a bunch.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Getting together

Players, coaches and staff from over 20 area high school football teams attended The Eagle’s fifth-annual Media Day on Aug. 3 at Merrill Green Stadium.

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand

Making memories to last a lifetime!

www.fedstarcu.com

979.846.7456 MEMBER NCUA

Serving the community Since 1961 Wednesday, August 29, 2018

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High School Football 2018

11

RUDDER RANGERS

Getting more out of less

Despite small roster, Rudder hoping to continue growth under second-year coach Morgan

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

Year 1 under Rudder head football coach Greg Morgan featured plenty of change.

Now in Morgan’s second year, the Rangers have to get into a new frame of mind with just 34 players on the varsity roster.

“We’ve just got to get the mindset that with the limited numbers we’re going to have quite a few guys going both ways,” Morgan said. “Mentally, they’ve got to be prepared to play a lot of reps offensively and defensively. Guys that historically have only been on one side or the other, they’re going to give relief to those starters on one side or the other. We’d love to have 11 guys on defense and 11 different guys on offense, but it’s just not going to happen that way.”

Linemen, especially, will have to play both ways, a n d M o rgan said a major fo cus early will be getting backup players ready for a c t i o n . SHUTT Morgan said senior team captain Casey Shutt is an example of a player who will take every rep on defense at linebacker but also will be counted on to make a few plays on offense at running back each game. “[Shutt] was always a leader,” Morgan said. “He

12

ROSTER 2 QB Brant Roberts; 3 WR/DB Malcolm Manley; 4 QB Felix Conde; 5 WR/DB Keithron Lee; 6 WR/LB Trenithe Campbell; 7 RB/LB James Ayers; 8 WR/DB Katrell Johnson; 8 WR/DB Kamarr Acorn; 11 RB/LB Alvin Dunn; 12 WR/DB Marcus Diles; 13 WR/DB Markiest Johnson; 14 WR/DB Willie Jackson; 15 WR/DB R.J. Rubio; 20 RB/DB Treaveon Green; 21 RB/DL Dequintis Wilson; 22 WR/DB Carlos Moreno; 23 RB/LB Jaydon Velasquez; 24 RB/DB Byron Moore; 27 RB/LB Chris Daniels; 32 RB/LB Cavalry Norris; 35 RB/DL JT Ginn; 38 RB/LB Casey Shutt; 44/60 OL/DL Johnathon Peterson; 50 OL/DL Jalen Thierry; 51 OL/LB Ricky Gonzales; 52 OL/DL Desmond Murphy; 54 OL/DL Jakobe Nutall; 55 OL/DL Clifford Chambers; 56 OL/DL Dwayne Richards; 58 OL/DL Dwayne Richards; 58 OL/DL Caleb Hill; 59 OL/DL Andrew Lloyd; 63 OL/DL Philip Barnett; 77 OL/DL Kevin Kindt

led the summer workout and conditioning days.

He’s been a leader maybe since the day he was born and definitely for us.”

Morgan said lineman Clifford Chambers, wide receiver/defensive back Markiest Johnson and quarterback Felix Conde also have stepped up, whether vocally or by example.

Morgan has seen his changes taking effect and hopes that will help his team, which finished 2-8 last year, on and off the field.

“We enjoy seeing the growth of the child into a young man, and sometimes that is the success that you’re looking for, but when it comes down to brass tacks, does that translate into more wins?”

Morgan said. “And so we’re hoping that what we’ve brought in, and the methodology that we’re using and the ideas that we’re trying to preach to the kids means something, so we’ll go from two wins to hopefully more this second season.”

One of those wins last year made history as Rudder beat Bryan 35-28, notching the program’s first victory over its school district rival.

“That was about a time

High School Football 2018

in last year’s season that we needed a win because those kids had hung on, and they were still trying, working to do what we asked them to do,” Morgan said. “A lot of times you need something good to happen, so that the kids have that ‘a-ha!’ moment where they say, ‘OK, this works.’”

Aside from a lack of depth, Morgan said replacing running back Kevonte Johnson — who is now at Blinn — will be a challenge. The Rangers tweaked their offense and will feature several small, quick backs, including James Ayers, Byron Moore and Alvin Dunn, while getting the receivers more involved from a unit led by Keithron Lee, R.J. Rubio and Malcolm Manley. “[Johnson] was 80 percent of our offensive numbers last year,” Morgan said. “I think with the change in our offensive scheme, we won’t have that tailback anymore. We’re going to utilize several running backs. We’re going to use several of our skill kids that are inside receivers to get them the ball.”

Week 1 against Bastrop, which has struggled the past two seasons, will give Morgan and his staff a lot of answers. Rudder will



kick off against the Bears at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bastrop Memorial Stadium.

Rudder also will face Elgin and Navasota in nondistrict play.

Rudder’s District 10-5A Division II has plenty of question marks in newly opened schools Montgomery Lake Creek and Katy Paetow but plenty of talented squads including Huntsville and A&M Consolidated. Montgomery and Lamar Consolidated are dropping from 6A into 10-5A-II, while Cleveland is jumping up from 4A to join the eight-team district.

“Right now, we feel

FACTS Head coach — Greg Morgan (104-115 overall; 2-8 at Rudder) District — 10-5A-D II 2017 record — 2-8 (2-4 in 18-5A) Playoff appearances — none Returning lettermen — 16 (5 offensive, 4 defensive starters) Key returners — LB Casey Shutt (18-5A A-D), OL Clifford Chambers (2nd A-D) Key losses — RB Kevonte Johnson (A-D), P Hunter Dobbins (A-D), DL Thomas Carter (2nd A-D), LB Hunter Norris (2nd A-D), LB Bladen Reaves (2nd A-D) All-time record — 21-66-1 Playoff record — 0-0

good,” Morgan said. “We’ll know a lot more after preseason where we can match up. Our goal is to be one of those top four at the end of the season and make the playoffs for the first time in school history.”

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Bastrop Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Elgin Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 Navasota Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 open District 10-5A Division II Sept. 28 Montgomery 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 6 at Lamar Consolidated Last year: did not play Oct. 12 Katy Paetow Last year: did not play

6 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Montgomery Lake Creek 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 26 Cleveland* Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 A&M Consolidated Last year: L 35-7 Nov. 9 at Huntsville Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

GOOD LUCK in the 2018-2019 Football Season

TheEagle.com

Tom Allen & Mary Watson

979.764.6848 www.ravenhomes.net

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ravenhomes@ravenhomes.net Wednesday, August 29, 2018

BRENHAM CUBS

New coach hopes to continue tradition in Brenham

By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com

The football jerseys won’t be the only new look at Brenham football games this season.

Glen West, the coach who notched 185 of his 226 career victories during his 20-year tenure at Brenham, left the program in the spring to become the assistant executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association. In comes Eliot Allen, who has an impressive resume of his own with a 118-62 career record in 16 seasons at Houston Stratford, leading the Spartans to four district titles and a 12-year streak of playoff appearances from 2006-17.

“Coach West, you look at his body of work here at Brenham and what he’s accomplished — you don’t typically see that,” Allen said. “Following in those footsteps, my job is not to try and replace him — it’s just to try to claw and scratch and keep this thing going as best as I can. I don’t want to compare myself to Coach West. That’s in another atmosphere. ... We want to continue to provide a good program for this community. The community loves this team, and our guys are working hard and doing their best.”

The Cubs, who will sport jerseys with “BRENHAM” across the chest, white accents below the shoulders and smaller numbers than the previous iterations, also will have to replace quarterback Kendarin Ray, who threw for 1,039 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 1,163 yards and 11 scores in his senior campaign.

FACTS Head coach — Eliot Allen (118-62, 0-0 at Brenham) District — 13-5A D11 2017 record — 6-4 (4-3 in 20-5A) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: lost to Hutto 33-21 Playoff appearances (44) — 1927, 1929, 1933, 1941-42, 1944-45, 1947, 1949-51, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1968-72, 1985-87, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1999-02, 2004-17 (zone playoffs 1968, 1987) Returning lettermen — 22 (4 offensive, 5 defensive starters) Key returners — LB Tyree Jackson (20-5A D2 A-D), OT Bobby Mathis (2nd A-D), LB Daylonn McCowan (2nd A-D); LB Colby Watts (2nd A-D) Key losses — C Jacob Jozwiak (A-D), FB Weldon Patterson (A-D), RB Tamarcus McWilliams (A-D), WR-DB Treveon Johnson (A-D), LB Eryk Patterson (A-D), OL Shannon Lambert (2nd A-D), QB Kendarin Ray (2nd A-D), DB Kevon Mathis (2nd A-D) All-time record — 627-383-38 Playoff record — 45-39-1

Senior Parker Puckett and juniors Garrison Weiss and Alldyn Schroeder are competing for the job, and Allen said he is comfortable with each of them taking the lead under center for the Cubs this season, adding that it will take some time to sort through the competition and “settle on one or two of them.”

Whoever FRITZ grabs control at quarterback should receive plenty of help from the offensive line, which Allen believes will be the JACKSON strength of the offense.

Seniors Hunter Fritz and Bobby Mathis return to anchor the unit.

Tyree Jackson is Brenham’s leading returning rusher with 168 yards and three touchdowns in 2017,

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Magnolia West Last year: L 44-21

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Waller Last year: W 51-20

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 Houston Heights Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 open District 13-5A Division II Sept. 28 at Bastrop Cedar Creek 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 5 Georgetown East View* 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 12 at Marble Falls Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Elgin Last year: W 48-7

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Bastrop Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Leander Glenn Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 Pflugerville Weiss Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

and Andre Gilmore is the top returning receiver with 20 catches for 276 yards and three scores last season.

The Cubs ran West’s version of the Wing-T in the past, GILMORE but Allen and offensive coordinator Danny Ramsey are bringing a more open attack predicated on a quick tempo. Don’t expect the new regime to turn away from the roots of the program, though.

“We want to be able to run the ball,” Allen said.

“Ultimately, we want to do what our kids do best.

[Ramsey’s] a guy who spread has sort of been his forte. Tempo has been his forte, but we’re always going to do what our kids can do best.”

The Cubs’ defense will be led by a linebacking corps that returns three all-district performers in



ROSTER 2 WR/DB Lonterrious McClain 5-10, 170, sr.; 3 WR/DB Arreyus Smith 5-9, 165, sr.; 4 WR/DB Trey Lawhun, 5-9, 160, soph.; 5 WR/DB Quintdale Burton, 5-8, 165, sr.; 6 QB/WR Alldyn Schroeder, 6-0, 180, jr.; 7 RB/LB Dane Howk, 5-10, 190, jr.; 8 RB/LB Daylonn McCowan, 6-1, 195, jr.; 9 WR/DB Keanu Jones, 5-10, 165, soph.; 10 QB/WR Garrison Weiss, 5-10, 170, jr.; 11 WR/DB Hayden Allen, 6-0, 175, sr.; 12 RB/LB Tyree Jackson, 5-9, 200, sr.; 13 WR/DB Andre Gilmore, 6-1, 185, sr.; 14 OL/DL Cladarion Johnson, 6-0, 210, sr.; 15 WR/DB Ke’Shawn Robinson, 5-6, 150, sr.; 16 WR/DB Trayveon Britton, 6-1, 155, jr.; 18 QB/WR Parker Puckett, 6-1,190, sr.; 19 RB/LB Xavier Houston, 5-10, 200, sr.; 20 WR/DB Lazarus Green, 6-3, 180, sr.; 21 RB/LB Christian Watts, 5-8, 175, sr.; 23 RB/LB Zyron Smith, 5-8, 185, jr.; 24 RB/LB Landon Harris, 5-9, 180, jr.; 27 WR/DB Chaz Couttee, 5-10, 190, sr.; 28 OL/DL Lonnie Brown. 6-1, 210, sr.; 30 WR/DB Justin Moore, 5-7, 155, sr.; 33 WR/DB Anthony Walton, 5-8, 160, jr.; 34 OL/DL Fabian Lopez, 5-9, 205, sr.; 35 OL/DL Kelvin Mathis, 6-2, 220, sr.; 37 WR/DB Kyle Wirtz, 6-0, 170, sr.; 40 WR/DB Carson Draehn, 5-9, 165, jr.; 42 OL/DL Cadavien Moore, 5-9, 220, sr.; 50 OL/DL Hunter Fritz, 5-10, 275, sr.; 52 OL/DL Jonteveon Robinson, 6-2, 210, jr.; 54 OL/ DL Logan Wooten, 5-11, 210, jr.; 55 OL/DL Raymundo Martinez, 5-8, 210, sr.; 58 OL/DL Jared Zwahr, 5-10, 230, soph.; 62 OL/DL Christopher Hadley, 6-2, 275, sr.; 64 OL/DL Maysen Fontenot, -2, 240, jr.; 68 OL/DL Charles Tindle, 6-2, 240, sr.; 71 OL/DL Marion Espinoza, 6-0, 280, sr.; 72 OL/DL Tamarcus McWilliams, 6-1, 300, jr.; 73 OL/DL Keaton Altman, 6-4, 240, soph.; 74 OL/DL Garrett Wiesepape, 6-2, 275, jr.; 75 OL/DL Willie Pennygraph, 5-11, 275, jr.; 76 OL/DL Phillip Toliver, 5-8, 260, sr.; 77 OL/DL Bobby Mathis, 6-3, 275, sr.; 80 WR/DB Rhead Robbins, 5-7, 165, sr.; 81 WR/DB Jackson Mueller, 5-9, 165, jr.; 82 PK Victor Mendoza, 5-10, 155, jr.; 84 WR/DB Yann Toussom, 6-3, 175, jr.; 89 RB/LB Marcel Woolfolk, 6-0, 185, jr.

Assistants: offensive coordinator Danny Ramsey, co-offensive coordinator Philip Roberts, defensive coordinator Rory Faver, special teams coordinator Jesse Shiflet, Noe Castellanos, David DeVous, Brian Harris, Arthur Justice, Stephen Puckett, Ryan Roberson, Matthew Thaler and Alonzo Williams.

seniors Jackson and Colby Watts and junior Daylonn McCowan. Watts led the team with 81 tackles in 2017, followed by Jackson (72) and McCowan (60).

Seniors Gilmore, Hayden Allen and Lonterrious McClain headline the

secondary, and senior end Kelvin Mathis, who had 44 tackles and nine tackles for loss last season, will be a key leader on the defensive line.

“We’ve got some good leadership coming back from people who played a lot last year,” Allen said.

“We’re pretty balanced on defense. We’re looking hard at defensive line to develop some depth.

Depth is kind of the issue everywhere, but I feel good about the guys we have at every position. I don’t feel like there’s a weakness anywhere.”

Good Luck in the 2018 -2019

football season!!

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Tracey Scasta, O.D. (979)695-2020 • www.scastaeyes.com J. Craig Scasta, D.D.S., F.A.G.D. (979)260-2626 • www.scastadds.com

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High School Football 2018

13

NAVASOTA RATTLERS

Rattler roots

Casey Dacus returns to lead program he watched, played for as youth

By ROBERT CESSNA robert.cessna@theeagle.com

N ava s o t a f i r s t - ye a r head coach Casey Dacus grew up watching the Rattler football program rise from obscurity into a state power. Now he’s trying to repeat history.

The Rattlers won only 11 games over the last two seasons on the heels of six straight double-digit winning seasons, including a pair of state championships. Dacus, who graduated from Navasota in 1994, begins what he hopes will be a return to the state’s elite with a team that returns 12 starters and is picked to win District 124A Division I by Texas Football.

“I feel real good about our guys from the simple fact that they like to work,” Dacus said. “No one has taken days off. I really like that aspect of it.”

And the players already seem to like their new coach.

“He knows there’s talent here,” junior lineman Jordan Jefferson said. “He’s going to try to get everything that he can get out of us to be that kind of team again.”

Dacus saw firsthand what hard work will do.

From 1957-77, Navasota had only four winning seasons, averaging less than four victories a year. Things changed when Navasota hired David Bourquin in 1978. The Rattlers became a state power from 1979-91, winning 113 games over that

14

FACTS Head coach — Casey Dacus (0-0 overall; 0-0 at Navasota) District — 12-4A Division I 2017 record — 6-5 (4-1 in 10-4A Division I) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: lost to Henderson 31-24 Playoff appearances (35) — 1936, 1940-41, 1943, 1948, 1955-56, 1974, 1982-85, 198791, 1994-96, 1998, 2002-04, 2007-17 Returning lettermen — 18 (4 offensive, 8 defensive starters) Key returners — OL Jordan Jefferson (104A D1 A-D), LB Ja’ Vonzae Jones (A-D), DB Tru’Michael Sweed (A-D), WR Ke’Eric Moore (2nd A-D); DB Sha’javon Taylor (2nd A-D).

Key losses — QB Jed Malek (MVP), WR Ladadrien Walker (A-D), WR Quantavius Moore (A-D), WR Ronnie Jackson (A-D), OL Willie Spriggs (A-D), P-PK Luis Baeza (A-D), LB Lawson Hughlett (A-D), DB Keaun Eddings (A-D), DL Jaycob Steels (A-D), DT Jaycob Steels (2nd A-D), OL Alex Gonzalez (2nd A-D), DL Titus Terrell (2nd A-D) All-time record — 570-458-23 Playoff record — 48-31-1

stretch. The best effort was a state runner-up finish to Southlake Carroll in 1988 under Mike Dacus, Casey’s father, who was elevated to head coach that season after serving as Bourquin’s longtime assistant.

Mike Dacus’ specialty was defense. His son’s is offense, for Casey Dacus spent the last 13 seasons as an offensive coordinator. His offensive philosophy is a mixture of things he’s taken from coaches who had success running the spread beginning at Stephenville in 2002, which had become a power under spread aficionado Art Briles from 1988-99. Dacus later worked at Abilene Cooper under Mike Spradlin, a former assistant at Houston under Briles and coincidentally Navasota’s head coach in 1998.

“I got to see how some of the [spread] evolved over the years,” said Dacus,who fine-tuned his offense at Graham the last seven seasons while working for

High School Football 2018

A&M Consolidated graduate Kenny Davidson.

Dacus said Navasota’s offense will try to attack the depth of the field as much as the width.

“We’re looking for ways to put defenders in bad situations where they have to make some choices, and hopefully we can make right reads and make them wrong,” Dacus said.

Dacus is working with a green quarterback in junior Zach Dyer, who transferred from Iola. Dyer did benefit from playing with Navasota’s 7-on-7 team over the summer.

“We really like the progress he’s made,” Dacus said. “We feel like he’s starting to develop a good rapport with all his receivers.”

Navasota returns only four offensive starters, but three of them are linemen — senior guard Ronald Lee, senior tackle Raiden Torres and the 6-foot-3, 340-pound Jefferson who has pledged to Texas A&M. “He’s such a quality individual,” Dacus said.

Jefferson also will play some defense, especially in goal-line and shortyardage situations.

“When you have a fivestar kid, you’ve got to try to get as much as you can out of him,” Dacus said.

Navasota expects to have a salty defense, even without Jefferson in the regular lineup. The Rattlers return eight starters for first-year defensive coordinator Jason Davis, and the unit had solid showings in scrimmages against Bell-



ROSTER 1 Johnny Sweed, sr.; 2 Ja’Vonzae Jones, sr.; 3 Tru’Michael Sweed, sr.; 4 La’Darrin Thomas, jr.; 5 Keith Steptoe, jr.; 6 Ke’Eric Moore, sr.; 7 Donovan Thomas, jr.; 8 Tavarus Baker, jr.; 9 Truman Garza, jr.; 11 Tru’Marlon Sweed, soph.; 12 Zack Dyer, jr.; 14 Darius Randle, soph.; 15 Thomas Robinson, sr.; 17 Christian Johnson, sr.; 18 Terrick Palmer, jr.; 19 Tyrin Preston, sr.; 20 Darick Henderson, jr.; 23 Sha’javon Taylor, sr.; 27 Nathan Ybarra, jr.; 30 Logan Young, sr.; 32 Montarius Love, sr.; 33 Tyreke Houston, sr.; 44 Mark Martinez, jr.; 45 Noah Burkhalter, sr.; 48 Don’Quavion Steptoe, sr.; 49 Jacquez McDonald, sr.; 50 Ja’Eric Bealsey, jr.; 52 Connor Ellington, sr.; 55 Anthony Pimentel, sr.; 57 Xavier Singal, jr.; 61 Jaylan Palmer, sr.; 65 Jose Rodriguez, jr.; 66 Javon Green, sr.; 67 Alfredo Villasenor, jr.; 68 Dorien Salters, sr.; 70 Eberardo Alvarado, jr.; Ronald Lee, sr.; Jordan Jefferson, jr.; 76 Hilario Rodriguez, sr.; 77 Raiden Torres, sr.; 79 Jaquarian Williams, soph.; 80 Cal Acosta, jr.; 84 Tony Mallard, sr.; 88 Miguel Alvarado, soph.

Assistant coaches: Jason Davis, Ian Day, Matt Fisher, Chase Ganske, Dillon Gonzales, Lee Roy Lipscomb, D’ante Meeking, Donn Miller, Cody Morrison, Zack Nichols, Chris Randolph, Isaiah Thompson

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Bellaire Episcopal Last year: did not play

Time 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Sealy Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Rudder Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Madisonville District 12-4A Division I Sept. 28 Houston Furr Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Oct. 6 at Houston North Forest^ Last year: did not play

6 p.m.

Oct. 12 Houston Worthing* Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Stafford Last year: W 35-6

7 p.m.

Oct. 26 Houston Yates Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Houston Wheatley+ Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie Ke’Eric Moore is one of several seniors hoping to help Navasota return to winning big under first-year head coach Casey Dacus.

* Homecoming ^ Cowart Stadium + Barnett Stadium

ville and Caldwell.

“They are flying to the football. That’s fun to watch,” Dacus said.

The Rattlers have a stout defensive line anchored by tackle Tyreke Houston, Texas Football’s preseason 12-4A-I defensive player of the year. He had 103 tackles last season, five of them sacks.

“He’s going to be a handful for teams inside, because he’s so athletic,” Dacus said. “He’s going to be difficult to block.”

Teams will be hardpressed to double-team Houston because of active ends Tyrin Preston and Ja’Eric Beasley. The line

“There wasn’t a bond [last year]. That is there now and like there’s been in the past,” Jefferson said.

• NOTES — Dacus’ teams made the playoffs the last 13 years in a row. ... Dacus said depth could be a problem at certain positions for Navasota, which will open the season with a pair of solid matchups — at home Aug. 31 against Bellaire Episcopal then at Sealy on Sept. 7. Bellaire Episcopal is ranked second in Southwest Preparatory Conference Class 4A, and Sealy is picked to win 13-4A-I. “That’s a pretty good little 1-2 punch,” Dacus said.

