Fayette County Football 2020 Talented Senior QB Tandem of Johnson & Cooper Hope to Build on Last Year’s Success
Brock Era Begins in Schulenburg
Johnston Looks to Lead Flatonia on Another Playoff Run
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2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Two is Better Than One
Longtime Friends Johnson and Cooper Make Leps’ Split QB System Work Well By JEFF WICK
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There’s an old football saying that goes, “if you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none.” The reasoning behind that is that if no one player steps up to grab the QB role all alone, you don’t really have a true answer at quarterback. But last year La Grange proved that old saying false as Caden Cooper and Matthew Johnson split time at quarterback and made the Leps better for it, as each athlete played to their strengths and helped La Grange to an 8-4 record. “I don’t think it has ever really been done at La Grange where two quarterbacks switch as much as we did last year, but defenses never knew what was coming,” Johnson said. And having two experienced quarterbacks paid off during the season when one or the other wasn’t available and the other stepped up. “Most definitely we’ll be doing the same thing this year. It worked really well for us last year,” La
Grange head coach Matt Kates said. Though Cooper was considered more of the throwing quarterback and Johnson more of the run threat, each showcased dual-threat ability. Now as seniors, each is poised for an even bigger year. “Matthew’s too dynamic not to get the football in his hands. He threw for eight touchdowns last year and no interceptions,” Kates said. “Caden is a different person from last year to this year. He’s put on 15 pounds and looks like a senior quarterback and is doing all the little things correctly.” One reason the tandem works so well is that Johnson and Cooper are close friends, not rivals. “We’ve been friends since we were little when we started playing basketball together,” Cooper said. They both grew up with dads who starred for the Leps themselves in high school and both their fathers also coached for the Leps. Caden’s dad is longtime La Grange coach David Cooper, who just
La Grange quarterbacks Caden Cooper, left, and Matthew Johnson, right, in action last season.
this season was promoted to assistant head coach. Matthew’s father is Merville Johnson, who played college ball at New Mexico State and coached at La Grange in the 90s and now works at LCRA. “It was nice growing up around football and learning how it all works,” Cooper said. “It’s like a La Grange legacy for me,” said Johnson, who is also related to Lep greats turned NFL stars Johnnie and Bobby Johnson.
But the similarities between the two seniors QBs doesn’t extend to personality. “Matthew’s more energetic, shows his emotions more,” Cooper said. “I’m more talkative. Caden’s quieter, but more intelligent,” Johnson said. Each senior admits they were fearful their senior season might not materialize because of the coronavirus. In fact, Johnson had recruiting visits cancelled this spring because of the pan-
demic. He’s currently gotten scholarship offers from Baylor, Tulsa and Hawaii. In a show of just how versatile Johnson is, all three schools were recruiting him at different positions. “Tulsa was as a running back, Hawaii as a wide receiver and Baylor as a defensive back,” Johnson said. Kates thinks Johnson might be best suited as a slot receiver in college, but who knows? “That’s why he’s so marketable,” Kates said. “He can play both sides of
Photos by Jeff Wick
the football (as he’ll do for the Leps as a safety on defense) and he can impact special teams in the return game. I’ve told coaches just get him on campus and he’s going to impact your team.” But before they go off to college, Johnson and Cooper want to lead the Leps to more season of glory. “We’re just going to go out there and play every game like it’s our last, play for each other and compete and represent La Grange and our community,” Cooper said.
