The 2019 Brownwood Bulletin Pigskin Preview

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19 PIGSKIN PREVIEW

DUNTAYVIUN GROSS

Howard Payne looking to turn corner in Harris’ third year Bangs, Early out to end postseason droughts

A.J. McCARTY

In second season under Burnett, Lions target first district championship since 2010

ETHAN SANCHEZ

JESSON TARRANT

2

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

BROWNWOOD LIONS

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Zach Strong (9) is expected to play a vital role in the receiving corps and the secondary as the Brownwood Lions look to improve upon last year’s 4-6 record and fourth-place district finish.

Lions intend to climb ladder in Burnett’s second season LIONS GLIMPSE • District: 5-4A Division I • Head coach: Sammy Burnett (2nd season at school, 4-6 record; 62-38 career record) • Assistant coaches: David Jones (Assistant Head Coach), Chase Adams (Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks), Brett Mouser (Defensive Coordinator/Secondary), Darren Bailey (Cornerbacks), Dex Dennard (Offensive Line), Bryan Clark (Running Backs), Jeff Huff (Receivers), Brian Harris (Defensive Line), Andy Howard (Receivers), Derrick Stacks (Outside Linebackers), Jesse Villalobos (Defensive Line) • Last district title: 2010 • Last playoff appearance: 2018 • Starters returning: 5 on offense / 5 on defense • Players to watch: WR/CB A.J. McCarty, WR/S Zach Strong, RB/S Reece Rodgers, OT/DT Theo Bryant, DT Kris Hobbs, WR/DB Khyren Deal, RB/DB Royshad Henderson, WR/OLB Cooper Swanzy, MLB Rowdee Gregory, OL Cutter Thompson, OL Brad Robinson, OT Ezequiel Ibarra

By Derrick Stuckly

dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

The Brownwood Lions experienced their share of ups and downs during their first season under head coach Sammy Burnett. Heading into the second year, with the coaches more familiar with the players and the players realizing the expectations of the coaching staff, Burnett is hoping the LiSammy Burnett ons take another step forward BROWNWOOD HEAD COACH in 2019.

“One of the biggest differences is we know who our kids are and their abilities and where they need to go,” Burnett said. “The kids also know us and what we

expect from them so we’re not fighting that battle everyday to learn. We’re a year ahead in the offseason program with the weights trying to get our kids stronger and faster and that’s evident just by looking at our kids. That’s going to allow them to be more physical and dominant on the field.

“With our system being in now working on our second year, we have a lot better foundation of what we do and how we do it. We’re going to be able to build off that and rehash what we’ve learned and already know. I think that puts us way farther ahead than we were last year.

“Reflecting back on games early last year, who was playing certain positions and how we evolved toward the end of the year, we were just trying to learn our kids and learn the right spots. They say

SEE BROWNWOOD, 34

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 3

BROWNWOOD LIONS

Isyah Campos

Khyren Deal

Blaize Espinoza

Rowdee Gregory

#4 - JUNIOR

#5 - SENIOR

Zach Strong

Hunter Day

Xavier Satberry

A.J. McCarty

#11 - SENIOR

#12 - SENIOR

Jose Pena

Rey Villarreal

Reece Rodgers

Nate Martin

#20 - SENIOR

#21 - SENIOR

Kris Hobbs

Jacob Taylor Smith

Cutter Thompson

Branson Koepp-Cox

#2 - SENIOR

#9 - SENIOR

#17 - SENIOR

#38 - JUNIOR

Brad Robinson #66 - JUNIOR

#3 - JUNIOR

#10 - JUNIOR

#18 - SENIOR

#44 - JUNIOR

Ethan Pesina

#67 - SOPHOMORE

#52 - SENIOR

Tyler Tiner

#70 - JUNIOR

#54 - SENIOR

Daniel Arras

#72 - SENIOR

Drew Huff

Royshad Henderson

Zach Bond

Parish White

Dane Johnson

Damion Jones

Ayden Bailey

Landon Harris

Cooper Swanzy

Ezequiel Ibarra

Adrian Villarreal

Jimi Brown

Jared Northcutt

Brandon Farrow

#6 -SENIOR

#13 - SENIOR

#23 - SENIOR

#55 - SENIOR

Theo Bryant

#75 - SENIOR

#7 - JUNIOR

#15 - JUNIOR

#24 - SENIOR

#60 - SENIOR

#76 - JUNIOR

#8 - JUNIOR

#16 - SENIOR

#26 - SENIOR

#65 - JUNIOR

#78 - SENIOR

4

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

HOWARD PAYNE YELLOW JACKETS

PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Jordan Bryant (17) and the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets are looking to improve following back-to-back 1-9 campaigns under head coach Braxton Harris.

Howard Payne looking to finally turn corner in Harris’ third year JACKETS GLIMPSE • Conference: American Southwest • Head coach: Braxton Harris (3rd season at school, 2-18 record; 2-18 career record) • Assistant coaches: Luke Wagner (offensive coordinator, receivers), Will Snyder (co-defensive coordinator, secondary), Scott Clough (assistant head coach, offensive line), Marshall Mann (defensive line), Riley Bell (receivers), Aaron Gill (strength and conditioning) • 2018 record: 1-9, 1-8 in conference • Last conference title: 1995 • Last postseason appearance: 1995 • Starters returning: 6 on offense/8 on defense • Players to watch: TE Eric Haverstock, WR Jordan Bryant, OL Robert Evans, WR DunTayviun Gross, DE Brady Wade, LB Britt Boler, LB Austin Killgore

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

Entering his third season of rebuilding the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets football program, head coach Braxton Harris realizes on the field results will carry even more weight this year.

“Going into year three of our program the expectations are high,” said Harris, who is 2-18 in his first two seasons at HPU. “Obviously the first two years on the football field we didn’t yield the results we hoped, but we’re not necessarily surprised by that because we knew we had to get some things right to lay the foundation and build the program. Results

when you’re laying the foundation aren’t always on the scoreboard.

You have to get all those things off the field that nobody sees right.”

Behind the scenes the Yellow Jackets have made strides despite Braxton Harris consecutive 1-9 HOWARD PAYNE HEAD COACH seasons, and Harris feels 2019 is poised to be a breakout season for Howard Payne.

“We feel like this year we have to

be able to show some results on the scoreboard,” Harris said. “We have to be able to compete better with some people and we have to win games in spots where they’re close.

We have to take that next step for our program.

“We’ll have 30 kids that are seniors and juniors, and we’re excited to start off with about 10 seniors in this class. I have a ton of respect for what they’ve been through and their perseverance and persistence that they’ve had here at Howard Payne.

They love this school and they deserve nothing better than to be able

SEE HPU, 30

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 5

GO AWAY TO COLLEGE IN YOUR OWN HOMETOWN

1000 Fisk Street, Brownwood, Texas 76801 325-649-8020 • 800-880-4HPU www.hputx.edu • enroll@hputx.edu

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PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

EARLY LONGHORNS

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Ending playoff drought that extends to 2008 is Horns’ goal LONGHORNS GLIMPSE • District: 3-3A Division I • Head coach: Blake Sandford (5th season at school, 9-31 record; 9-31 career record) • 2018 record: 4-6, 0-5 in district • Last district title: 2007 • Last playoff appearance: 2008 • Starters returning: 8 on offense/7 on defense • Players to watch: RB/DB Jesson Tarrant, WR/DB Timmy Smithson, OL/DL Jadyn Lehde, QB Brent Grooms, OL/DL Adrian Elizondo, OL/DL Ryan Jones, OL/DL Logan Gillem, RB/DB Alex Jacobs, RB/DB Tre Beam, OL/DL Ethen Portillo, OL/DL Diego Crader, WR/DB Jeramiah Fowler, OL/DL Sebastian Perez, OL/DL Kannon Vogr, WR/DB Aaron Rodriguez

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

EARLY — The Early Longhorns have made positive strides in each season under head coach Blake Sandford, and as his fifth campaign begins the goal for the program is to achieve something not accomplished since 2008 — a trip to the playoffs.

“We expect to be a playoff team,” said Sandford, whose team finished 4-6 in 2018 but posted an 0-5 record against District 3-3A Division I foes. “We expect to be solid in the preseason and build toward winning district ball games. There were several games where we had chances last year and we were playing close with these guys in our district.”

Sandford stated the desire for the Longhorns to end their postseason drought is stronger than ever, with the team putting in additional work since its 2018 campaign concluded in early November.

“We’ve been working toward this as soon as the season was over last year through our offseason program,“ Sandford said.

“The kids know what the goal is, the expectations of the program and the vision of what they’re trying to do. The vision is

long term and now you maintain a focus each day to get toward the big step and goal. But we’ve told the kids don’t tell me your plans, show me your results. It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s another thing to go out and do it and that’s our mindset.”

The projected openBlake Sandford ing night lineup for the EARLY HEAD COACH Longhorns includes Brent Grooms taking over at quarterback with Jesson Tarrant as an option to see snaps as well. Tarrant (455 yards, 6 TDs), Cale Wade, Tre Beam and Alex Jacobs provide a formidable platoon of running backs, with Rode Walters joining the backfield in two-back sets. All-state selection Timmy Smithson (64-1,263, 16 TDs) returns to anchor the receiving corps, along with Rylie Hill, Tyson Tyler and Jeramiah Fowler, while Carlos Moreno and Ryan Jones will contribute at tight end. Offensive line candidates include Ethen Portillo, Adrian

Elizondo, Logan Gillem, Aiden Frerichs, Sebastian Perez, Derreck Landa, Diego Crader, Corrin Hill, and Kannon Vogt.

“I’m really excited about our offensive line because they’ve gotten a lot bigger and a lot stronger than they have been,” Sandford said. “This is the biggest line that we’ve had in the several years. Also, our team speed is faster than it was as far as the skill positions go.”

Defensively for the Longhorns, the front line will likely feature combinations of Elizondo, Perez, Crader, Hill, Frerichs and Braden Schwartz. Linebackers include Jones, Beam, Wade, Hill, Moreno and Reece Bolton. The secondary will include Smithson, Tarrant, Ethan Mitchell and Aaron Rodriguez, among others.

“We have a lot of two-way players, but there’s not much drop off between the first team and second team,” Sandford said. “They’ll all see significant minutes throughout the course of a game.”

The Longhorns posted a 4-1 pre-district record last year and will face the same foes this season — Bangs at home on Aug. 30,

SEE EARLY, 31

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 7

EARLY LONGHORNS

Jesson Tarrant

Tre Beam

Timmy Smithson

#3 - SOPHOMORE

#4 - SENIOR

Alex Jacobs

Aaron Rodriguez

Hanner Campbell

#11 - JUNIOR

#18 - SENIOR

Cale Wade

Rode Walters

Carlos Moreno

#25 - JUNIOR

#32 - SENIOR

Corrin Hill

Diego Crader

Derreck Landa

#2 - SENIOR

#10 - JUNIOR

#24 - SENIOR

#55 - JUNIOR

Sebastian Perez #72 - SENIOR

#58 - SENIOR

Logan Gillem

#77 - JUNIOR

#60 - SENIOR

Kannon Vogt #79 -JUNIOR

Rylie Hill

Brent Grooms

Tyson Tyler

Reece Bolton

Ryan Jones

Ethen Portillo

Aiden Frerichs

Adrian Elizondo

Braden Schwartz

Jeramiah Fowler

#6 - SOPHOMORE

#21 - JUNIOR

#33 - SENIOR

#64 - SENIOR

#81 - JUNIOR

#8 - SENIOR

#23 - JUNIOR

#50 - SENIOR

#65 - SENIOR

#85 - SENIOR

8

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

BANGS DRAGONS

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Dragons’ quest is first postseason appearance since 2014 DRAGONS GLIMPSE • District: 4-3A Division II • Head coach: Kyle Maxfield (2nd season at school, 3-7 record; 13884 career record) 2018 record: 3-7, 3-4 in district Last district title: 2010 Last playoff appearance: 2014 Starters returning: 7 on offense/8 on defense Players to watch: OL/DL Cael John, WR/DB Wesley Mitchell, WR/ DB Riley Taylor, RB/LB Ethan Sanchez, OL/DL Hayden King, OL/DL Trey Ivey, FB/LB Eli Carbajal, QB/DB Brayton Wedeman, WR/DB Damien Santillanes, OL/DT Charlie Smith, RB/LB Brandon Robinson, WR/DB Evan Belez, RB/LB Kolt Bradley, FB/ LB Corbin Freeland, OL/DL Warren Theriaque, OL/DL Azreal Escobedo, QB/DB Rylan Cates

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

BANGS — After winning a total of two games the previous three seasons, the Bangs Dragons posted a 3-7 mark and narrowly missed the playoffs in 2018, head coach Kyle Maxfield’s first season in charge of the program. Heading into the second year of Maxfield’s tenure, the goal for the Dragons is to reach the postseason for the first time since 2014, and also finish with a winning record.

“Looking back to last season, it’s the most improved team from the first practice to the last game that I’ve ever been a part of,” Maxfield said. “We’re looking to build on that and we’re being successful in doing that through fall camp. We’ve got a core group of guys we can build around. They’re the kind of guys you wouldn’t trade for anybody no matter where you coach. We need to still develop a little more leadership as far as bringing guys into that group.

That’s what fall camp and the scrimmages are for, to see who’s making progress to be ready to play on Friday nights and who still needs work.”

Maxfield reported preseason practices have run much more smoothly this year compared to his first Kyle Maxfield at Bangs.

BANGS HEAD COACH “They’re more familiar with the terminology and what our expectations are,” Maxfield said. “A big strength going into year two is you know the kids a lot better and they know you. Even though we have some new faces on staff we still have some old faces so the consistency and continuity is there more. We’ve been through an offseason with these guys and they know what to

expect.”

In the District 4-3A Division II race a year ago, Bangs finished fifth behind Cisco, Ballinger, Anson and Merkel. The Dragons snapped a 20-game skid when they defeated Grape Creek and added victories over San Angelo TLCA and Coleman as well. This season, Cisco, Ballinger and Anson remain playoff favorites, but the chase for the fourth and final playoff berth appears wide open.

“Cisco is always at the top, they’re just a machine,” Maxfield said. “Ballinger and Anson have a lot of kids coming back and both those coaches do a great job. I know from the end of last season, those top three along with Merkel and Jonah White, they separated themselves and the district was split down the middle.

Hopefully the bottom half of the district is getting closer to what the top half brings. We’d like to see ourselves right SEE BANGS, 32

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 9

BANGS DRAGONS

Kolt Bradley

Wesley Mitchell

Brayton Wedeman

#3 - SENIOR

#4 - JUNIOR

Rylan Cates

Guy Powell

Eli Carbajal

#20 - FRESHMAN

#21 - SENIOR

Riley Taylor

Damien Santillanes

Trevor Loah

#2 - SENIOR

#12 - JUNIOR

#25 - SENIOR

Azreal Escobedo

#54 - SOPHOMORE

#30 - SOPH0MORE

Charlie Smith #55 - JUNIOR

#32 - JUNIOR

Cael John

#72 - SENIOR

Trevor Bowers

Wyatt Lykins

Brandon Robinson

Ethan Sanchez

Isaiah Patrick

Warren Theriaque

#5 - JUNIOR

#23 - SENIOR

#50 - SENIOR

Trey Ivey

#75 - JUNIOR

#7 - JUNIOR

#24 - JUNIOR

#52 - SOPHOMORE

Hayden King

#81 - JUNIOR

10

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

MAY TIGERS

Young but experienced, May targeting deep postseason push TIGERS GLIMPSE • District: 14-A Division I • Head coach: Craig Steele (16th season at school, 121-52 record) • 2018 record: 8-4, 3-0 in district • Last district title: 2018 • Last playoff appearance: 2018 • Starters returning: 3 on offense/3 on defense • Players to watch: RB/DL Rory Bustamante, E/LB Chris Flenniken, RB/CB Isidro Salinas, E Tyler Wheeler, QB/S Blake Harrell, E/DL Lane McGinn, RB/CB Kaden Hall, C/DE Keith Cross, E/DE Jayce Blankenship, RB/S River Freeland, QB/S Ethan Self

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

MAY — The injuries that derailed the May Tigers a year ago could prove to be catalysts for success in 2019, as a young — but experienced — roster takes aim at the program’s fourth district championship in a row.

May 16th-year head coach Craig Steele possesses one of the largest rosters of his tenure – 27 players — but just three are seniors.

“It sounds like we’re going to be really, really young and we are, but we started four sophomores at one point in time last year, and a freshman,” Steele said. “Even though we have a lot of underclassmen we have quite a bit of experience. Most of the kids are in positions they’ve played before, we aren’t having to move them around too much, just a couple, so we feel pretty confident that we’re going to be OK starting out the year. We have to replace some

leadership and some heart with the guys that left, but other than that I feel like we we have an opportunity to be pretty good.”

With as many players as May has on the roster, the opportunity to put elite talent on the field exists in 2019.