“We need to come out of the gates ready to play.”

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should create lanes for linebacker Ja’Vonzae Jones, a returning all-district performer who had 112 tackles last year. Navasota also moved Tru’Michael Sweed from safety to linebacker, getting more speed and athleticism closer to the line of scrimmage.

“He’s had a good camp so far,” Dacus said, “so we feel real good about our front seven.”

The secondary is young but talented, so Navasota is counting on athleticism erasing mistakes until the group gains experience.

Jefferson said there’s one thing everyone on this team has and that’s heart.

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High School Football 2018

15

MADISONVILLE MUSTANGS

Young Mustangs ready to step up Madisonville looking to build on success of 2017 senior class

By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com

With just four returning starters, the Madisonville football team has some big shoes to fill after its historic senior class helped lead the Mustangs to new heights last season.

The experienced group helped Madisonville win its first outright district title since 2007 and advance to the Class 4A Division II regional playoffs, where it fell to eventual state runner-up West Orange-Stark in a 28-26 nail-biter.

“The senior class last year set the bar high in all sports,” Madisonville head football coach Rusty Nail said. “It was a group of guys that kind of took their licks as sophomores and hung in there and got a little better the next year and really had a great run last year. I tell the kids coming in every year that one of the things I like about coaching high school football is that every team is a new team each year regardless of how many players you return, because there’s always going to be a new mix or a new chemistry involved.”

The Mustangs will look to build some new winning chemistry with the ground game, where seniors Aaron Nellums and Uriel Willis will shoulder more responsibility in the absence of all-state running back Cornelius Merchant, who

16

rushed for 1,528 yards and 28 touchdowns on 182 carries last season as a senior.

Nellums rushed 51 times for 426 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017, and Willis had 604 yards and seven scores on 84 carries.

Nail describes them as a thunder-lighting combination with Nellums as the bruiser with speed in the open field and Willis as the quick, instinctive runner.

Junior Tyrese Brown is the front-runner to start at quarterback after threeyear starter Ben Phillips graduated. With Brown at the helm, the Mustangs have another running threat, and Nail is pleased with how Brown has managed the offense during the preseason.

“He’s confident in his abilities,” Nail said. “He’s a good athlete and a leader.

He’s a quiet kid, but he’s confident and all the kids really like him and look up to him. We’re excited about what he brings to the table.”

Senior Brandon Larson is the elder statesman in the receiving corps after catching 14 passes for 163 yards last season, and senior Keyon Johnson is a key addition to the unit.

Defensively, the Mustangs will have to cover for the loss of all-state linemen Zach Poe and Chris Scott, who both are now at Sam Houston State. Juniors Tyrece Merchant, Micheil

High School Football 2018

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Madisonville senior Keyon Johnson, from left, and juniors Tyrese Merchant and Asa Surface will try to pick up where they left off in 2017 when the Mustangs won District 11-4A Division II and two playoff games.

ROSTER 2 QB/TE/DE Brandon Larson, sr.; 3 WR/DB Jeremiah Gilbert, sr.; 4 WR/DB Gage Smith, sr.; 5 RB/LB Roderick Holiday, jr.; 6 RB/LB Aaron Nellums, sr.; 7 QB/DB Tyrese Brown, jr.; 8 WR/DB Garrett Johnson, sr.; 9 WR/DB Matthew Barrington, sr.; 10 WR/DB Micheal Debiosblanc, jr.; 11 WR/LB Marcus Dorman, sr.; 12 WR/DB Colby Sheppard, jr.; 13 WR/DB Corey Johnson, jr.; 14 WR/DB Reyshawn Moore, sr.; 15 RB/LB Desmon Walls, sr.; 16 WR/DE Keyon Johnson, sr.; 18 K/P Mauricio Aceves, sr.; 20 WR/DB Donovan Young, jr.; 21 QB/LB Marcos Lopez, sr.; 22 RB/LB Uriel Willis, sr.; 28 WR/DB Ty Young, sr.; 30 WR/DB Alonso Childress, sr.; 32 LB Andy Gonzalez, sr.; 33 RB/DE Matthew Johnson, jr.; 51 OL/DL Ki’Vycia Purvis, jr.; 53 OL/ DL Ethan Williams, jr.; 54 OL/DL Micheil Harrell, jr.; 55 OL/DL Timothy Swonke, jr.; 56 OL/DL Donte Malcolm, sr.; 57 OL/DL Kevin Martinez, sr.; 58 OL/DL Austin Longoria, jr.; 60 OL/DL Avery Scott, jr.; 61 OL/DL Kavodrick Issac, sr.; 62 OL/DL Alejandro Angeles, jr.; 64 OL/DL Colton Jordan, jr.; 65 OL/DL Corban Rodriguez, sr.; 72 OL/DL Konner Atkins, soph.; 75 OL/DL Juan Polanco, jr.; 78 OL/DL Q’Narius Butcher, jr.; 88 WR/DE Asa Surface, jr.; 90 WR/DE Tyrese Merchant, jr.; 99 OL/DL Da’Voszia Mock, jr.

Trainers: Dani Merrick, Alyssa Nail, Dakota Koym Coaches: head coach Rusty Nail, offensive coordinator Russell Urbantke, defensive coordinator Randall Cherry, special teams coordinator Russell Smith, Logan Brock, Keith Sitton, Joey Renner, Travis Rasbeary, Clay Hardee, Adam Borgfeld, Lu Olvera, Anthony Campbell, Trae Poe, Casey Dean

Harrell and Da’vozia Mock will step into rotation roles on the line, and the trio performed well in preseason scrimmages, Nail said.

“While they’re not the athletes that Chris and Zach were, they’re hard, tough-nosed kids,” Nail said. “They’re learning good technique from the coaching staff, and I’ll think we’ll be fine.”

The Mustangs had planned to move all-district senior linebacker Marcus Dorman to safety, but he will return to his old spot because of an injury to Austin Longoria.

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Dorman led the team last season with 100 tackles.

Senior Marcos Lopez and junior Roderick Holiday also will get playing time at linebacker.

S e n i o r s R e y s h aw n Moore and Garrett Johnson and juniors Micheal Debiosblanc and Colby Sheppard will compete for playing time at safety, a position that Nail said the Mustangs are emphasizing in the preseason.

“Once [the safeties] get in there and we get it how we want it, we feel like we can be solid on defense again,” he said.

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FACTS Head coach — Rusty Nail (119-33 overall; 14-10 at Madisonville) District — 8-4A Division II 2017 record — 11-2 (4-0 in 11-4A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. HardinJefferson 42-20; area: def. Lorena 45-35; regional semifinals: lost to West OrangeStark 28-26 Playoff appearances (22) — 1957-59, 1975, 1983-84, 1986, 1994, 1996-98, 2000-01, 2004-07, 2010, 2013-14, 2016-17 Returning lettermen — 22 (1 offensive, 3 defensive starters) Key returners — RB Uriel Willis (11-4A D2 A-D), TE Brandon Larson (A-D), LB Marcus Dorman (A-D), LB Aaron Nellums (A-D), DB Tyrese Brown (A-D), PK-P Mauricio Aceves (A-D) Key losses — RB Cornelius Merchant (MVP), DE Zach Poe (Def. MVP), WR Kasey Williamson (A-D), WR-DB Johnny Simpson (A-D), WR-DB Kendall Moffett (A-D), OT-DE Tommy Holiday (A-D), OG Deion Crittendon (A-D), C Brad Roundtree (A-D), OG Joey McIver (A-D), DT Chris Scott (A-D), QB Ben Phillips (2nd A-D) All-time record — 414-459-29 Playoff record — 11-22

The Mustangs also have an ace-in-the-hole on special teams in senior kickerpunterMauricioAceves.He connected on 70 of 72 extrapoint kicks and 8 of 14 field goals with a long of 42 yards last season. He also averaged over 37 yards a punt with 7 of 20 downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

Aceves’ mastery of the kicking game could be a big help for a young team trying to find its footing early in the season.

“He’s huge for us in changing field position,”

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SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Bellville Last year: W 31-21

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 Woodville* Last year: W 30-22

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Caldwell Last year: W 49-32

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Navasota Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

District 8-4A Division II Sept. 28 Mexia 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 5 at Fairfield Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 Waco Connally Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Robinson Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Salado Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Lorena Last year: W 39-36; W 45-35

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 open * Homecoming

Nail said. “He can get us out of a hole with his leg in both the punting game and the kicking game. We’re excited. We feel like anywhere inside the 35, we’re in scoring range with the foot. Some of the kick rule changes where you can fair catch it inside the 20 [and receive a touchback] are going to hurt some of the hang kicks we work inside the 10, but if they’ve got a great returner, we can just kick it through the uprights, and he’s capable of that.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Bryan’s offensive line struggled to find consistency in 2017, but seniors Tyler Allen, from left, Troy Chumchal and Blaine Bright hope to help the unit lead the Vikings’ offense as it ventures into Class 6A this season.

Eagle photo

by Dave McDermand

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High School Football 2018

17

CALDWELL HORNETS

Hornets banking on experience leading way

By ROBERT CESSNA robert.cessna@theeagle.com

Caldwell’s football team didn’t achieve as much success last season as it had hoped to, but at least many of the good moments involved sophomores and juniors, which bodes well for 2018.

“Some of those sophomores and juniors were really successful, and they are kind of the nucleus behind what we’re doing this year,” Caldwell head coach Bobby Jack Goforth said.

Senior quar terback Trent Stefka is one of the group’s leaders. The second-team all-district pick threw for only 294 yards and two scores in five regular-season starts last season but had 122 yards and a touchdown pass in a 42-25 bi-district loss to Lorena on 12-of-22 passing with no interceptions.

“I think the younger guys are excited, more anxious to get on the field and play more,” Stefka said. “I feel I’m pretty balanced, but having the ball in my hands, I feel pretty confident in my decisions.”

He gives his head coach confidence.

“The first thing is his leadership ability is really good,” Goforth said. “He also has a physical presence.

He can run and throw. He did that in our scrimmage against Navasota. He made some good throws, and he made some good runs.”

Several players will share running duties, including fullback Charles Sleeth, a second-team alldistrict pick.

Stefka and the backs will be working behind a revamped line because the Hornets lost five seniors,

18

all but one of them all-district picks. Caldwell still will start three seniors on the offensive line — guard Koby Strickland, transfer tackle Caleb Ellis and tackle Cody Perry, the lone returning starter. Secondteam all-district tight end Ty Jungman also returns.

Almost all the Hornets will play on both sides, but Goforth said there’s enough quality depth to rotate at several positions, keeping players fresh and hopefully avoiding injuries.

The Hornets were built around the talented Chambers brothers in recent seasons. Kayshawn signed with Mesabi Ranger Junior College after 2016 and Domonique signed with Cisco JC after last season. They had many monster games on both sides of the football and in special teams, but it often wasn’t enough as the Hornets went 23-22 over the last four seasons.

Goforth hopes spreading the workload over more players leads to more winning.

“We kind of sold the idea of just everyone pitching in and just executing well across the board and use everybody,” Goforth said.

“It’s kind of taken off, and we really feel like the strength of our team once we get everybody going will be our defensive line and our three linebackers.”

Caldwell switched to a 5-2 alignment because of a lack of linebackers in recent years, but now the unit is a strength. Sleeth, who also earned secondteam all-district honors at defensive tackle, is moving to middle linebacker. The 210-pounder, who also can

High School Football 2018

ROSTER

SCHEDULE

1 WR/DB Kyle Jennings, 5-8, 165, jr.; 2 WR/DB Tabor Dowell, 160, jr.; 3 WR/DB Brandon Kauvar, 5-9, 170, sr.; 4 PK Omar Calderon, 160, sr.; 6 WR/ DB Omar Menchaca, 6-0, 165, sr.; 7 TE/LB Wade Tittle, 5-11, 195, jr.; 8 WR/DB Logan Knesek, 5-9, 165, jr.; 9 QB/DB Kyle Cunningham, 5-8, 165, jr.; 11 RB/LB Brandon Williams, 6-0, 170, jr.; 12 QB/DB Trent Stefka, 6-0, 185, sr.; 14 WR/DB Marshall Armstrong, 5-10, 160, jr.; 15 QB/DB Larry Davis, 5-10, 160, soph.; 16 FB/LB Collin Gammage, 5-10, 235, jr.; 17 RB/DB Kolby Chaplin, 5-9, 175, jr.; 19 RB/DB Travis Owens, 165, jr.; 20 FB/DL Garrett Church, 5-9, 220, soph.; 21 RB/DB Tyrese Day, 5-11, 210, sr.; 24 FB/LB Charles Sleeth, 5-9, 210, jr.; 26, FB/LB West Stanley, 180, sr.; 30 TE/DE Ty Jungman, 5-11, 190, sr.; 33 FB/DT Cameron Cash, 5-11, 220, sr.; 50 FB/LB Daniel Torres, 170, soph.; 51 OL/DL Kyle Pecht, 5-10, 180, jr.; 52 OL/DL Cody Perry, 6-1, 180, sr.; 54 OL/DL Koby Strickland, 5-10, 200, sr.; 56 OL/DL Carson Gammage, 5-10, 235, jr.; 62 OL/DL Juan Amaya, 5-9, 200, sr.; 63 OL/DL Ryan Broaddus, 275, soph.; 64 OL/DL Caleb Ellis, 6-2, 180, sr.; 70 OL/DL Luke Skrabanek, 5-11, 210, sr.; 72 OL/DL Esequiel Flores, 5-9, 245, jr.; 74 OL/ DL Efrain Coronado, 200, soph.; 77 OL/DL Neo Onikashvili, 6-0, 240, sr.; 78 OL/DL Bryce Casteneda, 250, sr.; 79 OL/DL LaDarryl Robinson, 275, sr.

Assistant coaches: Cullen Stifflemire, Justin Hale, Craig Smith, Chris Kuykendall, Chris Taplin, Brandon Drake, Casey McDaniel, Kenny Toney, Jacob Schaefer, Wayland Jenkins

Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Edna Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 Rockdale Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 Madisonville Last year: L 49-32

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Columbus Last year: W 40-18

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 Lexington Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5

open District 12-4A Division II Oct. 12 Giddings 7:30 p.m.

Last year: L 50-43

Oct. 19 La Grange Last year: W 32-7

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 at Bellville Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 Brookshire Royal Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Smithville Last year: L 43-27

7:30 p.m.

FACTS

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Caldwell’s Garrett Church, from left, Luke Skrabanek and Cody Perry will be among several Hornets sharing roles on both offensive and defensive lines in 2018 as head coach Bobby Goforth tries to get as much of his roster involved as possible. play nose guard, creating a five-man front, will be flanked by fellow sophomores Wade Tittle and Colin Gammage.

Secondary is another solid position with safeties Logan Knesek, Kyle Cunningham and Kolby Chaplin and cornerbacks Kyle Jennings and Brandon Kauvar.

Caldwell’s defense had a strong showing against Navasota in the scrimmage.

Taking on the Class 4A Division I Rattlers helped prepare the Hornets for a tough stretch to start the season that includes defending 3A Division II state champion Rockdale sand-



wiched by Edna, a 3A Division I regional semifinalist last year, and Madisonville, which went 11-2.

“Our philosophy since I got here is for our kids to get a taste of good competition to get ready for district,” Goforth said. “We’ve always taken on as good a competition as we can find.”

Caldwell had high aspirations a year ago, especially after knocking off perennial 3A power Franklin in the season opener. But the Hornets lost the next three games, then lost senior quarterback Will Faust in the fifth game to a season-ending injury.

TheEagle.com

Caldwell had to run the ball more without Faust, who had thrown for 2,000 yards in 16 games.

The Hornets regrouped to go 3-2 in 10-4A Division II, losing a 50-43 shootout to Giddings that ended up costing Caldwell a piece of the league championship.

“Things just never quite jelled all the way,” Goforth said.

Stefka went 2-3 as the starting quarterback, gaining valuable playing time and learning how arduous a varsity season can be come November.

“I think last year at the end we kind of got gassed,” Stefka said. “We didn’t have



Head coach — Bobby Jack Goforth (47-67 overall; 24-30 at Caldwell) District — 12-4A Division II 2017 record — 4-6 (3-2 in 10-4A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: lost to Lorena 42-25 Playoff appearances (22) — 1924, 1926, 1928, 1930-32, 1935, 1939, 1971, 1980, 1984, 1994, 1999, 2003-04, 2007-09, 2014-17 Returning lettermen — 15 (3 offensive, 5 defensive starters) Key returners — DT Garrett Church (104A D2 A-D), QB Trent Stefka (2nd A-D), FB Charles Sleeth (2nd A-D), TE Ty Jungman (2nd A-D), S Logan Knesek (2nd A-D) Key losses — WR Domonique Chambers (Off. MVP), OG John David Royall (A-D), OT Nathan Balcar (A-D), LB-RB Xavier Williams (A-D), WR Weston Lilie (2nd A-D), C Joshawa Petty (2nd A-D), OG Ray Flores (2nd A-D), OT-DT Andrew Telg (2nd A-D), LB Josh Burkhalter (2nd A-D), CB Jemarie White (2nd A-D) All-time record — 461-460-32 Playoff record — 14-19-1

the energy we did when we started the year off.”

This year, Caldwell is picked to finish third in 12-4A Division II behind Bellville and Giddings in a district which has no one ranked in Texas Football’s Top 20 in its classification.

Stefka said the underdog role adds a little motivation for his Hornets.

“Everybody is not expecting much from us, but we’re definitely going to shock a few people this year,” he said.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

CAMERON YOEMEN

Close losses in 2017 have Yoemen motivated for turnaround

By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com

The Cameron Yoemen are hoping the football bounces their way in close games more often this season than last.

After a 40-14 win over Bellville in the 2017 season opener, Cameron dropped five straight games — all by one possession — to put its playoff hopes in serious jeopardy. The Yoemen rebounded to win three of their last four regular-season games, but the playoff push took its toll as Cameron was bounced in the bidistrict round with a 40-14 loss to Teague.

“The f ive-g ame losing streak where we lost those games by a total of 20 points was very hard on us,” Cameron coach Tommy Brashear said. “[They were tough] not only because we lost them, but just mentally five in a row when we’re right there in all those games, and two of them were last-second [losses]. It was just kind of some heartbreaking losses that it might have almost been better if we got beat badly. It was tough for our kids to overcome mentally, and I think they got down on themselves and lost confidence.”

Brashear is encouraged by how his team has responded in the offseason and in preseason practices, adding that he believes that the Yoemen are more mature than a young team with 10 returning starters would typically be.

Without the dynamic duo of quarterback Zack Andress and receiver Iverson Westbrook, who both graduated, Cameron will rely on what looks to

ROSTER

FACTS

1 WR/DB Kadrian Hammond, sr.; 2 WR/DB Billy Collier, jr.; 3 WR/LB Rigo Valdez, sr.; 4 WR/DB Kobe Young, jr.; 5 RB/LB Alex Alonso, sr.; 6 RB/LB James DeBose, jr.; 7 DL/RB Anthony Steamer, sr.; 8 RB/DB JD Wilson, sr.; 9 RB/DB Davion Bynaum, sr.; 10 QB/LB Kirk Lara, sr.; 11 WR/DB Deonte Williams, sr.; 12 QB/DB Braden Brashear, jr.; 14 WR/DB Ki’Zirrius Holt, sr.; 15 WR/LB Jale Walzel, sr.; 17 QB/DB Anthony Layne, sr.; 18 WR/DB Thomas Melton, jr.; 20 WR/DB Iverson Braziel, soph.; 22 WR/DB JaCorian Melton, jr.; 24 RB/LB Patrick England, jr.; 25 RB/LB Nico Vargas, jr.; 30 OL/DL Domanique Borgas, jr.; 35 RB/DL Kendal Fincher, jr.; 42 RB/LB Heath Hollas, jr.; 50 OL/LB Ulices Cardona, sr.; 52 OL/LB Tyler Burt, jr.; 54 OL/DL Brayden Hollomon, jr.; 55 OL/DL Kyle Cullen, sr.; 56 OL/DL Chris Johnson, sr.; 64 OL/DL Kevin Avdic, sr.; 66 OL/DL Anthony Hernandez, sr.; 68 OL/ DL Richie Acosta, jr.; 70 OL/DL Will Scott, jr.; 72 OL/DL Frank Ibarra, sr.; 74 OL/DL Caleb Hubnik, sr.; 75 OL/DL Alfredo Sierra, sr.; 76 OL/DL Eduardo Gil, soph.; 78 OL/DL Dominic Lewis, jr.

Trainers: David Schiller, Mariah Delao-Vargas, Brittany Hatter, Courtney Muniz, Angel Martinez, Courtney Ward, Kayla Whitmire, Destiny Weathersby, Allison Willoughby, Geralina Blair Coaches: head coach Tommy Brashear, Eric Balch, Gary Zeinert, Pete Magre, John Marek, Jayce Rasberry, Lance Hause, Jarryd Garza, Dominique Steamer, Kirk Wagner, Trey Young, Rene Cantu, Hector Delgadillo, Brandon Thiry

be a stingy defense while the new-look offense finds its groove.

All-state junior Nico Vargas will lead a linebacker corps that returns all four starters. After getting his feet wet as a freshman in 2016, Vargas led the team with 161 tackles last season and is poised to take another step forward this year. Seniors Ulices Cardona and Jale Walzel and junior Pat England join Vargas to form the strength of the Yoemen defense.

The secondary will be full of fresh faces with seniors Anthony Layne, Ki’Zirrius Holt, Davion Bynaum and Kadrian Hammond, junior Billy Collier and sophomore Iverson Braziel all in the mix for heavy playing time. Brashear said the preseason competition has brought out the best in the six players, who will likely all see the field in obvious passing situations.

With senior Chris Johnson moving to the offensive line, Cameron’s defensive line lacks experience, but several players have risen to the occasion in the preseason. Junior Domanique Borgas made the move up from JV and, in part due to his background as a wrestler, has impressed coaches

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

with his hand technique.

The surprise of the preseason on the line has been sophomore Eduardo Gil, who has earned a starting role during two-a-days. Senior Anthony Steamer has moved from linebacker to defensive end, and junior Kendal Fincher, who has been out during the preseason with an illness, will also receive playing time at end once he gets back.