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Fayette County Football 2020: Spotlights FHS’s Johnston Ready to Shoulder Greater Load By JEFF WICK
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ith Flatonia fielding its youngest team in a decade, (and having graduated Juan Netro and Dakory Willis, who combined for 2,500 rushing yards a year ago) the Bulldogs will have to rely on senior Chris Johnston – a lot. One of the biggest returning names for the Bulldogs, Johnston ran for 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns last year and will also return as a starter at defensive end. “He’s going to carry the ball more for us this year,” Flatonia head coach Chris Freytag said. “He’s a great player, doesn’t ask any questions, just does what we ask of him and loves football.” Johnston said he’s ready to be a senior leader. “Hopefully I get the ball more and beat what I did last year,” he said. “This year feels different, because we have a lot of young guys, but people Chris Johnston runs for a TD in last year’s have really stepped up .. Everyone’s really excited about playing on the third round playoff game. new turf.” Photo by Stephanie Steinhauser
Kates Ties Valastro for Longest Tenure as Leopards Head Coach By JEFF WICK
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his season marks the 11th as head football coach of the Leps for La Grange’s Matt Kates, which ties him for the longest tenure in school history with Tony Valastro, who coached here from 1994 to 2004. “I would never have dreamed it when I got this job Matt Kates at 32 years old,” Kates said. “This purple and gold gets in you and you realize how special of a place this is. It’s a special place to raise a family and a special job.” His kids were ages 4,3,1 when he was hired and they are now a freshmen, 8th grader and 6th grader. “It’s home for us now,” Kates said. “Something would really have to tick a lot of boxes to get us out of here. It’s not just about me anymore. When we got here it was about me getting to be a head coach, now it’s all five us making those decisions.” His wife Stephanie is a La Grange school teacher. Kates admits one thing that helped La Grange feel like home was that his brother Will and his family lived here too, so it was tough to watch Will, who had coached with him here the last eight years, leave this summer for another job. “When that U-Haul pulled away it wasn’t real fun,” Kates
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said. “But we were here before they got here, we’ll be fine.” Kates, who grew up in Forth Worth, said he had only seen a handful of football games at the 4A level and below when he was hired here 11 seasons ago, after successful stints as an assistant at places like La Marque and Euless Trinity. His first two years he went 4-6 both seasons, but has since made the playoffs seven of the last eight years. He said he’s only interviewed for one other job during that span. Kates’ best two seasons were back-to-back 13-1 campaigns in 2013 and 2014. It was in the midst of those two years he said he had a conversation with then-Liberty Hill Coach Jerry Vance, who had a lot of job offers himself after winning back to back state titles. “I asked him if he ever thought about going elsewhere and he said the grass isn’t always greener,” Kates said. “When you are given the opportunity to be an athletic director and football coach at La Grange or Liberty Hill, that’s something you don’t leave.” Last year’s 8-4 season was Kates’ and the Leps’ best season since those 13-1 seasons. “This is one of the best jobs in Texas because you always have a chance to compete, but you always have the support too. If you try to build better people, first and foremost, that’s what this community appreciates,” Kates said. “Thirty years from now, the wins and losses are just memories, but it’s about how many of those kids you have a little piece of making them into what they are – using football as a vehicle to impact kids’ lives.”
2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
David Houston, now an assistant coach at Schulenburg, was the Shorthorns’ first black quarterback in the 1970s.
David Houston Reviving Shorthorn Tradition By JEFF WICK
The Fayette County Record
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ew Schulenburg head coach Walt Brock talks a lot about reviving the storied tradition of Shorthorn football. And one resource he has drawn on for that is assistant coach David Houston. “This guy’s incredible,” Brock sad. Houston can do more that talk about Shorthorns history, he’s lived it. Houston was the first black quarterback in Shorthorn history back in the 1970s. “The schools had recently integrated and I give my head coach, Tom Walker, a lot of credit for going through with it. He was a big influence on my life,” Houston said. “Life brings a lot of challenges and I reflect on those challenges. I try to let the kids know that there are going to be ups and downs. The most important thing is to believe in yourself and if you do that, you will accomplish.” Houston worked at LCRA until seven years ago when he retired and decided he wanted to give back to the school where he learned so much. He started as a substitute and eventually became a teacher and coach. “Having an opportunity to be on this staff has truly been a privilege,” Houston said. “I try to let these kids know what it was like back in the 70s. We’re trying to make these guys have pride in the orange and black, that Black Attack, that Orange Crush.”
