BURTON PANTHERS
High expectations remain in place for 2019 season By MARIA MCILWAIN maria.mcilwain@theeagle.com
The personnel may be different, but the expectations are the same for the Burton football team. Gone are four-year standouts Caleb Harmel and Dee Winters with the rest of the talented 2019 class, but head coach Jason Hodde says he is confident the Panthers will have plenty of success with their lineup, which includes six returning starters on either side of the ball. “Numbers are down a little bit from last year as far as how many kids we have, but at the same time, I think we have equal enthusiasm if not more,” Hodde said. “They have just a real bluecollar approach, which from a coaching standpoint is what you want. Kids are really coachable, and they’re willing to get their feet and hands dirty, and they work really hard.” Much of that starts up front with senior lineman Cade Weiss anchoring both lines, and all-district linemen Caleb Fuchs and Weston Hinze also taking on key roles. They’ll block for first-year starting quarterback Jackson Kalkhake, who said the veteran line gives him confidence heading into his first season as the starter. They spent the offseason working together as a unit, and Weiss has seen it pay off through training camp. “Forming a bond with each other, having trust in each other to know that this person’s going to get the job done even though they’re filling big shoes, knowing that they’re going to get the job done to the best of their ability makes you feel a lot better about your team,”
ROSTER
FACTS
SCHEDULE
2 RB/LB Rodney Wilson, fr.; 3 RB/DB Tremane Daniels, soph.; 4 RB/LB Pierson Spies, fr.; 5 RB/DL Damarcus Wilson, jr.; 6 WR/LB Erik Lopez, jr.; 7 QB/DL Lane Baker, jr.; 8 QB/DB Jackson Kalkhake, sr.; 9 WR/DB Eli Saunders, soph.; 10 WR/DB Hector Cabrales, jr.; 11 WR/DB Tanner Gore, fr.; 12 WR/LB Troy Patterson, soph.; 13 RB/DB Cash Callahan, sr.; 14 WR/DB Mason Simank, sr.; 17 WR/ DL Westen Muske, fr.; 18 TE/LB Matt Morrison, jr.; 20 RB/DB Carter Callahan, jr.; 22 RB/LB David DeLeon, soph.; 44 TE/DL Weston Hinze, soph.; 50 OL/DL Tucker Saunders, sr.; 51 OL/DL Kaiden Kalkhake, fr.; 52 OL/LB Cooper Lucherk, jr.; 54 OL/DL Raylan Parker, fr.; 55 OL/LB CJ Smith, jr.; 60 OL/DL Carson Lautr, fr.; 66 OL/DL Joey Tavary, soph.; 70 OL/DL Eric Flores, soph.; 71 OL/ DL Tristan Alexander, jr.; 72 OL/DL Caleb Fuchs, sr.; 75 OL/DL Jackson Dixon, soph.; 76 OL/DL Cade Weiss, sr. Coaches: head coach Jason Hodde, offensive coordinator Clinton Smith, Jaime Smith, Carl Faigle, John Weatherstone, Allan Richard, Zack Zorn
Head coach — Jason Hodde (68-24 overall; 68-24 at Burton) District — 14-2A Division II 2018 record — 11-3 (4-0 in 14-2A D2) 2018 playoffs — bi-district: def. Chilton 59-13; area: def. La Pryor 74-14; regional: def. Granger 47-7; quarterfinal: lost to Falls City 30-28 Playoff appearances 12 — 1992, 1995, 2008, 2010-18 Returning lettermen— 20 (6 offensive, 6 defensive starters) Key returners — TE/LB Cooper Lucherk (14-2A D2 NOY), QB/WR/DB Cash Callahan (A-D), OL/DL Cade Weiss (A-D), OL/DL Caleb Fuchs (A-D), OL/DL Weston Hinze (2nd A-D, QB/DB Jackson Kalkhake Key losses — WR/DB/P Dee Winters (co-MVP), QB/DE Caleb Harmel (co-MVP), OL/DL Cameron Riggins (co-Def. MVP), TE/LB Chase Mathis (A-D), WR/DB/K Tristan Brantley (A-D), OL/DL Tyler Hall (A-D) Jose Castillo (2nd A-D), Remington Harris (2nd A-D), OL/LB Reynaldo Miranda (2nd A-D) All-time record — 285-344-15 Playoff record — 21-12
Date Opponent Time Aug. 30 Lexington 7:30 p.m. Last year: L 54-20 Sept. 6 Milano* 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 47-16 Sept. 13 Shiner 7:30 p.m. Last year: L 63-32 Sept. 20 at Weimar 7:30 p.m. Last year: did not play Sept. 27 at Iola 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 61-14 Oct. 4 at Rogers 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 56-14 District 14-2A Division II Oct. 11 at Flatonia 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 41-8 Oct. 18 Louise 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 54-7 Nov. 1 at Somerville 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 49-0 Nov. 8 Snook 7:30 p.m. Last year: W 69-32 *Homecoming
Weiss said. Weiss and Kalkhake also are learning new positions on defense with Weiss lining up at defensive tackle and Kalkhake at safety. Last season’s 30-28 loss to Falls City in the Class 2A Division II quarterfinals motivated the Panthers through offseason training and into fall practice, Hodde said. Putting together another deep playoff run won’t be an easy task with Flatonia and Snook awaiting Burton in District 14-2A Division II then Falls City and Bremond looming in Region IV once the postseason begins. “Six starters return from [last season], so six guys were on the field when that kick went through the first time and then [Falls City] called timeout and we missed it,” Hodde said, referring to the end
of Burton’s quarterfinal game against Falls City when the Panthers missed a game-winning kick. “So they remember that. I think the competitive guys that they are, that’s certainly set the tone for practice because I’ve seen them probably work harder than they ever have before. Now a lot of that’s some maturity, but I just think it’s a great motivational factor, so we can get back to that game and hopefully win it this time.” Along with winning in football, Burton has boasted a successful baseball team the past few seasons, including winning the 262A title last spring. Weiss thinks success on the diamond will help this fall as the Panthers try to handle the highs and lows of football season. “It’s not like, ‘Oh my
gosh, we won,’” Weiss said. “You win, but you have to get stuff done and go on to the next game.” Hodde also thinks that experience of handling success will help the Panthers quickly find their bearings as the season progresses.
“We have six guys that have won 37 games since they’ve been here playing for Burton High School in three years,” Hodde said. “That’s a pretty good number. There’s not a lot of senior classes coming into this season that can say
that. Those kids bring a lot of experience. They bring a lot of tenacity, toughness, just senior grit. They’ve done a great job leading this football team so far.”
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Thursday, August 29, 2019
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6217 E Hwy 21 Bryan, TX 77808 • Phone: (979) 778-1902 Fax: (979) 778-3802 • www.kellyburtdozer.com TheEagle.com High School Football 2019 35