“That’s going to be the key — how good our Dline and O-line are going to be,” Brashear said. “In our scrimmages, it’s hard to tell how good you are. I feel like we’re in a rebuilding-type year, but I think we’ve got some good pieces to do that with.”

The offensive line returns three starters in senior center Frank Ibarra and senior guards Caleb Hubnik and Alfredo Sierra. Johnson and junior Dominic Lewis will slide into the tackle spots.

The dynamic Bynaum and power back Vargas will handle the workload in the running game, which Brashear expects to be more effective this season, citing an improved and more experienced offensive line.

All-district receivers Holt (490 receiving yards,



SCHEDULE

Head coach — Tommy Brashear (15-10 overall; 15-10 at Cameron) District — 10-3A Division I 2017 record — 4-7 (3-3 in 10-3A Division I) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: lost to Teague West 40-14 Playoff appearances (44) — 1934, 1936, 1946-48, 1951, 1954, 1964-67, 1974-75, 1978, 1981-87, 1989-93, 1996-98, 2000-02, 2004-07, 2010-17 Returning lettermen — 10 (5 offensive, 5 defensive starters) Key returners — WR Ki’zirrius Holt (10-3A D1 A-D), LB Nico Vargas (A-D), OL Caleb Hubnik (2nd A-D), LB Pat England (2nd A-D), OL Frank Ibarra (A-D), WR Kadrian Hammond (2nd A-D) Key losses — WR Iverson Westbrook (Off. MVP), QB Zack Andress (A-D), OL Adrian Lewis (A-D), DL Brodie Sexton (A-D), DB Levi May (A-D), DB D.J. Daniels (A-D), RB D.J. Fripp (2nd A-D), OL Christian Reyes (2nd A-D), Quentin Ewing (2nd A-D), DB Bryce Brashear (2nd A-D), DB Bryce Welsh (2nd A-D) All-time record — 712-353-42 Playoff record — 72-38-3

eight TDs in 2017) and Hammond (312-5) return along with junior Kobe Young as the top receiving options, and junior

Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Mexia Last year: did not play Sept. 7 open Sept. 14 at Gatesville Last year: L 31-26 Sept. 21 Giddings Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

District 10-3A Division I Sept. 28 at Troy 7:30 p.m.

Last year: W 35-0 Oct. 5 Katy St. John (nondistrict) 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 12 Jarrell* Last year: W 55-0

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Academy Last year: W 41-0

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Rockdale Last year: L 63-34

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Manor New Tech Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 Lago Vista Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

Thomas Melton will also be heavily involved in the

passing game.

Junior quar terback Braden Brashear, son of Tommy, takes the reins of the offense from Andress.

Braden Brashear, more of a pocket passer, edged out the dual-threat Layne for the starting job, though the Yoemen plan to run packages with Layne taking snaps when not using him as a receiver. “[Braden Brashear] has done a great job,” Tommy Brashear said. “He’s very calm; he’s not a guy that panics. He’s accurate, and that’s a big reason why he won the job over the spring and 7-on-7 — he showed to be our most accurate guy.

He reads coverages well ... very football-savvy and makes smart decisions.”

Good Luck with the 2018 - 2019 Season!

TheEagle.com

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High School Football 2018

19

ROCKDALE TIGERS

Miller pushing Tigers to prepare for state title defense

By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com

Despite coming off a Class 3A Division I state championship and finding his team on the short list of preseason title favorites, Rockdale football coach Jeff Miller has a somewhat sobering realization.

“We’re not that good,” Miller said.

At least not yet.

The Tigers are ranked third and picked to reach the 3A Division I semifinals

by Texas Football Magazine despite returning just nine starters and losing TSWA 3A player of the year Torry Locklin, now at Kansas, and all-state receiver and defensive back Jaquayln Crawford, who is playing at Oklahoma.

“We can’t rest on what we did last year,” Miller said of the Tigers’ first state title in 41 years. “It was an unbelievable run and a lot of fun, but honestly, nobody cares. The people we’re playing don’t care what we did last year.

People are coming after us, and we have a ton of holes that we have to fill.

We better approach each day like we’re the underdogs because in reality ... we are. We’re not a very good football team right now. I think we can be, but right now we’re certainly not.”

Nor does Miller expect them to be good to start the season, which begins with a tough nondistrict slate — at Giddings, at Caldwell, at home against Lexington and at Hyde Park. Miller is hopeful that the seasonopening gauntlet will help mold the Tigers into a team that can live up to the preseason hype by the time

20

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Giddings Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Caldwell Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 13 Lexington# Last year: L 38-7

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Austin Hyde Park Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Sept. 28 open District 10-3A Division I Oct. 5 Manor New Tech 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 12 at Lago Vista Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 Troy* Last year: W 49-10

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 at Cameron Last year: W 63-34

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 Jarrell Last year: W 77-0

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Academy Last year: W 49-14

7:30 p.m.

# at Taylor * Homecoming

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Rockdale’s Doss Hasselbach, from left, Carson Offield and Robert Barrera are back for their senior seasons after helping the Tigers win the Class 3A Division I state championship last season. its District 10-3A Division I-opening game against Manor Tech on Oct. 5 rolls around.

The first order of business in building that identity will be finding the guy that will take over at quarterback for Locklin, who passed for 2,536 yards and 27 touchdowns and rushed for 2,434 yards and 30 scores last season.

Junior Ross Loth and sophomore Jace Robinson have been splitting reps with the first team throughout the preseason, and Miller expects that to continue through at least the first game or two of the regular season before the Tigers settle on a signalcaller.

Despite the loss of Crawford and all-state tight end Tyler Lehmkuhl, whoever claims the quarterback job should have plenty of weapons to utilize, led by senior receiver Quentin Hughes, who had 17

High School Football 2018

catches for 272 yards and two TDs from the slot last season.

“Quentin is going to have to have a big year for us [to be successful],” Miller said. “He is a leader, led us in summer workouts and 7-on-7. We’ve got to get some big stuff out of him.”

Sophomore running backs Kesean Raven and Cam’ron Valdez are both electric with the ball in their hands, according to Miller, and each will have roles in the backfield as well as replacing Crawford in the return game.

Even with the talent at the skill positions, Miller believes the strength of the Tigers lies in the trenches. The offensive line is anchored by senior Carson Offield, a firstteam all-district selection last season, senior Robert Barrera and sophomore left tackle Ty Mayberry, who started the final five games of the Tigers’ title



ROSTER 1 WR/DB Quentin Hughes, 5-9, 160, sr.; 2 WR/DB Landon Towns, 6-0, 145, jr.; 3 RB/DB Cam’Ron Valdez, 5-10, 170, soph.; 4 WR/DB Nathan Newlin, 6-0, 185, sr.; 5 WR/DB Kesean Raven, 5-9, 140, soph.; 6 WR/DB Ethan Hughes, 5-9 140, jr.; 7 WR/DB Will Storey, 5-11, 160, sr.; 8 WR/LB Tyler Caldwell, 5-10, 175, sr.; 9 QB Jace Robinson, 5-11, 165, soph.; 10 TE/LB Jackson Perry, 6-1, 210, sr.; 11 WR/DB Qua Shawn Crawford, 5-11, 165, jr.; 12 WR/DB Kobe Mitchell, 5-10, 160, fr.; 14 WR/DB Levi Baggerly, 5-8, 140, jr.; 15 QB Ross Loth, 6-3, 190, jr.; 18 TE/LB Colby Monroe, 6-2, 205, jr.; 22 RB/LB Trevor Everedge, 5-8, 165, fr.; 30 TE/LB Keylan Hairston, 6-0, 220, jr.; 31 K Luis Iruegas, 5-11, 170, sr.; 32 RB/LB Brandon Hernandez, 5-8, 200, jr.; 33 TE/LB Preston Debault, 5-10, 200, sr.; 34 TE/LB Jahemi Rubin, 5-5, 190, sr.; 44 TE/LB Chris Vargas, 5-10, 190, fr.; 50 OL/DL Cole Rickman, 6-1, 245, sr.; 51 OL/DL Chris Reyes, 5-10, 215, jr.; 52 OL/DL Doss Hasselbach, 6-3, 210, sr.; 53 OL/DL Josh Davenport, 5-11, 235, sr.; 55 OL/DL Robert Barrera, 5-11, 275, sr.; 59 OL/DL Cayden McBride, 6-1, 250, sr.; 60 OL/DL Carson Offield, 6-0, 210, sr.; 64 OL/DL Ty Mayberry, 6-0, 220, soph.; 70 OL/DL Joseph Rubio, 5-9, 225, jr.; 71 OL/DL Jose Rivera, 5-10, 215, soph.; 72 OL/DL Wyatt Pounders, 5-10, 220, jr.; 76 OL/DL Leo Millan, 5-5, 230, sr.; 88 WR/DB Jabez Bunn, 5-10, 165, jr.; 99 WR/LB Ervin Russell, 5-8, 150, sr.

run as a freshman, also are retur ning. Senior Doss Hasselbach slots in at right tackle. “[Mayberry] is a special kid,” Miller said. “He takes everything in stride.

We were real pleased last year. He didn’t get nervous; he just went out there and was really solid. He didn’t waver a bit in that state game. Brock had some good defensive linemen, and he played really well against them. He’s going to be a really good one.

We really look forward to the next three years with

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him.”

On the defensive line, all-state selection Cayden McBride returns alongside all-district pick Josh Davenport to form a formidable senior duo up front.

Other returning starters on the defense include linebacker Jackson Perry and defensive backs Will Storey and Nathan Newlin, all of whom were alldistrict picks last season.

Junior Levi Baggerly and freshman Kobe Mitchell are candidates to take over Crawford’s role at cornerback.



FACTS Head coach — Jeff Miller (126-75 overall; 91-54 at Rockdale) District — 10-3A Division I 2017 record — 13-3 (5-1 in 10-3A Division I) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. Malakoff 46-33; area: def. Woodville 55-30; regional semifinals: def. West 31-21; quarterfinals: def. Teague 42-20; Semifinals: def. Yoakum 31-21; finals: def. Brock 45-29 Playoff appearances (26) — 1958, 196263, 1975-77, 1979, 1992-93, 1995, 1997-99, 2002-04, 2007-10, 2012-17 Zone playoff (1) — 1973 Returning lettermen — 17 (4 offensive, 5 defensive starters) Key returners — DL-OL Cayden McBride (10-3A D1 A-D), DB Will Storey (A-D), WR Quentin Hughes (2nd A-D), DL Josh Davenport (2nd A-D), OL Carson Offield (A-D), LB Jackson Perry (2nd A-D), LB Nathan Newlin (2nd A-D) Key losses — LB JR Harris (Off. MVP), QB Torry Locklin (A-D), WR-DB Jaqualyn Crawford (A-D), TE Tyler Lehmkuhl (A-D), OL Wyatt Chambers (A-D), Dylan David (A-D), DB Josh Springer (A-D), P James Little (A-D), WR Chris Johnson (2nd A-D), TE Marcos Gutierrez (2nd A-D), OL Jim Meraz (2nd A-D), OL Patrick Dean (2nd A-D), LB Dylan Rowe (2nd A-D) All-time record — 532-455-25 Playoff record — 32-24-0

Reliable senior kicker Luis Iruegas gives the Tigers an edge on special teams and in clutch situations. All four of Iruegas’ field goals in the playoffs last season either put the Tigers ahead or pushed their lead to two possessions late. He also went 32 of 33 on PATs during the state title run.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

NORMANGEE PANTHERS

Panthers on prowl for bounceback season

By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

Normangee head football coach Nelson Kortis is taking an all-for-one, one-for-all approach with his Panthers in 2018 after they missed the playoffs for the first time in four years last season.

“We g raduated 12 seniors last year and obviously didn’t have a great season, but these kids are program kids and they’re picking each other up, teaching each other,” Kortis said. “They are doing things you expect in a program. We don’t have two or three guys that are great athletes or that carry everybody — it’s a team concept and a team atmo-

sphere, and that’s really what we are pushing.”

The Panthers went 2-8 overall and 0-5 in District 13-2A Division II in 2017. It was a bit of a shock for the Panthers and Kortis, who had gone three weeks deep into the playoffs the previous two seasons.

Kortis says part of the reason for the dropoff was the team felt a turnaround from a poor start was perpetually imminent, for in 2016 the Panthers lost their opening six g ames then went on to win the district.

The turnaround never materialized in 2017, and the Panthers, despite scoring a fair amount of points, were never able “to finish,” as Kortis described it.

Kortis, who played for

ROSTER

FACTS

2 RB/LB Michael Hill, sr.; 3 WR/DB Garrette Douga, soph.; 4 WR/LB Tanner Donahoe, sr.; 5 WR/ DB Izaha Jones, fr.; 6 RB/DB Tyler Vaught, jr.; 7 WR/LB Blain Sadecky, jr.; 8 WR/DB Luke Yellott, soph.; 9 WR/LB Kyle VanVolkinburg, jr.; 10 Hunter Dudley; 11 WR/DB Brandon Brooks, soph.; 12 WR/DB Jacob Shuler, jr.; 13 WR/DB Logan Andrews, sr.; 14 QB/DB Mason Hardy, fr.; 15 WR/ DL Cavan Nicholson, jr.; 16 WR/LB Peyton Bell, fr.; 17 WR/DB Nathan Bosley, soph.; 18 WR/LB Jose Monsibias, fr.; 20 WR/LB John O’Neal, soph.; 21 WR/DB Tate Franks, fr.; 22 WR/LB Denton Young, soph.; 23 RB/LB Zayven Henson, fr.; 24 WR/DB Tyler McAllister, fr.; 25 RB/LB Spencer Yellott, fr.; 30 WR/LB Jesse Lopez, fr.; 32 RB/LB Jose Molina, fr.; 45 WR/DB Colt Franks, soph.; 50 OL/LB Ethan de la Garza, jr.; 52 OL/LB Brady Harris, jr.; 55 OL/DL Clifton Boatright, jr.; 57 OL/DL Vincent Navarro, soph.; 59 OL/DL Julius Plotts, soph.; 60 OL/DL Thomas Ray, sr.; 61 OL/ DL Braylon Cornish, fr.; 65 OL/DL Kolbee Lee, sr.; 67 OL/DL Kayden Byrd, fr.; 69 OL/DL Austin Breest, sr.; 70 Ol/LB Camron Rosales, fr.; 72 OL/DL Wesley Navarro, sr.; 75 OL/DL Gavin Linder, fr.; 79 OL/DL Adrian Diaz, fr.

Coaches: head coach Nelson Kortis, offensive coordinator Jonathan Saldana, defensive coordinator Charles Hudgeons, Cody Price, Clay Todd

a state title as a receiver at Rogers and won one as offensive coordinator at Navasota, wasn’t fond of sitting at home throughout November. But at a regional coaches meeting, he said he was hit with a little different point of view when the speaker, Baylor football coach Matt Rhule, asked if any coaches in the room had gone 0-10 in 2017, then

topped those who raised their hand by saying he had lost 11 games.

“That meant a lot to me back in February,” Kortis said. “You feel low going 2-8, and then you hear a colleg e coach at a Baylor program, an historic program even coming off of what they came off of, and he still understands to keep things in perspec-

Head coach — Nelson Kortis (30-27 overall; 18-18 at Normangee) District — 9-2A Division I 2017 record — 2-8 (0-5 in 13-2A Division I) Playoff appearances (20) — 11-man (16) — 1932, 1984-89, 1997, 2002-04, 2007-08, 2010-11, 2014-16; 6-man (2) — 1963-64 (zone playoffs: 1984-86) Returning lettermen — 12 (5 offensive, 5 defensive starters) Key returners — WR Luke Yellott (13-2A Div. I 2nd A-D) Key losses — WR Jake Shaw (A-D), WR-S Tristan Young (A-D), WR-S CJ Rosales (A-D), QB Cameron Ranton (2nd A-D), WR Evan Pate (2nd A-D) All-time record — 290-385-15 (11-man) Playoff record — 12-16-0

tive. That was a huge lesson to me, and that is what I shared with these kids.

That’s what I told a lot of these guys going into this is we are going to own it, and we are going to be different because of it, and that is what we have done.”

The Panthers have a couple of experienced players

they will lean on in junior slot receiver Luke Yellott, their lone all-district returnee, and senior tailback Tyler Vaught. Senior Logan Andrews also will have to play a big role at wideout. “[Vaught’s] a speedy kid, real fast, and we are going to have use him and tempo to use his strength because he runs full speed all the time,” Kortis said. “[Andrews] will be that possession guy that we can throw to. He has great hands and has the ability to go make a catch and big plays when you need three.”

All three skill-position players will be dependent on an offensive line led by

See PANTHERS, Page 25

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018



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High School Football 2018

21

FRANKLIN LIONS

Loaded Lions open season 6th in 3A Division I

By ROBERT CESSNA robert.cessna@theeagle.com

Few teams can match the experience the Franklin Lions will have this season on the field and the sideline.

Franklin returns eight offensive and nine defensive starters from a 10-3 team. The veterans include 205-pound running back/safety Jared Pedraza, District 10-3A Division I’s most valuable player last season, and the district’s co-defensive MVP in linebacker Will Fannin. The other returning starters combined for nine firstteam, all-district honors and six more received second-team honors.

And if that’s not enough to load a roster, there’s more help on the way.

“We have a lot of experience, but the younger guys coming up are pretty good,” Pedraza said.

“They’re going to help us a lot.”

If Franklin lives up to its No. 6 preseason ranking in Class 3A Division I by Texas Football, the Lions will give veteran head coach Mike Hedrick his 300th victory. In his 43rd season, Hedrick is 291-156-11 overall and 112-34 at Franklin. Hedrick ranks 15th all-time in the state in career victories and is fourth among active coaches, trailing Corpus Christi Calallen’s Phil Danaher (445-109-4), Highland Park’s Randy Allen (376-876) and Houston Lamar’s Tom Nolen (364-98-7). Hedrick played at Franklin for his father, Hall of Famer Joe Hedrick, who went 240-121-15 at Franklin from 1948-1984. Joe Hedrick won with a powerful Wing-T running attack and stout

22

ROSTER

SCHEDULE

2 TB/SS Avery Archibald, 5-10, 190, sr.; 3 TE/DE Legrand Stegall, 6-0, 225, sr.; 4 TB/CB Datron Dixon, 5-10, 165, jr.; 5 QB/CB Marcus Wade, 6-0, 160, fr.; 6 QE/CB Tucker Gober, 5-11, 145, sr.; 7 TB/CB Christian Rokes, 5-5, 150, sr.; 8 QB/CB Michael Maniscalco, 5-9, 130, sr.; 11 TB/CB Ethan Spiller, 5-10, 150, sr.; 12 QB/SS Colton Ortner, 5-11, 175, sr.; 15 HB/FS Jared Pedraza, 5-11, 210, sr.; 16 TE/SS Blake Leamon, 5-11, 180, sr.; 20 QE/SS Jacob Cook, 5-10, 180, sr.; 24 HB/LB Will Fannin, 5-10, 185, sr.; 25 FB/LB CJ Smith, 5-9, 175, jr.; 30 HB/LB Mason Banister, 5-10, 170, jr.; 31 QE/SS Sean Madary, 6-1, 170, sr.; 32 TB/FS Malcolm Murphy, 5-10, 150, fr.; 33 HB/SS Seth Spiller, 6-0, 170, soph.; 34 FB/DE Ashton Ferguson, 5-11, 190, soph.; 38 FB/LB Clayton Rosprim, 6-0, 225, sr.; 50 OL/DT Trey Corn, 5-10, 265, soph.; 51 OL/DE Tyler Evans, 5-6, 160, jr.; 52 OL/DE Ryan Davs, 6-2, 200, sr.; 54 OL/DE Kegan Wilson, 6-1, 2-5, soph.; 55 OL/LB Kobe Lebreche, 5-9, 200, jr.; 60 OL/DL Joseph Vega, 5-10, 205, soph.; 62 OL/LB Isaac Suarez, 5-10, 185, jr.; 63 OL/DL Cade Stewart, 5-6, 240, sr.; 65 OL/DL Jamarcus Jutson, 5-7, 210, sr.; 66 OL/DL Kolbe Watkins, 6-2, 240, sr.; 70 OL/DE Colton Rosprim, 5-11, 220, sr.; 75 OL/DL Cody Tilson, 6-4, 250, soph.; 77 OL/DL Cody Duewall, 6-2, 245, jr.; 80 QE/C Jaylon Wells, 5-10, 150, sr.; 81 QE/SS James Little, 5-10, 170, jr.; 82 TE/DE Asher Ward, 6-1, 160, soph.

Manager:Devane Cain Coaches: head coach Mike Hedrick, Mark Fannin, Joe Hedrick, Kenneth Robinson, Will Hedrick, Matthew Anderson, Quentin Lankford, Terry Maxwell, Don Miller, Jordan Lyle, Keith Klaus, Daniel Brewer, Jake Russ

ELITE COMPANY

Here are the state’s leaders in career victories among active high school football coaches, according to Texas Football and texashighschoolfootballhistory. com: 445: Phil Danaher, Corpus Christi Callen 376: Randy Allen, Highland Park 364: Tom Nolen, Houston Lamar 291: Mike Hedrick, Franklin 290: Denny Faith, Albany 257: Larry Hill, Smithson Valley 255: Reginald Samples, Duncanville 254: Mike Wheeler, Dallas Christian 249: Jerry Bomar, Orange Grove 244: Ross Rogers, Bryan

defense. He’d be pleased with the playmakers his son’s Slot-T has.

Fullback Clayton Rosprim rushed for 1,523 yards and 17 touchdowns on 225 carries last season.

Pedraza added 1,135 yards and 17 touchdowns on 132 carries, catching 15 passes for another 241 yards and two scores. Datron Dixon (860 yards) almost gave the Lions a third 1,000-yard rusher. They’ll run behind a trio of veterans in tackles Kolbe Watkins and Cody Duewall and guard Colton Rosprim.

Defensively, Pedraza and Fannin combined for almost 400 tackles. Fannin

High School Football 2018

had 224 tackles, 16 of them for losses. Pedraza added 158 with 14 pass breakups.

Both made Texas Football’s preseason 3A all-state team on defense. They are supported by returning linebackers C.J. Smith, Jacob Cook and Blake Leamon.

Defensive end Ryan Davis and defensive tackle David Stegall return for their senior seasons after earning all-district honors, while junior defensive back RaShawn Smith also returns after making 10-3AI’s first team.

Pedraza, who earned a lot of his muscle by working on his family’s ranch, has been offered scholarships by Northwestern State and Toledo with interest also coming from Baylor, Rice and Sam Houston State. He’s one of 19 seniors, many of them multi-year starters, who have helped Franklin run its consecutive playoff streak to 11 straight seasons.