Fayette County Football 2020: The Snapshots La Grange’s District 12-4A Giddings Buffaloes
Cuero Gobblers
2019 record: 7-6 Starters back (Off/Def): 6/6 H.S. Enrollment: 609 Of Note: Super QB Alex DelaTorre has graduated along with a lot of other weapons for the Buffaloes.
2019 record: 3-7 Starters back (Off/Def): 9/9 H.S. Enrollment: 638 Of Note: Cuero won a state title in 2018 only to fall to just three wins last year, but lots of experience returns.
La Grange Leopards
Gonzales Apaches
2019 record: 8-4 Starters back (Off/Def): 7/6 H.S. Enrollment: 611 Of Note: Leps should be even better than last year’s team as a host of skill position players return, but tough district looms.
2019 record: 7-5 Starters back (Off/Def): 4/9 H.S. Enrollment: 558 Of Note: Tigers play a whopping seven home games this season. Lots of questions for rebuilding offense.
Navasota Rattlers
2019 record: 8-3 Starters back (Off/Def): 6/6 H.S. Enrollment: 833 Of Note: Biggest school in the district, but they graduated a lot.
Shiner Comanches
Weimar Wildcats
2019 record: 12-1 Starters back (Off/Def): 6/7 Of Note: So many weapons back from a team that should have won it all last year.
2018 record: 10-2 Starters back (Off/Def): 6/6 Of Note: Lots of standout juniors on this team, including Ramirez twins.
Ganado Indians
Schulenburg Shorthorns
2019 record: 6-5 Starters back (Off/Def): 5/8 Of Note: Dropping down from 3A, but into a district that is just as tough.
2019 record: 10-4 Starters back (Off/Def): 5/3 Of Note: QB who threw for 2,000 yards and ran for 1,500 returns.
Flatonia Bulldogs
2018 record: 11-2 Starters back (Off/Def): 8/8 Of Note: Lots of returnees, but some big weapons graduate as Bulldogs move up in classification.
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2018 record: 7-5 Starters back (Off/Def): 4/2 H.S. Enrollment: 830 Of Note: Not many returnees back from last year’s district title team, but 1,000 rusher Darius Randle does return.
Our Predictions
Schulenbur and Flatonia’s District 13-2A
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Smithville Tigers
District 12-4A 1. Giddings 2. La Grange 3. Cuero 4. Navasota 5. Gonzales 6. Smithville
District 13-2A 1. Shiner 2. Ganado 3. Flatonia 4. Schulenburg 5. Weimar
A look back at last year’s predictions: • We picked La Grange to finish second last year but they were third. We underestimated Bellville, who we picked third. They ended up tying Giddings for the district title. • We underestimated Flatonia saying they would finish second to Burton but instead the Bulldogs won the district title. • We correctly picked Schulenburg’s fourth place finish last year.
GO LEOPARDS!
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La Grange Varsity
#1 Bravion Rogers WR/DB So.
#2 Rider Reid RB/DB Sr.
#3 Caden Cooper QB/DB Sr.
#4 Adam Faske RB/LB Sr.
#5 Gerald Rodriguez WR/DB Jr.
#6 Dana Baker WR/LB Jr.
#7 Alijah Grant WR/DB Sr.
#8 Ryder Imhoff RB/LB Jr.
#9 Jakobe Wilkerson RB/LB So.
#10 Matthew Johnson QB/DB Sr.
#11 Trey East WR/DB Sr.
#12 Clay Wolff QB/DB Jr.
#13 Justin Lewis RB/LB Jr.
#14 Carson Kemp WR/DB Jr.
#15 Kadyn Hall RB/LB Jr.
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La Grange Varsity
#17 Jordan Scott WR/DB Sr.
#19 Jackson Bundick K/P Sr.
#26 D.J. Taylor RB/LB Sr.
#32 Caleb Burton RB/LB Sr.
#42 Colton Knape TE/LB Sr.