“We have 17 sophoCraig Steele mores and juniors MAY HEAD COACH which is a lot at a six-man school, so there’s going to be a lot competition for positions which is a good thing as long as the kids keep the right perspective about it,” Steele said. “We ought to have the best guys for the job and have good quality depth so we’re excited about that.”

Players to watch for May include Rory

Bustamante, Chris Flenniken, Tyler Wheeler, Damian Salinas and DCTF preseason defensive player of the year for District 14-A Division, Isidro Salinas.

“Rory was the all-region newcomer of the year last year and Chris Flenniken would have made more of an impact in the playoffs last year if he hadn’t broken his hand,” Steele said. “Tyler had quite a few receiving yards last year so we’re going to lean on him to be a force on offense. We lost Daniel Salinas who was two-time allstate at cornerback, but we Isidro, who’s a junior, and Damian, who’s a freshman, and they are cut from same cloth as Daniel.

We’re pretty excited about having those kids.”

Despite all that May returns, including three starters on each side of the ball from an 8-4 squad, the Tigers are picked to finish behind No. 7 Gorman in the District

SEE MAY, 36

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 11

MAY TIGERS

Kaysen Purcell

Seth Johnston

Isidro Salinas

#8 - SENIOR

#9 - JUNIOR

Aaron McGill

Blake Harrell

Javien Carbajal

#20 - SOPHOMORE

#15 - FRESHMAN

Korbin Bass

Kaden Halk

Brian Kunkel

#22 - SOPH0MORE

#23 - JUNIOR

Lane McGinn

Ethan Self

Damian Salinas

#4 - SOPHOMORE

#13 - SOPHOMORE

#21 - JUNIOR

#27 - JUNIOR

#30 - JUNIOR

#33 - FRESHMAN

Luke McKenzie

Jackson Easterling

Dilan Johnston

#11 - FRESHMAN

#12 - JUNIOR

Chris Flenniken

Kross Kenyon

Landon Beal

#19 - JUNIOR

#20 - SOPHOMORE

Tyler Wheeler

Rory Bustamante

Jayce Blankenship

#25 - SOPHOMORE

#26 - JUNIOR

Alexia Mejia

Zachary Nnamani

Keith Cross

#10 - FRESHMAN

#17 - JUNIOR

#24 - SENIOR

#34 - FRESHMAN

#35 - FRESHMAN

#77 - JUNIOR

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PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

ZEPHYR BULLDOGS

Sunday, August 25, 2019

After missing playoffs, Phillips tasked with Zephyr turnaround BULLDOGS GLIMPSE • District: 15-A Division I • Head coach: Jeremy Phillips (1st season at school, 0-0 record; 60-40 career record) • 2018 record: 6-4, 1-2 in district • Last district title: 2015 • Last playoff appearance: 2017 • Starters returning: 1 on offense/2 on defense • Players to watch: RB/S Mason Rogers, LB Orin Kern, DL Jason Kyle, RB Grant Durbin, WR Austin Deavers, DL Cole Miller, OL Kolby Miller, OL Kannon Eoff, LB Cisco Taylor

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

ZEPHYR — The Zephyr Bulldogs will be led by their third head coach in as many seasons in 2019, as Jeremy Phillips takes over a program coming off a rare year in which it did not qualify for the playoffs.

Despite last year’s 6-4 finish, including a 1-2 league mark, the Bulldogs are the preseason favorite to capture the District 15-A Division I championship, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine.

“Dave Campbell has us picked first but Zephyr came in I believe tied for last in the district last year and we only return one offensive and two defensive starters,” Phillips said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t have expectations, we believe that we’re going to be the district champion, but the point is it’s a tough district.”

Phillips comes to Zephyr from Blanket, where he served as defensive coordinator last year, but has more than a decade’s

worth of experience as a head coach.

“I’ve been a head coach for a long time, 10 or 11 years, and I enjoyed my time as defensive coordinator at Medina and then at Blanket,” Phillips said.

“The appeal to be the guy again and run my own program was too Jeremy Phillips much to pass up, and ZEPHYR HEAD COACH the tradition of Zephyr.

I knew what kind of community and kids and they had, and administration. It wasn’t an easy decision because I really did love it over at Blanket, but at the end of the day I felt like it was where I was being pulled to.”

Zephyr is led by its junior class, which includes Dave Campbell’s Texas Football preseason offensive player of the year in

the district, Mason Rogers.

“We’ve got nine juniors and a few of them have a lot of varsity experience, especially Mason Rogers, he’s been a starter at running back his entire high school career,” Phillips said. “The junior class is pretty loaded, we’re excited about them. This is a real good, hard-working group so I think we’re going to get to where we need to be.

It might take us a few weeks to get the kinks out, but I think this group is going to work hard.”

Other players to watch include Orin Kern, Cole Miller and Bryson Gibbs.

“Orin is a senior and I expect big things out of him on the defensive side especially,” Phillips said. “Cole is a kid that’s been impressing me, a big lineman type.

And Bryson came to summer workouts and worked real hard and having a knee injury last year. We expect a lot out of this SEE ZEPHYR, 36

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 13

ZEPHYR BULLDOGS

Zackary Squyres

Cisco Taylor

Garit Durbin

J.C. Magnus

#4 - JUNIOR

#6 - JUNIOR

Jayden Millican

Jason Kyle

Colin Hector

Orin Kern

#2 - FRESHMAN

#3 - SOPHOMORE

#15 - FRESHMAN

#17 - JUNIOR

#21 - JUNIOR

Cole Worthy

Waggoner Shelton

Eathan Gowin

Cooper Reedy

#12 - FRESHMAN

#14 - SENIOR

Bryson Gibbs

Kannon Eoff

Mason Rogers

Cole Miller

#7 - JUNIOR

#22 - SENIOR

#9 - FRESHMAN

#23 - JUNIOR

#24 - JUNIOR

#27 - JUNIOR

55 - JUNIOR

BROOKESMITH MUSTANGS

Jeremaya Ibara #1 - SENIOR

Clayton Adame #3 - JUNIOR

Tyler Williford #23 - SENIOR

Holden Bolt

Randall Williams #8 - JUNIOR

#24 - SENIOR

Johnathan Willoughby #9 - JUNIOR

Conner Heard

#31 - SOPHOMORE

Grant Featherson

#10 - SOPHOMORE

Aleric Petross #31 - SENIOR

Gabriel Salinas-Navarro #12 - SENIOR

Rusty Roberts #34 - SENIOR

Avery Williford

#22 - SOPHOMORE

Bradley Darrow #36 - SENIOR

14

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

BROOKESMITH MUSTANGS

Brookesmith eyes fourth straight playoff berth, elusive district title MUSTANGS GLIMPSE • District: 15-A Division II • Scott Edmondson (3rd at school, 10-11 record) • 2018 record: 5-5, 3-1 in district • Last district title: n/a • Last playoff appearance: 2018 • Starters returning: 5 on offense/5 on defense • Players to watch: RB/LB Avery Williford, RB/LB Tyler Williford, RB/LB Jonathan Willoughby, QB/CB Holden Bolt

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

BROOKESMITH — The Brookesmith Mustangs are enjoying a string of success never before seen in the sport of football, and the program hopes to continue to rewrite the record books in 2019.

Coming off a third consecutive playoff appearance, the Mustangs are again favored by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine to reach the postseason. Brookesmith is tabbed to again finish second to Blanket in the District 15-A Division II race.

“We’ve been in the playoffs three years in a row for the first time in school history, so we’re hoping to make it four,” Brookesmith third-year head coach Scott Edmondson said. “Obviously that’s our goal, to make it to the playoffs, but before that we’re going to try and win a district championship but we have to go through Blanket, Sidney, and Mullin so we have to stay healthy.”

Brookesmith returns five starters on each

side of the ball from last year’s 6-4 squad. Key returnees include Avery Williford, who rushed for 522 yards and 10 touchdowns and amassed 78 tackles with two interceptions; Jonathan Willoughby, who churned out 621 yards and 11 scores on the ground while collecting 75 tackScott Edmondson les; and Tyler Williford BROOKESMITH HEAD COACH will serve as the nucleus on both offense and defense. Other players to watch include Holden Bolt, Randall Williams and Rusty Roberts.

“We’re a senior-laden team, a team with a lot of players going both ways, but we have some young guys that can help,” Edmondson said. “Our speed is probably an asset right now, too.”

Areas that could use improvement in the preseason include the play up front.

“We have to make sure we can block,” Edmondson said. “We have some big schools we have to play pre-district so we have to be able to block, protect our guys and stay healthy. Our numbers are a little low so we have to stay healthy, that’s our key really.”

The pre-district schedule includes contests at Santa Anna and Panther Creek out of the gate, a visit from Evant, a journey to Veribest, the homecoming game with Paint Rock Sept. 27 and the pre-district finale at Lometa on Oct. 4.

“I want each week to show some improvement,” Edmondson said. “We always start slow and I’d like to not feel like we’re horrible like I have the last couple of years. I’d like to see us come out and have some zing in our step.”

District 15-A Division II action begins Oct. SEE BROOKESMITH, 33

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 15

We salute the hard work that creates great teams.

Brownwood 3101 Austin Ave., Brownwood, TX 76804 | 325-646-1798 Early 411 Early Blvd., Early, TX 76803 | 325-646-0313 www.mcbanktx.com

Member FDIC

16

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

BLANKET TIGERS

Sunday, August 25, 2019

District title repeat, lengthy postseason run the plan at Blanket TIGERS GLIMPSE • District: 15-A Division II • Head coach: Tyler Tabor (2nd season back at school, 11-1 record; 62-48 career record, 45-33 at Blanket) • 2018 record: 11-1, 3-0 in district • Last district title: 2018 • Last playoff appearance: 2018 • Starters returning: 4 on offense/4 on defense • Players to watch: RE/DE Kameron Spivey, RB Logan Wheeler, QB/S Trenten Varner, NG/C Tanner Isom, TE/DE Tyler Simpson, FB/S Hector Castaneda, LB Ryan Jenkins, RB Carlos Morales

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

BLANKET — The Blanket Tigers reeled off 11 consecutive victories before their season came to an end in the second round of the playoffs. In 2019, another district championship and, more importantly, a deeper postseason run are the objectives.

“Overall we want to win the district championship and we want to play longer in the playoffs than we did last year,” said Blanket head coach Tyler Tabor. “The region is pretty tough, it may be the toughest one there is in our division.”

The Tigers return four starters on each side of the ball, and 14 of 16 lettermen, from last year’s 11-1 squad that capture a District 15-A Division II championship, along with a bi-district title as well.

“We feel like we should have a little more depth this year,” Tabor said. “Kameron Spivey’s our big running back and he had

1,400 yards after he stepped in after Logan Wheeler got hurt. Logan is our speed back and he had 900 yards in four games before he went out for the rest of the season. Tanner Isom is a second-team all-state nose guard coming back that should be really solid in the middle for Tyler Tabor us. Trenten Varner hurt BLANKET HEAD COACH his ACL in Week 2 and he was our quarterback and one of our best defensive players. Tyler Simpson is a 6-5, 230 pound tight end that looks much improved over last year and he was an all-region player.

We’ve got some assets, they’re just going to have to put it all together.”

Tabor believes the talent is in place to

potentially exceed last year’s accomplishments, and hopes the mental aspect of the game catches up quickly.

“We’re pretty well rounded and we have some more experience and playoff games under our belt,” Tabor said. “ But we have to get better every week and leadership has to develop. Two seniors we lost last year were great leaders. The juniors didn’t have to lead last year but they’re going to have to this year. We’re going to have to develop in that area.”

The Tigers will have to adjust to a new defensive scheme, while also determining what style of offense they intend to use.

“We had some change on defense, Coach (Cameron) Norris is coming over, Coach (Jeremy) Phillips took over at Zephyr, but what I want to see is some consistency, getting better each week and learning our

SEE BLANKET, 33

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 17

BLANKET TIGERS

Emmanuel McLaughlin #1 - FRESHMAN

Cavan Ramon

Hector Castaneda

#4 - FRESHMAN

#6 - JUNIOR

Brayden Day

Logan Wheeler

Tyler Simpson

Mario Morales

Aydan Wheeler

#10 - FRESHMAN

#17 - JUNIOR

#11 - SENIOR

#20 - FRESHMAN

Jayden Carson #25 - JUNIOR

Dakota Pogue

#21 - SOPHOMORE

#32 - SOPHOMORE

Weston Smith

Carlos Morales

Trenten Varner

Brady Furry

Kameron Spivey

#7 -SOPHOMORE

#12 - JUNIOR

Hayden Rogers

Ryan Jenkins

Tanner Isom

#47 - SENIOR

#13 - SOPHOMORE

#22- JUNIOR

#9 - FRESHMAN

#14 - SENIOR

#24 - SENIOR

Brandon Larance

#84 - FRESHMAN

18

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

COLEMAN BLUECATS

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Coleman counting on youth movement in bid to return to playoffs BLUECATS GLIMPSE • District: 4-3A Division II • Head coach: John Elder (6th season at school, 36-23 record; 36-23 career record) • 2018 record: 2-8, 1-6 in district • Last district title: 2014 • Last playoff appearance: 2017 • Starters returning: 5 on offense/5 on defense • Players to watch: OL Kayden Castleberry, OL/ DE Gage Sikes, OL/DL Bobby Burrow, LB Blake Greaves, OL/DL Joe Rosales, OL/DL Brock Bouldin, QB/DB Corbin Rosales, OL/LB Ezequiel Valdez, K Christian Villeda, OL/DL Benny Wright, RB/ LB Kolton Kenney, OL/DL Gilbert Espetia.

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

COLEMAN — The Coleman Bluecats found themselves on the outside looking in when the postseason rolled around in 2018.

John Elder, heading into his sixth season as head coach, is counting on a youthful roster as the Bluecats look to regain their playoff form in 2019.

The Bluecats are coming off a 2-8 campaign, which included a 1-6 mark against District 4-3A Division II competition, but the look of the league has changed in the last nine months.

“The top of the district is going to shape up and shake out pretty close to the same way it did last year,” Elder said. “The teams to beat, the front runners, are Cisco, which always has a target on its back, and Ballinger’s going to be very explosive. Then you have Anson, but Merkel lost a lot of kids and has a new program, so we’ll see how that shakes out for the rest of us.”

The Bluecats return five starters on each side of the ball from last year’s squad, lost just eight lettermen to graduation and reported more kids in preseason practice in August.

“We’ve been short on numbers the last

couple of years but they’re growing,” Elder said. “We’ve still got some spots to fill, but some young ones are stepping up and some older guys with experience are learning some new positions to try and help us out. Hopefully we get some depth issues figured out that John Elder come along with that.

COLEMAN HEAD COACH This young team is going to progress through the year and we’ll see how it starts. By the end of the year, if we stay healthy and keep the grades right, we ought to be playing pretty good football.”

Among the players to watch are linemen Gage Sikes, Kayden Castleberry, and Bobby Burrow; Blake Greaves at linebacker, Corbin Rosales at quarterback; and newcomers Jaylen Holloway and R.J. Wright.

“Gage is really coming around, and Kayden is going to be a multi-position kid that’s all over the field playing a lot of football,” Elder said. “Bobby is a returning lineman that’s really got some things

figured out. Corbin missed the whole season as quarterback last year and we’re hopeful he’ll get to take a lot of snaps. Some of the younger kids coming in to keep an eye on are Jaylen Holloway and R.J. Wright, among others. There’s going to be some kids we see come out that are hopefully explosive for us and will be able to do some things that aren’t really drawn up.”

With just six seniors on the roster, the development of the underclassmen is crucial to Coleman’s success.

“A lot of the young kids last year were forced to play varsity,” Elder said. “Even though they might not have been ready, that experience always pays off in the end.

That’ll be our strength, being able to have a little bit more experience.

“Our weakness is we still have a lack of depth across the board, but a lot of that is small school-itis. You get a kid hurt and someone has to come from somewhere else to fill in there, then somebody else has to come in and fill in that spot.”

The Bluecats have just three games to establish their chemistry before district starts — home against Jim Ned, at Early and then a SEE COLEMAN, 32

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 19

COMANCHE INDIANS

Comanche targets fourth consecutive district championship INDIANS GLIMPSE • District 6-3A Division II • Head coach: Stephen Hermesmeyer (8th season at school, 48-33 record; 73-54 career record) • 2018 record: 9-4, 5-0 in district • Last district title: 2018 • Last playoff appearance: 2018 • Starters returning: 3 on offense/3 on defense • Players to watch: OL/ DL Jeron Conine, RB/ LB/K Ricardo Sanchez, RB/LB Braxton Patterson, TE/DE Ryan Stephens, OL Gaven Cottrell, ATH Bryce Hermesmeyer, RB/LB Logan Wilkerson, RB/LB R.J. Pepper

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

COMANCHE — With three consecutive district championships to their credit, the Comanche Indians have no intention of slowing down in 2019 – even if they’re perceived by some to be an underdog this season.

