Long before they were high school superstars piling up college recruiting offers, La Grange seniors Jaren Woods and Bravion Rogers were stars on a slightly smaller stage.
They used to be teammates in La Grange pee-wee football.
“I was the quarterback, he was the tight end,” laughed Rogers. “Jaren was the tallest guy on the team. I remember I used to get mad at him because he had some nice gloves and I wanted them. I’d throw the ball to him but he couldn’t catch it.”
Woods remembers things a little differently.
“Bravion back them was just a littler version of the athlete he is now,” Woods said. “Everybody wanted his speed. Everybody wanted to be him. But should he have been quarterback? No. I dropped those passes because I had to run so much for them. They were not good throws.”
The Leopard duo can laugh about good times in the past, and dream about even better times in the future.
Both longtime friends have emerged as some of the best players in the state.
Woods is a 6-foot-4, 265-pounder who will be starting on the offensive and defensive lines for the Leps.
Rogers is a 5-foot-10, 185-pound speedster, who is ranked the No. 4 cornerback prospect in the entire country. He will start at running back and cornerback for the Leps.
Woods has verbally accepted a scholarship offer to Baylor, picking them over offers from Vanderbilt, Auburn, Cal, U of H, North Texas, TCU, UT, Texas Tech and Yale.
“It felt like home,” Woods said of Baylor.
Rogers meanwhile, recently decommitted from A&M after verbally accepting a scholarship offer from the Aggies back in April. He’s got scholarship offers from 21 different top programs, including Alabama, USC, Georgia and LSU among others.
“I went to A&M and it felt like home, and I liked it,” Rogers said. “But I decommitted to just open up other opportunities and see what else is out there. A&M is still in the running for sure.”
Rogers had also visited Alabama and LSU on his own, but has yet to take any official visits paid for by the universities. He can take up to five of those. He said he plans to visit Alabama, LSU, A&M and hasn’t decided on the other two, and said he doesn’t plan to decide on a college until after the high school season.
“This is a dream come true, but when you get there (to college), it’s a business, so you have to make a good decision,” Rogers said.
Both Woods and Rogers have gotten to this stage in their careers by fighting through lots of adversity.
Woods’ mother, a single parent, died in 2019 as he was
about to start high school. His dad lives in Alabama.
“I can’t imagine, losing the person that is most important in your life as an eighth grader and to overcome that,” La Grange head coach Matt Kates said. “For two or three months he didn’t even know where he was going to live. Fortunately for him he came back to La Grange and the Scott family (who Jaren lives with now) has been a Godsend for him.”
Woods has a whole new perspective now.
“It made me realize that nothing is promised in this world,” Woods said. “Don’t take anything for granted.”
Adversity came Rogers’ way in the classroom this spring, when, one year after going to the state track meet in three events, he failed a class and was ineligible.
“I learned I’ve got to take care of my business in that building (pointing to the high school) before anything over here at the field,” Rogers said.
“With both of them, I think you have to give a lot of credit to their teachers, the counselors, in helping get them towards the finish line, which is graduation,” Kates said. “It’s exciting when there is a lot of attention from college coaches in La Grange, Texas.”
With things in other aspects of their lives falling to place, Woods and Rogers are now excited about a fun senior season together with their Leopard teammates. This La Grange team could be the best in years.
“My goal is to just enjoy this time because after this season everybody’s going their separate ways,” Woods said. “And for the team, we went 7-5 last year, and I just want us to have a better record than we had last year. If that happens this year will be a success.”
And as good and Rogers and Woods have become, their best days are still ahead of them.
See Senior, next page
Continued from previous page
“Their best football is far beyond here. Some kids peak in high school, but with Jaren and Bravion their ceiling at the next level is very high,” Kates said. “When they get into college programs, and can take advantage of all the resources those programs can throw into development, it’s going to be exciting to see what they can do.
“Right now, I want them to have a lot of fun and enjoy their senior year. It’s a grind afterward. I want them to embrace this time.”
