Leon

LEON COUGARS GoodnucleusofveteranssettoleadCougars

Leonlostseveralkeyplayerstograduationbutlearnedfromlessonsof2017howtorebuildonfly

By JEFF PERKINS jeffrey.perkins@theeagle.com

The Leon Cougars, coming offa standout 2018 football season in which they contended for a district title, are in a similarspotto where they were two years ago — fielding an inexperienced squad.

Despite returning just eight starters, Leon won’t bestartingfromscratchthis time as it returns a handful of impactful starters, including All-Brazos Valley linebackerandDistrict9-2A 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 bringingbackanucleus 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 yearwasabigreasonforthe 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’swhat[thesenew guys] havegottodo.They’ve got to learn and pick it up.”

Helping Stanford set the tone on defense are seniors

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 Playoffappearances (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 Playoffrecord — 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.; 20WR/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 SportsWriters’ Association all-statecornerbackKeaton 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 TerrenceSmithgraduatinglast year. The luxury of plugging Beamer into that role means the Cougars again willbestrongatlinebacker.

Colvertsaidthe Cougars’ depthinthetrenchesisthin withseveralunderclassmen having to contribute, but seniors Michael King and Walter Beltran will start at defensive end with junior JoseRodriguezatoneofthe tacklespots. SophomoreAlexBalderaswillstartalongside Rodriguez.

In addition to his linebackerduties, Stanfordalso willbeLeon’sleadbackthis 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 extensively. Sherrod had a starring role on offense last season and, according to Colvert, is the Cougars’ best weapon,whileCornettistakingonmoreoffensiveresponsibilitiesthisyear.Thosetwo will be relied on heavily in the passing game until help arrives midway through the season in the form of 6-3 receiverMicahBurleson.

Burleson transferred back to Leon in the middle of last season and will be eligible to play varsity beginningOct. 11 againstNormangee. Colvert praised Burleson’s play on the JV squad and said he will give the Cougars a much-need

SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time Aug. 30 Mildred 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: W35-33 Sept. 6 Anderson-Shiro 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: L 14-13 Sept. 13 at New Waverly 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: W48-0 Sept. 20 at Lovelady 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: L 44-0 Sept. 27 at Bremond 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: W42-14

District 9-2A Division I

Oct. 11 Normangee* 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: W41-17 Oct. 18 at Kerens 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: W43-6 Oct. 25 Cross Roads 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: W57-0 Nov. 1 Cayuga 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: W49-19 Nov. 8 at Centerville 7:30 p.m.

Lastyear: L 38-29 *Homecoming

ed, tall outside receiver.

Distributing the ball to all theseweaponswillbejunior quarterbackJacobRobinson.

The6-3, 205-poundgunslinger replaces All-Brazos Valley pick Peyton Pruett, who was more of a dual-threat comparedtoRobinson’sprostyleapproach.Robinsonimpressed coaches last season on JV, and Colvert believes he is ready to lead the varsity squad, thanks in part to learningunderPruett.

“He’s doinga really good jobrightnow,” Colvertsaid. “Our biggest thing right now is getting the feel for the system. It’s not about him breaking offa big run. It’s can he run the system, canhecommunicate, make the right reads and right calls? And right now, he’s doing a really good job.”

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