SOMERVILLE YEGUAS
Program still searching for stability
Yeguas responding well to new head coach’s philosophy starting in weight room By RICHARD CROOME richard.croome@theeagle. com
The players at Somerville have grown accustomed to adjusting to new head coaches, having seen seven come and go in less than a decade. For Cal Neatherlin, though, being called upon to direct a program after five years as an assistant at San Antonio Southwest and 13 years at Midland is something new. Getting a late start — he was hired in mid-June — couldn’t have helped the process, but Neatherlin insists almost everything has gone smoother than he expected. “It’s been a whirlwind, and we’ve had to hire a whole new coaching staff and all that kind of stuff,” Neatherlin said. “I didn’t have a staff, and I was trying to get everybody rounded up. It’s been good, though.” Neatherlin’s first order of business while looking for a staff was getting the players into a strength and conditioning prog ram. The response has given the first-year coach optimism. “They haven’t had that in I don’t even know how long,” Neatherlin said. “We’ve had a really good turnout, been averaging 20 to 23 the last couple of weeks [going into official practices].” Somerville was 1-9 last season and has made the playoffs just once, two seasons ago, since 2007. Neatherlin is also working with
FACTS
ROSTER
Head coach — Cal Neatherlin (0-0 overall; 0-0 at Somerville) District — 14-2A Division II 2018 record — 1-9 (0-4 in 14-2A-2) 2018 playoffs — did not qualify Playoff appearances (9) — 1939, 1960, 1965, 1976, 1982-83, 1990, 2006, 2017 Returning lettermen — 15 (5 offensive starters) Key returners — QB Philip Haba, RB Jeremiah Teague, WR/ QB Johnny Legg, OL/DL Hunter Milburn, OL/DL Cedric Hudgen Key newcomers — WR Dominic Tucker, OL/DL Cadan Espinoza, RB/LB Deven Green, OL/DL Andrew Espinoza All-time record — 315-522-24 Playoff record — 4-9-0
1 QB/DB Philip Haba; 2 RB/DB Jeremiah Teague; 3 WR/LB Austin Horsley; 4 WR/DB Johnny Legg; 5 Verkobe Woodbury; 6 WR/DB Richard Rivera; 7 WR/DB Jesus Gomez; 8 RB/LB Deven Green; 10 WR/DB Isaac Sanchez; 11 TE/LB Fabian Gutierrez; 12 TE/DE Jacob Moline; 13 WR/ DB Hunter David; 14 WR/DB Braylon Price; 21 WR/DB Dominic Tucker; 25 WR/LB Payton Sprouse; 50 OL/ DL Ross Dubois; 53 OL/DL Jayden Villanova; 55 OL/DL Riley Eldridge; 56 OL/DL Caden Espinosa; 60 OL/ LB Evan Garay; 65 OL/DL Jesus Espinosa; 70 OL/DL MJ Rubio; 72 OL/DL Hunter Milburn; 76 OL/DL Cedric Hudgen; 79 OL/DL Nick Ray Coaches: head coach Cal Neatherlin, Charlie Gomez, Trey Marik, Ethan Watson
“I’m excited to get everything started and rolling,” Haba said. “It’s been tough with new head coaches coming in and out, but I feel very confident about [Neatherlin]. No matter, I’m going to do my job, pick my teammates up a little bit and just play the game of SCHEDULE football.” Haba broke his hand as Date Opponent Time Aug. 30 Iola 7 p.m. a freshman but says he Last year: L34-6 feels stronger for getting Sept. 6 at Waco Texas Wind 7 p.m. through it and the tough Last year: W 27-0 Sept. 13 Campbell* 7 p.m. run last season. Last year: did not play “I’ve learned a lot from Sept. 20 Woodsboro 7 p.m. Last year: L 52-6 the past year, and I feel Sept. 27 open Oct. 4 at Brazos Christian 7 p.m. like going through what Last year: L 27-6 I did go through is going District 14-2A Division II Oct. 11 at Snook 7:30 p.m. to help,” Haba said. “Lot Last year: L 49-0 of challenges, losing and Oct. 18 Flatonia 7 p.m. overcoming a lot.” Last year: L 49-0 Building confidence in Oct. 25 at Louise 7 p.m. Last year: L 51-6 a young corps that hasn’t Nov. 1 Burton^ 7 p.m. had much success in the Last year: L 49-0 Nov. 8 Peaster (nondistrict) 7 p.m. win-loss column is one of Last year: did not play Neatherlin’s biggest chal*at Teague ^Homecoming lenges. He believes repetition is the most important the second smallest enroll- thing when dealing with a ment in the five-team Dis- new team, and having an trict 14-2A Division II and 11-year-old son who likes in his first season will have to play video games helped him make a connection no seniors. He does have a return- with the Yeguas through ing quarterback, though, Fortnite. “I think when you start in junior Philip Haba, who has shown he can run and executing and you get conpass, which gives Neather- fidence with repetition and lin options. repetition, that brings con-
Thursday, August 29, 2019
fidence in itself because you know you’ve done it a 100 times,” Neatherlin said. “It’s like when you play the Fortnite game, they are building confidence. They are sitting there practicing all the
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time, and they get good at it, and they know they are good at it, so we are just going to rep, rep, rep.” Joining Haba in the backfield are junior Jeremiah Teague and freshman Deven Green. Neatherlin likes his receiving crew, and because of the depth, four could be on the field at one time. Verkobe Woodbury, Dominic Tucker, Johnny Legg and Jesus Gomez should all be targets for Haba. When the Yeguas go with a tight end, it will be Jacob Moline. T h e o f f e n s ive l i n e, which averages about 265
pounds, includes Jesus Espinoza at center, Caden Espinosa and Cedric Hudgen at guard and Hunter Milburn and Riley Eldridge at tackle. Two of the five, Espinosa and Espinoza, are freshmen, which makes four freshmen starting on offense. Most of the offensive starters will double up on defense, according to Neatherlin. “We don’t have any seniors, and I feel like this is a building block that we can start now,” Haba said. “Hopefully my senior year, we will keep progressing and it will carry on.”
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