We gave Bravion Rogers and Jaren
Woods the microphone and let each ask the other some hard hitting questions:
Woods: Why did you recruit a lot of people for A&M and then you decommitted?
Rogers: I wasn’t thinking about it at the time.
Woods: Why won’t you commit to Baylor? They were one of the first schools to offer you?
Rogers: I liked Baylor but it just wasn’t for me.
Woods: Are you trying to get far away from La Grange (for college)?
Rogers: I always want to start something new but distance doesn’t really matter to me.
Rogers: Why did you miss that A&M
camp to go visit Baylor?
Woods: I really didn’t think they (A&M) were going to offer me.
Rogers: What was the reason you committed to Baylor?
Woods: They are going to make a man out of you before they let you play on the field. Football doesn’t last forever.
Rogers: What is your goal on the field this year, and don’t be humble?
Woods: 200 solo tackles, 20 sacks and five scoop and scores.
Here’s a look at the college football scholarship offers these two Leps seniors have received:
• Verbally accepted a scholarship offer from Baylor
• Other offers received: Vanderbilt, Auburn, California, University of Houston, North Texas, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, Yale.
• Scholarship offers received: Texas A&M, Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Georgia, University of Houston, Kansas State, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, SMU, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas Tech, USC.
* A player cannot officially sign a scholarship deal before Dec. 15, 2022. Verbal commitments are non-binding.
In addition to being great football players, Flatonia’s Kobe Burton and Fidel Venegas have added a new hobby – cutting hair.
“I just started that last week, but I’ve already cut Keegan Green’s, Allen Torres’, Cale Janecka’s and Kobe’s so far. I think I’ve got one more client waiting for me in the locker room right now,” Venegas added.
“I’m better at edging up than Fidel,” Burton said. “If you see Keegan Green’s hair, it’s a little off.”
Flatonia head coach Chris Freytag has a lot of faith in Burton and Venegas on the football field, but not so much with clippers in their hands.
“From the work I saw by our QB (Venegas) on Keegan Green, he needs a little more practice. He’s volunteering to cut everyone’s hair but I don’t see a lot of hands going up.
“I cut my own hair and I don’t have much to cut.”
But Freytag was willing to make a deal with his team’s would-be barbers.
“If we win the district championship, I’ll let them cut it any way they want to cut it,”Freytag promised.
– Jeff WickGiddings Buffaloes
2021 record: 2-8 overall, 1-4 in district
Starters back (Off/Def): 7/10
H.S. Enrollment: 644
Of Note: Giddings has new head coach (Mike Adams, promoted from OC) and have most returning starters in the district.
La Grange Leopards
2021 record: 7-5 overall, 3-2 in district
Starters back (Off/Def): 4/8
H.S. Enrollment: 587
Of Note: High-level talent has Lep fans thinking long playoff run this season.
Cuero Gobblers
2021 record: 13-2, 5-0 in district
Starters back (Off/Def): 5/8
H.S. Enrollment: 630
Of Note: Gobblers have new head coach (Jerod Fikac from Georgetown Eastview) after Jack Alvarez left for Marshall.
Gonzales Apaches
2021 record: 2-8 overall, 0-5 in district Starters back (Off/Def): 6/8
H.S. Enrollment: 832
Of Note: Caldwell coming into the district gives the Apaches hope of getting out of the cellar.
Thorndale Bulldogs
2021 record: 8-4, 4-2 in district
Starters back (Off/Def): 5/5
Of Note: Quarterback Coy Stutts is the preseason offensive MVP of the district.
Holland Hornets
2021 record: 10-3 overall, 5-1 in district
Starters back (Off/Def): 5/6
Of Note: Strength of this team may be on the line, with several returnees.
2021 record: 8-4 overall, 5-1 in district
Starters back (Off/Def): 7/7
Of Note: Kayshawn Langham who will start at QB and CB might be the best overall player in the entire district.