“We just played for each other, the greater cause,” Pedraza said. “We just play harder.”

Pedraza and the Lions did just that midway through the season last year after starting 2-2.

The slow start came on



FACTS

Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Hearne Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 Lorena Last year: W 27-26

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Mart Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 open District 11-3A Division I Sept. 28 at Coldspring-Oakhurst 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 5 Elkhart Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Palestine Westwood Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 open Oct. 26 Trinity Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Diboll Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 Crockett Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

the heels of an 8-3 season that broke a string of five straight double-digit winning seasons capped by reaching the state title game in 2015.

Head coach — Mike Hedrick (291-156-11 overall; 112-34 at Franklin) District — 11-3A Division I 2017 record — 10-3 (6-0 in 10-3A Division I) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. Groesbeck 63-49; area: def. La Marque 45-7; regional semifinals: lost to Teague 41-14 Playoff appearances (30) — 1951, 1953, 1955, 1961, 1965, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977-79, 1983-84, 1986, 1988, 1996-98, 2003, 2007-17 Returning lettermen — 18 (8 offensive, 9 defensive starters) Key returners — RB-DB Jared Pedraza (10-3A D1 MVP), LB Will Fannin (Co-Def. MVP), DT Legrand Stegall (Co-Def. NOY), RB Clayton Rosprim (A-D), RB Datron Dixon (A-D), P/WR James Little (A-D), DL Ryan Davis (A-D), LB CJ Smith (A-D), LB Blake Leamon (A-D), DB Rashawn Green (A-D), OL Cody Duewall (2nd A-D), OL-DL Colton Rosprim (2nd A-D), OL Kolbe Watkins (2nd A-D), LB Jacob Cook (2nd A-D) Key losses — RB Nick Lopez (A-D), TE Casey Phillips (A-D), OL Dalton Watkins (A-D), OL William Deal (A-D), RB Tristan Moore (2nd A-D), OL Matt Duewall (2nd A-D), DL Kavan Dooley (2nd A-D), DL Jayden Brown (2nd A-D), DB Zach Kissinger (2nd A-D) All-time record — 560-372-37 Playoff record — 32-29-1

“We just came together as a team after we lost that second game,” Pedraza

said. “We had a team meeting and said we weren’t going to lose again. I just think we need to be like that the whole season.”

The Lions reeled off six straight victories to win 10-3A Division I, a run that included a 38-34 comeback victory at Cameron and a 37-34 victory over Rockdale, the eventual Division I state champion.

Franklin will remain in a seven-team district for the next two years in 113A-I but won’t play any of the former teams in 10-3A-I as it heads east. The Lions are the only team in their new district that won more than six games last season, though Coldspring (6-4), Diboll (6-4) and Trinity (38) each made the playoffs.

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Monday - Friday: 8aM – 6PM



Wednesday, August 29, 2018

RIDE INTO THE

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4101 TEXAS HWY 6 S • COLLEGE STATION 979.690.1669 • www.theranchhd.com Monday-Saturday 9am - 6pm

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

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BIKE NIGHT

Every last Thursday of the month

frEE food & drINKs!

All bikes welcome & non-riders welcome! 

High School Football 2018

23

FREE

Supporting local HigH ScHool football

MVP Haircut Upgrade

Reg. MVP Price: $24.

Not valid with any other offer. Coupon may not be bartered, copied, traded or sold.

Valid only at Bryan/College Station Locations.

ExpirEs 12/1/18 • CODE 2306 College Station

Tower Point

943 William D. Fitch Pkwy #351

980 E. University Dr.

Coming Fall 2018 Wellborn Road 11667 FM 2154

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TRy oUR nEw onlinE cHEck-in aT sPoRTcliPs.coM

Dr. Randolph Gibbs is a board certified general surgeon with a subspecialty certificate in Surgery of the Hand. He recently relocated his family to the Brazos Valley to practice medicine. He offers a wide array of services for our area athletes, with a focus on traumatic injuries and fractures of the hand and wrist.

Board certification is an important

distinction. It demonstrates when physicians go above and beyond to prove that they can provide superior care to their patients over others with only a medical license.

We would like to wish all of our area schools the best of luck this year. We are looking forward to an exciting football season, and hope that our players enjoy themselves while being safe.

3201 University Dr. E Suite 435 • Bryan, TX 77802 • (979) 774-0411

24

High School Football 2018

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TheEagle.com



Wednesday, August 29, 2018

PANTHERS: Sophomore Mason Hardy set to take over at quarterback Continued from 21 by seniors Bubba Mayes and Austin Breest and a young, inexperienced quarterback in sophomore Mason Hardy, who played linebacker and on special teams as a freshman.

“He will be a solid kid we can count on, that we can trust, and he’s a great kid,” Kortis said of Hardy. “He wants to get better and is hungry to play that position, wants to be leader and is working toward that each day.”

Hardy’s role won’t be to carry the team but rather to get the ball into the hands of his speedy teammates and let them work their magic in Normangee’s fast-paced offense.

“We have a lot of team speed,” Kortis said. “It was great to come out here and to not really have to teach,

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Bremond Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 Iola Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Lovelady Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Grapeland Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at New Waverly Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 open District 9-2A Division I Oct. 12 Leon* 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 19 at Cayuga Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Centerville Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 Cross Roads Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Kerens Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

to go and run the team and go fast and just add stuff to it. I add something every day trying to trick them, and they pick it up.”

Many of the same players line up on defense,

For over 15 years, Dr. Distefano has been diagnosing and treating patients for joint and other musculoskeletal injuries. He has cared for individuals from top-tier, professional athletes all the way down to kids in their first year of little league sports.

Although we trust that coaches and

where they join junior middle linebacker Brady Harris and are learning under new defensive coordinator Charles Hudgeons. Kortis brought Hudgeons in to coach softball, and the team went to the Class 2A state finals last season. Kortis, who came from Maude, knew Hudgeons from his days at Bowie.

“Kids really respond well to him, so that was a natural progression,” Kortis said. “Why look outside when you got a good one inside? He’s already done a great job.”

The Panthers have a solid five-game nondistrict schedule, starting with perennial power Bremond followed by rival Iola. After an open date, they will face an entirely new set of opponents in District 9-2A Division I.

Senior Logan Andrews returns at wide receiver this season for Normangee.

“The thing I like about our district too is everybody is in a similar spot,” said Kortis, who fielded a small JV team for the

first time at Normangee last season “You don’t really have one team that has 65 or 70 kids for football. We are all kind of the

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand

same size, all in the same area. You want to compete against schools that are going through the same similar struggle.”

athletic trainers will do everything they can to help our players avoid injury, our staff is standing ready to take care of our athletes and get them back in the game.

We wish the best of luck to our area teams here in the Brazos Valley. Be safe and have a great season!

3201 University Dr. E Suite 320 • Bryan, TX 77802 • (979) 704-5029

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

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TheEagle.com

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High School Football 2018

25

ANDERSON-SHIRO OWLS

Owls rallying around injured leader Milligan

By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

Football teams often are described as big families.

The Anderson-Shiro family grew stronger early in the summer when star linebacker Kreese Milligan was life-flighted to St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan after a head-on automobile collision a few miles from his home.

“When I first got the news it was real scary,” senior offensive lineman Andrew Seaback said. “I didn’t know what to think.

First thing was to see him at the hospital, make sure he was doing fine and tell him that I love him.”

Milligan suffered compound fractures in both legs, a compressed spine, lacerated spleen and broken thumb. His sister Madison, who was in the vehicle, broke her arm in the accident that occurred when a truck passing another vehicle hit Milligan’s truck.

“Luckily everything was pretty much from the waist down, and it’s just a miracle,” second-year Anderson-Shiro coach Brad Hodges said. “The fact he is still with us is something we are very thankful for.”

Seaback wasn’t the only teammate who visited Milligan while he was in ICU. Milligan arguably is the most respected player on the team despite only entering his junior year. The team MVP and a first-team all-district performer last season was no doubt the leader of a very young squad.

“To be honest it shook the team a little bit because to them he was like Superman,” Hodges said. “So to

26

FACTS Head coach — Brad Hodges (0-9 overall; 0-9 at Anderson-Shiro) District — 12-3A Division II 2017 record — 0-9 (0-6 in 12-3A Division II) 2017 playoffs — did not qualify Playoff appearances (2) — 2013 and 2015 Returning lettermen — 20 (10 offensive, 10 defensive starters) Key returners — RB Zacarrius Haynes (12-3A D2 A-D), OL Dustin Tagudin (A-D), OL Ja’Colby Matthews (A-D), DL Kelvin Adair (A-D), LB Kreese Milligan (A-D), DB Tre Hightower (A-D), QB Cole Werner (2nd A-D), WR Tyler Derrett (2nd A-D), WR Bailey Alexander (2nd A-D), DL Chad Roebuck (2nd A-D), LB Shyheim Jones (2nd A-D), DB Chalon Pratt (2nd A-D) Key losses — none All-time record — 16-43 Playoff record — 0-2-0

SCHEDULE

ROSTER

Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Rosebud-Lott Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 Leon Last year: L 7-6

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Iola Last year: L 35-0

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Brazos Christian Last year: L 20-8

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 Granger* Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 5 open District 12-3A Division II Oct. 12 Hemphill 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 19 at New Waverly Last year: L 20-8

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Corrigan-Camden Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 Kountze Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Newton Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

see him in that state was something a lot of them took pretty hard.”

Milligan will not be on the football field with his team this season but already has given his teammates a motivational lift by showing up to practice.

Hodges has told Milligan they will find things for him to do, including letting him help coach players on the sideline.

“You want to talk about great kids — it doesn’t get better than him,” Hodges said. “We weren’t sure how his recovery was going to go and how long it was going to take. He still has a long road ahead of him.

But the [players] were out here doing some summer workouts two weeks after the wreck, and he came rolling in his chair, and it was like they just won the Super Bowl.”

The Owls were far from reaching their own version of the Super Bowl last season, failing to win a game.

So the loss of Milligan was felt two-fold, first with the concern of his health, then with how the Owls will

High School Football 2018

have to fill his shoes on Friday nights.

“I would put my kids up against just about anybody else as far as the toughness factor,” Hodges said.

“These kids just don’t get down. They don’t stop fighting. It’s never an issue of we didn’t win a game.

It’s, hey, we are going to get it next week, and that’s the mentality they’ve taken week in and week out. It’s great to see.”

Hodges will turn to sophomores Landon Stem and Shyheim Jones to replace Milligan at linebacker.

But what will really help the defense is the offense staying on the field longer.

Much of that will come down to an offensive line which has the size to put together time-consuming drives.

Seaback is a big part of the line at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds, and if he needed any more motivation than to play for Milligan, he received a scholarship offer recently to continue his career at Stephen F. Austin.

“It feels great I’ll have



1 WR/DB Shadeed Jones, jr.; 2 WR/DB Tyler Derrett, sr.; 3 WR/DB Tre Hightower, sr.; 4 RB/DB Zaccarrius Haynes, jr.; 6 WR/DB Jesse Ojeda, jr.; 7 QB/DB Cole Werner, soph.; 8 WR/DB Ca’Darrius Williams, soph.; 9 WR/DB Chalon Pratt, jr.; 10 WR/DB Peyton Binford, fr.; 11 QB/DB Jonathan Ritchie, fr.; 12 WR/DL Kelvin Adair, soph.; 14 WR/DB Levi Goudeau, jr.; 15 WR/DB Tanner Goudeau, fr.; 17 WR/LB Corbin Shead, fr.; 19 WR/ DB Tripp Parker, soph.; 20 WR/DB Drew Wagner, jr.; 21 TE/LB Dominic Rodriguez, soph.; 22 RB/DB Karrter Ellis, fr.; 24 WR/DB Lane Hillert, fr.; 25 WR/DB Austin Cooper, fr.; 27 WR/DB Grayson Moody, fr.; 30 FB/LB Michael Krob, sr.; 32 WR/LB Rance Imhoff, soph.; 34 WR/DB Tyler Bell, jr.; 37 RB/LB Kreese Milligan, jr.; 40 FB/DL Chad Roebuck, jr.; 44 OL/DL Shyheim Jones, soph.; 45 LB/FB Landon Stem, soph.; 50 OL/DL Heston Binford, soph.; 52 OL/DL Andrew Seaback, sr.; 54 OL/DL Ja’Colby Matthews, jr.; 55 OL/DL Tyreese Cooper, soph.; 58 OL/DL Joseph Mancuso, jr.; 60 OL/DL Seth Benton, fr.; 61 OL/DL Duncan Benton, fr.; 64 OL/DL Dustin Tagudin, sr.; 65 OL/DL Cameron Klawinsky, fr.; 66 OL/ DL Thomas Leggett, fr.; 70 OL/DL Cole Schroeder, jr.; 74 OL/DL Bailey Alexander, sr.; 77 OL/DL Michael Morgan, sr.; 79 OL/DL Zane Moriarty, soph.; 88 WR/DB Liam Wilson, soph.

Managers: Joseph Phillips, Hunter Scott, Alyssa Phelps, Avery Buenger, Ann-Marie Backus, Delaney Pavlock, Reality Molina, Ivey Mckenzie Trainer: Sarah Mengers Coaches: Head coach Brad Hodges, offensive coordinator Taylor Beadles, defensive coordinator Bill Cowley, Barry Bennet, Robert Jackson, Jeffrey Trant, Kevin Macik, Mason Jarrell, Kent Dudley

somewhere to go after school,” Seaback said “I wanted to continue at the collegiate level, and I’m happy I’m going to be able to do that. I felt I could with my size.”

The middle of the line has plenty of experience with Seaback at left guard and classmates Dustin Tagudin at center and Bailey Alexander at right guard. The tackle spots should be manned by sophomore Zane Moriarty and junior Ja’Colby Matthews.

The normally quiet Seaback has taken a more vocal role since last season, playing a big part in bringing the line closer together on and off the field.

“Last year we weren’t that close, and over the offseason and in the summer we started hanging out more, started getting closer, working out together,” Seaback said. “Unity is the key word we use, and it’s really working out, and we’re ready to see what we can do this season.”

At the end of last season Hodges said 17 of Anderson-Shiro’s 22 starters were freshmen or sophomores. So although the Owls will be young again this season, they will have experience.

Sophomore quarterback Cole Werner and junior running back Zacarrius

TheEagle.com

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Sophomore quarterback ColeWerner,left,and junior running back Zaccarrius Haynes earned valuable experience last season for Anderson-Shiro.

Haynes are among Anderson-Shiro’s young veterans. Werner took over in the third game last season and already has gained a rapport with Hodges, who is in his second year.

Hodges compared Haynes to Milligan when it comes to their production on the field.

One reason the Owls are optimistic for 2018 is it will be the first time they’ve had the same head coach



in back-to-back seasons in four years.

“We sat and talked in the spring with the captain council, and we have high expectations for this year,” Hodges said. “I think this team is capable of taking a huge jump. I think we have chance to take one of the biggest jumps around. We are definitely looking to turn some peoples’ heads and fight for a playoff spot.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

LEXINGTON EAGLES

Lexington veterans primed for more success

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

Lexington senior running back Ja’Kobe Cooper wanted nothing more than to get back into last year’s Class 3A Division II state quarterfinal game against Boling.

“I knew my team needed me, but I knew I couldn’t run on my ankle,” Cooper said. “It was heartbreaking knowing I couldn’t go back in there.”

He sustained a high ankle sprain late in the second quarter and was forced to watch as his team lost to Boling 35-21 in the Class 3A Division II state quarterfinals for the second straight year. It was Lexington’s only loss of the season, and after an often painful rehabilitation period, Cooper and the Eagles are back for more after finishing 131 in 2017.

“We’re going to be explosive like last year,” said Cooper, an all-state pick who ran for 3,104 yards last season. “We’ve got different plays this year, so we’re going to work them out. We’ve got a freshman that’s pretty cold, well two freshmen, a quarterback and a receiver — they should do their part and be a major factor.”

Sheldon Springer is one of thosefreshmen.Hetakes over the reins at quarterback, and fellow freshman Jarred Kerr looks to be a top target. Freshman Kaden Schimank also will step in at center, while Cooper, wide receiver/ quarterback Jordan Kerr and linemen Cade Hawley and Jordan Cranston will provide veteran presences on offense.

“I’ve got a lot of return-

ROSTER

FACTS Head coach — Kirk Muhl (34-25 overall; 34-25 at Lexington) District — 8-3A Division II 2017 record — 13-1 (5-0 in 13-3A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. Brazos 51-27; area: def. Odem 33-13; Re-gional semifinals: def. Tidehaven 58-39; quarterfinals: lost to Boling 35-21 Playoff appearances (18) — 1964, 1968, 1978, 1997, 1999, 2002-07, 2009-12, 2015-17 Returning lettermen — 20 (6 offensive, 6 defensive starters) Key returners — RB Ja’Kobe Cooper (13-3A D2 Off MVP), LB Aaron Allert (Def. MVP), WR Jordan Kerr (A-D), OL/DE Cade Hawley (A-D), DB Caleb Meyer (A-D), WR Garrett Stamport (2nd A-D), WR Jaylind Briles (2nd A-D), WR Clay Boettcher (2nd A-D), OL Jordan Cranston (2nd A-D), DT Clayton Faske (2nd A-D), LB Dylan Atkins (2nd A-D), DB Zachary Thornton (2nd A-D) Key losses — QB Walker Hess (Off. MVP), DB-PK Colby Bexley (A-D), WR Sam Perry (A-D), OL Jordan Higgins (A-D), OL Wyatt Retzlaff (A-D), OL-DE Wesley Sanders (A-D), DT-RB Nate Jones (A-D), DE Jaden Tucker (A-D), DB Keshun Cooper (A-D), DB Tanner Meuth (A-D) All-time record — 416-426-26 Playoff record — 33-17-0

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Burton Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Troy Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 13 at Rockdale* Last year: W 38-7

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Hearne Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Caldwell Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 Shiner Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

District 8-3A Division II Oct. 12 Florence# 7:30 p.m.

Last year: W 62-10 Oct. 19 at Clifton Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Rogers Last year: 54-7

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Hamilton Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 open * at Taylor # Homecoming

ing kids that really know what we’re doing offensively and defensively,” head coach Kirk Muhl said. “And I think that’s the biggest key for us, just the familiarity with what we do because we kind of do some different things on defense, so they’ve really got to know all the positions.”

He added that having a dynamic rusher such as

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

1 Cohen Pace, sr.; 2 Garrett Stamport, sr.; 3 Jarred Kerr, fr.; 4 Jeremiah Jackson, soph.; 5 Kyle Spencer, sr.; 6 Hunter Hurtig, sr.; 7 Corbin Reat, soph.; 8 Caleb Meyer, sr.; 9 Jaylind Briles, sr.; 10 Jemarie White, sr.; 11 Noah McClendon, sr.; 12 Dylan Atkins, sr.; 13 Rowdy Pearson, jr.; 14 Clay Boettcher, sr.; 15 Jordan Kerr, sr.; 17 Zachary Thornton, sr.; 18 Sheldon Springer, fr.; 20 Ja’Kobe Cooper, sr.; 21 Jeremiah Dillon, soph.; 22 Stephen Gamm, sr.; 40 Chris Smith, sr.; 44 Aaron Allert, jr.; 45 Stephen D’Amora, jr.; 50 Kaden Schimank, fr.; 54 Juan Lara, soph.; 60 Jordan Cranston, sr.; 62 Braden Exner, soph.; 63 Jeremy Chastain, jr.; 64 Clayton Faske, sr.; 70 Jacob Otte, sr.; 72 Cade Hawley, sr.

Coaches: head coach Kirk Muhl, Chris Koester, B.L. Miller, Courtney Ward, Joshua Murray, Royce Rodriguez, Todd Polvado, Ely Whitmire

Cooper helps his relatively young offensive line.

“When they miss [a block], he’s usually going to make the first person miss,” Muhl said. “He will make them better at first, and in the end, they’ll get to where they need to be, and they’ll make him a whole lot better.”

Defensively, junior linebacker Aaron Allert has high hopes for 2018.

“I think this is going to be our best year for defense,” Allert said. “We have a lot of returners, some older kids and some move-ins that are really helping us out. Everybody’s being physical and really understanding the defense, which is really nice.”

Senior safety Hunter Hurtig is one of those moveins, coming to Lexington from Bellville. He joins fellow senior and three-year starter Caleb Meyer in the secondary. Meyer was last year’s District 13-3A Division II defensive newcomer of the year.

Muhl said he expects his players to be focused and strategy-savvy, and he was pleased to see just that early in training camp.

“The first week is probably the best five days we’ve had in four years,” Muhl said. “It was really good offensively and defensively, and it didn’t feel like we worked real hard to do it.

Ourthingrightnowiswe’ve got to get in shape. Once we



get in good shape to be able to tempo people, then we’re going to be real good.”

The Eagles spent a lot of time in the weight room over the offseason, and Allert and Cooper think their team is more fundamentally sound this season.

“I think we’ve worked out a bunch to get bigger,” Cooper said. “We’ve studied our playbook and worked on our tackling, fundamentals and that kind of thing.”

TheEagle.com

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Senior safety Hunter Hurtig played for Bellville last season but will try to help Lexington return to the playoffs in 2018.

Lexington’s nondistrict schedule is grueling. The Eagles will open the season at home against Burton, which reached the 2A Division II semifinals last year, then face defending 3A Division I champion Rockdale on the road in

Week 3. Lexington also will host highly touted Hearne on Sept. 21 and Shiner on Oct. 5 before opening District 8-3A Division II play.

“We’ve just got to play our style of ball, work hard, and we can beat anyone in the state,” Allert said.

Good Luck to all the Brazos Valley teams in the area

Thank you Brazos Valley for trusting us with your pest control needs for over 70 years 

High School Football 2018

27

CENTERVILLE TIGERS

Bigger Bowen back to lead Centerville O-line

By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

Centerville senior offensive lineman Justin Bowen ate so much over the summer he began to feel guilty.

“I started giving my mom grocery money — I was eating so many eggs a day and drinking so much milk,” said Bowen, who played on the Tig er o f f e n s iv e line last season at 160 pounds.

“The hardest part w a s n’ t putting on the weight BOWEN but making sure it was more muscle than fat because of the amount of food I was eating every day.”

The 5-foot-8 Bowen put 20 to 25 pounds of “good weight” on since his last game in December and believes he will be a little more prepared to take on the 200- to 250-pounders lining up across him this season.