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, Jacksboro is projected to unseat Comanche from the District 6-3A throne, but Indians head coach Stephen Hermesmeyer feels the Indians still have enough weapons to make a run for the league title.

“Our goal is to win a district title,” Hermesmeyer said. “Winning games is great, we want to win as many as we can win and we’d love to win them all, but at the end of the day these kids know, and we talk about it all the time and we take pride in the fact that we’ve won three in a row and we need to figure out some way and some how when October gets here that we’re ready to win the fourth one in a row. I know we have a lot of places to fill and a lot of people to re-

place, but that’s just part of being in a program and hopefully these kids will rise to the occasion.”

Comanche returns just three starters on each side of the ball and 11 letterman total from last year’s 9-4 regional semifinalist squad that swept all five of its district opponents.

Stephen Hermesmeyer “We got the numbers COMANCHE HEAD COACH out that we were hoping to get – about 60 kids and they’re working hard,” Hermesmeyer said. “We have a lot of positions to fill, a lot of young kids having to step into some major roles, and it’s a process that takes time. But we’re working hard, trying to take care of business and get things ready so when district gets where we have a chance to go after another district championship.”

Hermesmeyer is counting on the leadership of offensive lineman/defensive tackle

Jeron Conine, and former running back moved to the offensive line/linebacker/ kicker Ricardo Sanchez to lead the way on the field.

“Those are two kids I expect to have really good years,” Hermesmeyer said. “We also have some decent little skill guys, they’re not very big but they’re pretty quick. We’re going into year eight of this system so they know what we’re trying to be, and that’s probably our biggest strength.

“Our weakness is obviously our size at our skill positions and our speed, and some unproven players. These kids are pretty confident, they’ve had some success at the lower levels and we’re hoping that carries over to the varsity level.”

Comanche’s pre-district slate includes home games with Eastland and Breckenridge to start followed by trips to Clyde and De Leon, then the homecoming showdown with Mason on Sept. 27.

“We just have to grow up in a hurry and understand the people we scrimmage and

SEE COMANCHE, 32

20

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

GOLDTHWAITE EAGLES

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Goldthwaite moves on from the Proffitts’ era, welcomes Virdell EAGLES GLIMPSE • District: 7-2A Division I • Head coach: Keith Virdell (1st season at school, 0-0 record) • 2018 record: 1-9, 0-5 in district • Last district title: 2015 • Last playoff appearance: 2017 • Starters returning: 7 on offense/7 on defense • Players to watch: WR/DB Jaxon Wootton, WR/DB Grayson Moore, OL/DL Slade Sutherland, RB/DB Angel Morales, QB/DB Jackson Patrick, RB/DB Mitchell Hopper, ATH Dusty Partin, OL/ LB Kody Roberts, OL/DL Calix Mensch, RB/DB Trent Daricek, OL/DL Aries Vanderlaan, OL/DL Saul Vaquera

By Mike Lee Special to the Bulletin

GOLDTHWAITE - The Goldthwaite Eagles football team will be a non-Proffitt organization for the first time in 33 years.

Gary Proffitt won 252 games and three state championships as Goldthwaite’s head coach from 1986-2013. His son, Greg Proffitt, finished 27-29 as the Eagles’ head coach from 2014-2018.

Keith Virdell, Goldthwaite’s new head coach, wasn’t hired until the final week of school in May. Since the start of preseason practices in August, Virdell and his new coaching staff were in a race against time to implement a new offense and defense with their new players.

Virdell knows his new team finished 1-9 last year, including district losses of 78-0 to San Saba and 77-7 to De Leon. He also knows his Eagles are predicted to finish last in every District 7-2A Division I preseason poll. He doesn’t care.

“When you’re picked last, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. We’ll be under the radar. We don’t have to improve by leaps

and bounds, but if we can get a little better week to week, by the time district gets here, we might surprise a few people,” said Virdell, who finished 9-2 last year at Sudan after being picked fourth in district.

Goldthwaite was picked to finish last Keith Virdell in district for the first GOLDTHWAITE HEAD COACH time in 16 years after finishing 2018 on an eight-game losing skid.

The Eagles were outscored by an average of 47-10 per game, and allowed a schoolrecord 466 points last season.

But they showed signs of competitiveness during the preseason, and the Eagles have six weeks before their District 7-2A opener against state-ranked San Saba — the defending champion and consensus preseason favorite. Despite improvement, the Eagles will lean heavily on eight

sophomores.

“Our kids grasp the concept of what we’re trying to teach them ahead of schedule,” Virdell said. “We have some components of a good team. We have a little speed. We have and a little strength.

And we have some linemen. We should be able to move the ball down the field.”

Virdell’s run-oriented Slot-T offense will be much closer to the wishbone that Goldthwaite won four state championships with between 1980 and 2014 than the pass-heavy shotgun spread the Eagles went 22-23 with over the last four years.

The Slot-T is more about misdirection than the wishbone, but Virdell’s Eagles will be a running team again.

Senior Grayson Moore, who last year caught 34 passes at receiver, is returning to quarterback, where he previously played at Hamilton.

Sophomore Jackson Patrick — who led the Eagles in rushing, receiving and scoring last year until a season-ending injury

SEE GOLDTHWAITE, 36

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 21

SAN SABA ARMADILLOS

San Saba won’t fly under the radar after trip to state semifinals ARMADILLOS GLIMPSE • District: 7-2A Division I • Head coach: Andreas Aguirre (1st season as head coach at school, 0-0 record) • 2018 record: 14-1, 5-0 in district • Last district title: 2018 • Last playoff appearance: 2018 • Starters returning: 9 on offense/7 on defense • Players to watch: QB/ DB Sean O’Keefe, RB/DL Eli Salinas, WR/DB Logan Glover, WR/LB Risien Shahan

By Mike Lee Special to the Bulletin

SAN SABA — Some things will change.

Some things will remain the same for the San Saba Armadillos, who are coming off the best season in school history and return a wealth of experienced players.

San Saba finished 14-1 and advanced to the Class 2A Division I state semifinals before falling to New Deal last year. After the season, second-year head coach Jerod Fikac left for the same position at Class 5A Georgetown East View. Defensive coordinator Andreas Aguirre was promoted to head coach, and except for filling Fikac’s spot, San Saba’s coaching staff remained intact.

Much of the Armadillos’ lineup will remain intact as well, with nine offensive starters and seven defensive starters returning to take a shot at improving on last year’s historic season.

“If the wheel’s not broken, why fix it,”

said the 35-year-old Aguirre, a defensive coordinator at Hempstead, Snook and San Saba before getting his first head-coaching assignment this year. “But we will continue to add on to where we were. We will continue to evolve and take the next step — whether it’s on special Andreas Aguirre teams, in the weight SAN SABA HEAD COACH room or in the culture of our program.”

One reason the Armadillos must keep evolving is because there will be no surprising opponents this season.

San Saba drew a No. 4 statewide preseason ranking in Texas Football magazine, which predicted the Armadillos to finish as the state runner-up to Refugio. It’s the highest preseason ranking for the Armadillos since

Texas Football ranked them No. 1 in 1979 — some 40 years ago.

“We have to step up to the next level with our conditioning and training because we’re not going to fly under the radar,” Aguirre said, referring to last year’s team that was coming off a 3-7 finish. “We’re going to get everybody’s best effort. Teams will throw things at us that we haven’t seen. We’re going to try to go 1-0 every week.”

San Saba’s list of returning talent starts with fourth-year quarterback Sean O’Keefe, who last year passed for 2,237 yards and 35 touchdowns against only four interceptions.

The 6-foot-3 senior also rushed for 1,612 yards, averaging 9.5 yards per carry, and 16 TDs. Hard-nosed running back Eli Salinas rushed for 1,902 yards, averaging 7.9 yards per carry, and 35 TDs last year. Landon Glover, a 6-5 receiver, caught 27 passes for SEE SAN SABA, 36

22

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

SANTA ANNA MOUNTAINEERS

New coach Graves out to maintain upward trajectory at Santa Anna MOUNTAINEERS GLIMPSE • District: 14-A Division I • Head coach: Jack Graves (1st season at school, 0-0 record) • 2018 record: 3-7, 1-2 in district • Last district title: 2016 • Last playoff appearance: 2016 • Starters returning: 2 on offense/4 on defense • Players to watch: C Jayton Perry, HB/DE Cody Robertson, SB/S Jaxon Diggs, HB/DE Trevor Evans, HB/DE Silas Lata, NT Michale Edwards, WB/S Trystan Rice, QB/S Bruce Brown

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

SANTA ANNA — Following a winless campaign in 2017, the Santa Anna Mountaineers picked up three victories a season ago. New head coach Jack Graves intends to continue the program’s upward trajectory as he will guide the Mountaineers into the 2019 campaign.

Graves, a head coach with 18 years experience, has previously been in charge of programs at McLean, Miami, Oglesby and Gustine.

As for his decision to accept the head coach position at Santa Anna, Graves said, “There’s a lot of things that fit really well for our family. No. 1 was the superintendent, Mr. (David) Robinett is a good man and I felt like his vision for a school and an athletic program fit mine. I felt like we were a good fit together. There’s a lot of teamwork, a lot of unity, we all have the same vision for kids, for athletics and the

purpose for why we did it. That’s the main reason why I’m here.

“It’s also a good school for my son, he’s really musically talented and he’s a sophomore, they have a band here and it’s a good band program. My wife is working here too and is going to be the theatre Jack Graves arts teacher.”

SANTA ANNA HEAD COACH The Mountaineers return two offensive and four defensive starters from last year’s 3-7 squad, which finished third in District 14-A Division I with a 1-2 league mark. Making the jump to postseason contention this year is a tall order, Graves admitted.

“We know it’s going to be a tough district and we know this is a not a one-year fix,”

Graves said .”It’s a long term process before we get to where we can compete with the higher level teams in this area. This district is going to be extremely tough with two of the best teams in the state, both of them have legitimate chances to go all the way and I have a lot of respect for those programs.

“May is talented enough to go all the way, Coach (Craig) Steele is a great coach, same with Coach (Jeb) Dixon at Gorman. It would not shock me to see either one playing in Cowboys Stadium. And Lingleville is no sleeper, they have some athletic kids and a new coach and a lot of energy.”

Santa Anna will attempt to build momentum for the 15-A Division I race with a non-district slate that includes the home opener against Brookesmith, a road trip to Rochelle, a visit from Robert Lee, a road game at Bronte, homecoming against Mul-

SEE SANTA ANNA, 30

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 23

RICHLAND SPRINGS COYOTES

Burkhart returns to Richland Springs; Coyotes ranked No. 2 COYOTES GLIMPSE II

• District: 16-A Division

• Head coach: Jerry Burkhart (1st season back at school, 16th season at school overall, 194-10 record; career sixman record, 198-16) • 2018 record: 11-2, 4-0 in district • Last district title: 2018 • Last playoff appearance: 2018 • Starters returning: 5 on offense/5 on defense • Players to watch: SB/LB Matthew Rigdon, RB/S Griffin Rigdon, C/ CB Josiah Beam, WR/ CB Wade Appleton, QB/ DE Jadeyn Bryant, G/ NG Kelton Tippie, QB/ CB Chase Gossett, C/NG T.j. Grant, WR/CB Zane Capps

By Mike Lee Special to the Bulletin

To suggest the Richland Springs Coyotes experienced an eventful offseason would be the understatement of the offseason. The Coyotes opened preseason practices with Jerry Burkhart as their third head coach since the 2018 season ended.

Thomas Tipton, who coached Class 1A Division II Richland Springs to an 11-2 record last season, and his replacement, Jamie Rigdon, both were reassigned. Tipton eventually left Richland Springs for another coaching job. Rigdon, who was reassigned in late July, remained on the Coyotes’ staff.

Burkhart was hired to return for his third stint as the Coyotes’ head coach just a week before preseason practices. He put up a 19410 record with a record-tying eight state championships as head coach of the six-man Coyotes from 2003-2017. Not only have the Coyotes been scrambling to learn the ways of a new head coach, that coach was scrambling to move back to town.

“Things have been going 90 miles per hour,” Burkhart said after two weeks of preseason practices. “We just got everything moved into our house, and my wife has been

home unpacking.

“But the kids are responding and working hard in practice, and it’s all going to be worth it when things settle down.”

Even though he was away from Richland Springs for only one season, Burkhart is trying players in different positions as he and his staff Jerry Burkhart figure out who can play RICHLAND SPRINGS HEAD COACH where.

“We’re way behind in blocking and fundamentals. We’ve been hammering those two things. We’re still looking for our best offensive linemen. We’ve still got a lot of kids moving around to different positions, and we’re learning where some of our new kids fit in best,” Burkhart said.

Richland Springs would have drawn a high state ranking anyway, but with Burkhart’s return, sixmanfootball.com placed the Coyotes as the No. 2 team in Division II behind Strawn, the two-time defending state champion. But state rankings are the farthest

thing from Burkhart’s mind right now.

“We may be changing our personnel week to week for a while,” the coach said. “But overall, we’ve got good depth and good numbers. We’ve just got to focus on blocking.”

Matthew Rigdon, a 5-foot-10, 219-pound junior who gained almost 3,000 total yards last season, has been playing tailback.

Sophomore Griffin Rigdon has seen time at both tailback and fullback. Sophomore Jadeyn Bryant has been playing quarterback and receiver. Junior Chase Gossett has been working at quarterback and tailback.

The backfield should get a big boost Oct. 29 when Landon Burkhart, a junior and the son of Coach Burkhart, becomes varsity eligible for the final two regular-season games, plus any postseason games.

Other offensive prospects include senior receivers Lane Shannon, Massiah Clarady, Josiah Beam and Wade Appleton, along with Kelton Tippie, a 5-10, 255-pound senior guard.

Defensively, top prospects include junior T.J. Grant and Shannon at linebacker, Tippie at nose guard, plus Clarady, Beam and SEE RICHLAND SPRINGS, 33

24

THE 2019 BROWNWOOD LIONS PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 25

15 - DANE JOHNSON 16 - DAMION JONES 17 - JOSE PENA 18 - REY VILLARREAL 20 - REECE RODGERS 21 - NATE MARTIN 23 - AYDEN BAILEY 24 - LANDON HARRIS 26- COOPER SWANZY 38 - KRIS HOBBS 44 - JACOB TAYLOR SMITH 52 - CUTTER THOMPSON 54 - BRANSON KOEPP-COX 55 - EZEQUIEL IBARRA 60 - ADRIAN VILLARREAL 65 - JIMI BROWN 67 - ETHAN PESINA 70 - TYLER TINER 72 - DANIEL ARRAS 75 - THEO BRYANT 76 - JARED NORTHCUTT 78 - BRANDON FARROW

SAMMY BURNETT Head Coach ROSTER 2 - ISYAH CAMPOS 3 - KHYREN DEAL 4 - BLAIZE ESPINOZA 5 - ROWDEE GREGORY 6 - DREW HUFF 7 - ROYSHAD HENDERSON 8 - ZACH BOND 9 - ZACH STRONG 10 - HUNTER DAY 11 - XAVIER SATBERRY 12 - A.J. McCARTY 13 - PARISH WHITE

PHOTO COURTESY OF HEATHER NIX PHOTOGRAPHY

26

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

MULLIN BULLDOGS

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Williamson takes over as Mullin battles low numbers, inexperience BULLDOGS GLIMPSE • District: 15-A Division II • Head coach: Brent Williamson (1st season at school 0-0; 54-39-1 career record) • 2018 record: 3-7, 1-3 in district • Last district title: 2004 • Last playoff appearance: 2014 • Starters returning: 3 on offense/3 on defense • Players to watch: RB/LB Cody Knight, RB/LB Trenton Coston, QB Cyrus Jackson, WB Abel Martinez, C Gabe Heflin, E/DE Brian Moore, DE Cody Holland, DE Travis Lytle, DE Esteban Hernandez

By Mike Lee Special to the Bulletin

MULLIN — nother new head football coach at Mullin faces the same recurring challenge: low numbers.

New Mullin head coach Brent Williamson put nine players through preseason practices as the Bulldogs began work on improving last year’s 3-7 finish that included a 1-3 record in District 15-1A Division II. The Bulldogs’ roster includes only one senior, newcomer Jayden Fulcher, and one junior, veteran Cody Knight, and four total returnees from last season.

“Our main focus is staying healthy. With nine or 10 players, we can’t afford any injuries,” said Williamson, the Bulldogs’ fourth head coach in the last four years.

“We also want to build confidence. We’re obviously young and we don’t have much size, but I look forward to working with these kids for the next few years.”

Knight, a wide receiver and defensive

back, will be a thirdyear starter this season as a junior. The 6-foot1, 160-pound Knight is by far the Bulldogs’ most-experienced player.