2021 record: 6-4 overall, 3-3 in district
Starters back (Off/Def): 6/5
Of Note: Hard to imagine that Tigers can return to the playoffs in this tough district.
Weimar Wildcats
2021 record: 2-8, 0-4 in district Starters back (Off/Def): 5/6
Of Note: Wade Griffin arrives as new head coach. He was formerly at Giddings. Wildcats have a strong junior class.
Schulenburg Shorthorns
2021 record: 6-7 overall, 1-3 in district Starters back (Off/Def): 5/4
Of Note: The Shorthorns rebounded from a lot of injuries to make an impressive three-round playoff run last year. Confidence is high.
Flatonia Bulldogs
2021 record: 5-5 overall, 2-2 in district Starters back (Off/Def): 8/9
Of Note: Bulldogs graduated a small senior class last year, so a ton of talent returns. They should surprise people.
Smithville Tigers
2021 record: 7-4 overall and 3-2 in district
Starters back (Off/Def): 6/6
H.S. Enrollment: 570
Of Note: Tigers have some very explosive offensive weapons, and should be out for revenge after late season letdown in 2021.
Caldwell Hornets
2021 record: 2-8 overall and 0-6 in district
Starters back (Off/Def): 5/3
H.S. Enrollment: 573
Of Note: Back up to 4A after two years in 3A, the Hornets look like they may take some lumps this season.
Schulenburg 35, Stockdale 23
Randolph 12, Schulenburg 0
St. Paul 34, Schulenburg 7
East Bernard 17, Schulenburg 6
Hallettsville 40, Schulenburg 7
Schulenburg 21, Luling 6
Flatonia 33, Schulenburg 7
Schulenburg 49, Weimar 0
Ganado 35, Schulenburg 0
Shiner 46, Schulenburg 2
Schulenburg 29, Mason 16
Schulenburg 37, Kenedy 12
Shiner 67, Schulenburg 21
Flatonia 61, Runge 0
Flatonia 28, Stockdale 26
Mart 3, Flatonia 0
Falls City 36, Flatonia 0
Flatonia 33, Schulenburg 7
Shiner 42, Flatonia 0
Flatonia 46, Weimar 7
Ganado 33, Flatonia 32
Flatonia 29, Johnson City 19 (OT)
Refugio 69, Flatonia 20
Giddings
La Grange 35, Rockdale 29
Canyon Lake 31, La Grange 14
La Vernia 28, La Grange 21
La Grange 37, Lockhart 21
La Grange 56, Lago Vista 43
Cuero 56, La Grange 21
Navasota 33, La Grange 21
La Grange 34, Gonzales 0
La Grange 27, Giddings 14
La Grange 37, Smithville 22
La Grange 54, Manor New Tech 20
Sinton 49, La Grange 20
Matt Kates: 78-55 in 12 seasons as La Grange head coach
Chris Freytag: 71-63 in 12 seasons as Flatonia head coach
Walt Brock: 10-10 in Two Seasons as Schulenburg head coach
A. D. / Head Coach - Matt Kates
O.C. / QBs - Jason Meng
D.C. / Ss - William McGonagle OL - Carlos Guevara
Asst H.C. / DL - Robert Barber OL - Morris Farr
OLBs - Chris Pustka RECs - Eric Amick
CBs - Ragan Watson RBs - Aaron Compton
M.S. Def. - James Magness M.S. Off. - David Cooper
M.S. Def. - Heath Golan M.S. Off. - Rusty Cauthern
Athletic Trainer - Victoria McGee Filmer - Allen Wenke
6A Division I - Galena Park North Shore 17, Duncanville 10
6A Division II - Austin Westlake 40, Denton Guyer 21
5A Division I - Katy Paetow 27, College Station 24 (OT)
5A Division II - Dallas So. Oak Cliff 23, Liberty Hill 14
4A Division I - Stephenville 38, Austin Johnson 21
4A Division II - Chinas Spring 31, Gilmer 7
3A Division I - Lorena 35, Brock 18
3A Division II - Franklin 49, Gunter 35
2A Division I - Shiner 47, Hawley 12
2A Division II - Stratford 39, Falls City 27
1A Division I - Westbrook 72, May 66
1A Division II - Strawn 73, Motley County 28
Class
1. Stephenville
2. China Spring
2. Lovejoy
3. Liberty Hill
4. Daingerfield
The Schulenburg defense swarms a Kenedy ballcarrier in the Shorthorns’ second round playoff victory last season. All three county teams made it to at least the second round in 2021
This
By JEFF WICK The Fayette County Record
With two big-time college recruits and a dozen returning starters back from last year’s 7-5 team, expectations are as high for the Leps as they have been in a while.