“I was really small, only 160 pounds, playing pulling guard,” Bowen said. “I was the smallest lineman I believe in our district, and I was tired of being the smallest. I figured [gaining weight] would help us out. I figure I’m the third or fourth smallest now.”

No matter his size, Bowen has gotten the job done since he was called on midway through the season because of an injury to the starting guard.

“It was scary because he got hurt on defense, and I had a little bit of time to process that I’m about to

28

SCHEDULE

ROSTER

Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Elkhart Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Corrigan-Camden Last year: W 21-6

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 Trinity Last year: W 42-13 Sept. 21 open Sept. 28 at Groveton Last year: W 41-40 Oct. 5 at San Augustine Last year: L 50-14 District 9-2A Division I Oct. 12 Cayuga Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Oct. 19 Cross Roads Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 at Normangee Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Nov. 2 Kerens Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Leon Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

FACTS Head coach — Kyle Hardee (88-65 overall; 88-65 at Centerville) District — 9-2A Division I 2017 record — 10-4 (4-1 in 12-2A Division I) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. Joaquin 20-10; area: def. Big Sandy 35-34; regional semifinals: def. Rivercrest 62-36; quarterfinals: lost to San Augustine 50-14 Playoff appearances (17) — 1964-66, 1969, 1993, 2000-03, 2007, 2011-17 Returning lettermen — 12 (3 offensive, 3 defensive starters) Key returners — OL-DL Korey Grisham (2-2A D2 A-D), DB Roland Davis (2nd A-D) Key losses — DE Daniel Byrd (Co-Def. MVP), TE-DL Cameron Williams (A-D), RB Brandon Madison (Co-Off. MVP), OL-LB Jose Hernandez (A-D), OL Connor Cox (A-D), OL Zac Reyes (A-D), LB Sergio Villarreal (A-D), DB-QB Hunter Free (A-D), WR Jason Zarate (2nd A-D), LB Cristian Zarate (A-D), DB Cody Pate (2nd A-D) All-time record — 377-433-20 Playoff record — 21-17-0

go in at this guard spot. I’m about to go hit 250-pound kids,” Bowen said.

Bowen remained in the starting lineup for the rest of the season and was a big part of tailback Brandon Madison and fullback Daniel Bryd earning allstate honors.

“There were some concerns [about him going in for the first time] but his motor just runs at such a high level,” Centerville coach Kyle Hardee said.

High School Football 2018

1 WR/DB Dillon Denman, soph.; 2 FB/DB Caidenn Boss, jr.; 3 WR/DB Cannon Robinson, jr.; 4 Tim Yow, sr.; 6 FB/LB Calvin Gunselman, sr.; 7 RB/LB Alan Skipworth, jr.; 8 TE/LB Pain Leathers, jr.; 9 TE/LB Coleman Simpson, sr.; 10 QB/DB Bryce Williams, jr.; 11 TE/LB Wayln McCall, jr.; 12 RB/DB Kaden Dunn, soph.; 13 FB/DE Gabe Castillo, sr.; 15 RB/DB Roland Davis, sr.; 20 TE/DB Tristan Rudell, sr.; 22 FB/LB Arnold Gomez, soph.; 52 OL/DT Jabez Fills, soph.; 56 OL/DL Brian Rutledge, jr.; 57 OL/DE Pane Leathers, jr.; 59 OL/DE Starlyn Hill, jr.; 60 OL/ DT Korey Grisham, sr.; 66 OL/DE Bryson Crowley, jr.; 74 OL/DT BJ Kelly, fr.; 75 OG/LB Justin Bowen, sr.; 76 OL/DT Shayne Pringle, sr.; 77 OL/DT Dillon Brent, jr.; 79 OL/DT Cody Curry, sr.; 88 WR/DB Perry Minor, sr.

Assistant coaches: Rusty Robinson, Scooter Fortner, Luther Kirkpatrick, Demond Denman, Jeremy Hammock, Aaron Bell, Stephen Harrison

“He came in and he didn’t miss a beat, and he became one of our most stable players on the offense. He was key part of our success last year.”

Bowen has improved his bench press and squat considerably while working on getting bigger, which might come in handy, since as an instigator at practice he is quick to hear it from his teammates.

“He’s probably the first one to open his mouth now, but it’s all in fun. He keeps it light, and he’s a leader.

He is going to do things the right way,” Hardee said. “When it goes into a lull in practice he is going to be the guy who sparks it and gets people going. You don’t find him quiet very often, but it’s a good noise.”

The Tigers went at least four weeks deep in the playoffs the last two seasons and it has allowed Hardee to work on his depth, which will come in handy with only three returning starters on each side of the ball this year.

“We hang our hat on [the offensive line], I’ve said that all along every year,” Hardee said. “We have a lot of questions to answer this year, but Bowen is not one of them. We know what he is capable of and he’s put on some weight, but it’s good weight. He is still moving well, and he has taken a leadership role on

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this team.”

Despite the losses of a big senior class, the Tigers still are a favorite to win District 9-2A Division II, which is made up of all new opponents for Centerville.

Bowen will be joined by honorable mention allstate tackle Korey Grisham and Cash Parker. They will be blocking for a number of backs, according to

Hardee, including Roland Davis, who was a secondteam safety last season.

Grisham, Parker and Davis will be counted on on defense, along with linebackers Calvin Gunselman, and Pate Leathers and junior defensive back Bryce Williams.

Williams also is auditioning for quarterback along with junior Cannon Robinson and sophomore Dillon Denman. Centerville doesn’t throw much, maybe 10 times a game, so other qualities come to the forefront on who will get the job.

“I want to see leadership. I want to see the young man that the team seems like they are responding to, and I want

to see a lot of footwork,” Hardee said. “They need to take care of the ball and be physical. We expect our quarterback to be a physical player.”

The Tigers will get a boost from the return of Coleman Simpson, who missed last season because of an injury, but played all 15 games at outside linebacker on the team that made the run to the state semifinals in 2016.

Tristan Rudell, at 230 pounds, will be relied on to stop the run and help in the running game as a tight end or fullback.

Centerville has four nondistrict games on the road, but the travel subsides once district rolls around.

Festival & run 11.03.18 store - tours - events

royaltypecans.com

Best Wishes for a Great Season!

TheEagle.com

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Six new coaches taking over in BV this season

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

Here is a look at the Brazos Valley’s new head football coaches entering the 2018 season.

ALLEN ACADEMY NEW COACH: Adrian Adams PREVIOUS COACH: Jason Jolly After leading a successful Emery/Weiner program in Houston for nine years, Adrian Adams makes the move to Allen Academy, taking over a program that hasn’t played a full season of football in two years.

The Rams were forced to forfeit their final two games last year because of a lack of players. This year’s squad has 10 players, and Allen hopes to drum up more interest around the school.

At Emery/Weiner, Adams went 69-34 and won a TAPPS Division I 6-man state title in 2015.

Former coach Jason Jolly remains on staff as defensive coordinator.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

BRAZOS CHRISTIAN

II playoffs last year and finished 6-4.

NEW COACH: Ben Hoffmeier PREVIOUS COACH: Andy Bell Ben Hoffmeier takes over a successful Brazos Christian program that finished 11-3 and advanced to the TAPPS Division IV semifinals last season. Hoffmeier previously was the defensive coordinator at Northland Christian High School from 2014-16 and held the same position at Wheaton College from 2010-14.

He replaces Andy Bell, who coached the Eagles for two seasons.

BRENHAM NEW COACH: Eliot Allen PREVIOUS COACH: Glen West Glen West, who was 185-61 in 20 seasons at Brenham, left to be assistant executive director position with the Texas High School Coaches Association. Eliot Allen, who took Houston Stratford to the playoffs 12 consecutive years, steps in and takes over a Cubs program that advanced to the bi-district round of the Class 5A Division

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CALVERT NEW COACH: JaMarcus Ashley PREVIOUS COACH: Chris Bennett JaMarcus Ashley, a Calvert alumnus, takes over the head coaching reins from Chris Bennett, who left after one season.

Ashley is the Trojans’ fifth head coach in as many years. Bennett led Calvert to a 9-2 record and a bi-district appearance in 2017.

Ashley is a former Trojans quarterback and also coaches girls basketball and track.

NAVASOTA NEW COACH: Casey Dacus PREVIOUSCOACH:PatrickGoodman Casey Dacus, the son of former longtime Navasota coach Mike Dacus, is taking over the Rattlers after a stint as the offensive coordinator at Graham. Dacus replaces Patrick Goodman, who went 8-14 in two seasons at Navasota, including a 6-5 2017 campaign. Goodman took over at

TheEagle.com

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Navasota from current A&M Consolidated coach Lee Fedora, who was dominant during his 11 years with the Rattlers, bringing home state titles in 2012 and 2014.

At Graham, Dacus helped the Steers to the state semifinals in 2013-15 and 2017.

SOMERVILLE NEW COACH: Greg Bagby PREVIOUS COACH: Darby House Greg Bagby is Somerville’s sixth head coach since 2013 and inherits a program that finished 2-9 and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2006 after finishing fourth in District 13-2A. Bagby replaces Darby House, who resigned in June to take the head football coach/boys athletic coordinator job at Poteet. BAGBY Bagby previously was head football coach at Van Vleck from 2010-13 and most recently was the wide receivers coach at Grandview.

High School Football 2018

29

LEON COUGARS

QB Pruett, Cougars getting handle on offense

By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

Note to Leon senior quarterback Peyton Pruett: stay clear of the sweets.

“Keep in mind he’s about a doughnut away from being a guard too,” Leon head football coach Jeremy Colvert said.

“Don’t get me wrong — he’s not a gigantic kid. He’s 5-10, 190 maybe. At PRUETT a small school, though, he could be a guard, a fullback, a lot of different positions.”

If he had to, Pruett said he would line up at those positions and get the job done — he was a starting linebacker as a sophomore — but it’s not the preferred way he sees his final season playing out as a Cougar.

“I really enjoy being a quarterback, because it puts a lot more on me as an individual, and that really helps me be a better person in football and outside of football,” Pruett said.

“The funnest thing about it is now we have it where you take multiple different plays off of one play.”

And Pruett has to make reads on the fly. He should have plenty of options this season with a bevy of receivers powering Leon’s spread offense.

“No doubt we put a ton on our quarterback here, and quarterback here is the focal point,” Colvert said. “All our receivers are coming back with experience. Everybody coming back has tons of experi-

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Linebackers Pedigo, Stanford, Aldridge lead defense for Leon ROSTER 2 WR/DB Mason Vick, sr.; 5 RB/LB Dylan Pedigo, sr.; 7 QB/DB Peyton Pruett, sr.; 10 WR/DB Justin Massey, sr.; 11 WR/DB Keaton Caveness, sr.; 12 WR/LB Cameron Aldridge, sr.; 14 QB/LB Cole Ware, sr.; 15 WR/DB Harris Sherrod, jr.; 20 WR/DB Ruben Gonzalez, jr.; 22 WR/DB Tyson Cornett, soph.; 26 RB/LB Curtis Stanford, jr.; 40 RB/LB Zaid Jackson, sr.; 44 RB/LB Walter Beltran, jr.; 50 OL/DL Nick Ucci, sr.; 51 OL/DL Michael King, jr.; 54 OL/DL Donnie Alexander, sr.; 56 OL/ LB Grant Walker, jr.; 57 OL/DL Jumno Chhoy, sr.; 62 OL/DL Terrance Smith, sr.; 66 OL/DL Kris Winstead, sr.; 77 OL/DL Aron Orndorff, sr.

Coaches: head coach Jeremy Colvert, Heath Brittain, Danny Camline, Deuce Foley, Chad McLin, Jeff Middleton, Chris Simon

FACTS Head coach — Jeremy Colvert (11-11 overall; 11-11 at Leon) District — 9-2A Division I 2017 record — 2-8 (1-5 in 12-3A Division II) Playoff appearances (14) — 1982-83, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1998-99, 2000, 2003, 2005, 200910, 2014, 2016 Returning lettermen — 25 (9 offensive, 9 defensive starters) Key returners — LB Curtis Stanford (Def. NOY in 12-3A D2), QB Peyton Pruett (A-D), WR Justin Massey (A-D), DL Kris Winstead (A-D), LB Cameron Aldridge (A-D), OL Donnie Alexander (2nd A-D), OL-DL Nick Ucci (2nd A-D), DL Aron Orndorff (2nd A-D), DB Tyson Cornett (2nd A-D) Key losses — DB-RB Callaghan Sherrod (A-D in 12-3A D2), WR Raul Hernandez (A-D) All-time record — 254-291-11 Playoff record — 5-14-0

ence, so it’s fun to get back there and just mess with them, throw a little wrench in it and see if they can adjust.”

Pruett threw for 1,499 yards last season before suffering a fractured ankle in Leon’s eighth game, a 7-6 win over Anderson-Shiro.

He was one of Leon’s eight starters who suffered season-ending injuries last year including 6-2 receiver Keaton Caveness, who lacerated his liver in the second scrimmage.

Caveness will join first team all-district receiver Justin Massey, Cameron Aldridge and Harris Sherrod among others as possible targets for Pruett.

“Having Keaton back really helps us with the deep ball, with him going up and getting it,” Pruett said. “Even if I throw a bad ball, he can go and get it.

Our whole receiving corps,

High School Football 2018

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Mildred Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Anderson-Shiro Last year: W 7-6

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 New Waverly Last year: L 22-19

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Lovelady Last year: L 48-8

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 Bremond Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5

open District 9-2A Division I Oct. 12 at Normangee 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 19 Kerens* Last year: L 42-0

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 at Cross Roads Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Cayuga Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 Centerville Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

first string, second string, we have a lot of depth, and I have faith in everybody.”

The Cougars, who went 2-8 last year after a ninewin season in 2016, return nine starters on each side of the ball, and that doesn’t include Caveness.

It’s a nice number to have, especially for a team that dropped down from Class 3A Division II to 2A Division I in the UIL’s biennial realignment this spring.

While Colvert says he glad to have the players back, he has a gentle reminder for them if they think returning starters automatically equates to victories.

“We were a 2-8 football

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Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Leon senior Dylan Pedigo plays both ways for the Cougars, and he’s expecially valuable on defense at linebacker. team last year, so no one is going to be scared of us,” Colvert said. “No one is going to sit there and quiver and shake. We have not earned anything, and until we do, no one will give us respect. We are returning a lot of starters, but it’s from a 2-8 team, not like from a 7-3 team.”

Colvert plans to use a lot of running backs including senior Dylan Pedigo, who

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also couldn’t finish last season because of a shoulder injury.

Pedigo arguably is more valuable on the defensive side of the ball. He was the district newcomer of the year on defense in 2016, while sophomore linebacker Curtis Stanford claimed the same award last season. They’re joined by all-district linebacker Aldridge and form the

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strength of Leon’s defense.

Both of Leon’s lines will be solid with seniors Nick Ucci and Donnie Alexander playing both ways.

Juniors Grant Walker and Michael King have experience on the offensive line.

Seniors Kris Winstead and Aron Orndorff return after earning all-district honors on the defensive line, and Jumno Chhoy adds depth.

Having moved down a class, the Cougars will have a bunch of new teams on their schedule this season including their mates in District 9-2A Division I. “We have been a 2A s ch o o l fo r t wo ye a r s [numbers-wise] because our numbers have been in the low 200s, and now we finally get to go against others with 200,” Colvert said. “We were playing 3As that had 380, 400 kids.

We are at 205 and 206. In our new district, take out Kerens and Centerville and the other four were 2-8 or worse, so everybody is licking their chops. Everyone is excited about the district.”

Leon will host Centerville for the final game of the regular season, and the goal for Colvert and Pruett is to be playing the Tigers for the 9-2A-I title.

“Even though expectations are the same every year, the difference is this year they see it as a reality, while last year I don’t think that was a reality even though it was a goal,” Colvert said. “I don’t think they bought into it as it was something they could do. This year they expect to make the playoffs, and they want to play for a district championship the last game.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

MILANO EAGLES

Big 2017, track title have Milano excited for season

By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

Matching or bettering the best season in program history is no easy trick.

The Milano Eagles posted their most victories and made their deepest run in 2017, going 11-2 and reaching the third round of the playoffs. They also beat defending Class 2A Division II state champion Bremond, ending the Tigers’ winning streak at 49.

Maintaining that level of play for another year could prove tough for Milano considering it lost a large, talented senior class.

“We knew that group of seniors last year were going to be good, so expectations were very, very high for them,” Milano coach Chad Lagrone said.

“So when you take a good group of seniors that leave, then the people kind of go, well, we are going to be good but I don’t know if we are going to be last-year good, so these kids take it personal, and they can be as good as they want to be.”

For his part, senior wide receiver/cornerback Devonte Jones expects a lot out of Milano this season.

“A lot of people are expecting us to not be the same team as last year, and they are right because we are going to be better than the team we had last year,” Jones said. “We have way more experience than we had last year. Yes, we lost guys, but we also have a lot of more guys stepping up. Our underclassmen are better than our underclassmen were last year, so I think we will be sitting pretty good. We’ll make it to the playoffs for sure.”

Jones has reason to be

ROSTER 1 WR/DB Elijah Smith, sr.; 2 WR/DB Drew Demeritt, soph.; 4 QB/DB Nick Grimes, fr.; 5 TE/LB Ben King, sr.; 6 WR/DB Hayden Heckler, soph.; 7 TE/LB Anthony Boykin, sr.; 8 WR/LB Jeremyah Tafao, jr.; 9 TE/LB Tucker Taylor, soph.; 10 TE/DL Arthur Soto, sr.; 11 WR/DB Christian Thurman, sr.; 12 WR/DB Devonte Jones, sr.; 15 RB/DB Noah Benavides, soph.; 17 TE/LB Ryland Kirk, soph.; 19 QB/LB Kathen Funburg, sr.; 21 RB/DB Kameron Funburg, sr.; 22 WR/DB Marquise Jones, soph.; 28 RB/DB Joseph Luce, soph.; 32 TE/LB Danny Cloud, jr.; 34 TE/LB Ethen Knight, fr.; 44 RB/LB Colt Reagan, fr.; 50 OL/DL Luke Hollingsworth, sr.; 51 OL/DL Alec Harnandez, jr.; 52 OL/LB Jeremy Reyes, soph.; 54 OL/DL Tristan Massey, jr.; 55 OL/DL Kevin Garcia, sr.; 56 OL/ DL Darius West, soph.; 60 OL/DL Ryan Blakely, soph.; 62 OL/DL Michael Blanco, soph.; 65 OL/ DL Jacob Turnage, sr.; 70 OL/DL Jeremy Burns, soph.; 72 OL/DL Brett Czajkowski, jr.; 77 OL/ LB Juan Otero, fr.; 78 OL/DL Stephen Gordon, soph.; 80 WR/LB Payden Bell, soph.; 83 WR/ LB Major Bui, jr.

Coaches: head coach Chad Lagrone, Powell Compton, Matthus Lopez, Nick Morehead, James Richardson, Ryan Warner

FACTS Head coach — Chad Lagrone (66-62 overall; 66-62 at Milano) District — 13-2A Division I 2017 record — 11-2 (4-1 in 13-2A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. D’Hanis 41-0; area: def. Woodsboro 56-20; regional semifinals: lost to Falls City 40-20 Playoff appearances (14) — 6-man (3) — 1965-66, 1975; 11-man (10) — 1999-00, 2005, 2007, 2010-11, 2013-17 Returning lettermen — 21 (7 offensive, 6 defensive starters) Key returners — OL Alec Hernandez (13-2A D2 A-D), RB-LB Kathen Funburg (A-D), TE Arthur Soto (A-D), WR Devonte Jones (A-D), DL Kevin Garcia (A-D), LB Ben King (A-D), WR Christian Thurman (A-D), CB Cameron Funburg (2nd A-D) Key losses — QB-LB-P Kyle King (Off. POY), DE Eddie West (Def. POY), WR-LB Ronnie Messer (A-D), LB-FB Donald Gosshans (A-D), CB Cody Stark (A-D), WR Timothy Demeritt (A-D), OL-DL Tebreaux Broussard (A-D) All-time record (11-man) — 224-334-11 Playoff record (11-man and 6-man) — 8-140

confident. The Eagles followed their historic football season with a 2A state title in track and field, the first state title for Milano in boys team sports.

Jones helped lead the way, finishing second in the 300-meter hurdles and third in the long jump and running legs on Milano’s winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. His anchor leg in the 4x100 relay proved especially important and provided a lesson in what one can do when inspired.

“I got [the baton] in third, and I was like my gosh we are so far behind. I don’t know if I can do it,” Jones said of the 4x100 relay. “But somehow I pulled it off, and it was somewhat motivation from the year before

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Grapeland Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 Burton Last year: L 36-31

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Bremond Last year: W 28-21

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Iola Last year: W 28-7

7:30 p.m.

District 13-2A Division I Sept. 28 at Thrall 7:30 p.m.

Last year: W 7-6 Oct. 5 open Oct. 12 Hearne* Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Thorndale Last year: W 47-28

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Marlin Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Rosebud-Lott Last year: did not play Nov. 9 Holland Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Kathen Funburg is moving over from running back to quarterback this season for Milano.

when we made it to state and we got second by onehundredth of a second, and I said, man, we have to win this year. It was definitely an amazing thing to experience, you know first time in school history, so for other sports you want to live up to that. You have the talent to win state in track, so let’s make it as far as we can in football.”

Jones will be part of how far the Eagles make it on the gridiron, as will Kathen Funburg, who takes over for four-year starter Kyle King at quarterback.

With the former running back Funburg behind center, the Eagles will look to rush the ball more after

producing nearly identical numbers through the air and on the ground for a majority of last season.

“But we’ve got big-play guys,” Lagrone said of Milano’s passing game. “[Receiver] Christian Thurman with Devonte Jones and Arthur Soto, our big tight end — all those guys were productive for us last year.”

All are seniors this season as is Funburg, whose brother Kameron, a junior, will get a lot more touches this season, Lagrone said.

Junior Alex Hernandez returns to anchor the line at center. The first-team all-district performer will be accompanied by se-

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TheEagle.com

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nior guards Jake Turnage and Luke Hollingsworth, both of whom weight 220 pounds.

On defense, senior defensive end Ben King leads the way after claiming firstteam all-district honors.

The defense will be young with sophomores Darius West (DL), Jeremy Reyes (LB) and Noah Benavides (DB) likely moving into the starting lineup.

The Eagles went 4-8 in 2016 but did win a playoff game, so they look to continue building the program under Lagrone, who is 6662 in 12 seasons at Milano.

A state title, albeit in a different sport, should help speed up that process.

