LEON COUGARS
Good nucleus of veterans set to lead Cougars
Leon lost several key players to graduation but learned from lessons of 2017 how to rebuild on fly By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com
The Leon Cougars, coming off a standout 2018 football season in which they contended for a district title, are in a similar spot to where they were two years ago — fielding an inexperienced squad. Despite returning just eight starters, Leon won’t be starting from scratch this time as it returns a handful of impactful starters, including All-Brazos Valley linebacker and District 9-2A Division I defensive player of the year Curtis Stanford. “I remember at the first scrimmage[in2017],Ilooked down and these ghost-white faces were looking at me,” Leon head coach Jeremy Colvert said. “I asked them ‘How many of you saw the field on varsity last year?’ Andthreepeopleraisedtheir hands,sowebasicallyplayed that season with a JV. This year’salittledifferentinthat … we’re bringing back a nucleus of kids that we didn’t have two years ago.” The core of last year’s area-round team began the 2017 season with little to no experience, and Stanford, a 6-foot, 210-pound senior, said the growth from that year was a big reason for the Cougars’successlastseason. “It was just our knowledge,” Stanford said was the difference between the two seasons. “Because the year before that we were all shoved into varsity, and none of us had any experience. That’s what [these new guys] have got to do. They’ve got to learn and pick it up.” Helping Stanford set the tone on defense are seniors
24
FACTS Head coach — Jeremy Colvert (19-15 overall; 19-15 at Leon) District — 9-2A Division I 2018 record — 8-4 (4-1 in 9-2A D1) 2018 playoffs — bi-district: def. Big Sandy 55-42; area: lost to San Augustine 46-14 Playoff appearances (15) — 1982-83, 1985, 1987, 1992, 1998-99, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009-10, 2014, 2016, 2018 Returning lettermen — 10 (3 offensive, 5 defensive starters) Key returners — Curtis Stanford (9-2A D1 Def. MVP), Brock Beamer (Def. NOY), WR/RB Harris Sherrod (A-D), RB/WR/DB Tyson Cornett (A-D), OL Michael King (HM A-D), OL Grant Walker (HM A-D), DL Walter Beltran (HM A-D), CB Ruben Gonzalez (HM A-D) Key newcomer — QB Jacob Robinson Key losses — QB Peyton Pruett (co-Off MVP), DB Keaton Caveness (co-Off. NOY), Nick Ucci (lineman of the year), OL/DL Donnie Alexander (A-D), OL/LB Terrance Smith (A-D), DL Aron Orndorff (A-D), RB/LB Dylan Pedigo (A-D), WR/LB Cameron Aldridge (2nd A-D), WR/DB Justin Massey (2nd A-D), TE Cole Ware (2nd A-D), DL Kris Winstead (2nd A-D), DL Jumno Choy (HM A-D), DB Mason Vick (HM A-D) All-time record — 262-295-11 Playoff record — 6-15
ROSTER 2 RB/LB Walter Beltran, sr.; 4 QB/DB Luke Middleton, fr.; 5 WR/DB Tyson Cornett, jr.; 6 WR/ DB Cruz Tellez, jr.; 7 WR/DB Luis Guillen, soph.; 8 WR/DB Micah Burleson, jr.; 10 WR/DB Tito Gonzalez, soph.; 11 WR/LB Myles Mendoza, soph.; 12 QB/DB Jacob Robinson, jr.; 14 RB/LB Nate Pedigo, fr.; 15 WR/DB Harris Sherrod, sr.; 18 RB/LB Jesus Carranza, jr.; 20 WR/DB Ruben Gonzalez, sr.; 22 WR/DB Jairo Rodriguez, soph.; 26 RB/LB Curtis Stanford, sr.; 50 OL/DL Jose Rodriguez, jr.; 51 OL/DL Michael King, sr.; 52 OL/LB Brock Beamer, sr.; 54 OL/DL Trey Weiler, soph.; 55 OL/D: Alex Balderas, soph.; 56 OL/LB Grant Walker, sr.; 61 OL/DL Esteban Gonzalez, jr.; 64 OL/DL Callan Shrode, soph.; 68 OL/DL Cody Williams, jr.; 70 OL/DL Nic Galbraith, jr.; 77 OL/DL Alexia Carrizales, fr.; 78 OL/DL Jose Vidales, jr. Managers: Cory Hogan, Madison King, Connor Colvert, Levi Middleton, Truss Waldrup Coaches: head coach Jeremy Colvert, Jeff Middleton, Jesse House, Lonny Wright, Dustin Simpson, Robert Welsh