“It all comes down to working hard and staying healthy, but with the senior bullets we have it sure does raise expectations a bit,” said La Grange head coach Matt Kates. “But the expectations around here are always very high. But if you compete hard and do it with class, the winning will take care of itself.”
If there is one concern for the Leps, it’s depth.
With just 35 on the varsity roster this year, the Leps will have more than their usual numbers of players starting both ways.
“We’ve got 95 kids suited up (across all three high school teams) and that’s good 4A numbers, really good 4A numbers for
1,006
This is the number of years Matt Kates has been the Leps head coach counting this season. He says 13 isn’t unlucky for him. His kids often wear this number in sports.
This is the number of rushing yards Bravion Rogers had last season, a total that should go up this season as he plays more running back and less quarterback and receiver this year.
Last year’s record: 7-5 overall, 3-2 in district
Returning starters: 4 offensive, 8 defensive Last playoff appearance: 2021, Beat Manor New Tech in first round before losing to Sinton in second round. Reason to be confident: Bravion Rogers is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. The Leps also have some beast on the line. Lingering concern: players, a few injuries could derail the Leps.
Continued from previous page
our enrollment,” said Kates, who thinks that La Grange (which is now one of the smaller 4As in the state) could drop down to 3A in four years. “But we’ve had 45 on the varsity some years, so this is a small group – but a close-knit one.”
The most explosive player the Leps have is senior Bravion Rogers, who is getting recruited by everyone in the country. This year he’ll continue to play cornerback on defense (that’s where he’s getting the collegiate attention at), but on offensive Rogers will primarily be a running back this season (a departure from the receiver and quarterback he’s played previously).
He ran for over 1,000 yards last year (most of that from the quarterback position).
“You throw it to Bravion, there’s a 50-50 chance he gets it, but you hand the ball to him, you know he’s getting it,” Kates said. “And with a senior-laden offensive line ahead of him we’re excited about the possibilities.”
Sharing carries with Rogers this season will be three-year starter Jakobe Wilkerson and fellow senior speedster C.J. Davis.
“They are all playing defense too, so they’ll split up the carries,” Kates said.
Juniors Jaden Williams and Bennett Barber are competing for playing time at quarterback as the Leps try to replace 1,000-yard passer Clay Wolff.
“They are very different ballplayers and each has strengths the other doesn’t and both will impact games for us,” Kates said of Williams and Barber.
Clayton Knapik and Max Dixon will split
time as the Leps’ fullback/superback spot.
Freshman Oliver Gunn is the only ninth grader to make the varsity so far, and he will start at tight end and also is competing for one of the inside linebacker spots.
Oliver in the nephew of Tye Gunn, who as a quarterback led the Leps to the 2000 state title
“Six months ago I wouldn’t have thought he would have been on the varsity, but the way he’s developed, he’s 6-2, 205 pounds now, runs a 4.8 (40-yard dash),” Kates said.
Andrew Faske will back-up Gunn at tight end.
Thai Scott, Jaxon Cooper and Jacob Chovanetz will start in the three-wide receiver sets for the Leps, backed up by Eli Roberts, Nate Scott and Matt Garza.
Starters on the offensive line will be senior Favian Gutierrez at center, guards Cooper Imhoff and Hayden Splawn and Tackles Anthony Weikel and Jaren Woods.