“Football coaches love their kids to run track,” Lagrone said. “It builds character, mental toughness, and that doesn’t include keeping them in shape. And when you have some success in track, and we were so blessed to win the state championship ... we hope it rolls over with confidence. If you get a kid to play with confidence — no matter the talent level, if they play with confidence, then they are going to play up to their abilities. I think that’s where [the state track title] comes in, just giving us confidence to compete and that we can compete on a certain level.”

High School Football 2018

31

HEARNE EAGLES

Expectations on rise for Sargent’s Eagles

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

Hearne head football coach Ricky Sargent loves acronyms.

Many of them pertain to how he wants his team to carry itself on and off the field. A favorite is REAL: Respect all people, Especially women, Always doing the right thing, Living a life that matters.

Sargent and his acronyms had an immediate impact last season as Hearne won its first outright district title since 1983 and advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2012.

The Eagles beat Rio Vista 56-20 in the Class 3A Division II bi-district playoffs before falling to Waskom 42-18 in area to cap a 9-3 season.

Now in his second year at Hearne, Sargent has higher hopes for his team.

And he isn’t the only one — Dave Campbell’s Texas Football picked the Eagles eighth in its statewide preseason rankings for 2A Division I, which Hearne settled into over the spring’s biennial UIL realignment.

“Our goal is to teach kids to be champions in life, and if we do that, our goal is to win a state championship,” Sargent said.

He’ll rely on his senior class, calling center/defensive tackle Victor Killebrew and three-year starting linebacker Patrick Foley “outstanding leaders.”

But they aren’t the only ones making an impact.

Quarterback Micah Smith returns after starting as a freshman and has several playmakers surrounding him, including wide re-

32

FACTS Head coach — Ricky Sargent (82-53 overall; 9-3 at Hearne) District — 13-2A Division I 2017 record — 9-3 (6-0 in 12-3A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. Rio Vista 56-20; area: lost to Waskom 42-18 Playoff appearances (17) — 1936-37, 1939, 1952, 1954, 1961, 1982-83, 1985, 1988, 2002, 2005-06, 2008, 2012, 2016-17 Returning lettermen — 24 (7 offensive, 8 defensive starters) Key returners — QB Micah Smith (12-3A D2 Off. NOY), DE Quinston Owens (Def. NOY), RB-LB Anquan Boxley (A-D), LB Alijah Miles (A-D), LB Patrick Foley (A-D), WR Javareyon Bailey (2nd A-D), OL-DL Victor Killebrew (2nd A-D), OL Justin Camper (2nd A-D), DL Tyquez Tindle (2nd A-D) Key losses — RB Javon Jefferson (A-D), WR Ceidrion Golden (A-D), OL-DL Quan Moten (A-D), DB Damion Dunn (A-D), DB Gerald Ross (A-D), RB-LB Ka’Andre Foley (2nd A-D), OL Dylan Woods (2nd A-D), DB Tudarrius Miles (2nd A-D) All-time record — 482-453-39 Playoff record — 8-17-0

ceiver Javareyon Bailey and running back Anquan Boxley.

“Gaining the experience he gained last year, he will look to be a leader for our offense,” Sargent said of Smith.

A f t e r splitting its nondisSMITH trict games last year, Hearne went undefeated in District 12-3A Division II. The Eagles clinched the district BOXLEY title with a 26-19 upset of Buffalo before dominating Rio Vista in bi-district to cap an eight-game win streak.

“It’s certainly something we’re building off of,” Sargent said of last season.

“My goal last year was to teach our kids how to be

High School Football 2018

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Franklin Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 Groesbeck Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 Houston Legacy Last year: did not play Sept. 21 at Lexington Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

District 13-2A Division I Sept. 28 at Holland 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 5 Thrall* Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Milano Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 open Oct. 26 Thorndale Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Marlin Last year: W 27-20

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 Rosebud-Lott Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

champions in life first. It’s something that we talk about daily, teaching our kids how to be real men.”

Hearne’s momentum for 2018 likely increased when the Eagles moved down a classification.

“It’s just an overall good feeling when you move down,” Sargent said. “You feel like you have a chance to compete.”

That doesn’t necessarily mean this season will be easier. Every team in Hearne’s new 13-2A Division I made the playoffs last season. Milano and Holland made it the furthest of the seven teams, advancing to the regional round.

And Sargent loaded Hearne’s nondistrict schedule with formidable opponents including Franklin and Lexington, both tied for 10th in the Associated Press’ 3A preseason rankings.

“We don’t just have one particular game circled,” Sargent said. “They’re all going to be tough.”

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Senior Derrick Walker, right, junior Tyquez Tindle, bottom from left, sophomore Justin Camper and senior Victor Killebew will try to carry Hearne to another successful season after the Eagles won their district in 2017.

Eagle photos by Dave McDermand

ROSTER 1 QB/DB Micah Smith, 6-1, 165, soph.; 2 WR/DB Jalen Gonzales, 5-11, 150, jr.; 3 RB/DB Damian Dunn, 5-10, 160, jr.; 4 RB/DB Derrick Walker, 5-7, 160, sr.; 5 RB/LB Anquan Boxley, 5-8, 165, sr.; 6 WR/DB Elijah Chappel, 5-11, 170, sr.; 7 WR/DB Jakendrick Eddie, 5-8, 155, sr.; 8 RB/DB Alijah Miles, 5-9, 165, jr.; 9/52 RB/LB Patrick Foley, 5-8, 215, sr.; 11 WR/DB Javareyon Bailey, 6-2, 175, sr.; 15 TE/DE Quinston Owens, 6-3, 220, jr.; 16 TE/DE Tyquez Tindle, 6-2, 215, jr.; 19 WR/DB Zii Stewart, 5-9, 145, sr.; 21 WR/LB Leonardo Rizo, 5-10, 170, fr.; 23 WR/DB Damian Gunnels, 5-7, 140, fr.; 24 WR/DB Jermiha Foley, 5-7, 155, sr.; 32 RB/LB Milton Redmon, 5-8, 160, soph.; 35 RB/LB William Ehlers, 5-5, 155, soph.; 40 PK Jose Hernandez, 5-6, 145, fr.; 44 OL/DL Steven Craft-Mitchell, 5-10, 200, fr.; 50 OL/DL Leron Thomas, 5-8, 235, soph.; 55 OL/DL Charles Cooks, 5-11, 235, jr.; 58 OL/DL Lance Hamm, 5-7, 230, soph.; 60 OL/DL Justin Camper, 5-10, 285, soph.; 62 OL/DL Steven Craft Mitchell, 5-10, 210, fr.; 63 OL/DL Victor Killebrew, 6-0, 275, sr.; 66 OL/DL Anthony Jackson, 6-1, 220, fr.; 72 OL/DL Raymond Serna, 5-9, 310, jr.; 73 OL/DL Monterrius Smith, 6-0, 275, soph.; 74 OL/ DL Eduardo Gonzalez-Bautista, 5-8, 280, jr.; 82 WR/DE Jose Orozco, 5-6, 135, soph.

Coaches: defensive coordinator Agapito Montelongo, offensive coordinator Alfonso Jackson, special teams coordinator Anthony Gonzales, Patrick Berlan, Andrew Daily, Ken Dunn, Sean Kemp.

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

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High School Football 2018

33

IOLA BULLDOGS

Bulldog seniors enjoying role as teachers

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

Iola quarterback Randy Johnson has worn several different uniforms throughout his career.

But there’s no uniform other than the Bulldogs’ he’d rather be wearing for his senior season.

“Even if you are new, you’re not looked at as an outsider,” said Johnson, who transfer red f rom Bryan. “Everyone’s welcoming and wants you to feel welcome in the town.

We have people who don’t even play sports who come in, and they’re still a part of our family, and we treat them like family.”

Fifth-year head coach Dwayne Ross thinks Johnson fits right in with Iola’s scheme, which will feature two quarterbacks, Johnson and Bryn Roberts.

“One’s right-handed and one’s left-handed, so they complement each other well,” Ross said. “[Johnson] also catches the ball well, so there’s multiple positions he can play, gives us a little different look.”

Last year’s Iola squad, which f inished 8-5, had record-breaking playmakers such as linebacker Colton Renick to rely on.

Since he and quarterback Tyler Dykes graduated, Ross said several players have stepped up, including senior linebacker Preston Futrell.

“We’ve talked about that for a long time, what type of legacy they want to leave and what can they pass on to the guys behind them,” Ross said. “In order for the seniors to have success, they’ve got to rely on the juniors and sophomores and freshmen to help us

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ROSTER

SCHEDULE

1 WR/DB Zach Hollingsworth, jr.; 2 QB/DB Randy Johnson, sr.; 3 WR/LB Andrew Crenshaw, sr.; 4 WR/DB Case Creamer, soph.; 5 QB/DB Bryn Roberts, sr.; 6 WR/DB Adam Crenshaw, jr.; 7 WR/DL Kaiden Halley, sr.; 8 QB/LB Clayton Stafford, fr.; 9 WR/DL Zach Archer, sr.; 10 WR/DB Philip England, fr.; 11 WR/DB Andrew England, sr.; 15 WR/DB Chad Guidry, soph.; 17 RB/DB Colton Boullion; 20 WR/DB Cale Gould, soph.; 24 PK J.D. Funderburk, sr.; 25 RB/LB Preston Futrell, sr.; 28 RB/LB Chris Holmes, sr.; 30 WR/DB Vincent Roberts, fr.; 33 RB/LB Coy Elliott, fr.; 34 WR/DB Blake Blanchard, fr.; 50 OL/DL Spencer Quinlan, soph.; 52 OL/LB Kurtis Landry, jr.; 53 OL/DL Anthony Robbins, soph.; 58 OL/DL Cody Ozbolt, sr.; 60 OL/ DL Stetson Goodman, sr.; 70 OL/DL Reece Hiett, soph.; 72 OL/DL Chris Bosquez, fr.; 73 OL/DL John Carson, soph.; 75 OL/DL Clayton Costello, jr.; 76 OL/DL Tyler Westbrook, jr.; 77 OL/DL Ryan Lawrence, sr.; 78 OL/DL Jaggar Vaughn, sr.

Assistant coaches: defensive coordinator Mark Cunningham, offensive coordinator John Reed, Kent Benedict, Isaiah Barrera

FACTS Head coach — Dwayne Ross (72-65 overall; 8-5 at Iola) District — 13-2A Division II 2017 record — 8-5 (5-0 in 12-2A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. Mt. Enterprise 50-0; area: def. Maud 50-0; regional semifinals: lost to Tenaha 35-14 Playoff appearances (18) — 1939, 1960, 1991-95, 1998-99, 2001, 2005-06, 2012-17 Returning lettermen — 25 (9 offensive, 9 defensive starters) Key returners — DL Lee Goodman (12-2A D2 NOY), RB Chris Holmes (A-D), WR-DB Andrew Crenshaw (A-D), WR Adam Crenshaw (A-D), OL Cody Ozbolt (A-D), OL-DL Tyler Westbrook (A-D), PK JD Funderburk (A-D), DL Kaiden Halley (A-D), LB Preston Futrell (A-D), LB Chris Holmes (A-D), DB Zach Hollingsworth (A-D), OL Ryan Lawrence (2nd A-D), OL Caleb Ellis (2nd A-D), DL Jaggar Vaughn (2nd A-D), DL Zach Archer (2nd A-D), LB Kurtis Landry (2nd A-D), DB Colton Boullion (2nd A-D) Key losses — QB Tyler Dykes (MVP), LB Colton Renick (Def. MVP), WR Brayden Stanley (A-D), OL-DL Ethan Perry (A-D), DL Cameron Degrate (A-D), DL Ethan Perry (A-D), DE Dylan Riojas (A-D), DB-RB Kody McKnight (A-D), QB Zack Dyer (2nd A-D), LB Dylan Stanley (2nd A-D) All-time record — 389-340-17 Playoff record — 20-17-1

out. So we know the better they are, the better we’re going to be. The seniors understand that, and it’s a very close-knit group, this senior class.”

Last year’s seniors left a blueprint for the current class. Kicker JD Funderburk and defensive end Lee Goodman said they set a good example of how to treat younger players.

“A lot of the seniors last year, they showed us a way to bring the team together,” Goodman said, “to make us to where we could work together and there’s less conflict in the team and that we could play as a team on the field and get more things done, make it further.”

Iola looks to have a strong, experienced defense with Futrell, who

High School Football 2018

has seen time at all four linebacker spots, helping anchor the unit. Andrew Crenshaw, a f our-year starter on defense, and three-year defensive starters Kaiden Halley and Zach Hollingsworth also return.

“Our defense has a lot of experience on it,” Goodman said. “Most of our defense is made up of seniors, so it’s a lot of people who have been playing what we do a lot, so we’re able to instill when we need to into the underclassmen and then also have experience on the field.”

Johnson and Funderburk added that they’re excited to see what the offense is capable of.

“We feel like we’ve got a really good group on offense this year,” Ross said.

“We’ve always been pretty strong on defense. We have more offensive linemen returning this year, so we’ve got more experience there, which we haven’t had in the past. We’ve got a number of skill guys that are returning, so we feel like maybe overall this is one of the best groups we’ve had offensively with all 11 guys on the field.”

Iola reached the regional round of the Class 2A Division II playoffs last year before losing 35-14 to Tenaha, which has knocked the Bulldogs out of the playoffs three of the last four seasons. Tenaha moved up to 2A Division I this year,



so Iola won’t have to deal with the Tigers in the playoffs, but teams like Burton (Sept. 28) and Bremond (Nov. 2) in District 13-2AII play will pose regularseason challenges. The Bulldogs open the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at home against Somerville.

“You’ve got to be really good to get [to regionals] and play in December,” Ross said. “You’ve got to get a few breaks along the way and hope that the in-

TheEagle.com

Date Opponent Aug. 31 Somerville Last year: did not play

Time 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Normangee Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 Anderson-Shiro Last year: W 35-0

7 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Milano Last year: L 28-7

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Burton Last year: L 34-12

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 open District 13-2A Division II Oct. 12 Granger* 7 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 19 at Chilton Last year: did not play Oct. 26 open Nov. 2 Bremond Last year: L 17-6

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Bartlett Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

* Homecoming

jury bug stays away, especially at this level. Nobody at our level, 2A Division II, is going to have a whole lot of depth, so it’s important



for us to try and get as many reps for younger kids and backups as we can, so that if we do have to put somebody in there’s not a significant dropoff.”

With 14 seniors, Iola is loaded with experience for its classification, and Ross says the group of veterans has embraced its role as caretakers of Bulldog football.

“This is my f ifth year here, and we’ve talked about the fact that over that amount of time, I don’t know if we’ve ever had a bad practice,” Ross said. “Our kids take a lot of pride, and Iola’s always known for how well they play football. The kids understand that. The community expects it.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Casey Shutt, back, will run behind Caleb Hill, front from left, Clifford Chambers and Jakobe Nutall for the Rangers this season.

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Center Sam Dawson is one of Allen Academy’s two seniors this season.

William E. Privett, DDS 1111 Rock Prairie Road | College Station 979-775-7777 | Fax: 979-764-5689 www.heartoftexasdentistry.com

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

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TheEagle.com

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High School Football 2018

35

BREMOND TIGERS

Young Tigers hope to maintain program’s winning tradition

By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com

When a football program has won five straight district titles and is just a season removed from three consecutive state championships, expectations will always be sky-high.

So it’s no surprise that Bremond has its eyes set on big things in 2018.

It won’t be easy to reach those familiar heights with a young team, though Bremond head coach Jeff Kasowski says it has plenty of potential.

“More than anything, the kids that we have are just excited about playing varsity football,” Kasowski said.

“They’ve grown up seeing the things we’ve done the last three or four years, and they’re excited about the tradition we have. A whole lot of them are hometown folks, so they go home and their parents are excited, and they’re excited. We’ve got some talent. It’s very young or inexperienced, and it’s going to be a growing process for us.”

Kasowski said the Tigers’ strength lies in the skill positions on both sides of the ball.

Junior running back D a l t o n W i l ga n o w s k i rushed for 711 yards and eight touchdowns last year to earn second-team all-district honors. Senior RyKendria “Keke” Paul, the brother of Texas A&M slot receiver Roshauud Paul, had 201 receiving yards and a TD and 188 rushing yards and another score last season and returns in a hybrid role on offense. Sophomore Seth Kasowski is the leading returner at receiver with 325 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and move-in

36

FACTS Head coach — Jeff Kasowski (82-15 overall; 82-15 at Bremond) District — 13-2A Division II 2017 record — 10-2 (5-0 in 10-2A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. Clarksville 36-6; area: lose to Timpson 14-11 Playoff appearances (31) — 1951, 1955, 1957, 1962-63, 1981-83, 1986-88, 1990, 1993-96, 2000-02, 2005-08, 2010-17 Returning lettermen — 20 (5 offensive, 4 defensive starters) Key returners — RB Dalton Wilganowski (10-2A-D2 2nd A-D), OL Nolan Hopcus (2nd A-D), DB RyKenderia Paul (2nd A-D) Key losses — QB Kaidyn Peralez (MVP), DB Michael Pruitt (Def. MVP), WR-DE Jared Stellbauer (A-D), OL Kellan Stuard (A-D), OL-DL Ryan Jones (A-D), DL Nick Bancroft (A-D), LB Eric Wilganowski (A-D), DB Danny Suarez (A-D), PK-DL Gerardo Ponce (A-D) All-time record — 534-363-26 Playoff record — 72-25-2

J.T. Anthony will start at quarterback.

Those four also will star on defense with the returners being Wilganowski at linebacker and Seth Kasowski in the secondary along with Paul, a secondteam all-district pick last season. Anthony will slot in at safety, and senior Trent Biggerstaff gives the Tigers a dynamic threat at defensive end.

“We have some athleticism [at the skill positions] that we can lean on,” Jeff Kasowski said. “Where we’re going to have to work our way into shape is down in the trenches on both sides of the ball.”

Whether the Tigers can round into form at the line of scrimmage will largely depend on the play of juniors Nolan Hopcus and Garrett Mitchell, both returning starters. Hopcus, a second-team all-district pick on the offensive line last season, will play both ways, slotting in at nose guard defensively. Mitchell started primarily at offensive tackle last season while taking on a part-time role at defensive tackle.

On the offensive line, Holden Fuller will take over at center, and sopho-

High School Football 2018

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Normangee Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Thorndale Last year: W 42-7

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 Milano* Last year: L 28-21

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Waco Reicher Last year: W 62-38

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Leon Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 Hamilton Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

District 13-2A Division II Oct. 12 Bartlett 7 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 19 at Granger Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 26 Chilton Last year: W 35-0

7 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Iola Last year: W 17-6

7 p.m.

Nov. 9 open * Homecoming

ROSTER 1 WR/LB Hunter Wilganowski, soph.; 2 WR/ FS Seth Kasowski, soph.; 3 RB/LB Dalton Wilganowski, sr.; 8 Casey Garrett, jr.; 9 QB/ DB JT Anthony, soph.; 10 WR/S Rhykendria Paul, sr.; 12 RB TJ Grimes, soph.; 51 OL/LB JD McNutt, jr.; 52 OL/DL Cory Estrada; 53 OL/ DL Nolan Hopcus, jr.; 54 C/DL Holden Fuller, jr.; 55 OL/DL Ancel Smith; 56 OL/DE Trent Biggerstaff, sr.; 59 OL/DL Garrett Mitchell, jr.; 63 OT/DL Riley Slafka, soph.; 78 OL/DL John Kindard, sr.

more Riley Slafka will play right tackle. Biggerstaff is making the transition from tight end to right guard.

Kasowski said the 220-pound Fuller has a good mix of size, football intelligence and athleticism and is impressed with how the 260-pound Slafka has performed in preseason practices.

“We’ve got some guys [on the offensive line] that have some potential but just haven’t played on Friday nights yet,” Jeff Kasowski said. “We feel pretty good about [Fuller and Slafka] coming in to shore up the line. Biggerstaff is a 200-pound body that can run. That’s three pretty good ones right there, but like I said, there’s just going to be that growing process.”

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Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Bremond’s Hunter Wilganowski catches a pass at The Eagle’s fifth-annual Media Day on Aug. 3 at Merrill Green Stadium.

TheEagle.com

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

BURTON PANTHERS

Dynamic duo

Harmel, Winters among key leaders for talented Burton

By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com

W

ith all-state seniors Caleb Harmel and Dee Winters returning, the Burton football team is set up to be great in 2018.

Add in the remaining 13 returning starters, including seven more on offense, and the Panthers look like state championship contenders.

Burton is filled to the brim with experience coming off a run to the Class 2A Division II state semifinals, which ended with a 60-22 loss to eventual state runner-up Tenaha. None of that experience is more important than the six years of combined starting experience between quarterback Harmel and do-it-all TCU pledge Winters.

“Both of those guys have started every game at Burton since they were freshmen,” Burton coach Jason Hodde said. “That’s a huge plus for us as a team. They’ve played a lot of playoff games, so that’s going to help us as we get into the postseason as well. Plus, they’re good kids. They’ve got a great outlook on life, and they’re great teammates. Those things right there make them [great]. Their talent certainly speaks for itself, but those things put them over the top and make them better together ... like most duos. They do things differently, so it allows our football team to be successful at different things.”

Harmel, who Hodde de-

scribes as a bruising dualthreat, rushed for 2,065 yards and 34 touchdowns on 250 carries and completed 148 of 246 passes for 2,674 yards with 39 touchdowns to just seven interceptions last season.

The 6-foot, 200-pounder also lines up at defensive end.

The explosive Winters rushed 74 times HARMEL for 650 yards and 14 touchdowns and caught 64 passes for 1,171 yards and 19 touchdowns while play- WINTERS ing everywhere that doesn’t require a three-point stance on offense. Winters also lines up all over the field on defense.

While Harmel and Winters are the headliners, the Panthers have no shortage of talent elsewhere, especially on offense.

Junior Cade Weiss is coming off an all-state season and anchors an offensive line that also features returning starters junior Caleb Fuchs, a first-team all-district pick, and senior Tyler Hall.

Seniors Cameron Riggins and Reynaldo Miranda and freshman Waylon Hinze, who according to Hodde has had an im-

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

pressive preseason, are competing for the other two spots on the offensive line — the only starting positions up for grabs on that side of the ball.

Senior Tristan Brantley, a first-team all-district selection at receiver and kicker, pairs up with Winters for a solid 1-2 punch in the passing game, and sophomore Demarcus Wilson returns at running back. Senior Chase Mathis and junior Cash Callahan also will be involved in the passing game.