The offensive backfield will include sophomore Trenton Coston and freshman Abel Martinez. FreshBrent Williamson man Cyrus Jackson is MULLIN HEAD COACH the Bulldogs’ projected starter at quarterback.

The front end of Mullin’s offense is expected to include freshman center Esteban Hernandez, sophomore guard Travis Lytle and Fulcher, the team’s lone senior, at tight end.

“We’ll start out in the tight formation, but we’ll eventually be multiple on offense.

We’ll run some spread here and there,”

Williamson said. “We’ve been struggling a little to get our front three (linemen) set.”

Mullin will seek to improve an offense that last year averaged 28.4 points per game and was limited to 20 or fewer points in half their games. The Bulldogs were shut out twice.

Defensively, Lytle and sophomore Brian Moore are the projected starters at end.

Coston figures to start at middle linebacker. Knight heads up the secondary and will be joined by Fulcher and Martinez. Jackson will provide the backend of the defense at safety.

The Bulldogs’ defense allowed 45.4 points per game last season — an 18-point improvement over 2017. Still, the Bulldogs allowed 52 or more points in six of their first seven games last year.

“Our strengths are our work ethic and our willingness to work,” Williamson said.

SEE MULLIN, 30

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 27

RISING STAR WILDCATS

Erickson leads the way at Rising Star, where numbers are a concern WILDCATS GLIMPSE II

• District: 15-A Division

• Head coach: Ennis Erickson (1st season at school, 0-0 record at school) • 2018 record: 0-9, 0-3 in district • Last district title: 2015 • Last playoff appearance: 2015 • Starters returning: n/a on offense - n/a on defense • Players to watch: Tristen Bellamy, Johnny Sanchez, Chance Foster, Tristan Jackson, Ethan Foster

By Derrick Stuckly dstuckly@brownwoodbulletin.com

RISING STAR — The Rising Star Wildcats have won a total of three games in the three seasons since their last district championship in 2015. New head coach Ennis Erickson — whose previous stops included a stint at Brookesmith — will attempt to turn around the fortunes of the program. Rising Star’s greatest challenge currently, however, is the numbers game.

Just six players reported for preseason practice as Rising Star is coming off an 0-9 campaign in 2018, which included three district losses. While health is always a concern for six-man coaches, the Wildcats must avoid the injury bug at all costs in 2019.

“With the limited numbers we have we just have to continue to want to do, to continue to have the desire to keep after it,” Erickson said. “If we’re just going through the motions it won’t matter.”

Players to watch for Rising Star include

Tristen Bellamy, Johnny Sanchez, Chance Foster, Tristan Jackson, and Ethan Foster.

As for returning to the ranks as a head coach, Erickson embraced the challenge turning around the Wildcats presents.

“It was an opportunity that was available Ennis Erickson and I decided to take the RISING STAR HEAD COACH challenge again and go back and be a head coach again,” Erickson said.

“Everything just kind of fit.”

Since leaving Brookesmith, Erickson spent time as an assistant coach at Panther Creek, Balmorhea, Grandfalls-Royalty, Sanderson, Klondike and Silverton.

Erickson’s goal for the season is “to be as competitive as we can be, play hard every

game and try and surprise some people.”

The pre-district schedule is a little more favorable for Rising Star this year as some alternations have been made compared to the 2018 slate. The Wildcats open the season at home against Lohn, venture to Moran and Gustine in back-to-back weeks, then host Three Way for homecoming. Home dates against Rochelle and Trent follow to conclude non-district action.

“I just want to see improvement each game, a continued desire, hard work and doing our best job to put it together to where we can have some success,” Erickson said of the pre-district objectives.

The District 15-A Division II schedule is expected to be daunting with league champion and runner-up Blanket and Brookesmith expected to repeat in those positions. Sidney, Mullin and Rising Star will attempt to unseat one, or both, preseason playoff favorites.

SEE RISING STAR, 43

28

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

SIDNEY EAGLES

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Sidney hopes to build on breakout 2018 season, grab playoff spot EAGLES GLIMPSE • District: 15-A Division II • Head coach:Waylon Salinas (2nd season at school 7-3; 7-3 career record) • 2018 record: 7-3, 2-2 in district • Starters returning: 3 on offense/2 on defense • Last district title: 2010 • Last playoff appearance: 2012 • Players to watch: FB/LB Joshua Kennard, QB/S Jayson Kennard, QB/S Joshua Rucker, FB/De Cory Scantling, E/LB Jaxson Rucker, RB/LB Jordan Scheriger, E/LB Grant Drummond, G Tomas Gutierrez

By Mike Lee Special to the Bulletin ß

SIDNEY — The Sidney Eagles hope to continue their resurgence under secondyear head coach Waylon Salinas, who last year oversaw a six-win improvement from 1-8 in 2017 to 7-3 in 2018.

The Eagles lost a couple of projected starters prior to the season, but Texas Football magazine still picked Sidney to finish third in District 15-1A Division II behind Blanket and Brookesmith. That’s the same spot Sidney finished last year with a 2-2 district record after posting lopsided wins over Mullin and Rising Star by an average of 49 points.

“We knew we had a chance to have a pretty good team last year, but we had to get the kids to believe it,” said Salinas, the Eagles’ defensive coordinator in 2016 and 2017 prior to becoming head coach. “After our first couple of games, we played pretty well on both sides of the ball. We had some

injuries in district. We didn’t finish where we wanted. We wanted to get second in district.”

Sidney will field an overall young team this season — with just one senior and eight of its 13 players being sophomores and freshmen.

The Eagles’ returnees include Jayson KinWaylon Salinas nard, who will play SIDNEY HEAD COACH spreadback and running back on offense. He’ll be joined on offense by returnees Hayden Brawley at quarterback, Cory Scantling at fullback, Jaxson Rucker at running back, and Will Caffey at running back. Caffey hopes to stay healthy after missing most of the 2017 and 2018 seasons with injuries.

Two newcomers to the offense will be

freshman center Tomas Gutierrez and guard Cameron Spells, who checked in at 6-feet-3 and 250 pounds.

“We’re inexperienced as far as our skill level. We’ve got a lot of new kids,” Salinas said. “We’ll have to fill positions and see who fits where.

“We’re smaller than last year, but we’re practicing a lot faster. They’re used to our system, and they know our expectations.

Last year we were just trying to get lined up correctly. This year we’re reacting instead of thinking about what to do.”

Sidney’s defense will be led by its captain Joshua Rucker at safety. Rucker may not play offense because of a foot injury, but he still figures to lead the defense. Jaxson Rucker and Kinnard should give the Eagles a pair of solid outside linebackers. Scantling and Caffey are both proven defensive ends, and Spells should help in the line.

SEE SIDNEY, 43

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 29

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PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

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to go out with a successful season.”

As for the strengths of this year’s Yellow Jackets squad, Harris touted the receiving corps as being one of the best in the conference.

“Guys like Jordan Bryant (37-405, 3 TDs), DunTayviun Gross (68-647, 5 TDs), Thomas Williams (20338, 2 TDs), and Eric Haverstock (21-229, TD), those four guys I’d take them against anybody in the American Southwest Conference,” Harris said. “There’s that core, then we have some backups that are going to be sophomores that were freshmen last year that are going to be very talented.”

Who will get the ball to the receivers remained a question during preseason practices, but last year’s second-string quarterback Caleb Estes (6 of 7, 53 yards) appeared to have an early leg up on the starting job.

“Caleb’s had a really good spring, a really good first few days of camp, and a great summer,” Harris said.

“He was here all summer working out, doing all the things right that you have to do to be successful.”

Along with quarterback, Harris indicated the running back battle was open as well.

Harris does anticipate improved play from the offensive line with several veterans back in the mix.

“Probably four of the five starting will be either a junior or senior,” Harris said. “If you look at the successful teams in the conference, their lines look similar as far as depth with juniors and seniors.”

There’s been a coaching shake up as well as Luke Wagner will take over the duties of offensive coordinator.

“I’m excited about our offense with Coach Wagner being our offensive coordinator and Coach (Scott) Hough being our run-game coordinator,” Harris said.

SANTA ANNA CONTINUED FROM 22

lin, a trek to Blanket an the non-district finale against Blackwell.

“I just want to see what’s going on during practice translating into the game,” Graves said of the pre-district goals. “That’s the biggest thing right now. The way we’re working, the way we’re doing things is translating and coming out on Friday nights.

Do the little things right, fundamentals and techniques right. We start to chip away at some of the bad habits and sloppiness and things that have hurt us. I want to see guys trying. We’re going to make mistakes, but let’s make them going hard. I don’t want to see guys standing around.”

The Mountaineers venture to May on Oct. 25 to begin league play, then host Lingleville before wrapping the regular season at Gorman on Nov. 8.

Heading into the season, Graves considers the attitudes of the Mountaineers as their greatest attributes.

“I’m really pleased that they want to learn,

Sunday, August 25, 2019

“I’m excited about the direction that unit is going to go. Anytime you have change it’s an opportunity to improve and I think that’s what we got out of those changes.”

Defensively, the strength lies in the linebacking corps with last year’s top two tacklers, Britt Boler (71 tackles, 12 for loss. 3.5 sacks) and Austin Killgore (67 tackles, 7 for loss, 2 sacks), returning. Brady Wade (39 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack) will anchor the defensive line, while Dylan Zeno (25 tackles, 2 INTs) and Trishawn Townes (22 tackles) will head up the secondary.

“If you look at us we’re returning eight of the 11 starters from last year,” Harris said “We’re still very young, a lot of those guys were freshmen last year and sophomores this year, but they’ve been in the same defense for a calendar year which is the first time in our program that we’ve been able to do that.

“At linebacker we have Britt and Austin who should do a really good job for us, they’re consistent players.

We have Brady at defensive end going into his junior year, and we have Trishawn on the back end going into his senior year. There are some other guys mixed in who are really good players that are coming into their own. Holistically, our leaders should lead and that’s what we’re seeing in fall camp right now.”

The Yellow Jackets again play just one non-conference game — the Sept. 7 season opener at Austin College — before diving into the American Southwest Conference schedule. The league opener at McMurry follows Sept. 14 before Howard Payne kicks off the home portion of the schedule Sept. 21 against No. 9 Hardin-Simmons. Next is a trip to Belton on Sept. 28 to face reigning national champion and top-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor.

“I think our schedule sets up well with us being able to start with Austin College and McMurry, two games where we should be very competitive,” Harris said.

“Then we get the big two and we have to compete better against those guys. The great thing about the game

they want to get better, they want to do things right, and they want to be coached right,” Graves said. “We have real good leadership from our seniors right now. There’s not a lot of them but the ones that are here, they’re really buying into me and understanding this is a long term process and really encouraging the younger guys and building each other up.”

Players to watch for Santa Anna include Jayton Perry, Cody Robertson, Silas Lara and Cesar Padilla.

Regarding the overall team goal for 2019, Graves said, “I just want better men than what walked in the door when we started this season, men that understand hard work, dedication, teamwork, values, integrity,making good choices outside of school, making good choices inside of school, being responsible, and carrying that stuff into life. If we do those things I would feel like it’s a success. I would like to see a lot of wins on the scoreboard and I want that for them in the worst way, but there’s other things that are way more important in these young men’s lives that they need when they leave this place.”

of football, you don’t have to be a better program than another one, you just have to find a way to score one more point than they do. In 2005 I was on the other sideline when that team came to Brownwood and Gordon Wood Stadium and Howard Payne scored one more point than Mary Hardin-Baylor that day. Those things happen in the game of football.”

The back half of the schedule is much more favorable as, after Louisiana College visits on Oct. 5, the bye week comes. HPU then hosts Texas Lutheran Oct. 19, ventures to East Texas Baptist Oct. 26, welcomes Sul Ross for homecoming Nov. 2, plays its final road game at Southwestern Nov. 9 and concludes the season at home against Belhaven.

“The last five games, with three out of five being at home, we feel like that bodes well for us and we can really finish strong,” Harris said.

Whether the Yellow Jackets climb the ranks of the ASC standings remains to be seen, but Harris intends to continue following the process he put into place when he arrived on the Howard Payne campus.

“We have to continue what we’re doing,” Harris said. “That may sound mundane and boring, but I don’t think what we’re doing is wrong and I didn’t think it was wrong last year when we were 1-9. We’re doing the right things, our kids are in better position and more physically prepared to win games and understand the game more than they ever have. For us to be successful we have to have a confidence based off our preparation. We have to have a confidence in the processes that we’re doing.

“The great thing about the game of football is you get to work really hard for something and maybe nobody else knows what is going on but you and the other guys in that locker room. Those guys in that locker room believe in what we’re doing. We have to keep the belief in what we’re doing, and then we have to be able to play with confidence when we go out on the football field.”

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“Any time you have a new coach, you have to go through the process of the players buying into what you’re doing. We’re working on the buy-in, but I’ve been pleased with their work ethic.”

A challenge for the young Bulldogs will be playing five consecutive road games from Sept. 13-Oct. 11 at Cranfills Gap, Lometa, Santa Anna, Rochelle and Sidney in the district opener.

In District 15-1A DII, defending champion Blanket, which finished 11-1 last year, is the heavy favorite to repeat with eight of 12 starters returning. Brookesmith, last year’s runner-up at 6-4, returns 10 starters. Sidney made a big improvement last year to 7-3 and returns eight starters. Mullin finished fourth last year, and Rising Star was fifth.

“It’s a tough district. Blanket and Brookesmith have a lot of returning starters, and Sidney looks solid. We’re hoping to get in there and contend for that No. 2 playoff spot,” said Williamson, 54-39-1 with four playoff appearances in nine seasons as a head coach at Zephyr, Blanket, Gorman, High Island and Gustine.

“Mullin has had success in the past. If they work hard and believe in themselves, I think they can be successful again.”

Mullin is seeking its first playoff berth since 2014 and its first district title since 2004.

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EARLY

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Coleman at home Sept. 6, Tolar and Hamilton on the road Sept. 13 and Sept. 20, respectively, and the pre-district finale and homecoming game against Hico on Sept. 27.

Sandford would ideally like to see a similar, if not better start to the 2019 season.

“I want to make sure that we are executing,” Sandford said. “It all comes back to discipline and we want to make sure we aren’t doing anything that is going to cost us a chance win ball games such as penalties or turnovers or missed tackles. I want to make sure we are taking care of the things we know to take care of and build on that. You have to gain that momentum and stack a good day on a good day. I want to see us stack five good preseason games together and that will give us a chance to have even more confidence and success.

“Confidence is one of things where we’ve made great improvements. At the end of the last year they felt like they could play with the guys in our district and have some success. The tangible things we can actually put our fingers on are the strength and the speed, being bigger, stronger and faster.”

The District 3-3A Division I race is expected to be just as heated this season as Early begins league play at Eastland Oct. 11 followed by an Oct. 18 home date with Clyde, an Oct. 25 trip to Breckenridge, the Nov. 1 home finale with Jim Ned and the Nov. 8 regular season finale at No. 13 Wall.

Regarding the Longhorns’ district opponents, Sandford said, “I think they’re just as good as last year. It’s been said this is the toughest or second toughest district in the state of Texas. We strive to be a quality team in that district that teams have to prepare for, and that we come away winning those games instead of being an afterthought or a side conversation. We want to be in the middle of the conversation with all the other teams.

“We accomplished some of that last year with the way we played, the effort and the execution and having a chance to win some of those games, but we want more now. It’s one thing to get there, but it does you no good to go backward so we’re always trying to move forward. This is a new team, a new bunch of guys that are different from last year and so are the other teams in the district. There’s different players, some people move on, others get another year of maturity so it’s exciting to see what these guys are made of.”

As for what it will take for Early to get over the hump and reach the postseason, Sandford said, “The key for us is making sure we’re working absolutely as hard as we can even through the adversity. Teams we face all season are good, preseason and district. Being able to handle the adversity presented to us and being able to keep gaining confidence is important. We want to have a swagger when we walk out on that field.”

SIDNEY

CONTINUED FROM 28

“We’ve been working on fundamentals on defense — staying low, breaking down and focusing on playing your position and not worrying about the others,” Salinas said. “We’ll have

FILE PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Jesson Tarrant (2) and the Early Longhorns are looking to improve upon last year’s 4-6 record and advance to the postseason for the first time since 2008.

some ups and downs with a lot of new players, but we play to win. We’re excited about this year. We want to continue to build on what we started last year.”

Sidney averaged 51 points per game and allowed only 19 in its seven wins.

However, the Eagles’ three losses were by an average of 26 points.

RISING STAR CONTINUED FROM 27

“It’s going to be fairly tough overall,” Erickson said. “Every game’s going to be a dogfight. I really don’t know a lot about all the teams off hand, but Blanket and Brookesmith

are the two that made the playoffs last year and until somebody takes them down they’re probably the two in line again this year.”

Rising Star visits Blanket in the Oct. 18 league opener followed by a home game with Mullin, a trip to Sidney and the regular season finale at home against Brookesmith on Nov. 8.