Woods is 6-foot-4, 265 pounds, and has already accepted a scholarship offer to Baylor.
Weikel, Imhoff and Splawn are also returning all-district players.
Back-up offensive linemen include Orlando Sanchez at center, Miles Leonard and Austin Williams at guard and Abraham Urbina and Makiah Alexander at tackle.
Things are even more set defensively for the Leps, where eight starters return.
Weikel and Woods will start at defensive end, with Imhoff starting at nose guard. Urbina and Gutierrez will be back-ups.
At inside linebacker Faske returns after averaging more than 11 tackles a game last year, and Austin Roe and Gunn will also be in the mix with Jeremiah Dillard and Zach Riojas as
back-ups.
At outside linebackers Wilkerson, Landon Little and Knapik will all see lots of time with Will Bundick and Jackson Owens as back-ups.
At safety Phillip Arceneaux, Roberts and Dixon will split time, with Cody Krupala and Cooper as back-ups.
Rogers and Thai Scott will start as cornerback with Davis, Josiah Zamora and Chovanetz as back-ups.
Rogers and Woods can both punt and Bundick and Arceneaux will kick with Faske deep snapping.
It won’t take long to see how good the Leps are, they open the season against No. 12-ranked Bellville followed by 3A No. 8-ranked Columbus.
No. 15-ranked Lago Vista looms in the fourth game, sandwiched around games versus La Vernia and Splendora which the Leps will be favored in.
Then it’s on to district play, where the Leps are picked to finish second behind a Cuero team that went 13-2 last season. La Grange goes to Cuero in the regular season finale in what could be a game to decide the district title.
C.J. Davis runs the football against Lockhart last season. Davis, now a senior, will play running back and defensive back this season for the Leps.
Bold indicates home game * indicates district game
The Schulenburg Shorthorns made the longest playoff run of any Fayette County teams last year – three rounds.
But they are still fighting for respect even after that great playoff run.
“Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine” has the Shorthorns picked to finish fifth in the new District 13-2A and miss the playoffs.
Certainly the youth of the Shorthorns factors into that prediction. Schulenburg returns just five offensive and four defensive starters from last year’s team which went 6-7.
Additionally the Shorthorns have just five seniors and five juniors, but have a huge sophomore class.
“I’d say, go ahead and pick us fifth,” said Schulenburg head coach Walt Brock of his reaction to that ranking. “I really think it’s motivation. Our kids are really motivated. They want to prove people wrong, and they have a ‘just you wait and see’ mentality.”
Last year in the postseason the Shorthorns upset state-ranked Mason in the first round, then bashed Kenedy in the second round by 25 before falling to eventual state champ Shiner in the third round.
That run will have a carryover effect this season, Brock said.
“Those guys last year had the experience of playing three extra weeks,” Brock said. “Now they know what it takes in terms of hard work, but we’re a young team and we’ve got some holes to fill, especially at the skill positions, but we’re excited about the future and what we have in that locker room.”
Tyler Ryba returns at quarterback for the Shorthorns after leading the team in passing and rushing yardage last year.
“He’s working really hard,” Brock said.
Ryba’s a junior, and sophomore Aaron Janecek (younger brother of former Shorthorns QB Brett Janecek) could also see some time at quarterback and Jayse Janda could also be in the mix.
In the backfield John Davis will start at fullback and Rodney Walton will start at tailback with Bryce Stoever as the main backup.
Senior Isaiah Adams will start at center, right guard is junior Ray Mitchell, right tackle is senior Tommy Granger, left guard is
Last year’s record: 6-7 overall, 1-3 in district.
Returning starters: 5 offensive and 4 defensive
Last playoff appearance: 2021, went three round deep, beating Mason and Kenedy before falling to eventual state champ Shiner.
Reason to be confident: Explosive players like Tyler Ryba, Kenny Schramek and Rodney Walton return.
Lingering question: Are the Shorthorns too young (only 10 seniors and juniors combined) to pull off a repeat of last year’s success?