“The offense is probably the stronger point of our team at this particular time,” Hodde said.

“We have some things we’ve got to fix on defense as far as having a few guys step up and re-tweak some positions as far as having guys playing different spots. But for the most part, our experience is one of our strong suits.”

Joining Harmel and Winters in playing both ways, Wilson and Mathis will line up at linebacker while Brantley will play safety and Callahan at cornerback, where he was a first-team all-district pick last season.

Hodde said the secondary with Winters, Brantley and Callahan will be the strength of the defense while the Panthers figure out a rotation on the defensive line in the early part of the season, adding that all three are capable of playing safety and cornerback.

Should its defensive personnel fall into place,



the already-high expectations for the Panthers could go through the roof.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine has Burton ranked fourth in 2A Division II and back in the state semifinals, but great expectations are something the Panthers are used to.

“We have high expectations each and every year in our program,” Hodde said. “Our expectations for this year, from our standpoint, are no different than they’ve been. A lot of people expect us to do a lot of things, but we’ve got to focus on the things that make us a

TheEagle.com

FACTS

SCHEDULE

Head coach — Jason Hodde (56-21 overall; 56-21 at Burton) District — 14-2A Division II 2017 record — 13-2 (5-0 in 13-2A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: def. Center Point 44-0; area: def. Louise 56-7; regionals: def. La Pryor 55-26; quarterfinals: def. Falls City 69-45; semifinals: lost to Tenaha 60-22 Playoff appearances (11) — 1992, 1995, 2008, 2010-17 Returning lettermen — 25 (9 offensive, 6 defensive starters) Key returners — QB Caleb Harmel (132A D2 Co-MVP), WR DeMonderick Winters (Co-MVP), OL Cade Weiss (A-D), OL Caleb Fuchs (A-D), FB Demarcus Wilson (A-D), TE Chase Mathis (A-D), WR-PK Tristen Brantley (A-D), CB-WR Cash Callahan (A-D), DL Jacob Chandler (2nd A-D), LB Reynaldo Miranda (2nd A-D) Key losses — DL-TE C.J. Briscoe (A-D), LB Montral Wilson (A-D), OL Brandon Gober (2nd A-D), DL Luke Salinas (2nd A-D), CB Nathaniel Jones (2nd A-D), S Patrick DeLeon (2nd A-D), S Bailey Deramus (2nd A-D).

All-time record — 274-341-15 Playoff record — 18-11-0

Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Lexington Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Milano Last year: W 36-31

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Shiner Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Weimar Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 Iola Last year: W 34-12

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 Rogers Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Snook Last year: W 57-28

good football team and the things our guys do for each other, the school and the community. If we can just stay humble, work

hard and keep the things important that are important, I think we’ll have a successful season.”

District 14-2A Division II Oct. 12 Flatonia 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 19 at Louise Last year: W 57-14 Oct. 26 open Nov. 2 Somerville Last year: W 64-0

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Open till 1 am Friday and Saturday 1741 University Dr. • (979)846-3600 1740 Rock Prairie Rd. • (979)680-0508

PAPAJOHNS.COM 

High School Football 2018

37

SOMERVILLE YEGUAS

Bagby bringing organization to Yegua program

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

Somerville’s senior duo of running back/linebacker Devin Sparks and wide receiver/cornerback Cassius Conway have played for a few coaches, but none have been as organized as their current coach, Greg Bagby, who is entering his first year with the Yeguas.

Bagby is the sixth coach at Somerville since 2013 and inherits a program that went 2-9 and advanced to the bi-district round of the Class 2A Division II playoffs last year.

Bagby’s organization is a main goal for his team on the field. He wants his team to play as a unit, and it’s showing.

“Our chemistry is a little bit better than previous years,” Conway said. “I feel like we’re more of a family.

I feel like we have a little more talent.”

Conway added that going through tough years helped forge those bonds.

Bagby said the Yeguas are getting better adjusted to his practice style and expectations every day. On the field, the run game will be the hallmark of the offense, though Bagby said it can be hard to discover his new team’s strengths and weaknesses until he gets to see it in live action.

“I believe you have to establish the run, and it’s going to help your defense, too, because it keeps your defense off the field,” he said. “I think it’ll be one of our strengths, too, not just philosophy-wise but the kids that we have. I think it’s going to fit us well.”

But it isn’t just players who have to buy in.

38

ROSTER 2 RB/LB Jeremiah Teague, soph.; 3 WR/DB Austin Horsley, soph.; 4 QB/RB/LB Kris Carroll, soph.; 5 QB/DB Philip Haba, soph.; 6 WR/DB Jason Bray, fr.; 7 RB/DB Johnnie Ray Seyrus, jr.; 10 WR/DB Cassius Conway, sr.; 11 TE/LB A.J. Barnett, sr.; 12 RB/LB Devin Sparks, sr.; 13 WR/DB Willie Carroll, jr.; 14 WR/DB Johnny Legg, fr.; 20 WR/DB Verkobe Woodberry, fr.; 21 WR/DB Trenton Ballard, sr.; 24 WR/LB Payton Sprouse, fr.; 34 WR/DB Hunter David, fr.; 40 OL/LB Cain Zuniga, sr.; 53 OL/DL Gage Zuniga, sr.; 55 OL/DL Riley Eldrige, soph.; 56 OL/DL Caleb Allison, sr.; 58 OL/DL Preston Sprouse, sr.; 60 OL/LB Evan Garay, fr.; 72 OL/DL Hunter Milburn, soph.; 76 OL/DL Cedric Hudgen, fr.; 77 OL/DL Josh Urbanosky, sr.; 79 OL/DL Nick Vasquez, sr.

Coaches: head coach Greg Bagby, Tim Galbreath, Chris Coronado, Lamar Lewis, Michael Schrader

FACTS Head coach — Greg Bagy (0-0 overall; 0-0 at Somerville) District — 14-2A Division II 2017 record — 2-9 (2-3 in 13-2A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: lost to La Pryor 32-17 Playoff appearances (9) — 1939, 1960, 1965, 1976, 1982-83, 1990, 2006, 2017 Returning lettermen — 20 (7 offensive, 7 defensive starters) Key returners — LB Willie Carroll (13-2A D2 A-D), OL-OL Preston Sprouse (2nd A-D), RB Devin Sparks (2nd A-D), CB Cassius Conway (2nd A-D) Key losses — OL Josh Gomez (A-D), QB-LB Kevin Miles (A-D), TE-LB Daniel SanMiguel (2nd A-D) All-time record — 314-513-24 Playoff record — 4-9-0

“It starts with the coaching staff,” Bagby said. “The guys I have here, they were already all here, and they have been really receptive to me and bought into what I’m trying to do and have been instrumental in making it a smooth transition.”

Somerville f inished fourth in District 13-2A Division II last season and reached the playoffs for the first time since 2006, losing 32-17 to La Pryor in bi-district. Conway and Sparks want to build off that and makeaplayoffrunthisyear.

Aside from reaching the playoffs, they fondly recall last year’s 48-36 win over rival Snook. Wins such as that go a long way to fostering community support, which Conway and Sparks said is helpful toward putting together a successful season.

“I’ve been here since my sixth-grade year and played football in seventh, eighth grade, junior high,

High School Football 2018

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Iola Last year: did not play

Time 7 p.m.

Sept. 7 Waco Texas Wind Last year: L 37-26

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 Yorktown Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Woodsboro Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Sept. 28 Brazos Christian Last year: L 58-32 Oct. 5 at Granger Last year: L 19-14

7:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

District 14-2A Division II Oct. 12 Snook* 7:30 p.m.

Last year: W 48-36 Oct. 19 at Flatonia Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 Louise Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Burton Last year: L 64-0

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 open * Homecoming

Eagle photos by Dave McDermand

all through them, and that Baker Highway Bowl was full of all blue plaques,” Sparks said, referring to Snook’s dominance in the rivalry series. “And as soon as we got to get our orange plaque on there, it really stuck out, made everybody feel good in our town and our community.

I feel like we got a lot more support after that.”

While Bagby knows how important the Snook game is, he’s looking at other matchups, especially in Somerville’s new 14-2AII that includes Burton, Flatonia and Louise along with the rival Bluejays.

Somerville will open its season at 7 p.m. Aug. 31 at Iola with the Snook game set for 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at



Somerville junior Willie Carroll, above, throws a pass, while senior teammate Devin Sparks, right, catches one at The Eagle’s fifth annual Media Day on Aug. 3 at Merrill Green Stadium.

Yegua Stadium.

“From just talking to the coaches that have been here and the players that are here, our kids are going to show up that week for sure,” Bagby said.

“But we’ve got a whole lot of time between now and then, a whole lot of games and a really tough nondistrict schedule and a tough district schedule. It’ll be fun when we get there, but it’s way down the road.”

TheEagle.com

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

SNOOK BLUEJAYS

Toughened Bluejays look to rebound in 2018

By ROBERT CESSNA robert.cessna@theeagle.com

Snook took a step backward last season, but the Bluejays plan on atoning in a big way in 2018.

Snook made the playoffs for the first time in school history in 2016 and expected to be better last season with 17 starters returning, but injuries along with tough luck led to a disappointing 2-7 record.

“It seemed we just never could get going last year as far as getting everybody on the same page,” coach Chad Lechler said. “I don’t think we played a district ballgame with our whole entire team healthy. We just kind of caught the injury bug and missed guys for other reasons, and it was just hard to get going.”

It was Snook’s worst record since going 1-9 in 2012, and even a bigger downer since it came on the heels of a school-record 6-6 season.

“It’s even harder sometimes to follow up on having a little success,” Lechler said. “We finally got over that hump, got into the playoffs and won a playoff game. I guess we kind of exhaled a little bit.”

Snook has worked hard to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“We put a lot of work into the spring and [the players] were reminded a lot about the kind of season we had last year,” Lechler said. “And all the kids they’re definitely on the same page and their goal foremost is getting in the playoffs again this year.”

Snook has a team that could not only make the playoffs, but have extend-

ed success. The Bluejays return eight starters each way.

“We were still very young last year,” Lechler said. “We just had four seniors. This year we’re going to have 11 seniors and about 23 upperclassmen, so we’ve never had that since I’ve been there.”

Offensive line was the only position hit hard by graduation, losing three starters.

“I think we’ve got some young players who are going to come in and step up,” Lechler said. “We may struggle a little bit up front early, but I think by the time we get going and get into the season, we’re going to end up being pretty good up front.”

Senior center Jose Castillo anchors a g reen, huge line. Juniors on the right side are 245-pound tackle David James and 380-pound guard James Young III. Sophomores are on the left with 320-pound guard Darrell Moore and 215-pound tackle Jason Barker.

If the line can open holes the Bluejays should pile up points with all-district running back Damon Allen who rushed for 1,600 yards and 23 touchdowns last season.

Snook also has enough depth to spell Allen, who also plays linebacker and has added muscle to better handle going both ways.

“It’s going to help him stay fresh and get through games,” Lechler said “We lost him last year in the second half of a few games.

And I think some of that was he just got tired and got nicked up. It wasn’t major injuries, but inju-

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

ries that can really hobble you.”

Allen will be complemented by quarterback KJ Macik who threw for 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.

Defensively, Snook has switched from a 3-4 alignment to a 4-2-5 to be more athletic near the line of scrimmage.

“From the scrimmage last week I was really pleased with how our kids flew around to the football,” Lechler said. “I felt like we were better than we were all of last year.”

Snook always had to play freshmen in Lechler’s first three seasons but there’s enough quality depth in the upper three classes that he doesn’t have one freshman on the varsity roster.

Many of this year’s sophomores had to play last year because injuries.

“They gave all they had but they just weren’t ready to go out there and compete at that level,” Lechler said.

“This year, we’ll have a lot of guys who can step in and play when they’re needed and won’t have that much of a drop-off when they go in there.”

• NOTES — Snook will play its home games at Allen Academy for the fifth and final season. A multipurpose stadium and track are part of a $7.5-million bond issue that passed by one vote in May and will be ready for the 2019 season. “It’s [been] tough,” Lechler said. “[Allen Academy] is very hospitable and nice to us, and we appreciate it, but by the end of the year it gets to become a real grind.” ... Snook for the next two seasons will remain in a

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ROSTER

SCHEDULE

1 WR/DB Damonta Allen, sr.; 2 RB/LB Damon Allen, sr.; 3 QB/LB Justin Supak, soph.; 4 RB/LB Qwan Young, jr.; 5 QB/LB KJ Macik, sr.; 6 WR/DB Nick Johnson, soph.; 7 WR/DB Antonio Davis, sr.; 8 WR/DB Jake Young, sr.; 9 WR/LB Matthew Jordan, jr.; 10 RB/LB Jaxson Brisco, soph.; 11 QB/LB Remington Harris, sr.; 13 K/WR Lance Vadjak, sr.; 14 WR/DB Dre’raud Rogers, jr.; 15 WR/DB Kohl Junek, sr.; 20 RB/ DB Chris Tillmon, sr.; 21 RB/LB Raymundo Alarcon, jr.; 22 RB/LB Tristan Davis, jr.; 33 TE/DL David Davis, jr.; 52 OL/DL David James, jr.; 55 OL/DL Jason Barker, soph.; 60 OL/DL Jose Castillo, sr.; 65 OL/DL Darrell Moore, soph.; 70 OL/DL James Young III, jr.; 72 OL/DL Adrain Perez, jr.

Class 2A Division II team in six-team District 14 keeping Somerville and Burton but losing Bartlett, Granger and Milano for Louise and Flatonia. ... Snook lost its first three games last season by allowing 161 points. “We had a lot of guys returning, but we had a lot of guys out of position,” Lechler said. “We really didn’t find out identity until later in the year because younger guys had to step up and play.”

TheEagle.com



FACTS Head coach — Chad Lechler (11-20 overall; 11-20 at Snook) District — 14-2A Division II 2017 record — 2-7 (1-4 in 13-2A Division II) Playoff appearances (1) — 2016 Returning lettermen — 18 (8 offensive, 8 defensive starters) Key returners — RB-LB Damon Allen (132A D2 A-D), S Damonta Allen (A-D), OL Jose Castillo (2nd A-D), QB/DE Kirk Macik (2nd A-D), WR Kohl Junek (2nd A-D), CB Antonio Davis (2nd A-D) Key losses — OL-DL Devonze Franklin (A-D) All-time record — 27-76-1 Playoff record — 1-1

Date Opponent Aug. 31 at Granger Last year: L 29-22 Sept. 7 Brazos Christian Last year: L 49-36

Time 7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Waco Texas Wind Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Sept. 21 at San Saba* Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Chilton Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

District 14-2A Division II Oct. 5 Bartlett 7:30 p.m.

Last year: W 37-16 Oct. 12 at Somerville Last year: W 48-36 Oct. 19 open Oct. 26 Flatonia# Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Louise Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 Burton Last year: L 57-28

7:30 p.m.

All home games at Allen Academy * at Georgetown # at Caldwell

High School Football 2018

39

CALVERT TROJANS

Former Trojan excited to help alma mater rebound ROSTER

By ROBERT CESSNA robert.cessna@theeagle.com

Calvert head football coach Ja’Marcus Ashley and assistant Andre Ross Jr. know firsthand the importance of stability to a program.

Just nine years ago with Ashley as Calvert’s quarterback making throws to wide receiver Ross, they helped Coylin Grimes win his 100th game. Grimes, also a former Trojan standout, led Calvert to its lone state title in 2003.

Calvert has kept winning since Grimes left in 2012, but the head coaching position has become a revolving door. Ashley is the fifth head coach in five years. The constant change

FACTS

1 Danielshijon Hurst, jr.; 2 Corderrius Gilmore, jr.; 3 Matthew Steamer Jr., sr.; 4 James Green Jr., sr.; 5 Ja’Quarious Ford, fr.; 6 Darrius Brooks, sr.; 7 Devin Flentroy, soph.; 8 Derrick Stewart Jr., sr.; 9 Billy Thompson Jr., soph.; 10 Kevin Wooten, jr.; 11 David Williams, fr.; 12 Tre’Quinton Green, soph.; 13 DeOnte Schells, soph.; 14 Darreyl Buhl Jr., fr.; 15 Erwin Jones, soph.; 16 Ge’Kelion Barton, jr.; 17 Anthony Farris, fr.; 20 Christopher Edwards, sr.; 21 Juan Castillo, fr.; 25 Christopher Mendoza, fr.

may have contributed to last year’s bi-district loss to Oakwood, the program’s worst season since 2012, which was Grimes’ last season.

Calvert finished 9-2, a record most schools would take, but Ashley said there were too many quarters the Trojans didn’t play their best and the 54-50 loss to Oakwood was tough to accept.

“With us losing so early in the playoffs, something that we’re not accustomed to, there’s an overall focus

to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Ashley said. “Man, we were embarrassed. Our kids were embarrassed, I was embarrassed, the community was embarrassed. So that’s in the back of our minds.”

Ashley, an assistant coach last season under former head coach Chris Bennett, was able to build chemistry with players and gain their trust.

“Last year they were able to get comfortable around me,” Ashley said. “I watched a lot of these kids

Head coach — JaMarcus Ashley (0-0 overall; 0-0 at Calvert) District — 14-A Division II 2017 record — 9-2 (3-0 in 16-A Division II) 2017 playoffs — bi-district: lost to Oakwood 54-50.

Playoff appearances (32) — 11-man (14) — 1923, 1938, 1946-47, 1949, 1952, 1958, 1967-68, 1970, 1989-91, 1994; 6-man (17) — 1998-99, 2001-11, 2013-17 Returning lettermen — 12 (3 offensive, 4 defensive starters) Key returners — C Jacobe Schells (16-A D2 A-D), QB-CB James Green Jr. (A-D), SB-CB Matt Steamer (A-D), DL Darrius Brooks (A-D), TE Davion Flentroy (2nd A-D), RB-CB Billy Thompson (2nd A-D), LB Corderrius Gilmore (2nd A-D) Key losses — RB-LB Coylin Grimes (POY), DL DeMarcus Benson (Def. MVP), WR-S Davion Huffman (A-D), WR Ja’Marquis Brooks (A-D) All-time record — 561-368 Playoff record — 33-29-2 (11-man: 3-12-2; 6-man: 30-17-0)

grow up. They listened to the things I had to say, and I think it helped that I’m not too much older than they are. I think it’s a breath of fresh air for them.”

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Time Aug. 31 San Marcos Hill Country 7:30 p.m.

Last year: W 66-36 Sept. 7 Fort Worth THESA Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 15 Sugar Land Logos Prep* Last year: did not play

6 p.m.

Sept. 21 TBA Sept. 28 at Oakwood Last year: did not play

TBA 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 Coolidge Last year: W 74-38

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 12 Milford Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 open District 14-A Division II Oct. 26 Oglesby 7:30 p.m.

Last year: W 61-14 Nov. 2 Buckholts Last year: W 51-0

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 9 at McDade Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

* Homecoming

Stability is the biggest thing Ashley is selling.

“I have a lot of ties to the community, I don’t plan

on going anywhere,” the Texas A&M graduate said.

“So, I’m not telling them anything in vain, what I tell them, I mean it.”

Calvert has the experience and talent to make Ashley’s transition to head coach a smooth one. The Trojans return seven starters, each of them making at least second-team alldistrict a year ago, and all seemingly on a mission.

“There’s an overall hunger,” Ashley said adding that he’d be lying if he said they aren’t looking forward to reaching the playoffs and atoning.

Calvert has multiple playmakers on both sides.

Quarterback James Green

See CALVERT, Page 43

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40

High School Football 2018

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

ST. JOSEPH EAGLES

St. Joseph embracing switch to 6-man football

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

St. Jose ph r unning back Twister Barrington is about to get a lot busier.

After a promising freshman season in 2017, Barrington will be counted on to be a playmaker for the Eagles as they return to 6-man football. That switch from 11man means a lot more running, and Barrington, w ho a l s o starts at linebacker, is prepared for the re- BARRINGTON sponsibility.

“Last year, we had a lot of leaders — we had a big senior class,” Barrington said. “They just taught me a lot, so I can carry that through my next few years.”

The switch, which comes after 12 seasons of playing 11-man and a 1-9 finish last year, is going well, St. Joseph head coach Alec Castilleja said.

“We try to keep it as simple as possible and relate it to last year’s system,” Castilleja said. “A lot of these guys are taking it in stride and not having any trouble.

It’s a very small learning curve, and that would be the rules and just getting used to the speed of the game. As far as Xs and Os, we’re a pretty smart football team.”

He said Barrington is a bruising rusher with sneaky speed and will be one of the bigger players on the field for the Eagles.

“In this division, we have

FACTS Head coach — Alec Castilleja (1-9 overall; 1-9 at St. Joseph) District — TAPPS 6-Man Division II District 3 2017 record — 1-9 (1-5 in TAPPS 11-man Division III District 4) Playoff appearances (11) — 6-man (3): 1999-01; 11-man (8): 2006-11, 2013-14 Returning lettermen — 11 (3 offensive, 4 defensive starters) Key returners: RB/LB Twister Barrington Key losses — WR-DL-P Logan Lipscomb (A-D) All-time record — 99-116 Playoff record — 3-11 (11-man: 2-8; 6-man: 1-3)

a little bit more size than most, so one thing we’ll definitely try to do is push some people around,” Castilleja said. “But we don’t neglect our speed. We have some of the fastest kids in TAPPS.” Trace Brightwell will replace John Najvar at quarterback, and Cole Gibson and Noah Mc- BRIGHTWELL Clure will play football after having success in track.

“We have two seniors that stick out,” Barrington said of Gibson and McClure. “They didn’t play last year, but they’re coming to play this year, and that makes a big difference.”

Gibson and James Najvar helped St. Joseph win the state championship in the 4x100-meter relay this spring, and both will help the Eagles on offense.

On defense, Castilleja characterized the Eagles as “small and scrappy.”

While that could be an issue against bigger 11-man squads, Castilleja thinks it will benefit St. Joseph this year.

As with many 6-man

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Sept. 1 East Texas Christian^ Last year: did not play

Time 6 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Temple Holy Trinity Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Sept. 14 Summit Christian Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Sept. 20 BVCHEA (JV) Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

TAPPS 6-man Division II District 3 Sept. 28 Conroe Covenant 7 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 5 Houston Clear Lake Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 12 at Allen Academy Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 19 at Spring Providence Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 26 Huntsville Alpha Omega Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Nov. 2 at Brazosport Christian Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Nov. 9 open ^ Allen Academy

ROSTER

dog, we welcome it.”