#50 Philip Matocha OL/DL Sr.
#51 Coy Gillum OL/DL Sr.
#52 Joshua Mertink OL/DL Sr.
#54 Grant Juno OL/DL Sr.
#55 Walker Hightower OL/DL Jr.
#56 Kaleb Pyle OL/DL Sr.
#59 Brayden Taylor OL/DL Sr.
#60 Carlos Anaya OL/DL Jr
#64 Braeden Wilder OL/DL Sr.
#70 Travis Stokes OL/DL Jr.
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La Grange Varsity
#72 Adrian Ortiz OL/DL Sr.
#74 Javier Lopez OL/DL Sr.
#75 Hayden Splawn OL/DL So.
La Grange coaching staff – Left to right, Back row: Athletic Trainer - Erica Williamson; Asst. Head coach/running backs - David Cooper; Outside linebackers - Brock Otto; Defensive line - Heath Golan; Defensive Coordinator/inside linebackers - Rusty Cauthern; Safeties - Chris Billings; Inside receivers - Patrick Walker; Front row: Outside receivers - Eric Amick; Offensive coordinator/offensive line- Robert Barber; outside linebackers - James Magness; A.D. / Head Coach - Matt Kates; QBs - Kyle Adams; Offensive lineCarlos Guevara; Special teams coordinator/cornerbacks - William McGonagle. Not pictured, filmer Allen Wenke.
#77 Joseph Mueller OL/DL Sr.
#99 Hector Orona K/P Jr.
Student Trainers and Manager: Top row, left to right: Hannah Burnham, Mia Solorzano, Ben Gerik, Amajine Homer, Maddi Mach; Bottom Row, left to right: Julia Aymond, Brynn Mikulenka, Hailee Martinez, Ariana Lara, Gloria Gonzalez.
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GOOD LUCK this 2020 Football Season! 979-247-4587 • 877-840-3896 2020 FOOTBALL PREVIEW
POLE BARNS • GUTTERS • WINDOWS PAINTING • SIDING
While it looks like this was taken as a group shot, because of pandemic precautions these players were all photographed individually and the team photo was digitally put together by Image2c Photo of Fulshear. You can contact them at www.image2c.com
La Grange Junior Varsity 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 15
Devin Johnson Andrew Faske Jaxon Cooper C.J. Davis Dylan Robbins Garrison Bage Matthew Garza Jacob Chovanetz Jackson Owens Eli Roberts Quade Gillum
16 17 19 21 30 44 50 51 52 54 56
Brendan Maddox Chris Krhovjak Phillip Arceneaux Clayton Knapik Will Bundick Trevor Gaetner Gavin Noak David Lopez Landon Little Alexis Soto Garrett Harris
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58 63 64 72 74 76 77 78 80
Abraham Urbina Chase Krnavek Anthony Weikel Jarren Woods Grant Hollek Favian Guiterrez Cooper Imhoff Foster Thompson Corbin Supak
Coaches: Carlos Guevara, Chris Billings
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While it looks like this was taken as a group shot, because of pandemic precautions these players were all photographed individually and the team photo was digitally put together by Image2c Photo of Fulshear. You can contact them at www.image2c.com.