August
senior D’Keenan Thompson and left tackle is sophomore Ignacio Hernandez.
They will be backed up by five sophomores.
Tight end will be three-year varsity starter Kenny Schramek and wide receivers will be Misael Cortez and Janecek.
Overall, Brock hopes it’s a group that can put more points on the board this season than last. In Schulenburg’s six regular season losses last year, the Shorthorns scored seven points or less in each of the six games.
Defensively, the Shorthorns are going to switch from a odd front to an even front, because of the team’s abundance of linemen.
“Our strength right now is our line,” Brock said. “I’ve got 11 guys who can play defensive line – ends or tackles.”
The starting defensive tackles will be Granger and Marshall Wellborn and the starting defensive ends will be Ray Mitchell and Thompson.
Starting linebackers will be Walton,
Davis and Stoever.
Starting safeties will be Ryba and Schramek and starting cornerbacks will be Janecek and Cortez.
Cortez and Schramek head into the season as the kickers for the Shorthorns and Schramek will punt.
There’s also a lot of new faces in the coaches office this season for the Shorthorns.
Most notably is Brent Verzwyvelt, who for the past two years was offensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Texas Lutheran University. He will assume offensive coordinator duties.
Trent Collier has been promoted to defensive coordinator. Longtime Shorthorn coach Gilbert Price returns and will be special teams coordinator.
Isaiah Barerra (from Bremond, and he will also be the new head baseball coach), Mark Freeman (from Anson) and Cameron Hammontree (who was most recently a grad assistant at Baylor University) are
The Schulenburg Shorthorn football team won the 1972 state title with a 1410 win over Clarendon. It was not only Schulenburg’s first football state title but the first won by a Fayette County team.
Here’s how the game was chronicled in the Dec. 29, 1972 edition of The Fayette County Record:
“The Schulenburg Shorthorns just didn’t believe in any more ties up at Brownwood, so they went for all the marbles and the strategy paid off. As a result, Coach Tom Walker’s charges used another of their now famous closing quarter rallies to hand the Clarendon Broncos a 1410 setback with a touchdown with just 23 seconds left to play to put the keys to the state Class A throne room in the Shorthorns’ possession. The drive to the title was an 80-yard effort in 12 plays, with a 14-yard pass interference penalty thrown in for added yardage.
Trailing by 10-7 with 4:06 left to play and with Clarendon driving goalward for what would have been an insurance touchdown, Allen Mikesky in-
See ‘72 Shorthorns, Page 18
Continued from Page 15
tercepted a Bronco pass in his own end zone to set the ‘Horns up in business at their own 20-year line.
With quarterback Chuck Brown at the controls, Schulenburg began a march which was to culminate the school’s greatest football season ever as 140-pound Myron Hardeman ran three years to paydirt as the clock showed 23 seconds left.
Brown completed five passes in the drive for 57 yards, with the key reception being made by Charles Phillips which moved the ball 16 yards to the Clarendon 7 with 1:32 left to play.
From there the Shorthorns went to a ground attack with Hardeman failing to gain on a first down play. Brown picked up three on the next snap, Hardeman gained one on third down and then, following a shattering block by Michael Spencer, Hardeman went those final three yards to paydirt.
Coach Walker had inserted his field goal kicking unit for the play from inside
the 3, but Brown called time out and went to confer with his mentor.
“He told me, ‘we’ve got 11 guys in here who can score a touchdown,” Walker related after the game. “and I didn’t want to deprive them of victory, so I told him to go ahead and try. And it worked.”
When Hardeman scored the winning touchdowns, it marked the first time in the game for the Shorthorns to lead, as they had trailed by 7-0 before tying the score in the second period then went down by 10-7 in the third quarter when the Broncos collected on a 29-yard field goal by Kenneth King. It was Schulenburg’s eight trip to the well in playoff competition and the second trip to the finale, Sonora defeated the ‘Horns 40-14, in the 1966 finals.