Brock Beamer and Harris Sherrod and junior Tyson Cornett. Beamer earned 9-2A Division I newcomer of the year as a linebacker while Sherrod and Cornett provide stability in the secondary, which lost Texas Sports Writers’ Association all-state cornerback Keaton Caveness. Beamer will take on an even larger role at linebacker this season with Stanford’s running mate and fellow TSWA all-state honorable mention Terrence Smith graduating last year. The luxury of plugging Beamer into that role means the Cougars again will be strong at linebacker. Colvert said the Cougars’ depth in the trenches is thin with several underclassmen having to contribute, but
High School Football 2019
seniors Michael King and Walter Beltran will start at defensive end with junior Jose Rodriguez at one of the tackle spots. Sophomore Alex Balderas will start alongside Rodriguez. In addition to his linebacker duties, Stanford also will be Leon’s lead back this season, and in true linebacker fashion, he likes to hit people when he has the ball in his hands. “I just run north and south,” Stanford joked. “That’salltheytellmetodo.” Colvert sees Stanford as a complete back, though, and expects him to do well with blocking assignments as well as catching the ball out of the backfield. Leon’s strongest unit on offense is its slot receivers, Sherrod and Cornett, who
will both play both ways SCHEDULE extensively. Sherrod had a starring role on offense last Date Opponent Time 30 Mildred 7:30 p.m. season and, according to Aug. Last year: W 35-33 7:30 p.m. Colvert, is the Cougars’ best Sept. 6 Anderson-Shiro Last year: L 14-13 weapon,whileCornettistak- Sept. 13 at New Waverly 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 48-0 ingonmoreoffensiveresponSept. 20 at Lovelady 7:30 p.m. sibilitiesthisyear.Thosetwo Last year: L 44-0 7:30 p.m. will be relied on heavily in Sept. 27 at Bremond Last year: W 42-14 the passing game until help District 9-2A Division I 7:30 p.m. arrives midway through the Oct. 11 Normangee* Last year: W 41-17 season in the form of 6-3 re- Oct. 18 at Kerens 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 43-6 ceiver Micah Burleson. Oct. 25 Cross Roads 7:30 p.m. Burleson transferred Last year: W 57-0 Nov. 1 Cayuga 7:30 p.m. back to Leon in the middle Last year: W 49-19 of last season and will be Nov. 8 at Centerville 7:30 p.m. Last year: L 38-29 eligible to play varsity be- *Homecoming ginning Oct. 11 against Normangee. Colvert praised ed, tall outside receiver. Burleson’s play on the JV Distributing the ball to all squad and said he will give these weapons will be junior the Cougars a much-need- quarterbackJacobRobinson.
The 6-3, 205-pound gunslinger replaces All-Brazos Valley pick Peyton Pruett, who was more of a dual-threat compared to Robinson’s prostyleapproach.Robinsonimpressed coaches last season on JV, and Colvert believes he is ready to lead the varsity squad, thanks in part to learning under Pruett. “He’s doing a really good job right now,” Colvert said. “Our biggest thing right now is getting the feel for the system. It’s not about him breaking off a big run. It’s can he run the system, can he communicate, make the right reads and right calls? And right now, he’s doing a really good job.”
Get a game plan for your next project. Brick is only the beginning. Our showroom offers native Texas limestone and sandstone, Oklahoma stone, hardwood floors, porcelain tile, iron doors, outdoor living and more!
TheEagle.com
987 N Earl Rudder Fwy, Bryan, TX 77802 979-731-1830
brick.com/bryan
Thursday, August 29, 2019