La Grange Freshmen # 2 3 4 5 6 8 14 15 17
Name Jaden Williams Austin Diggs Thai Scott Jhase Scott Cody Krupala Bennett Barber Nathan Scott Peyton James Joseph Splawn
Position QB/DB RB/DB RB/DB REC/DB RB/DB QB/LB TE/LB REC/DB REC/DB
# 30 34 50 51 52 54 55 56 58
Name Evan Smith Kolby Childress Austin Williams Miles Leonard Noah Burton Kendrick Butler Orlando Sanchez Dorian Fenix Shawn Skoruppa
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Position RB/LB RB/LB OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/LB OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL
# 63 64 72 74 99
Name Zachuri Riojas Calixto Cardenas Pablin Marin Westin Friedel Jacob Liebscher
Student Trainers: Mia Solorzano, Amajine Homer, Hailee Martinez Coaches: Kyle Adams, Heath Golan
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Position OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/LB OL/LB
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LA GRANGE LEPS
Fayette County Football 2020
Wealth of Playmakers Return for LG By JEFF WICK
The Fayette County Record
The biggest problem for La Grange this season may be figuring out how to share the wealth. “There’s only one football and we’ve got four or five guys who need to be touching it a lot,� said La Grange head coach Matt Kates. Fresh off a resurgent 2019 season that saw the Leps go 8-4 and win their first playoff game since 2014, La Grange returns a dizzying array of offensive weapons. Quarterback Matthew Johnson, who ran for 1,034 yards last season returns and will split time with strong-armed QB Caden Cooper. Senior running back D.J. Taylor returns for his third season on varsity after rushing for 766 yards a year ago. Versatile junior superback Ryder Imhoff returns as does dynamic sophomore wide receiver Bravion Rogers, who is already
See Leps, next page
La Grange running back D.J. Taylor has starred in the backfield the last two seasons and rushed for 766 yards last year as a junior. Photo by Darrell D. Gest
Leps Football By The Numbers
5
This is the number of teams in La Grange’s new district who went to at least the second round of the playoffs last season.
3
This is the number of college football scholarship offers Matthew Johnson has already (Tulsa, Hawaii and Baylor).
67-44
This is the overall coaching record in La Grange for Matt Kates who begins his 11th year as Leps’ head coach.
Quick Hits Last year’s record: 8-4 overall, 3-2 in district Returning starters: Seven on offense, six on defense Last playoff appearance: 2019, Beat La Marque in first round, lost to West Orange Stark in second round. Reason to be confident: Leps are going to score lots of points this season with the skill guys they return. Lingering concern: District is ultratough and includes road games at Cuero, Navasota and Giddings.
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Fayette County Football 2020
Leps’ District Race is Anyone’s to Win Continued from previous page
drawing the attention of college scouts. That’s five dangerous weapons that could help the Leps put up even more points that they did a year ago when La Grange averaged 27 points per game. The offensive play-calling will be different this season after Offensive Coordinator Will Kates, who Matt Kates said called about 99-percent of the plays, departed for Fort Worth Paschal. New offensive coordinator Robert Barber, assistant head coach David Cooper and Matt Kates will now combine to do the play calling. “It’s a new challenge and I’m really excited about the three of us getting together to attack people on Friday nights,” Kates said La Grange will need all those returning weapons as they face a life in the new District 13-4A, which includes five teams that won playoff games a year ago – and the other, Cuero, is two years removed from a state title. Cuero (with nine starters back on each side of the ball) is picked to win the district, followed by Giddings (which went three rounds deep last year), then Navasota (dropping down from 4A Division I last year where they went 7-5). La Grange is predicted fourth with Gonzales (8-3 last year) and Smithville right behind. “It would not be smart to bet on any outcomes in this district,” Kates said. “Every single week, every single game, there’s no telling what’s going to happen.” A big challenge for the Leps is a scheduling quirk that leaves them with only one home game in the month of October, sandwiched
around three district road games. Here’s a look at the group the Leps will send out on the field this season: Besides the aforementioned offensive standouts, Dana Baker and Alijah Grant will provide more targets as part of the Leps’ receiving corps. The offensive line will include five senior starters: Braeden Wilder at center, towering Joseph Mueller and Grant Juno as a pair of tackles who are both 6-foot-4, and Brayden Taylor and Philip Matocha as guards. Strong footed Hector Orona will again handle the kicking duties but Jackson Bundick proved late last season he is a more than capable back-up kicker. Among the offensive back-ups are Clay Wolff at quarterback and Justin Lewis and Rider Reid at running back. Adam Faske, Kadyn Hall and Caleb Burton will be back-up superbacks. Back-up wide receivers include Gerald Rodriguez Carson Kemp, Jakobe Wilkerson and Jordan Scott and Trey East. Colton Knape is the back-up tight end. Back-up centers are Walker Hightower and Joshua Mertink. Back-up tackles are Travis Stokes and Adrian Ortiz. Back-up guards are Carlos Anaya, Javier Lopez and Hayden Splawn. Defensively, it was either feast or famine for the Leps in 2019. Four times the Leps held opponents to 15 points or less, but La Grange also had five games where they allowed 39 points or more in a game. La Grange does return six defensive starters from a year ago. In the Leps’ 3-4 defense, Mueller and Juno
La Grange’s Ryder Imhoff (above, running away from a Taylor player for a TD last year) proved valuable offensive and defensively last season.