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Sunday, August 25, 2019

BANGS

CONTINUED FROM 8

FILE PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Ethan Sanchez (24) and the Bangs Dragons, coming off a 3-7 campaign in 2018, are seeking their first playoff berth since 2014.

COMANCHE

CONTINUED FROM 19

play early on are really good and learn from the mistakes of playing really good people and get better each day and each practice,” Hermesmeyer said of the early season goals. “That’s what we’ve always tried to do, and if we can do that I think we’ll have a good run.”

District action begins Oct. 11 at Jacksboro, where the 6-3A Division II crown could be decided in the first week of league competi-

tion. The Indians then host Millsap, travel to Rio Vista and Dublin in consecutive weeks and close the regular season at home against Tolar on Nov. 8.

“Jacksboro on paper is the best team in the district,” Hermesmeyer said. “Dublin is going to good again, their quarterback is probably one of the better ones around.

Millsap is going to be good and Tolar should be good, too. I think the district will be really solid and it’s going to be a dogfight. Every Friday night you better show up ready to play or get ready to take a loss.”

there fighting for a playoff spot along with Merkel, Coleman, Grape Creek and TLCA. “We won three games in district last year and if we can get that fourth win this year, that’s what we’re shooting for — a winning district record and a winning record overall. Maybe those four wins will get us in, or it may take five to get a taste of that playoff atmosphere.”

Sept. 27 marks the league opener as Anson visits followed by an Oct. 4 game at Grape Creek, an Oct. 11 trip to Ballinger, an Oct. 18 home outing with Merkel, an Oct. 25 trek to Coleman, the Nov. 1 home finale with San Angelo TLCA and the Nov. 8 regular season finale at No. 9 Cisco.

Before district play arrives, the Dragons venture to Early (Aug. 30), then host Hawley (Sept. 6) and Winters (Sept.

13, homecoming) to begin the season.

“No. 1 I’d like to stay healthy,” Maxfield said of his pre-district objectives. “It’s a daily process for us. All of our first three opponents present different challenges. It’s going to be a good mix of seeing the spread, the veer, we’re going to see a lot of different philosophies and concepts.

It’s going to be nice to see how we react to that and how well we slow down those offenses and how well we can control the line of scrimmage. That’s going to be big these first three games. If we’re able to do that against the teams we’re facing in pre-district, that will help us in district.

“We’re playing some juniors, we’ve got some really solid seniors, but if our younger kids can taste some success early in the year before we get to district, that goes a long way.”

Regarding the projected lineup heading into the regular season opener, the defensive line was expected to feature Trey Ivey, Cael John and Hayden King, among others.

Linebacker candidates were Eli Carbajal, Ethan Sanchez, Brandon Robinson, Guy Powell and Damien Santillanes.

Expected to see time in the secondary are Trevor Bowers, Wyatt Lykins, Wesley Mitchell, Riley Taylor and Rylan Cates.

On the offensive end for Bangs, Azrael Escobedo and Samuel Packer were sharing snaps at center, Ivey and John will man the tackles and Charlie Smith and Warren Theriaque were positioned as the guards. Receivers include Mitchell, Taylor and Santillanes, with King at tight end.

Sanchez and Powell will get the bulk of the carries with Robinson playing fullback, while Brayton Wedeman is expected to take over the reins as starting quarterback.

COLEMAN

CONTINUED FROM 18

visit from Goldthwaite.

“We want to get through the scrimmage season and the first three predistrict games healthy,” Elder said. “I want to see us progress to where we can see ourselves getting better week in and week out. Pre-district games you still care if you win or lose, but you want to see your team get to the point that when district comes you’re hitting on all cylinders.”

District 4-3A Division II action begins

Sept. 27 with the homecoming game against Grape Creek followed by a trip to San Angelo TLCA, which could leave Coleman at 2-0 in league play. Cisco then comes calling Oct. 11 followed by at trip to Anson, a home game with Bangs, a trek to Ballinger and the regular season finale Nov. 8 at home against Merkel.

“The key for us this year is the younger kids and finding a role they’re comfortable with so they can make an impact early and late in the game,” Elder said. “If we can do that we should be able to hang around and have a chance to win every game.”

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BROOKESMITH CONTINUED FROM 14

11 with a visit from Blanket followed by a trip to Mullin, a home date with Sidney, an off week and the regular season finale Nov. 8 at Rising Star.

“Blanket’s going to be tough,” Edmondson said. “That’s No. 1 right out of the gate so that’s going to be our do or die game for the district championship. Win or lose we have to play well.

Our goal is to try and improve on that game and hopefully win it.”

As far as the keys to returning to the playoffs and possibly upending Blanket for the district championship, Edmondson pointed to better defense.

“We have to be smarter on defense,” Edmondson said. “In my opinion your team goes as your defense goes. If you can’t stop anybody you’re going to have a hard time winning games, and I think we have the speed to stop teams.”

FILE PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Kameron Spivey (24), Hector Castaneda (6) and the rest of the Blanket Tigers are looking to advance past the second round of the playoffs after an 11-1 season in 2018.

BLANKET

CONTINUED FROM 16

new defensive system,” Tabor said.

“On offense, sometimes when you can do a little bit of a lot of things you have a hard time finding an identity. When Logan went out last year and we came in with the big bruising back, that’s what we thought we had to do so we found our identity and got pretty good at just running power football. This year we have to find out what it is that makes us tick and hopefully it’s a combination and we’re very versatile. It’s a good problem to have.”

Blanket’s pre-district slate includes trips to Cherokee and Lometa out of the gate followed by four consecutive home games against Lingleville, May, Gordon and Santa Anna.

“We may not win as many games in a row, that’s hard to do, but we toughened the schedule,” Tabor said. “I dropped Three Way and added May, so that will help us in the long run. I don’t care about winning games early I care about getting better early. The strength of our schedule is better this year, so

hopefully with all those things as an end result we’ll be a better football team.”

The District 15-A Division II schedule kicks off Oct. 11 at Brookesmith followed by a home game with Rising Star, the Tigers’ bye week Oct. 25, a trip Mullin and the home and regular season finale Nov. 8 against Sidney.

“Looking at the players coming back, ourselves and Brookesmith are going to be the two teams that stand out,” Tabor said. “Sidney won a lot of games last year and have kids coming back, too. Brookesmith is going to be better so we have to be better. They played us our toughest game in district last year so I’m looking at them being a very formidable opponent.”

As for what it will take for Blanket to surpass last season’s success, Tabor said, “We have to get the team chemistry, find what makes us tick, and we have to get in better physical shape than we’re in right now and even that we were in last year. Can we be better?

Yes. Will we be? I have no idea. Some guys have to take over this team and say ‘let’s get this done and reach the next level.’”

FILE PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Holden Bolt and the Brookesmith Mustangs are seeking a fourth straight playoff berth and an elusive district championship.

RICHLAND SPRINGS CONTINUED FROM 23

Appleton in the secondary.

“We’ve still got a lot of areas to improve on, defensively,” Burkhart said. “I feel good that we’ll be able to make adjustments. I feel like we’ll be able to change looks and keep teams off balance.”

The Coyotes last year averaged 61 points per game and allowed 27. After losing its opener to May, Richland Springs won 11 straight starts — including playoff games against Brookesmith and Calvert. The Coyotes fell to Oakwood 66-56 in the Division II state quarterfinals.

Richland Springs will be a heavy favorite in District 16-1A DII over Cherokee, Rochelle, Panther Creek and Lohn.

34

LIONS

CONTINUED FROM 2

you spend most of your time on the bus deciding what seat someone needs to be in, and then also determining who doesn’t need to be on the bus. I think we’re way ahead in that area so I’m excited about where we’re at right now.”

Heading into the season, Burnett touted the leadership of the senior class among the most notable positives.

“The biggest strength of the group I think so far is the senior leadership,” Burnett said. “Zach Strong, Cooper Swanzy, A.J. McCarty, Drew Huff has come in and meshed right in, Landon Harris is a quiet guy who is new but leads by example in his work ethic, our linemen Theo Bryant and Brandon Farrow, I could down the list.

“Our senior leadership is strong and we’ve got to have it. They’re modeling what it takes to be successful as a senior for the younger guys to learn. In the past it wasn’t done that way and the younger kids weren’t learning the way to lead but I think those guys decided they wanted to be different and they wanted to step up and lead.”

When it comes to areas for improvement, Burnett singled out the mental aspect.

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

“An area I think we need to grow is our mental toughness,” Burnett said.

“I think that’s a lot of the game. Even though it’s 104 degrees outside we still have to practice, we still have to work.

What are you going to do with the time that you have while you have it, because it will pass. And when it passes are you going to be in a position to be successful because you’ve done the work needed during that time? We’re preaching that and I think we’re all right in that area, but I want to be better than everyone else. I want to be extremely mentally tough and be able to grind and have grit.”

Looking at the projected lineup in the preseason, newcomer Drew Huff – a transfer from Mineral Wells — will be the starting quarterback, though A.J. McCarty will spell him in certain packages. Reece Rodgers (278 yards, 2 TDs) and Royshad Henderson will handle the bulk of the carries in the backfield, while top receiving threats include McCarty (57-779, 6 TDs), Zach Strong (21380, 5 TDs), Khyren Deal, Dane Johnson, and Isyah Campos, among others.

Up front, the line will be anchored by Theo Bryant at left tackle, Bradley Robinson at left guard, Ethan Pesina at center, Brandon Farrow at right guard and Jimi Brown at right tackle.

Defensively for the Lions, the front

FILE PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

A.J. McCarty (12), who committed to Baylor over the summer, recorded 57 catches for 779 yards and six touchdowns last season.

line will likely feature Kris Hobbs (28 tackles, 2 for loss), Ezequiel Ibarra (7 tackles), and Bryant (13 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), among others. Rowdee Gregory (50 tackles, 5 for loss, 4.5 sacks) and Cooper Swanzy lead the way at inside linebacker while Damion Jones (59 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 INT) and Landon Harris are penciled in at outside linebackers. The secondary will include Henderson and McCarty (12 tackles) – a Baylor commit – at the corners, and Strong (24 tackles, 4 INTs) and Deal (45 tackles, 1 INT) playing the safety positions.

The Lions have a full 10-game slate this season with the addition of an Oct. 4 neutral site contest in Taylor against

new Class 6A school Canyon Grand Oaks. Brownwood opens the season at Brock on Aug. 30, then three straight home against Snyder (Sept. 6 homecoming), Graham (Sept. 13) and Wichita Falls Rider (Sept. 20) occur before a road trip to Abilene Wylie Sept. 27, and the date with Grand Oaks.

“We have a tough schedule already,” Burnett said. “Some of the teams that beat us last year are going to be a little down this year, which doesn’t mean they’re not going to be good, they’re just going to be down a little bit. Some of the teams that we beat are going to be even stronger, like Graham and

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Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 35

BROWNWOOD CONTINUED FROM 34

Rider. They were sophomore-heavy last year and both were extremely successful. One went two or three rounds deep last year and the other went to the semifinals. They’re going to be worthy opponents.

“Picking up Grand Oaks, which is a 6A school, they’re extremely athletic but for me I feel it’s better to get out there and compete and play and measure yourself against the best. Iron sharpens iron. And it gives us a chance to play instead of sitting idle. Coming off any bye week it takes a little time to get back to game speed regardless of how hard you practice. For us, going into a bye week, playing a game, then having another bye week and then trying to step up was extremely difficult.

Having that game for us will continue to sharpen us because we’re about to face Stephenville, La Vega and China Spring who are going to be extremely successful. Having one more opportunity to play a caliber of football team like that will help us hopefully get to where we need to be to compete in those games.”

As for what Burnett hopes to see the Lions take away from the pre-district slate, he said, “Success early builds confidence and I’d like to see success for them. I want to see unity, how they handle success and how they face adversity, which is very big for me. You can tell a lot about a kid and his character and his servitude by how he faces adversity, whether it’s in a game by the score, or whether it’s being removed from a position for someone else to go in and be a part of the team. Are they being selfish or are they being understanding that it’s for the betterment of the team? Also, what kind of class do you have when you’re successful? Are you humble and appreciative of that and understanding it came through hard work, or are you going to be brass and start belittling someone else, which I don’t want to see us doing. For me everything is character. You can take an athletic group that doesn’t have much character and they may win some, but they’re not going to win a lot and they’re not going to be consistent with it. “ The Lions are coming off a 4-6 campaign, a 1-3 district mark and fourthplace finish in 5-3A Division I, and a 10th consecutive trip to the postseason.

However, the last district championship for the Lions was captured in 2010, a drought all involved with the program would like to see come to an end.

The district challenge before Brown-

FILE PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Reece Rodgers (20) is the top returning rusher for the Lions with 278 yards and a pair of touchdowns last season.

wood is as tough as any over the last nine years with a league slate that includes a home game with Gatesville Oct. 11, the district bye Oct. 18, a trip to No. 20 Stephenville Oct. 25, a visit from defending state champion La Vega Nov. 1 and the regular season finale at No. 25 China Spring Nov. 8 “I think we’ll be a little stronger just because of knowledge of who we are and what we’re about and what we’re trying to accomplish,” Burnett said. “I think Gatesville will be down a little bit because they had a pretty good senior class. I think Stephenville will be a little down, they had an extraordinary senior class last year, but Stephenville is still Stephenville, it’s the Battle of 377, and they’re always going to rise up and play. It’s going to be an outstanding ball

game and we have to go to their house.

“La Vega is going to be solid as usual, they just reload every year. They have an extraordinary group of kids. I recall a set of twins that were sophomores last year that didn’t play much on the varsity and they’re both about 6-7 and 300-plus pounds. They still have the running back and quarterback that were sophomores, and they were extremely strong in their subvarsity so they’re going to be ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the state this year.

“A big dark horse in the state is China Spring. They’re bringing a lot of kids back, they’re big up front, still have their quarterback who is going to be a sophomore so I think they’re going to be a very talented team. They’re well-coached and know how to win.

They also got one of our best in Major Bowden, whose now in China Spring with his father who took a job there.

Coach (Brad) Bowden’s a great coach and will do a good job for them and having Major is going to be a blessing for them.”

As for what it will take for the Lions to realize their full potential this season, Burnett said, “We have to be injury free. We aren’t deep enough to have multiple injuries. We need to try to stay as healthy as possible. In doing that we’re trying to make sure everybody is at a level where they can get out there and help and perform at some point in the game to give those guys playing two ways a break. We’ll have a lot of kids going two ways this year so for us to be successful we have to remain healthy.”

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Sunday, August 25, 2019

ZEPHYR

MAY

group.”

Regarding concerns during the preseason, Phillips pointed to experience on the depth chart.

“If you look out on the field we don’t have the traditional Zephyr numbers, there’s usually 25 plus. We have 16 right now and five or six of those are underclassmen so we have to stay healthy. Because we don’t have that depth we have to develop at our positions throughout the season to create some depth with our younger guys.

“It also wouldn’t hurt if we developed some passers. They graduated a huge senior class last year including the quarterback and the spread back, so we’re having to develop some passers right now. The running game should be loaded but we have to develop that passing game.”

Zephyr opens the season Thursday, Aug. 29 against Bryson in Gorman, followed by non-district tilts with Granbury NCTA, at Water Valley, home against May and Gorman, a trip to Gordon, then the pre-district finale against Stephenville Faith at Three Way on Oct. 11.

“We want to continue our growth every week,” Phillips said. “We want to get better, especially being a new program with kids learning new things, new defense, new offense, get better every week. We have a tough schedule so if we

14-A Division I race, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, which picked Gorman’s Junior Madera as its six-man cover athlete.

“Gorman is ranked pretty high, ahead of us which is fine because they went further in the playoffs than we did,” Steele said. “They return the fastest kid in the district, so they’ll be a challenge and they are every year.

Coach (Jeb) Dixon does a great job over there. Lingleville has more numbers and I know there’s athletes in that school so if they all come out they can cause some trouble. Santa Anna has a new coach, Coach (Jack) Graves has experience and knows what he’s doing. I think the district may be more competitive this year than it was last year from top to bottom.”

Prior to district, May journeys to Richland Springs in the opener, hosts Cherokee and Lometa back-to-back, makes the short drives to Blanket and Zephyr in consecutive weeks, then welcomes Newcastle and Strawn in the final two pre-district outings.

“I don’t know that there’s anything specifically we have to see, we just have to make improvements,” Steele said regarding the non-district slate of games. “As a coaching staff we have to make sure we have these kids in the right rotation and position.

There’s a couple spots we’re not com-

CONTINUED FROM 12

CONTINUED FROM 10

FILE PHOTO BY DERRICK STUCKLY

Mason Rogers (27) will lead the way offensively for the Zephyr Bulldogs.

don’t get better every week we’re going to be behind on the scoreboard a lot.

Have fun, learn those life lessons that we all hope they learn.”

District 15-A Division I action commence Oct. 25 at defending champion Evant followed by home games with Jonesboro and Lometa.

