High Impact Players Return at Several Spots

from FCR Football Preview 2022

Leps Could Be Very Good

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.