will start as defensive ends with Matocha at nose guard. Starting inside linebackers are Faske and Hall and starting outside linebackers are Baker and Imhoff. Wolff and Johnson are slated to start at the safety positions with Rogers and Jordan Scott starting at cornerback. Backups on the defensive front include Lopez, Ortiz, Taylor and Kaleb Pyle. Lewis and Knape are back-up outside linebackers. Wilkerson, Taylor and Caleb Burton are back-up inside linebackers. Back-ups in the secondary are Grant, East, Kemp, Rodriguez and Reid. The starting punter is Rogers, backed up by Johnson. Overall it’s a group Kates is very excited about, and one that could make a strong run through the Region IV postseason, provided the Leps can take care is business in district, and that the coronavirus doesn’t throw them any unexpected curveballs.
Leps Varsity Schedule
August 28 – Rockdale (Parent Night) 7:30 p.m. September 4 – @ Canyon Lake 7:30 p.m. 11 – La Vernia 7:30 p.m. 18 – Taylor (Homecoming) 7:30 p.m. 25 – @ Lago Vista 7:30 p.m. October 2 - Bye 9 – @ Cuero* 16 – @ Navasota* 23 – Gonzales* (Lil Leps Run) 30 – @ Giddings*
7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
November 6 –Smithville* (Band Night) 7:30 p.m. Bold indicates home game * indicates district game
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Fayette County Football 2020
Brock Looking to Utilize Horns’ Speed By JEFF WICK
SHORTHORNS
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Starting a new job is tough enough. Starting a new job amidst a pandemic is even tougher. When that new job is as head coach of a football team, well, let’s just say Walt Brock has had his hands full since being hired to lead the Schulenburg Shorthorns in the spring. “You can text the kids, you can watch video, you can use the Remind app, the kids were able to come up here for summer workouts, but the hardest part was installing our offense and defense because it looks nothing like last year,” Brock said. “We’ve got everybody learning something new.” Brock, who went 25-12 the last three seasons at Granger – including trips to the third round of the playoffs each of the last two seasons –brings a spread offensive attack and a 3-4 defense to the Shorthorns. “The kids are excited. They like having something new,” Brock said. “They haven’t won a playoff game here in nine years, and that’s one of our big deals. We want to be successful, and the kids are buying in during the early morning practices, the 4 p.m heat workouts.” Brock has been a coach for 21 total years and is a native of Thorndale, where his dad Jim was a longtime coach. He takes over for Brandon Brown, who had coached at Schulenburg the last six seasons, leading the Shorthorns back to the playoffs each of the last two seasons, but he was unable to get past the first round. Brock says there is some speed on the team that has not been utilized that he hopes to take better advantage of. The Shorthorns return five offensive and eight defense starters from last year’s team, including strong armed quarterback Brett Janecek, who threw for 709 yards last year. Brock says every spot on the team is still an open competition as he continues to get to know the players and they get to know the new system. Kenny King has also been practicing at quarterback and Desmond Lewis has impressed Brock with his playmaking ability. TJ Speed and Nathan Ricicar are strong returnees on the offensive line and Brock calls Evan Oeding, a “swiss-army knife type” offensive player because of his ability to do multiple roles.