“You’ve got Jonesboro, who is always super tough, Lometa, that even if they don’t win the game you know you’ve played them, and Evant won the district last year and they’re an up and coming team and return their stud running back,” Phillips said. “We’re going to have to get better, we’re going to have to show up for every game, but from what I’ve seen we have the potential to win district and hopefully win a couple of gold balls in the playoffs.”

SAN SABA

CONTINUED FROM 21

600 yards and 10 scores.

Despite those impressive numbers, many observers felt the key to San Saba’s dominance last year was its line play. Bladen Calley and Bryan Reza were first-team all-district blockers last year as sophomores, and Jett Hibler was a second-team all-district lineman as a junior. Additionally, junior tackle Landin Short, is back from a season-ending injury in 2018.

San Saba averaged 46 points and 469 total yards per

GOLDTHWAITE CONTINUED FROM 20

— will open at halfback. Angel Morales, who ultimately led Goldthwaite in rushing last year but with only 216 yards, is projected to start at fullback. Sophomore Dusty Partin figures to open at Z-back, which lines up like a flanker or wingback and often goes in motion.

Sophomore Mitchell Hopper is set

game last season.

Aguirre’s defense allowed just 14 points per game last season, including 7.7 points during the regular season.

That unit lost a pair of tackling machines at linebacker in Erik Argote and Sakima Herrera, who combined for 285 stops last season. But San Saba returns another linebacker in junior Risien Shahan who made 90 tackles last year, including 21 for losses. Steady end Abel Martinez had 57 tackles, including 11 for losses, last season.

Glover logged 78 tackles and seven interceptions at safety in 2018.

Other projected defensive starters include Hibler, who made 20 tackles for losses last year, at end; senior

to start at tight end. Jaxon Wootton, a 6-foot-4 senior who last year led the Eagles with 42 receptions, is the wide receiver. Blocking will be a big responsibility for Slot-T running backs and receivers.

Seven offensive linemen who figure to see considerable action are senior Dalton Goodman; juniors Aries Vanderlaan, Slade Sutherland and Scott McCoy; along with sophomores Kody Roberts, Aaron Anzua and Saul Vaquera.

pletely sure right now, we may need to switch a kid or two. I really think these kids already have an identity of who they are on offense and defense.

That’s something we’re not going to have to search for, just something we have to fine tune and try to have that ready when district rolls around so we’re peaking at the right time hopefully to give us a shot at making the playoffs.”

The Tigers face Gorman at home on Nov. 1, which is sandwiched around District 14-A Division I games against Santa Anna in May on Oct. 25 and at Lingleville Nov. 8. Regarding the keys to securing another district championship, and lengthy playoff run, Steele said, “They have to realize how good they can be. Last year when things got tough they looked to the seniors to bail them out, and they’re not here to bail them out this time, they have to look to themselves to do it.

“We’re going to get tested early in non-district, late in non-district and in district. At some point they’ll have to figure that out and hopefully instead of having one or two kids we can rely on we’ll have six. We’re not the fastest team in the world but we are quick, we are going to be strong, not going to be the biggest but big enough, so I think it’s wide open in our region, so I think we have an opportunity to do some special things if things fall right, like staying injury free.”

Daniel Herrera at tackle; junior Landon Yarbrough at linebacker; and senior Jake Faught at cornerback.

Two impressive move-ins — senior safety Cole Bryant and junior linebacker Stone Sears — are also projected to start. The arrival of Bryant and Sears bolstered the Armadillos’ depth and reduced their number of two-way starters to five.

“Obviously, it would be nice to win state, but we mainly want to compete and be successful on and off the field and win some games along the way,” Aguirre said. “We’ll have to have some breaks go our way. With the high expectations and the target on our backs, we have to play better than we have before in any game.”

Goldthwaite will seek to improve an offense that last year averaged only 1.3 yards per rush, 199 total yards per game, and converted just 20 percent of its third downs.

Defensively, Roberts and Hopper are set as inside linebackers. Moore, Partin and senior Jordan Simon will rotate as defensive ends. The Eagles have multiple candidates in the interior line — nose guard and tackle — including Goodman, Vanderlaan, Vaquera, McCoy, sopho-

more Cason Guthrie, and seniors Jaden Biehl and Noe Sanchez.

The secondary will consist of safeties Wootton and Patrick, along with cornerbacks Morales, senior Weldon Krause and sophomore Seth Gardner.

“When we’ve rotated guys in, there hasn’t been a big distinction or drop-off,” said Erik Edwards, Goldthwaite’s defensive coordinator. “We’ve got several guys that can play defense. We got to find the ones that work best together.”

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 37

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PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: TEXAS A&M AGGIES

Savage schedule looms for Texas A&M in Year 2 under Fisher

By Kristie Rieken Associated Press

COLLEGE STATION (AP) — As Jimbo Fisher prepares for his second season at Texas A&M he believes his the Aggies are closer to being an elite team than they were a year ago.

The former Florida State coach knows they still have a ways to go if they expect to contend for a title in the rugged Southeastern Conference.

“We’re much, much closer from the psychological disposition of understanding ... what it takes to play at the highest level,” he said. “Once you understand that everything else falls in place. It’s about what do you know you’ve got to do and how you’ve got to do it to the highest level and I think we’re getting to that level and that’s the biggest difference in our football team.”

Texas A&M signed Fisher to a 10-year, $75 million contract before last season and the Aggies went 9-4 and 5-3 in SEC play in his first year in College Station.

The expectations are high for Fisher to take another step forward this season after he won a national title and three Atlantic Coast Conference championships in eight seasons with the Seminoles.

That certainly won’t be an easy task with a schedule that features a trip to defending national champion Clemson on Sept. 7, a visit by Alabama on Oct. 12 and trips to Georgia and LSU on consecutive Saturdays in November.

While Fisher knows his team will be considered the underdog in most of those contests, he finds it condescending to refer to his team as a spoiler.

“We don’t want to spoil anything,” he said. “We want to take care of our own, and they are great teams. But we expect to play with them and compete with them and win those games. That’s why we’re here. We are not looking to spoil anything. We’re looking to win something and go about our business and do the things we have to do.”

“They are great programs, but Texas A&M can be the same way,” Fisher continued. “We have to go play and prove ourselves and do the things we have to do, but I definitely think we’re on that track.”

The Aggies open the season at home Aug. 29 against Texas State.

MOND’S MATURITY Fisher and the Aggies are eager to see what quarterback Kellen Mond can do in his third season after starting each game

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE FILE PHOTO

Head coach Jimbo Fisher and the Texas A&M Aggies enter the regular season ranked No. 12 by the Associated Press.

last year. Fisher said Mond, who appeared in 11 games with eight starts as a freshman, has matured exponentially in the year they’ve worked together. Mond now has such a firm grip of Fisher’s offense that he isn’t just learning from his coach, but joining in on the discussion and sharing his opinions on how he and his teammates can improve.

“He understands how we’re attacking things now,” Fisher said. “That’s allowing him to transition into putting his personality and demeanor on the other players. It’s hard to do that when you’re still battling for a job yourself and proving yourself. From that standpoint he’s grown tremendously.”

That doesn’t mean that Fisher is going easy on his 20-year-old quarterback.

“He’s always going to continue to push me,” Mond said. “That constant pressure

... I might as well get use to and it’s going to help me continue to grow.”

Mond threw for 3,107 yards with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season after finishing with 1,375 yards with eight touchdowns and six interceptions as a freshman.

REPLACING TRAYVEON The Aggies have an opening to start at running back after Trayveon Williams left for the NFL after running for 1,524 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

Though he isn’t where Fisher wants him to be yet, sophomore Jashaun Corbin will begin the season as the starter. He had 346 yards rushing with a touchdown last season.

“He still has to prove that and there’s things he needs to do to get to that level,”

Fisher said. “Jashaun’s out in front but there’s a considerable group of guys behind him that can do a lot of things.”

CELEBRATING 125

Texas A&M will celebrate the 125th year of football this season. To commemorate the anniversary the Aggies will have special logos on their helmets and the same logos will be placed at the 25-yard lines at Kyle Field and at the entrance of the team’s locker room. The celebration also includes a 32-moment bracket of the greatest moments in Aggie football history. Fans can vote on their favorite moment at 12thMan.com and the results will be released near the start of the season.

Players involved in the greatest moments will be invited to home games throughout the season to mark the occasion.

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 39

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: TEXAS LONGHORNS

Texas pressured to back up promise the Longhorns are ‘back’

By Jim Vertuno Associated Press

AUSTIN (AP) — Texas had just demolished Georgia in the Sugar Bowl when quarterback Sam Ehlinger shouted to the Superdome rooftop the two words Longhorns fans until then had only been willing to whisper.

“We’re ba-aack!” Ehlinger said as coach Tom Herman stood nearby with a half grin, half grimace look on his face.

Texas was back, all right. Back to 10 wins, back to Big 12 title contender, back into the top 10. But can Texas stay there or will 2019 bring more frustration to a storied program that has spent many recent seasons squarely in the camp of mediocrity?

Only Ehlinger and a defense that loses eight starters can answer that.

As a dual threat quarterback, Ehlinger he had a breakout season in 2018 with 25 touchdowns passing and 16 more running, and is the team leader Texas has been looking for since Vince Young and Colt McCoy. He also got help with experienced targets at wide receiver, an improving offensive line and talent in the backfield.

“We’re extremely confident in where we’re at as a program right now,” Ehlinger said. “We’re going to do everything in our power to be the best that we can be. And the best we can be will be a lot of fun.”

But about that defense ...

The Longhorns dominated Georgia’s high-powered offense and produced several big moments in 2018, but also struggled against some of the Big 12’s best passing teams. And they won’t have much time to get the new guys ready with Southeastern Conference championship contender LSU coming to Austin on Sept. 7.

Texas opens the season Aug. 31 at home against Louisiana Tech.

KEEPING EHLINGER UPRIGHT The junior is a tough, gritty player, but not the most durable, missing most of two games last season because of shoulder and neck injuries. Texas won both because it had experienced backup Shane Buechele to step in. Buechele has since transferred to SMU and another top backup, Cameron Rising, transferred to Utah. That leaves untested redshirt freshman Casey Thompson as the guy behind Ehlinger when needed. Given Ehlinger’s history, expect him to be

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE FILE PHOTO

Quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) and the Texas Longhorns enter the season ranked No. 10 by the Associated Press.

called on.

SECONDARY TARGET Big wide receiver Collin Johnson is Ehlinger’s favorite target, but it will be 5-foot-11 Devin Duvernay who could produce the biggest plays. The Longhorns were the only Power Five team without a 50-yard play from scrimmage last season. Herman wants Duvernay to get more chances to change that. Duvernay caught 41 passes last season without a drop and scored four touchdowns.

COVERING CORNERS Texas is confident it has the depth

to make up for lost experience on the defensive line. A bigger concern is the secondary after losing both starting cornerbacks. Jalen Green and Anthony Cook get the first crack at stepping in and will be pressed to deliver in what could be a weak spot for 2019.

RUNNING FOR 1,000 Texas has had a 1,000-yard rusher just once since 2007 and that came in a losing season in 2016. Keontay Ingram was Texas’ top rusher in 2018 with 731 yards and averaged 5 yards per carry.

The sophomore came to training camp at 225 pounds, 25 pounds heavier than his freshman season, and Herman said

he is still running faster than a year ago.

A productive running game would help protect Ehlinger from wear and tear.

HAIL HERMAN The program is all in on Herman, even the fans. That wasn’t the case after season-opening losses in 2017 and 2018. But after 10 wins and the Sugar Bowl victory, Herman got a two-year contract extension through 2023 and season ticket sales are soaring near the school record of 62,500 set in 2010 (which ended in a 5-7 disaster).

The hype will only increase if Herman unseats Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners as Big 12 champions.

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Sunday, August 25, 2019

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

All is Wells for Texas Tech, familiar offense to go with D

By Stephen Hawkins Associated Press

For all the changes that have been made on and off the field at Texas Tech since Matt Wells took over as head coach, what will look the most familiar to everyone is the offense.

“There’s some philosophies and there’s some schemes that are absolutely carry-over from the previous staff, from Kliff (Kingsbury), and even going back to coach (Mike) Leach,” said Wells, who had his own high-scoring offenses at Utah State.

Wells will also put plenty of emphasis on defense, an area where the Red Raiders have long struggled.

“You’ve got to feel good about that,” senior defensive lineman Broderick Washington said. “Having coach Wells come in and defense automatically already seems important to him, it’s a confidence booster. It makes you want to be great for him.”

Utah State was second nationally scoring 47 points a game last season, behind Oklahoma and just ahead of Alabama. The Aggies’ 497 total yards per game ranked 11th, just ahead of the 485 averaged by the Red Raiders.

On defense, the Aggies of the Mountain West gave up only 222 yards per game — half of what Tech gave up last season, largely against its Big 12 foes.

“The biggest thing to consistently winning in the Big 12 for my tenure here at Texas Tech is we have to play championship-caliber defense,” Wells said. “There is not a time that is ever more challenging than to play that in the Big 12 than right now.”

After six seasons at his alma mater, Wells left for the Big 12 to replace Kingsbury, the record-setting Red Raiders quarterback-turned-coach who was fired by his alma mater after a third consecutive losing season before becoming an NFL head coach.

“Hard worker, straight-up forward, means everything he says,” Washington said of Wells. “If he says he’s going to do something, he’s going to do it, and he means it. ... He’s very consistent in everything he does. We’re not getting mixed messages, like within the staff.”

The Red Raiders will play their first game under Wells at home Aug. 31 against Montana State. Their Big 12 opener is Sept. 28 at Oklahoma, which has won the league title the last four seasons.

CLOSE LOSSES Four of Texas Tech’s six Big 12 losses last seasons were by fewer than 10 points. That included back-to-back home games against Oklahoma and Texas by a combined 12 points.

QB JUNKIE Wells described sophomore quarterback Alan Bowman as a football junkie. Bowman was the first player Wells met after touching down in Lubbock, and the quarterback immediately wanted to watch video of Utah State and what the Aggies did on offense. As a true freshman last season, Bowman completed 69% of his passes (227 of 327) for 2,638 yards with 17 touchdowns

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE FILE PHOTO

Texas Tech wide receiver KeSean Carter (82) caught 26 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown last season.

and seven interceptions, including a 605-yard game with five TDs against Houston. He missed four games because of a collapsed lung.

“Completely cleared, healthy,” Wells said. “I respect his grind, he’s got a great attitude. ... I think Alan’s better days are ahead of him. He’s talented.”

GRAD HELP Four graduate transfers could impact Wells’ first season: Utah running back Armand Shyne, LouisianaMonroe receiver RJ Turner, Penn State defensive back Zech McPhearson and Cal linebacker Evan Rambo.

“My expectations first and foremost from them is that they come in and help solidify our culture,” Wells said.

“They’re all young men that I respect the programs that

they came from, and the job that they had done.”

Receiver McLane Mannix, a Texas native and transfer from Nevada, obtained an NCAA waiver to play immediately as a junior.

NOT ALWAYS IN TIGHT While Wells utilizes a tight end on offense, that player won’t always line up right next to a tackle.

“You’re going to see our guys flex out, where it looks like a wide receiver and wide receiver formations.

You’re going to see him in line, in the backfield,” Wells said. “They’re multi-facetted guys. They’ve got to be extremely smart, be able to run, be graceful, catch balls.

Hopefully their speed mismatches for linebacker and size mismatches for safeties.”

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 41

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: TCU HORNED FROGS

Fixed Frogs: Reagor, TCU healthy after impressive recovery

By Stephen Hawkins Associated Press

FORT WORTH (AP) — When TCU won its final two games to get bowl eligible last year, Jalen Reagor extended his record touchdown receiving streak while also running for a score in each game.

Reagor, who also took some snaps while lining up in different spots, wasn’t even at full strength because of a nagging ankle injury.

“He was hurt. The last four games, he played about 70 or 80 percent,” coach Gary Patterson said. “I don’t think people even know how fast Jalen Reagor is.”

Unlike many others, Reagor was able to stay on the field and contribute in a huge way. Patterson said about two dozen Frogs suffered season-ending injuries and many others missed multiple games.

Through all of that, and after a 3-5 start, the Frogs won three of four to get to the Cheez-It Bowl, then had another winning season after an overtime victory over California.

“That was big for us ... know that we almost hit rock bottom, and we still rose to the occasion,” linebacker Garret Wallow said.

While Reagor was then among several starters who missed at least part of spring practice, he is back healthy. So are key defenders like veteran safety Innis Gaines, who played only a half season before a knee injury, and tackle Ross Blacklock, who tore an Achilles tendon in a non-contact drill last preseason.

“Probably the worst pain I’ve felt in my life, traumatizing actually,” Blacklock said.