The return to 6-man football means in-town rival Allen Academy is on the schedule with the Eagles set to visit the Rams at 7 p.m. Oct. 12.

St. Joseph’s season also kicks off at Allen Academy as the Eagles will take on East Texas Christian Academy at 6 p.m. Sept. 1 at Baker Field.

“If I told you we’re just trying to do better than last year, I’m lying,” Castilleja said. “Our ultimate goal is a state championship, and I think we’re going to be able to make a run. We’re going to jump in feet first, and whatever happens, happens, but we’re expecting success.”

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Quarterback Trace Brightwell, left, and running back Twister Barrington will be leaders on St. Joseph’s offense this season.

Cole Gibson, sr.; Noah McClure, sr.; Colten Bledsoe, sr.; Matthew Nelson, jr.; Roland George, jr.; James Najvar, jr.; Caleb Rike, jr.; Adam Labowitz, jr.; Trace Brightwell, soph.; Jake Drabek, soph.; Rylee Hutka, soph.; Twister Barrington, soph.; Joe Tyler Saladiner, soph.; Justin Kristynik, soph.; Jack Grunkemeyer, soph.; Thomas Dimarco, soph.; Grayson Glass, fr.; Reid Millhollon, fr.; Gabe Stratta, fr.

Managers: Jaxon Hayles, Evan Lawrence, Gage Lipscomb Coaches: head coach Alec Castilleja, coordinator Kyle Castilleja, coordinator Tyler Foster, Marcjavion McGrew, Robert Mandujano, Juan Guerrero, Cristian Olvera

teams, depth is a concern, but Castilleja said he was impressed with his team’s commitment to offseason workouts during the summer. He also was excited about the development of younger players during a shortened 6-on-6 season over the summer.

“As a coach that’s what I want — I want to be an underdog every time and just prove people wrong and prove our boys right that what we’re doing here is the right thing and that the work here and the discipline they’re showing is paying off,” Castilleja said.

“If we go in as an under-

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TheEagle.com

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High School Football 2018

41

Eagle photos by Dave McDermand LEFT: College Station will count on Luke Gardner, from left, Brandon Williams, Erick Pereyra and Logan Flasowski on offense, while Bryan quarterback Kerry Brooks, right, will run the Vikings’ attack.

42

High School Football 2018

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TheEagle.com

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

BRAZOS CHRISTIAN EAGLES

Talented Eagles taking flight under new coach ROSTER

By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com

With Brazos Christian entering its first season under head coach Ben Hoffmeier and looking to replace star running back Tucker Hartis, junior quarterback Bryce Steel brings a much-needed breeze of familiarity.

Despite the shifting landscape, the third-year starter looks to help the Eagles keep one thing constant — success. Brazos Christian is coming off back-to-back TAPPS Division IV state semifinal appearances with Steel under center, but he likely will have to shoulder more of the offensive load as the Eagles adjust to playing without Hartis, who rushed for 1,872 yards and 30 touchdowns last season.

“Obviously, we’re counting on Bryce,” Hoffmeier said. “We think he’s got a great arm. We think he can make all the throws. We’re counting on him to be the

FACTS

1 LB/FB Gibson Tucker, sr.; 2 WR/CB Jacob Smith, jr; 3 QB/DB Blake Burton, soph.; 4 FB/LB Davis Conlee, fr.; 5 TE/LB Jeb Miller, sr.; 7 WR/DB Sam Kinnard, fr.; 8 QB/DB Hayden Tillery, fr.; 9 DB/TE Jax Bacak, jr.; 11 WR/DB Tyler Oezle, soph.; 12 QB Bryce Steel, jr.; 13 WR/DB Wyatt McDougal, fr.; 17 RB/DB Harris Powers, fr.; 18 TE/DE Trey Fisher, sr.; 20 LB/FB Clayton Jackson, soph.; 21 RB/DB Isaiah Saenz, sr.; 22 WR/DB Coby Clark, jr.; 23 RB/LB Trevor Collins, jr.; 25 LB/FB Stryker Gay, fr.; 28 WR/LB Davis Carroll, fr.; 50 LB/OL Garrett Fowler, sr.; 51 O/DL Andrew Saenz, soph.; 53 OL/ DL Christian Funderburk, fr.; 55 ol/DL Wil Sharpe, fr.; 62 OL/DL Weston Fowler, fr.; 63 OL/DL Preston Conley fr.; 64 OL/DL Mason Clark, soph.; 68 OL/DL Camp Wright, fr.; 70 OL/DL Mason Hitt, sr.; 71 OL/DL Ethan Reeves, soph.; 72 OL/DL Logan Waggoner, sr.; 75 OL/DL Micah Coleman, sr.; 77 OL/DL Hudson Holcomb, jr.

Trainers: Cam Rugh; Ben Kilgore Coaches: Head coach/defensive coordinator Ben Hoffmeier, offensive coordinator Shawn Parish, Matt Alvarado, Eric Alvarez, Andrew Santillan, Ryan Lamb

leader of the unit.”

Hoffmeier said he is pleased with how Steel, who completed 114 of 197 passes for 1,853 yards and 19 touchdowns last season, has performed in preseason practices and picked up changes.

“We’re running more pro set this year,” Steel said. “We have the open [offense] still, but we’re going to mix in the pro set this year. I think the offense is in pretty good hands between me and all the seniors that will be playing.”

Senior Isaiah Saenz, who won TAPPS 3A state track titles in the 100 and 200 meters in May, and a newcomer, junior Trevor Collins, will get most of

the work at running back.

Senior Gibson Tucker and freshman Wyatt McDougal will play hybrid tailback/ receiver roles, and junior Jacob Smith will line up at receiver.

The offensive line features several returning starters, including seniors Mason Hitt and Garrett Fowler and junior Hudson Holcomb.

“The good news is we’ve got a lot of guys coming back there,” Hoffmeier said. “We have some inexperience at some other spots, but we feel good about Hitt, who’s playing some at center and left tackle. We feel good about Fowler returning at guard and Holcomb, who played a

lot last year as well. Overall we see a strength in that group. I think we’re going to be miles ahead of where we were last year at this time just because of those guys being returners.”

Fowler also will anchor the defense at middle linebacker after recording 89 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception last season.

“Fowler is the heart and soul of our defense,” Hoffmeier said. “He’s an incredible mike linebacker.

He’s the guy that’s going to make great plays in the box and out of the box because he plays with great speed, and he’s a hitter.”

Largely due to Fowler in the middle, Hoffmeier says

Head coach — Ben Hoffmeier (0-0 overall; 0-0 at Brazos Christian) District — TAPPS Division IV District 3 2017 record — 9-3 (4-1 in TAPPS Division III District 4) 2017 playoffs — TAPPS Division IV bi-district: def. The Woodlands Legacy Prep 68-35; regionals: def. Shiner St. Paul 40-14; semifinals: lost to Magnolia Prep Christian 21-13 Playoff appearances (16) — 6-man (2): 2000-01; 11-man (13): 2002-03, 2005-06, 2008-17 Returning lettermen — 9 (7 offensive, 6 defensive starters) Key returners — OL-LB Garrett Fowler (A-D), DB Isaiah Saenz (A-D), OL Ma-son Hitt (2nd A-D), QB Bryce Steel (2nd A-D), DL Gib Tucker (2nd A-D), LB Jeb Miller (2nd A-D) Key losses — RB Robert Hartis (A-D), WR-LB Parker Smith (A-D), U-P-PK Blake Smith (A-D), DL-WR Ben Weber (A-D), RB Christopher Coleman (2nd A-D), DB Zach Oelze (2nd A-D) All-time record — 143-78 Playoff record — 14-15 (11-man: 13-13; 6-man: 1-2)

the strength of the Eagles’ defense is in the box.

The defensive line will feature a large rotation of players that include seniors Logan Waggoner, Micah Coleman, Trey Fisher and Hitt, sophomore Ethan Reeves and Holcomb.

The secondary is inexperienced but talented. Saenz and Smith will be the starting cornerbacks, and Collins will play safety. Junior

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Brentwood Christian Last year: did not play

Time 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Snook^ Last year: W 49-36

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 Spring Frassati Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Anderson-Shiro* Last year: W 20-8

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Somerville Last year: W 58-32

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 5 open TAPPS Division IV District 4 Oct. 12 Galveston O’Connell 7 p.m.

Last year: did not play Oct. 19 open Oct. 26 at Beaumont Legacy Last year: W 68-35

7 p.m.

Nov. 2 Tomball Rosehill Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Nov. 9 at The Woodlands Legacy Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

* Homecoming ^ Allen Academy

Coby Clark and freshman Harris Powers will also get playing time.

“I think those guys just keep getting better every week,” Hoffmeier said.

“They work really hard, pay attention to details and are very coachable, so I’m thrilled with how far they’ve come along in a short while.”

CALVERT: Hurst surprising coaches Continued from 40

and running back Matthew Steamer Jr., helped the Trojans top 60 points five times last season. They are joined by junior Danielshijon Hurst, a pleasant surprise who didn’t play football last year.

“I mean, he’s been one heck of a back so far in practice,” Ashley said. “He’s a bigger back, he’s come in and added toughness. He has explosive speed and great open field moves.

“We’re going to be a threeheaded monster [on of-

fense].”

As good as the trio could be, sophomore Tre’Quinton Green and junior Derrick Stewart are good enough to play.

“We’re going to be very versatile,” Ashley said. “I told them, their numbers might not indicate how great an offensive player they are but we’re going to spread it around and exploit the favorable matchups.”

Defensively, the group that will hit you in the mouth, Ashley said. The secondary’s returning starters are Cord-

Wednesday, August 29, 2018



errius Gilmore, Davien Flentroy and Billy Thompson.

Calvert will need both sides to be in postseason form midway through the season when the Trojans play a trio of Top 5 teams in Oakwood, Coolidge and Milford. Ashley said it’ll prepare the Trojans for the playoffs.

He said the players, especially the upperclassmen are anxious to get going.

“This senior class will provide us with versatility and the dedication needed to make a great run at a championship,” Ashley said.

TheEagle.com

Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Junior Tyrese Brown will try to take over at quarterback for Madisonville this season.



High School Football 2018

43

ALLEN ACADEMY RAMS

Rams’ small roster on mission to build program

By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com

As a freshman, Luke Meadows already is an ambassador for the Allen Academy football program.

And Meadows, who starts at tight end and defensive end and is the Rams’ only freshman, wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Since our numbers are so small, we all have to be ambassadors for the team,” he said. “We go out there and do well this season and we show our school, ‘Hey, we’re doing something special this year,’ that’s going to want to make other people come out and play, and we just keep on trying to recruit them.”

With just 10 players on this year’s roster and two seniors in linemen Sam Dawson and Jaxon Rodell, sophomores such as Sam Deupree, Ryan Hassell and Brent Tucker are taking on big leadership roles.

“Most of us are sophomores, all in my class, and we h ave one senior, two juniors and a freshman,” said Tucker who is a running back/linebacker as well as the BOYD backup quarterback behind junior Brandon Boyd, who is moving from wide receiver. “We have a young squad coming in, but for the most part, we’ve been going through football through the years, and this isn’t our first time playing.”

Deupree, a wide receiv-

44

ROSTER 2 QB/FS Brandon Boyd, jr.; 4 HB/DB Dylan Scott, soph.; 5 CB/K Cuatro Hanover, soph.; 7 WR/CB/FS Aaron Boegner, soph.; 8 WR/DE Sam Deupree, soph.; 9 MLB/RB Ryan Hassell, soph.; 12 TE/DL Luke Meadows, fr.; 15 C/DL Jaxon Rodell, sr.; 22 ATH Brent Tucker, soph.; 32 C/DL Sam Dawson, sr.

Coaches: head coach/offensive coordinator Adrian Adams, defensive coordinaator Jason Jolly, special teams coordinator Trae Powell, Nick Stromeyer

FACTS Head coach — Adrian Adams (69-34 overall; 0-0 at Allen Academy) District — TAPPS 6-man Division II District 3 2017 record — 3-7 (1-5 in Division II District 6) 2017 playoffs — did not play Playoff appearances (21) — 11-man (6): 1974-75, 1979-80, 1998, 2004; 6-man (15): 1990-91, 1993-97, 2008-15 Returning lettermen — 6 (4 offensive, 4 defensive starters)

er/defensive end, said the Rams not finishing out last season because of low participation was disappointing, but he and his team are focused on this year’s potential. He likes playing both ways and thinks being versatile will serve him well as he moves through the Allen Academy program.

“I’m striving to be a good, strong leader and know what everybody else is doing, so I can help them and myself at the same time,” Deupree said.

First-year head coach Adrian Adams said he has seen a lot of growth in his team, both physical and mental. Seven of the Rams’ 10 players are returning from last year.

“The guys who worked out, we had bench presses going up 10 to 20 pounds,” Adams said. “Same with our squats and deadlift, so that was good. They came in in better shape than they probably have in the past.”

Adams said speed is a major strength for the

High School Football 2018

SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 31 Austin Achieve Last year: did not play

Time 6 p.m.

Sept. 7 at Buckholts Last year: L 85-68

7 p.m.

Sept. 14 East Texas Christian Last year: did not play

5 p.m.

Sept. 21 at Temple Holy Trinity Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Sept. 28 BVCHEA Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

TAPPS 6-man Division II District 3 Oct. 5 at Brazosport Christian 7 p.m.

Last year: L 84-49 Oct. 12 St. Joseph* Last year: did not play Oct. 19 open Oct. 26 Conroe Covenant Last year: L 57-14 Nov. 2 at Clear Lake Christian Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Nov. 9 at Huntsville Alpha Omega 7 p.m.

Last year: L 83-47 *Homecoming

Rams. Offensively, Adams likes to read defenses before each snap and adjust accordingly, and he’s pleased with how the Rams have picked up his scheme.

“It’s what you would see probably like from a Chad Morris of Arkansas or a West Virginia,” Adams said. “We can change tempos pretty easily. We have plays that build off of other plays. When we go fast, it’s pretty good. When we slow it down, it’s good. We can take a look at the defense, and we can change up what we wanted to do originally.”

Adjusting to a new coach and position proved tough at first for Hassell, who switched from lineman to linebacker, but he’s happy with his new assignment.

“It’s a lot of fun to go hit people,” Hassell said. “You get to see the play more as it develops. You get to be in pass coverage. It’s not the same monotonous rushing the quarterback. You actually get to read the play and make the tackle.”



Meadows and Dawson are two of the Rams’ biggest players in terms of size, and Meadows looks forward to his role as a blocker.

“We’re the enforcers,” Meadows said. “We’re the big guys that go out and make the g ritty plays that other peop l e d o n’ t want to make. Ev- DAWSON erything starts with us, so it’s going to be fun to be able to go out there and do that.”

Meadows and Tucker credit Adams and Dawson with keeping the team mo-

tivated.

“I think Coach Adams has helped us handle the pressure of representing our high school,” Meadows said. “[Dawson] has helped us realize when we go out there on Friday nights, we’re representing the whole school, so just play to the best of your ability.”

Meadows hopes one day he and his teammates won’t have to recruit their classmates to join the team. But for now, the focus is on Allen Academy’s season opener, which will at 6 p.m. Aug. 31 against Austin Achieve at Baker Field.

The Rams’ schedule features in-town matchups with BVHCEA on Sept. 28

in nondistrict play and St. Joseph on Oct. 12 in TAPPS 6-man Division II District 3.

Allen Academy last advanced to the playoffs in 2015, when Dawson was an eighth-grader. Getting the Rams back there is a huge motivating factor in 2018.

“It would be amazing [to make the playoffs] because there’s been a lot of doubting because of last year and the years before,” Tucker said. “Making it through the playoffs, and even if we didn’t win up to the top, just got through a lot of the playoffs, it would build confidence in the school and it would make more people want to be part of this program and play.”

GOOD LUCK to All Football Teams !

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Eagle photos by Dave McDermand Caldwell’s Logan Knesek, left, and St. Joseph junior James Najvar catch passes at The Eagle’s Media Day on Aug. 3 at Merrill Green Stadium.

this season!

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

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High School Football 2018

45

BRAZOS VALLEY CHRISTIAN HOME EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION MUSTANGS

Cox finds ways to be useful for 6-man Mustangs

By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle.com

It’s not often said that an offensive lineman may be too big for the game, but Sean Cox may be just that.

A t 6 - fo o t - 1 a n d 2 7 0 pounds, Cox is a giant in 6-man football. The senior makes it work, though, excelling enough for the Brazos Valley Christian Home Educators Association Mustang to be named to the TAIAO all-state and all-star teams.

“If we were 11-man he would do even better, but we’re not and we really don’t have linemen in 6-man,” BVCHEA coach Gerald Hancock said.

“With 6-man you just spend so much time playing in space, so unless you have some quickness there is no way. He has good feet, and he’s got some quickness for his size, and he’s been a leader on this team since he’s been here.”

Cox has star ted for the Mustangs since his freshman season when he weighed about 240. He played a considerable role in the home school team winning a TCAL state title that year.

“I probably outweigh every player by 50 or 60 pounds,” said Cox, who lives in Hearne. “I’m the biggest guy out there. I think a lot of the reason I have gotten to play as much as I did was because whenever I was younger I put a lot of work into getting my speed up and my agility, because that’s all 6-man is, running around in the open field.”

In 6-man, the center is eligible to catch passes, so Cox is more than a blocker.

He has averaged almost 300

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ROSTER 1 Owen Davis, 5-4, 120, fr.; 2 Adam LaStrapes, 5-11, 155, sr.; 4 Nathanael Simpson, 5-11, 160, jr.; 5 Cody Davis, 6-0, 160, jr.; 6 Payton Binion, 5-8, 130, soph.; 9 Ben Brandon, 6-2, 190, jr.; 10 Dominic LeJune, 6-0, 180, jr.; 11 Jack Erdner, 5-10, 150, soph.; 12 Levi Hancock, 5-11, 175, fr.; 17 Ethan LaStrapes, 6-0, 130, fr.; 21 Chase Mickelson, 5-8, 130, soph.; 22 Liam Price, 5-6, 125, fr.; 25 Grant Hancock, 5-11, 180, jr.; 33 Joseph Octerbeck, 5-7, 135, soph.; 35 Benjamin Freund, 5-11, 140, fr.; 44 Johnny Luevano, 6-1, 190, fr.; 45 Matthew Koenig, 6-0, 215, sr.; 51 PJ Dooley, 5-8, 135, fr.; 52 Joseph Kitts, 5-7, 130, fr.; 54 Sean Cox, 6-1, 280, sr.; 59 Josh Tipton, 5-11, 190, soph.; 99 Connor Hamilton, 5-11, 240, soph.

Manager: John Lloyd Athletic director: Kevin LaStrapes Coaches: head coach Gerald Hancock, Tim Brandon, Howard Tipton

FACTS Head coach — Gerald Hancock (7-4 overall, 7-4 at BVCHEA) District — TAIAO-Division I 2017 record — 7-4 Playoff appearances (8) — 2010-17 Returning lettermen — 13 (6 offensive, 6 defensive starters)

Eagle photo by Laura McKenzie BVCHEA junior Cody Davis catches a pass at The Eagle’s Media Day on Aug. 3 at Merrill Green Stadium. yards receiving and a couple of touchdowns a year while drifting into open space after long snapping the ball to the quarterback.

“The center kind of gets forgotten a lot because you don’t really expect the center to be a big playmaker,” Cox said. “Toward the beginning of the season when they don’t know about me

High School Football 2018

or that I can actually do stuff, I can be a surprise, but after that it’s kind of a given that everyone can catch the ball, so you cover everybody.”

Cox is BVCHEA’s lone starter over 200 pounds and is one of only three seniors, but it’s an experienced team that plans on adding to its run of eight

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straight playoff seasons.

The Mustangs return senior Adam LaStrapes at quarterback and Grant Hancock and Ben Brandon in the backfield. Hancock had more than 1,300 yards rushing and 22 TDs last season. Brandon is goodsized at 6-2 and 195 and takes some of the snaps in the Mustangs’ wing forma-

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tion.

“Almost everybody is back, and we have some freshmen who will help us this year on our varsity,” Hancock said. “We have 22 players. One of the things we’re trying to work on is having more guys that can contribute in a varsity game. Last year we probably had nine that we could count on to defend themselves on the field. We have a few more this year.”

Cody Davis is a two-way player for BVCHEA as is fellow junior Dominic LeJeune.

The wild card for the Mustang offense is sophomore kicker Jack Erdner. In 6-man, conversion points after touchdowns are the opposite of the norm with a kick worth two points, and with Erdner, BVCHEA is usually able to take advantage of that extra point.

“He’s a soccer player that wants to try kicking,” Hancock said. “He made a difference for us last year as a freshman being our kicker, because when we would score a touchdown it was automatic the extra points, and a lot of teams

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SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug. 30 Baytown Christian* Last year: did not play

Time 6 p.m.

Sept. 7 Victoria Cobra# Last year: W 46-0

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Buckholts Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 Huntsville Alpha Omega 7:30 p.m.

Last year: did not play Sept. 28 at Allen Academy Last year: did not play

7 p.m.

Oct. 5 Fort Bend Chargers^ Last year: did not play

TBA

Oct. 12 Bastrop Tribe Consol Last year: L 50-8

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 19 Johnson County Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 26 at Austin Royals@ Last year: L 50-47

7:30 p.m.

Nov. 2 Wilco Falcons Last year: did not play

7:30 p.m.

Home games at Bryan Regional Athletic Complex; * at Allen Academy; # in Brenham; ^ Homecoming; @ in Georgetown

don’t have a kicker, so even though they might score, they are still going to be behind, and several games we built on that over and over.”

The Mustangs will play in the same TAIAO division that includes Stephenville Faith, whi ch knocked BVCHEA out of the playoffs in the first round last season and went on to win its third straight state title.

“Last year I think we accomplished what we were looking for,” Cox said. “It was rough because except for me and Adam, everyone was new, not a lot with varsity experience. So last year was a big learning year getting comfortable and getting plays down, and we did a good job of that.”

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Football and bbQ: two things texans do best. Good luck this season!

cjbbq.com Wednesday, August 29, 2018

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High School Football 2018

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ATKINSON TOYOTA

“Helping Folks in the Brazos Valley Go Places”

TAILGATE READY. Bryan • 728 N. Earl ruddEr Fwy • 979-776-0404 • 1-877-824-0404 Madisonville • 204 I-45 South • 936-349-0909 • 1-877-349-0909

w w w. a t k i n s o n t o y o t a . c o m 48

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Wednesday, August 29, 2018