Schulenburg quarterback Brett Janecek stretches for extra yardage last year against Bloomington. He returns for his senior year this season. Photo by Andy Behlen
The Shorthorns defense will be led by new defensive coordinator Rene Valdez, who Brock brought with him from Granger. Another new coach is Justin Lookingbill, who will coordinate special teams, and is a former player of Brock’s. On the defensive side of the ball, Oeding and King at safety and Trent Mendez at outside linebacker have emerged as leaders but the Stockdale, Brazos and Yorktown non-district games will go a long way to determining who Brock ultimately starts where by the time district play starts.
Schulenburg Football By The Numbers
0
This is the number of Schulenburg’s new district rivals who won less than 10 games a year ago.
10 This is the number of seniors on this year’s Shorthorns team, all trying to win the first playoff game of their careers.
20-6 This is new head coach Walt Brock’s record over the last two years in Granger before coming to Schulenburg.
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And what a district it is. The other four teams in the new district 13-2A (Shiner, Ganado, Weimar and Flatonia) all won 10 or more games last year. “Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine calls this the toughest 2A district in the state and that’s the way it is. Everyone is picked ahead of us and that’s a good thing,” Brock said. “Our kids are going to be fired up and ready to play, and we will be in shape, I can promise you that.” Brock hopes to build these new See Shorthorns, page 18
Quick Hits Last year’s record: 6-5 overall, 4-2 in district Returning starters: Five on offense, eight on defense Last playoff appearance: 2019, lost to Comfort in the first round of the playoffs. Reason to be confident: New head coach Walt Brock has proven to be a big winner at Granger. Lingering question: How long will it take the Shorthorns to get comfortable with new offensive and defensive schemes?
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Fayette County Football 2020: Statistically Speaking 2019 State Title Games 6A Division I - Galena Park North Shore 31, Duncanville 17 6A Division II - Austin Westlake 24, Denton Guyer 0 5A Division I - Alvin Shadow Creek 28, Denton Ryan 22 5A Division II - Aledo 485, Fort Bend Marshall 42 4A Division I - Carthage 42, Waco La Vega 28 4A Division II - Texarkana Pleasant Grove 35, Wimberley 21 3A Division I - Grandview 42, Pottsboro 35 3A Division II - Gunter 43, Omaha Pewitt 22 2A Division I - Refugio 28, Post 7 2A Division II - Mart 25, Hamlin 20 1A Division I - Blum 58, McLean 52 1A Division II - Richland Springs 62, Motley County 16
Flatonia lines up to run the ball against Weimar last season.
All-Time Playoff Appearances
Photo by Andy Behlen
Flatonia (26 total): 1954, 56, 58, 59, 64, 79, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 2002 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017. 2018, 2019 Schulenburg (30 total): 1929, 39, 47, 58, 66, 69, 71, 72, 74, 75, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019 La Grange (25 total): 1938, 46, 65, 74, 75, 79, 86, 87, 88, 96, 97, 99, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
2020 Texas Football Preseason State Poll Class 6A
School 1. North Shore Mustangs 2. Duncanville Panthers 3. Katy Tigers 4. Austin Westlake 5. Denton Guyer 6. Allen Eagles 7. Southlake Carroll 8. Alvin Shadow Creek 9. Lake Travis 10. Humble Atascocita