Brown threw 14 completions in 30 pass attempts for 171 yards, but had four of his aerials picked off by the alert Bronco defense. Alvin Carroll was Brown’s leading target with five receptions for 73 yards while Willis Adams pulled in four tosses for 54 yards.
Continued from Page 15
also new. That staff will try to pull off some upsets in the new district 13-2A.
“It’s definitely a tough district,” Brock said. “Thorndale and Hearne have a lot of tradition, and Holland has done well lately. Thrall graduated a lot of people but is a growing area. Weimar has a new coach so there’s a lot of buzz about that. Flatonia’s got almost everybody back from last year so they will be solid.”
“It’s going to be a fight every week. Football fans should love it.”
* Pictured in White Uniforms Above
# Name Position Grade
0 Rodney Walton RB/LB JR
2 Barrett Brock WR/DB SO
3 Misael Cortez K, WR/DB SR
5 Brycen Schramek K, RB/LB, P SO
6 John Davis RB/LB SO
7 Aaron Janecek WR, QB/DB SO
8 Tyler Ryba QB/DB JR
9 Byron Johnson WR, RB/DB SO
11 Kavion Houston WR/DB SO
12 Bryce Stoever RB/LB JR
13 Kenny Schramek TE, WR/DB SR
15 Adin Beyer WR/DB SO
23 Jakele Houston RB, WR/DB FR
44 Devyn Bradley RB/LB, DL SO
50 Tommy Granger OL/DL SR
55 Ray Mitchell OL/DL JR
56 D’Keenan Thompson OL/DL SR
58 Adam Thompson OL/DL SO
65 Austin Toro OL/DL SO
67 Isaiah Adams OL/DL SR
68 Rogerick Walton OL/DL SO
70 Marshall Wellborn OL/DL SO
71 Calvin Thompson OL/DL SO
77 Ignacio Hernandez OL/DL SO
99 Nicolas Lopez TE/DL JR
* Pictured on Black Uniforms Above
# Name Position Grade
9 Jayden Olmos WR/DB FR
10 Cole Collier TE,WR/DE FR
11 Jayse Janda QB/DB, K FR
12 Cooper Demel RB,WR/LB,DB SO
13 Zane Brenek WR/LB,DB SO
14 Daterrion Houston RB,QB/LB,P FR
15 Tovandrick Ellison RB/LB, DE FR
20 Alton Herzik WR/DB SO
21 Landon Bergeron WR/DE SO
22 Brayden Bergeron TE/LB SO
24 Jerreon McKnight TE/DB SO
50 Vontrell Walton OL/DL FR
51 Aiden Mendez OL/LB FR
54 Jose Cleto OL/DL SO
64 Landon Hart OL/DL FR
65 Keven Lara OL/DL, P SO
68 Cade Ohnheiser OL/DL SO
78 Jayvon Luhrs OL/DL FR
Head Coach/Athletic Director: Walt Brock
Def. Coordinator: Trent Collier; Asst. Coaches: Isaiah Barerra, Mark Freeman, Cameron Hammontree, Gilbert Price (STC) , and Brent Verzwyvelt (OC)
Managers: Amanda Tofel, Owen Brenek, Dean Bradley, Zay Barrera, Nicholas Goode, and Ociel Martinez
Don’t let last year’s record (55) fool you, the 2021 Flatonia Bulldogs were a lot better than a .500 team.
Four of those losses were to teams ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 in the state at some point last season (a Murder’s Row of Shiner, Refugio, Mart and Falls City) but they still made it to the second round of the playoffs – the seventh consecutive season they have made it at least that far.
Most of the key contributors from last year’s Flatonia team are back (eight offensive and eight defensive starters return) and the lessons learned from 2021 should pay dividends in 2022.
“We were hoping to knock a couple of those big dogs off last year. It didn’t happen but that type of schedule prepared us for the playoffs and prepared us for this year, and we’re going to see a lot of improvement,’ said Flatonia head coach Chris Freytag, who enters his 13th season leading the Bulldogs.