Reagor had TD catches in seven consecutive games during a 1,000-yard receiving season. He accounted for 30% of TCU’s receptions (72 of 239), the best in the Big 12 and highest under Patterson, who is going into his 19th season. The Frogs could use more of the same from the son of a former NFL defensive tackle.

“I don’t look at it as pressure,” Reagor said. “I feel like I’m supposed to be here.”

TCU opens the season at home Aug. 31 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, then has an open date before going to Purdue.

LOT OF QB OPTIONS Alex Delton is the most experienced TCU quarterback, through the graduate transfer’s six starts came the past two seasons at Kansas State. Mike Collins, the former Penn transfer, started four games last year as a sophomore before a right ankle injury late in the season. There are also two highly touted freshmen: dual-threat QB Justin Rogers got one series in the bowl game, and Max Duggan was an early enrollee who took part in spring practice. The NCAA denied Texas native and Ohio State transfer Matthew Baldwin from being eligible to play immediately this season.

FACING DISCIPLINE Running back Sewo Olonilua, who set a school bowl record with 194 yards rushing in the Cheez-It Bowl,

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE FILE PHOTO

TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Jalen Reagor (18) scores a second quarter touchdown in front of Oklahoma Sooners cornerback Parnell Motley (11) in the 2017 Big 12 Championship Game.

was arrested in May on possible drug charges. Preseason practice started with the case still pending in Walker County. Patterson said Olonilua would practice and that there would be discipline from the TCU “no matter how his deal turns out.

“The kid graduated in four years, he’s been good here. Screwed up,” the coach said. “Always a price one way or another that has to be paid.”

END INTO FULL SEASON TCU limited defensive end Ochaun Mathis to four games last season so the freshman could keep that year of eligibility. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Mathis now gets a chance to have a big impact. LJ Collier and

Ben Banogu, last year’s starting ends, went in the first two rounds of the NFL draft.

NOT WHAT YOU THINK The team motto “Earn the Chip” has nothing to do with the Frogs having a chip on their shoulder.

“Earn the right to wear purple and the black,” Patterson clarified, saying that about 700 players have been through the program since he arrived as defensive coordinator 22 years ago. Former Frogs like Pro Football Hall of Fame running back LaDainian Tomlinson are in their 40s. Clips of former players and standout moments have been featured this preseason to show “what it means to play and be at TCU.”

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Sunday, August 25, 2019

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEWS: BAYLOR BEARS

Brewer clear No. 1 QB after Baylor goes from 1 to 7 wins

By Stephen Hawkins Associated Press

WACO (AP) — Charlie Brewer went into last season as the returning starting quarterback for Baylor, then early on shared snaps with a graduate transfer.

A returning starter again, Brewer is now the clear No. 1 quarterback.

“I put Charlie in hard positions last year, making him rotate early ... and that wasn’t easy on him,” coach Matt Rhule said. “But I thought it really helped him develop where he wasn’t worried anymore about anything else other than, ‘When I get in, here is how I’m going to play.’”

Rhule said he felt Brewer, who threw for 3,019 yards and 19 touchdowns, progressed into “an excellent quarterback” by the end of last season, when the Bears were able to run the ball and protect him.

Baylor goes into Brewer’s junior season coming off a 7-6 record with a bowl victory, just a year after the Bears won only one game.

“You can go from one win to seven wins by just kind of eliminating the bad stuff, the bad decisions on the football field, the egregious errors, all those things,” Rhule said.

To take another significant step, Rhule said his team has to be more consistent and be better up front. The Bears, who allowed 39 quarterback sacks, twice last season won at home following blowout road losses.

“Putting our head down and just grinding, and not get satisfied with anything that we do,” receiver Denzel Mims said. “That’s going to help us a lot.”

Baylor opens the season at home Aug. 31 against Stephen F. Austin.

SOME TARGETS Jalen Hurd is gone after the converted running back’s impressive season as a receiver, ranking fourth in the Big 12 with 5.8 catches per game. Brewer still has proven targets in Mims and Chris Platt, who this year was granted a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA for an injury-shortened junior season in 2017 when he had five TDs in four games.

Mims had a 1,087 yards receiving in 2017, then last season had eight TDs for the second year in a row.

“I feel like this (WR) group is going to be a real good group,” Mims said.

“We’ve got a lot of a young talent, and we’ve gotten a lot of people that haven’t

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE FILE PHOTO

Denzel Mims (15) is back to anchor the Baylor receiving corps as the Bears look to improve upon last year’s 7-win campaign.

got the chance to show that they can do something.”

FORMER OWL Ed Foley spent the past 11 seasons as a Temple assistant coach and twice was the Owls’ interim coach, including for a bowl game at the end of the 2016 season after Rhule was hired by Baylor. Foley, who was an assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator for Rhule there, is now at Baylor as an analyst.

“I’ve offered Ed a job to come to Baylor every year since I’ve left,” Rhule said. “Just another person that I know will tell when I’m going down the wrong path. ... I trust Ed, and I think he’ll bring

a lot to us from a football perspective.”

BOOGIE BARNES After a full scrimmage last spring, sophomore cornerback Kalon Barnes shed his pads, then went to the school’s track facility and won a 100-meter race with a time of 10.29 seconds.

“He’s a special, special person,” Rhule said. “Kalon at corner has really developed where he has a chance to maybe be a big-time player.”

FAVORITES AT HOME Four-time defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma and Texas are considered

by most as the league’s top two teams again. Iowa State is also getting notice.

Baylor plays all three of those Big 12 favorites at home. The Cyclones are in Waco for the Big 12 opener Sept. 28. The Sooners and Longhorns visit on consecutive Saturdays in November.

SHARING HIS ANNIVERSARY

Rhule took 15 Baylor seniors to Philadelphia for an NFL summit this summer, and his wife was on a trip that fell on a pretty significant date.

“Me and my wife’s 20th anniversary, and she was having dinner with 15 football players,” Rhule said. “That’s how special she is.”

2019 BIG 12 SCHEDULE

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Friday, Aug. 30 Oklahoma State at Oregon State, 9:30 p.m. (FS1) Saturday, Aug. 31 Northern Iowa at Iowa State TBA James Madison at West Virginia TBA Indiana State at Kansas 11 a.m. (FSN) Montana State at Texas Tech 3 p.m. (FSN) Stephen F. Austin at Baylor 6 p.m. (ESPN+) Nicholls at Kansas State 6 p.m. (ESPN+) Louisiana Tech at Texas 7 p.m. (LHN) Arkansas-Pine Bluff at TCU 7 p.m (FSN) Sunday, Sept. 1 Houston at Oklahoma 6:30 p.m. (ABC)

Saturday, Sept. 7 West Virginia at Missouri 11 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) Bowling Green at Kansas State 11 a.m. (FSN) UTSA at Baylor 3 p.m. (FSN) Coastal Carolina at Kansas 6 p.m. (ESPN+) South Dakota at Oklahoma 6 p.m.

McNeese at Oklahoma State 6 p.m. (ESPN+) LSU at Texas 6:30 p.m. (ABC) UTEP at Texas Tech 7 p.m. (FSN) Friday, Sept. 13 Kansas at Boston College 6:30 p.m. (ACC) Saturday, Sept. 14 Kansas St. at Mississippi St. 11 a.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 43

N.C. State at West Virginia 11 a.m. (FS1) Oklahoma St. at Tulsa 2:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2) Iowa at Iowa State 3 p.m. (FS1) TCU at Purdue 6:30 p.m. (BTN) Oklahoma at UCLA 7 p.m. (FOX) Texas at Rice 7 p.m. (CBSSN) Texas Tech at Arizona 9:30 p.m. (ESPN) Saturday, Sept. 21 Oklahoma State at Texas* TBA West Virginia at Kansas* TBA SMU at TCU TBA Louisiana-Monroe at Iowa State TBA Baylor at Rice 6 p.m. (CBSSN) Saturday, Sept. 28 Texas Tech at Oklahoma*, TBA Kansas State at Oklahoma State*, TBA Kansas at TCU*, TBA Iowa State at Baylor*, TBA Saturday, Oct. 5 TCU at Iowa State* Texas at West Virginia* Oklahoma State at Texas Tech* Baylor at Kansas State*

TBA TBA TBA TBA

Saturday, Oct. 12

Texas Tech at Baylor TBA Iowa State at West Virginia* TBA Oklahoma at Texas* 11 a.m. (FOX) — at Cotton Bowl, Dallas Saturday, Oct. 19 Kansas at Texas* Iowa State at Texas Tech* Baylor at Oklahoma State* West Virginia at Oklahoma* TCU at Kansas State*

TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

Saturday, Oct. 26 Texas Tech at Kansas* Texas at TCU* Oklahoma State at Iowa State* Oklahoma at Kansas State*

TBA TBA TBA TBA

Thursday, Oct. 31 West Virginia at Baylor* 7 p.m. (ESPN) Saturday, Nov. 2 TCU at Oklahoma State* TBA Kansas State at Kansas* TBA Saturday, Nov. 9 Iowa State at Oklahoma* Kansas State at Texas* Texas Tech at West Virginia*

TBA TBA TBA

Saturday, Nov. 16 Texas at Iowa State* Oklahoma at Baylor* West Virginia at Kansas State* Kansas at Oklahoma State*

TBA TBA TBA TBA

Saturday, Nov. 23 TCU at Oklahoma* Texas at Baylor* Oklahoma State at West Virginia* Kansas State at Texas Tech* Kansas at Iowa State*

TBA TBA TBA TBA TBA

Friday, Nov. 29 Texas Tech at Texas* 11 a.m. (FOX/FS1) West Virginia at TCU* 2:30 p.m. (ABC/ESPN) Saturday, Nov. 30 Baylor at Kansas* TBA Iowa State at Kansas State* TBA Oklahoma at Oklahoma State* TBA Saturday, Dec. 7 Big 12 Championship Game TBA — at AT&T Stadium, Arlington

* Big 12 Conference Game

TEXAS NCAA FBS SCHEDULES TEXAS A&M AGGIES (SEC)

A29 Texas State S7 at Clemson S14 Lamar S22 Auburn* S28 Arkansas*# O12 Alabama* O19 at Ole Miss* O26 Mississippi State* N2 UTSA N16 South Carolina* N23 at Georgia* N30 at LSU* # at AT&T Stadium, Arlington * Conference Game

NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN (CONFERENCE USA)

HOUSTON COUGARS

(AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE)

SMU MUSTANGS

(AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE)

TEXAS STATE BOBCATS (SUN BELT)

S1 at Oklahoma S7 Prairie View A&M S13 Washington State (at NRG) S19 at Tulane* S28 at North Texas O12 Cincinnati* O19 at UCONN* O24 SMU* N2 at UCF* N16 Memphis* N23 at Tulsa* N30 Navy*

A31 at Arkansas State S7 North Texas S14 Texas State S21 at TCU S28 at South Florida* O5 Tulsa* O19 Temple* O24 at Houston* N2 at Memphis* N9 East Carolina* N23 at Navy* N30 Tulane*

A29 at Texas A&M S7 Wyoming S14 at SMU S21 Georgia State* S28 Nicholls O10 Louisiana-Monroe* O26 at Arkansas State* N2 at Louisiana-Lafayette* N9 South Alabama* N16 Troy* N23 at Appalachian State* N30 at Coastal Carolina*

* Conference Game

* Conference Game

* Conference Game

RICE OWLS

(CONFERENCE USA)

UTEP MINERS

(CONFERENCE USA)

UTSA ROADRUNNERS (CONFERENCE USA)

A31 Abilene Christian S7 at SMU S14 at California S21 UTSA* S28 Houston O12 at Southern Miss* O19 Middle Tennessee* O26 at Charlotte* N2 UTEP* N9 at Louisiana Tech* N23 at Rice* N30 UAB*

A30 at Army S6 Wake Forest S14 Texas (at NRG) S21 Baylor S28 Louisiana Tech* O5 at UAB* O19 at UTSA* O26 Southern Miss* N2 Marshall* N16 at Middle Tennessee* N23 North Texas* N30 at UTEP*

A31 Houston Baptist S7 at Texas Tech S21 Nevada S28 at Southern Miss* O5 UTSA* O19 at Florida International* O26 Louisiana Tech* N2 at North Texas* N9 Charlotte* N16 at UAB* N23 at New Mexico State N30 Rice*

A31 Incarnate Word S7 at Baylor S14 Army S21 at North Texas* O5 at UTEP* O12 UAB* O19 Rice* N2 at Texas A&M N9 at Old Dominion* N16 Southern Miss* N23 Florida Atlantic* N30 at Louisiana Tech*

* Conference Game

* Conference Game

* Conference Game

* Conference Game

44

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

2019 NFL SCHEDULE

WEEK 1 Thursday, Sept. 5 Green Bay at Chicago 7:20 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 8 LA Rams at Carolina Noon Washington at Philadelphia Noon Buffalo at NY Jets Noon Atlanta at Minnesota Noon Baltimore at Miami Noon Kansas City at Jacksonville Noon Tennessee at Cleveland Noon Indianapolis at LA Chargers 3:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Seattle 3:05 p.m.

San Francisco at Tampa Bay 3:25 p.m.

NY Giants at Dallas 3:25 p.m.

Detroit at Arizona 3:25 p.m.

Pittsburgh at New England 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 9 Houston at New Orleans 6:10 p.m.

Denver at Oakland 9:20 p.m.

WEEK 2 Thursday, Sept. 12 Tampa Bay at Cincinnati Sunday, Sept. 15 Arizona at Baltimore Dallas at Washington Indianapolis at Tennessee Seattle at Pittsburgh Buffalo at NY Giants San Francisco at Cincinnati LA Chargers at Detroit Minnesota at Green Bay Jacksonville at Houston New England at Miami Kansas City at Oakland New Orleans at LA Rams Chicago at Denver Philadelphia at Atlanta Monday, Sept. 16 Cleveland at NY Jets WEEK 3 Thursday, Sept. 19 Tennessee at Jacksonville Sunday, Sept. 22 Cincinnati at Buffalo Detroit at Philadelphia NY Jets at New England Oakland at Minnesota Baltimore at Kansas City Atlanta at Indianapolis Denver at Green Bay Miami at Dallas NY Giants at Tampa Bay Carolina at Arizona Pittsburgh at San Francisco New Orleans at Seattle Houston at LA Chargers LA Rams at Cleveland Monday, Sept. 23 Chicago at Washington 7:15 p.m.

WEEK 4 Thursday, Sept. 26 Philadelphia at Green Bay Sunday, Sept. 29 Tennessee at Atlanta Washington at NY Giants LA Chargers at Miami Oakland at Indianapolis Carolina at Houston Kansas City at Detroit Cleveland at Baltimore New England at Buffalo

7:20 p.m.

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:05 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:05 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon

Tampa Bay at LA Rams Seattle at Arizona Minnesota at Chicago Jacksonville at Denver Dallas at New Orleans Monday, Sept. 30 Cincinnati at Pittsburgh BYE WEEK: NY Jets, San Francisco

3:05 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

WEEK 5 Thursday, Oct. 3 LA Rams at Seattle 7:20 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 6 Jacksonville at Carolina Noon New England at Washington Noon Buffalo at Tennessee Noon Baltimore at Pittsburgh Noon Arizona at Cincinnati Noon Atlanta at Houston Noon Tampa Bay at New Orleans Noon Minnesota at NY Giants Noon Chicago at Oakland (England) Noon NY Jets at Philadelphia Noon Denver at LA Chargers 3:05 p.m.

Green Bay at Dallas 3:25 p.m.

Indianapolis at Kansas City 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 7 Cleveland at San Francisco 7:15 p.m.

BYE WEEK: Detroit, Miami

WEEK 6 Thursday, Oct. 10 NY Giants at New England 7:20 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 13 Carolina at Tampa Bay Noon Washington at Miami Noon Philadelphia at Minnesota Noon Houston at Kansas City Noon New Orleans at Jacksonville Noon Seattle at Cleveland Noon Cincinnati at Baltimore Noon San Francisco at LA Rams 3:05 p.m.

Atlanta at Arizona 3:05 p.m.

Dallas at NY Jets 3:25 p.m.

Tennessee at Denver 3:25 p.m.

Pittsburgh at LA Chargers 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 14 Detroit at Green Bay 7:15 p.m.

BYE WEEK: Buffalo, Chicago, Indianapolis, Oakland WEEK 7 Thursday, Oct. 17 Kansas City at Denver 7:20 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 20 Miami at Buffalo Noon Jacksonville at Cincinnati Noon Minnesota at Detroit Noon Oakland at Green Bay Noon LA Rams at Atlanta Noon Houston at Indianapolis Noon San Francisco at Washington Noon Arizona at NY Giants Noon LA Chargers at Tennessee 3:05 p.m.

New Orleans at Chicago 3:25 p.m.

Baltimore at Seattle 3:25 p.m.

Philadelphia at Dallas 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 21 New England at NY Jets 7:20 p.m.

BYE WEEK: Carolina, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay

Thursday, Oct. 24

WEEK 8

Washington at Minnesota Sunday, Oct. 27 Seattle at Atlanta Tampa Bay at Tennessee Arizona at New Orleans Cincinnati at LA Rams (England) NY Jets at Jacksonville Philadelphia at Buffalo LA Chargers at Chicago NY Giants at Detroit Oakland at Houston Carolina at San Francisco Cleveland at New England Denver at Indianapolis Green Bay at Kansas City Monday, Oct. 28 Miami at Pittsburgh BYE WEEK: Baltimore, Dallas

7:20 p.m.

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:05 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

WEEK 9 Thursday, Oct. 31 San Francisco at Arizona 7:20 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 3 Houston at Jacksonville (England) 8:30 a.m.

Chicago at Philadelphia Noon Indianapolis at Pittsburgh Noon NY Jets at Miami Noon Minnesota at Kansas City Noon Tennessee at Carolina Noon Washington at Buffalo Noon Tampa Bay at Seattle 3:05 p.m.

Detroit at Oakland 3:05 p.m.

Green Bay at LA Chargers 3:25 p.m.

Cleveland at Denver 3:25 p.m.

New England at Baltimore 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 4 Dallas at NY Giants 7:15 p.m.

BYE WEEK: Atlanta, Cincinnati, LA Rams, New Orleans WEEK 10 Thursday, Nov. 7 LA Chargers at Oakland 7:20 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 10 Baltimore at Cincinnati Noon Buffalo at Cleveland Noon Carolina at Green Bay Noon Atlanta at New Orleans Noon Detroit at Chicago Noon NY Giants at NY Jets Noon Kansas City at Tennessee Noon Arizona at Tampa Bay Noon Miami at Indianapolis 3:05 p.m.

LA Rams at Pittsburgh 3:25 p.m.

Minnesota at Dallas 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 11 Seattle at San Francisco 7:15 p.m.

BYE WEEK: Denver, Houston, Jacksonville, New England, Philadelphia, Washington WEEK 11 Thursday, Nov. 14 Pittsburgh at Cleveland Sunday, Nov. 17 Atlanta at Carolina Dallas at Detroit Jacksonville at Indianapolis Buffalo at Miami Houston at Baltimore Denver at Minnesota NY Jets at Washington New Orleans at Tampa Bay Arizona at San Francisco Cincinnati at Oakland New England at Philadelphia

7:20 p.m.

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:05 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

Chicago at LA Rams 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 18 Kansas City at LA Chargers 7:15 p.m.

BYE WEEK: Green Bay, NY Giants, Seattle, Tennessee

WEEK 12 Thursday, Nov. 21 Indianapolis at Houston 7:20 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 24 Denver at Buffalo Noon NY Giants at Chicago Noon Pittsburgh at Cincinnati Noon Miami at Cleveland Noon Tampa Bay at Atlanta Noon Carolina at New Orleans Noon Detroit at Washington Noon Oakland at NY Jets Noon Jacksonville at Tennessee 3:05 p.m.

Dallas at New England 3:25 p.m.

Green Bay at San Francisco 3:25 p.m.

Seattle at Philadelphia 7:20 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 25 Baltimore at LA Rams 7:15 p.m.

BYE WEEK: Arizona, Kansas City, LA Chargers, Minnesota WEEK 13 Thursday, Nov. 28 Chicago at Detroit Buffalo at Dallas New Orleans at Atlanta Sunday, Dec. 1 Tennessee at Indianapolis NY Jets at Cincinnati Washington at Carolina San Francisco at Baltimore Tampa Bay at Jacksonville Green Bay at NY Giants Philadelphia at Miami Oakland at Kansas City LA Rams at Arizona Cleveland at Pittsburgh LA Chargers at Denver New England at Houston Monday, Dec. 2 Minnesota at Seattle WEEK 14 Thursday, Dec. 5 Dallas at Chicago Sunday, Dec. 8 Carolina at Atlanta Indianapolis at Tampa Bay Miami at NY Jets San Francisco at New Orleans Detroit at Minnesota Denver at Houston Baltimore at Buffalo Cincinnati at Cleveland Washington at Green Bay LA Chargers at Jacksonville Pittsburgh at Arizona Tennessee at Oakland Kansas City at New England Seattle at LA Rams Monday, Dec. 9 NY Giants at Philadelphia WEEK 15 Thursday, Dec. 12 NY Jets at Baltimore Sunday, Dec. 15 Seattle at Carolina

11:30 a.m.

3:30 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:05 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:05 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

Noon

Philadelphia at Washington Houston at Tennessee Buffalo at Pittsburgh Miami at NY Giants Denver at Kansas City New England at Cincinnati Tampa Bay at Detroit Chicago at Green Bay Jacksonville at Oakland Cleveland at Arizona Atlanta at San Francisco LA Rams at Dallas Minnesota at LA Chargers Monday, Dec. 16 Indianapolis at New Orleans WEEK 16 Detroit at Denver Oakland at LA Chargers Buffalo at New England LA Rams at San Francisco Houston at Tampa Bay Sunday, Dec. 22 NY Giants at Washington New Orleans at Tennessee Pittsburgh at NY Jets Jacksonville at Atlanta Baltimore at Cleveland Carolina at Indianapolis Cincinnati at Miami Arizona at Seattle Dallas at Philadelphia Kansas City at Chicago Monday, Dec. 23 Green Bay at Minnesota

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:05 p.m.

3:05 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

7:20 p.m.

7:15 p.m.

WEEK 17 Sunday, Dec. 30 Sunday, Dec. 29 Pittsburgh at Baltimore NY Jets at Buffalo Atlanta at Tampa Bay Philadelphia at NY Giants New Orleans at Carolina Cleveland at Cincinnati Washington at Dallas Green Bay at Detroit Houston at Tennessee Indianapolis at Jacksonville LA Chargers at Kansas City Chicago at Minnesota Miami at New England Oakland at Denver Arizona at LA Rams San Francisco at Seattle

Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon Noon 3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

PLAYOFFS Wild Card Round Saturday, Jan. 4 and Sunday, Jan. 5 Divisional Round Saturday, Jan. 11 and Sunday, Jan. 12 Conference Championships Sunday, Jan. 19 SUPER BOWL 54 Sunday, Feb. 2 Hard Rock Stadium: Miami, Florida

Sunday, August 25, 2019

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 45

WEEK-BY-WEEK LOCAL SCHEDULE WEEK 1 THURSDAY, AUG. 29 Zephyr vs. Bryson (at Gorman) FRIDAY, AUG. 30 Brock at Brownwood Bangs at Early Blanket at Cherokee Brookesmith at Santa Anna May at Richland Springs Eastland at Comanche Jim Ned at Coleman Winters at Goldthwaite Johnson City at San Saba Bluff Dale at Mullin Lohn at Rising Star Sidney at Walnut Springs

WEEK 2 FRIDAY, SEPT. 6 Snyder at Brownwood Coleman at Early Hawley at Bangs Blanket at Lometa Brookesmith at Panther Creek Cherokee at May Granbury NCTA at Zephyr Breckenridge at Comanche Goldthwaite at Junction San Saba at Harper Santa Anna at Rochelle Trent at Mullin Rising Star at Moran Sidney at Robert Lee SATURDAY, SEPT. 7 Howard Payne at Austin College WEEK 3 FRIDAY, SEPT. 13 Graham at Brownwood Early at Tolar Winters at Bangs Lingleville at Blanket Evant at Brookesmith Lometa at May Zephyr at Water Valley Comanche at Clyde Goldthwaite at Coleman Junction at San Saba Robert Lee at Santa Anna Mullin at Cranfills Gap Richland Springs at Aquilla Rising Star at Gustine Moran at Sidney SATURDAY, SEPT. 14 Howard Payne at McMurry* WEEK 4 THURSDAY, SEPT. 19 Santa Anna at Bronte FRIDAY, SEPT. 20

Wichita Falls Rider at Brownwood Early at Hamilton May at Blanket Brookesmith at Veribest Comanche at De Leon Tolar at Goldthwaite San Saba vs. Snook (at Georgetown) Lometa at Mullin Austin Royals at Richland Springs Sidney at Cranfills Gap SATURDAY, SEPT. 21 Three Way at Rising Star Hardin-Simmons at Howard Payne*

WEEK 5 FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 Brownwood at Abilene Wylie Early at Hico at Early Anson at Bangs* Gordon at Blanket Paint Rock at Brookesmith May at Zephyr Mason at Comanche Grape Creek at Coleman* Hamilton at Goldthwaite San Saba at Ingram Tom Moore Mullin at Santa Anna Rochelle at Rising Star Sidney at Three Way SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 Howard Payne at Mary Hardin-Baylor* WEEK 6 FRIDAY, OCT. 4 Brownwood vs. Conroe Grand Oaks (at Taylor) Bangs at Grape Creek* Santa Anna at Blanket Brookesmith at Lometa Newcastle at May Zephyr at Gordon Coleman at San Angelo TLCA* San Antonio FEAST at Richland Springs Trent at Rising Star Mullin at Rochelle Gustine at Sidney SATURDAY, OCT. 5 Louisiana College at Howard Payne* WEEK 7 FRIDAY, OCT. 11 Gatesville at Brownwood* Early at Eastland* Bangs at Ballinger* Blanket at Brookesmith* Strawn at May Comanche at Jacksboro* Cisco at Coleman* Goldthwaite at San Saba* Blackwell at Santa Anna Mullin at Sidney*

�������

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Hwy 183-84, Zephyr, Texas 739-2068 BR-00097273

'D\V D :HHN Cody Rogers

GOOD LUCK ZEPHYR BULLDOGS!

Richland Springs vs. Medina (at Marble Falls) WEEK 8 FRIDAY, OCT. 18 Clyde at Early* Merkel at Bangs* Rising Star at Blanket* Brookesmith at Mullin* Millsap at Comanche* Coleman at Anson* Crawford at Goldthwaite* Hico at San Saba* Richland Springs at Panther Creek* SATURDAY, OCT. 19 Texas Lutheran at Howard Payne* WEEK 9 FRIDAY, OCT. 25 Brownwood at Stephenville* Early at Breckenridge* Bangs at Coleman* Sidney at Brookesmith* Santa Anna at May* Zephyr at Evant* Comanche at Rio Vista* Goldthwaite at Hico* San Saba at Valley Mills* Lohn at Richland Springs* Mullin at Rising Star* SATURDAY, OCT. 26 Howard Payne at East Texas Baptist* WEEK 10 FRIDAY, NOV. 1 La Vega at Brownwood* Jim Ned at Early* San Angelo TLCA at Bangs* Blanket at Mullin*

Gorman at May* Jonesboro at Zephyr* Comanche at Dublin* Coleman at Ballinger* De Leon at Goldthwaite* Crawford at San Saba* Lingleville at Santa Anna* Cherokee at Richland Springs* Rising Star at Sidney* Saturday, Nov. 2 Sul Ross at Howard Payne*

WEEK 11 FRIDAY, NOV. 8 Brownwood at China Spring* Early at Wall* Bangs at Cisco* Sidney at Blanket* Brookesmith at Rising Star* May at Lingleville* Lometa at Zephyr* Tolar at Comanche* Merkel at Coleman* Goldthwaite at Valley Mills* San Saba at De Leon* Santa Anna at Gorman* Richland Springs at Rochelle* SATURDAY, NOV. 9 Howard Payne at Southwestern* WEEK 12 THURSDAY, NOV. 14 – SATURDAY, NOV. 16 First Round of High School Playoffs SATURDAY, NOV. 16 Belhaven at Howard Payne* * DISTRICT / CONFERENCE GAMES

46

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019

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TEAM-BY-TEAM SCHEDULES

Sunday, August 25, 2019

BANGS DRAGONS

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019 47

BLANKET TIGERS

BROOKESMITH MUSTANGS

BROWNWOOD LIONS

COLEMAN BLUECATS

A30 at Early S6 Hawley S13 Winters # S20 OPEN S27 Anson* O4 at Grape Creek* O11 at Ballinger* O18 Merkel* O25 at Coleman* N1 TLCA San Angelo* N8 at Cisco*

A30 at Cherokee S6 at Lometa S13 Lingleville S20 May S27 Gordon O4 Santa Anna # O11 at Brookesmith* O18 Rising Star* O25 OPEN N1 at Mullin* N8 Sidney*

A30 at Santa Anna S6 at Panther Creek S13 Evant S20 at Veribest S27 Paint Rock # O4 at Lometa O11 Blanket* O18 at Mullin* O25 Sidney* N1 OPEN N8 at Rising Star*

A30 at Brock S6 Snyder # S13 Graham S20 Wichita Falls Rider S27 at Abilene Wylie O4 Conroe Grand Oaks (at Taylor) O11 Gatesville* O18 OPEN O25 at Stephenville* N1 La Vega* N8 at China Spring*

A30 Jim Ned S6 at Early S13 Goldthwaite S20 OPEN S27 Grape Creek*# O4 at San Angelo TLCA* O11 Cisco* O18 at Anson* O25 Bangs* N1 at Ballinger* N8 Merkel*

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

COMANCHE INDIANS

EARLY LONGHORNS

GOLDTHWAITE EAGLES

HPU YELLOW JACKETS

MAY TIGERS

A30 Eastland S6 Breckenridge S13 at Clyde S20 at De Leon S27 Mason # O4 OPEN O11 at Jacksboro* O18 Millsap* O25 at Rio Vista* N1 at Dublin* N8 Tolar*

A30 Bangs S6 Coleman S13 at Tolar S20 at Hamilton S27 Hico # O4 OPEN O11 at Eastland* O18 Clyde* O25 at Breckenridge* N1 Jim Ned* N8 at Wall*

A30 Winters S6 at Junction S13 at Coleman S20 Tolar S27 Hamilton # O4 OPEN O11 at San Saba* O18 Crawford* O25 at Hico* N1 De Leon* N8 at Valley Mills*

S7 at Austin College S14 at McMurry* S21 Hardin-Simmons* S28 at Mary Hardin-Baylor* O5 Louisiana College* O19 Texas Lutheran* O26 at East Texas Baptist* N2 Sul Ross*# N9 at Southwestern* N16 Belhaven*

A30 at Richland Springs S6 Cherokee S13 Lometa S20 at Blanket S27 at Zephyr O4 Newcastle # O11 Strawn O18 OPEN O25 Santa Anna* N1 Gorman* N8 at Lingleville*

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * Conference Game

# Homecoming * District Game

A30 Bluff Dale S6 Trent # S13 at Cranfills Gap S20 Lometa S27 at Santa Anna O4 at Rochelle O11 at Sidney* O18 Brookesmith* O25 at Rising Star* N1 Blanket* N8 OPEN

A30 May S6 OPEN S13 at Aquilla S20 Austin Royals # S27 OPEN O4 San Antonio FEAST O11 Medina (at Marble Falls) O18 at Panther Creek O25 Lohn* N1 Cherokee* N8 at Rochelle*

A30 Lohn S6 at Moran S13 at Gustine S21 Three Way # S27 Rochelle O4 Trent O11 OPEN O18 at Blanket* O25 Mullin* N1 at Sidney* N8 Brookesmith*

A30 Johnson City S6 at Harper S13 Junction # S20 Snook (at Georgetown) S27 at Ingram Tom Moore O4 OPEN O11 Goldthwaite* O18 Hico* O25 at Valley Mills* N1 Crawford* N8 at De Leon*

A30 Brookesmith S6 at Rochelle S13 Robert Lee S19 at Bronte S27 Mullin # O4 at Blanket O11 Blackwell O18 OPEN O25 at May* N1 Lingleville* N8 at Gorman*

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

A30 at Walnut Springs S6 at Robert Lee S13 Moran S20 at Cranfills Gap S27 at Three Way O4 Gustine # O11 Mullin* O18 OPEN O25 at Brookesmith* N1 Rising Star* N8 at Blanket*

A29 Bryson (at Gorman) S6 Granbury NCTA S13 at Water Valley S20 Gorman S27 May # O4 at Gordon O11 Stephenville Faith (at Three Way) O18 OPEN O25 at Evant* N1 Jonesboro* N8 Lometa*

# Homecoming * District Game

# Homecoming * District Game

MULLIN BULLDOGS

SIDNEY EAGLES

RICHLAND SPRINGS COYOTES

ZEPHYR BULLDOGS

RISING STAR WILDCATS

SAN SABA ARMADILLOS

SANTA ANNA MOUNTAINEERS

ANNUAL WEEKLY ONLINE PICK ‘EM CONTEST

UGUST 26TH!

BR-SPAD0802160940_2

STARTS AUGUST 26!

ONLINE PICK ‘EM CONTEST STARTS AUGUST 26TH! 27TH! AUGUST COMING

WEEKLY UPDATES TO BE PUBLISHE brownwoodtx.com/pickem SPORTS BLITZ STARTING SEP

48

PIGSKIN PREVIEW 2019

Sunday, August 25, 2019