But the expectations Freytag has for his team don’t match the “Dave Campbell’s Texas Football” magazine’s predictions for the team, which has Flatonia picked fourth in the new District 13-2A.
Defending champ Shiner and Ganado are gone, but in their place are Hearne, Thorndale, Hol-
1
land and Thrall – all playoff teams themselves a year ago.
“Overall we’re heading to a tougher district, just not as top heavy with Shiner gone,” Freytag said. “Every game will be a slugfest. When our kids learned we were picked fourth they kind of perked up and said, ‘Ok.’”
The group Freytag will lead onto the field to try to prove “the experts” wrong is one of the most experienced he’s had at Flatonia.
“Very seldom do we have as many as 10 senior football players in Flatonia and we’ve got 11 this year,” Freytag said. “And we’ve got a really strong junior class too. Our sophomore and freshmen classes are smaller but they are working hard.”
Senior Fidel Venegas will be the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs after a breakout 2021.
“I’m ready to start playing, I can’t wait,” Venegas said. “I worked hard to understand the offense throughout the year last year, it was my first year as varsity quarterback. The first game I wasn’t very good but got better throughout the year.”
Freytag said, “When we need to run the ball, Fidel can run it, he can throw the ball. He’s making better decisions because of his experience last year. The sky is the limit for him He’s a lot stronger. He will be tough for some people to handle.”
At running back the Bulldogs plan to use a combination of Dayton Cliffe (the type of runner who wants to run you over as much as he wants to run around you, Freytag said) and freshman Casen Perez (who is already the second fastest kid on the team).
On the offensive line, Quade Gillum and Henri Vincik will start at tackle, guards will be Kobe Burton and Uriel Manzano and Phillip “Rambo” Ramirez will start at center.
Reese Ramirez will play tight end.
Tadan Alvarado and Ezequiel Rodriguez will also see a lot of action on that offensive line.
The receiving corps may be the biggest strength of the team, Freytag said.
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Jaidyn Guyton and Keyshaun Green have emerged as a big play threats at receiver.
“Jaidyn will be hard to handle because of his size and speed. Keyshaun is shifty and quick,” Freytag said. “Then we’ve got Titan Targac and Beck Zimmerman, who will both catch a lot of balls this year. Keegan Green and Kenyon Guyton are two players we expected to step us as well this year (as receivers). Kenyon could play a little running back as well.”
Defensively, Kobe Burton and Davon Walles could start at nose tackle with Vincik, Ramirez and Alvarado in the mix.
See Bulldogs, Page 22
Last year’s record: 5-5 overall, 2-2 in district
Returning starters: 8 offensive, 9 defensive
Last playoff appearance: Last year, beat Johnson City in the first round, lost to Refugio in the second round. Reason to be confident: Bulldogs have some amazing athletes that are going to give others teams fits.
Lingering concerns: This new seven-team district is so tough, that at least one really good team is going to miss the postseason.
Continued from Page 21
Freytag said defensive end is the most unsettled position on the defense. Gillum, Manzano, Rodriguez, Torres and Arnulfo Ramirez are all battling for time there.
Because of lack of true linebackers, Freytag said the Bulldog defense will be more of a 4-2-5 look than their traditional 4-3. Reese Ramirez and Cliffe will play linebacker.
“I call them the thumpers,” Freytag said. “I expect that with the defensive front we have, they aren’t going to get touched a lot, and they both will make a lot of tackles.”
The hydrid linebacker/additional safety role will be filled by Kenyon Guyton. Starting free safety will be Keyshaun Green, a player Freytag calls “the leader of our defense, the leader of our energy.”
Strong safety will be a combination of Zimmerman and Targac. The corner back spots will be a combination of Keegan Green, Jaidyn Guyton, Venegas and Perez. Manzano, who won the kicking role late in the season last year returns
Two new Flatonia coaches join the staff this year –former Bulldog standout athlete Julio Castellano and Brooke Williams, who was previously the defensive coordinator at Brazos.