Class 5A Div. I
School 1. Denton Ryan 2. Frisco Lone Star 3. Longview 4. Highland Park
5. Lancaster 6. Manvel 7. Richmond Foster 8. Cedar Park 9. Red Oak 10. Amarillo Tascosa
Class 5A Div. II
School 1. Ennis 2. Aledo 3. Lubbock Cooper 4. Fort Bend Marshall 5. College Station A&M 6. Wichita Falls 7. Mansfield Timberview 8. Frisco 9. Barbers Hill 10. Crosby
Class 4A Div. I
School 1. Waco La Vega 2. Argyle 3. Lampasas 4. CC Calallen 5. Port Lavaca Calhoun 6. Springtown 7. CC Miller 8. Dumas 9. El Campo 10. Decatur
Class 4A Div. II
School 1. Carthage 2. Texarkana Pleasant Grove 3. West Orange Stark 4. Wimberley
5. Gilmer 6. Celina 7. Sunnyvale 8. Silsbee 9. Navarro 10. Graham
Class 3A Div. I School 1. Brock 2. Grandview 3. Pottsboro 4. Malakoff 5. Wall 6. Gladewater 7. Rockdale 8. Hallettsville 9. Troy 10. Jourdanton
Class 3A Div. II School 1. Gunter 2. Canadian 3. Daingerfield 4. Omaha Pewitt 5. Newton 6. Abernathy 7. East Bernard 8. Franklin 9. Eastland 10. Holliday
Class 2A Div. I School 1. Shiner 2. Refugio 3. Post 4. Cisco
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5. San Augustine 6. Mason 7. Hawley 8. Ganado 9. Panhandle 10. San Saba
Class 2A Div. II School 1. Mart Panthers 2. Hamlin 3. Stratford 4. Wellington 5. Windthorst 6. Wink 7. Bremond 8. Albany 9. Falls City 10. Muenster
Schulenburg Varsity
2 Evan Oeding RB, WR/DB Jr.
4 Jeremiah Houston RB/LB Jr.
5 Caleb Jochen WR/OLB Jr.
6 Trent Mendez RB, WR/OLB Jr.
7 Orlando Adame WR/DB Jr.
9 Dekenzie King QB, WR/DB Jr.
10 Desmond Lewis RB/DB Soph.
11 Keanu Anthony WR/DB Jr.
12 Connor Herzik WR/DB Sr.
13 Kenny Schramek WR/OLB So.
15 Brett Janecek QB/LB, P Sr.
20 Will Hooper TE/OLB Sr.
21 & 51 TJ Speed OL, RB/DL Sr.
22 Keisean Johnson RB, DB Jr.
34 Isaias Lara OL/DL, K Sr.
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Schulenburg Varsity
35 Jayson Schaefer TE/DL Sr.
54 Trevor Beyer OL/LB Sr.
64 Luis Lopez OL/DL Sr.
65 Dalton Demel OL/DL Jr.
Shorthorns Schedule
August 28 – Stockdale 7:30 p.m.
68 Nathan Ricicar OL/DL Jr.
70 Hayden Schulz OL/DL Jr.
72 Enrique Toro OL/DL Sr.
September 4 – @ Brazos 7:30 p.m. 11 – Yorktown (Homecoming) 7:30 p.m. 18 – @ Flatonia* 7:30 p.m. 25 – Weimar* 7:30 p.m. October 2– Open Covid Week 9 – @ Ganado* 7:30 p.m. 16 – Bye 23 –Open Covid Week 30 – Shiner * 7:30 p.m. November 6 – Open Covid Week Bold indicates home game * indicates district game
78 Blake Meyer OL/LB, DL Jr.
79 Javier Martinez OL/DB Sr.
80 Manny Herrera WR/DB Jr.
Good Luck This Season Schulenburg Shorthorns!! I-10 & 77 at Schulenburg Exit 18
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67 Freddy Palacious OL/DL Jr.
Shorthorns Look to Build On Last Year’s Six-Win Season Continued from Page 15 Shorthorns into a version that can add to the program’s storied legacy – one of the big reasons he was interested in the job in the first place. “This is a football town,” Brock said. “You go back a few years, and when you thought of small school Texas football, the name Schulenburg always came up. We want to bring that tradition back. “We are going to play as hard as we can, be as mentally strong as we can, be as physically strong as we can, and the rest will take care of itself.”
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The combined varsity and junior varsity football teams for the Schulenburg Shorthorns.
Photos by Jeff Wick
Schulenburg JV Roster Number/Name 2 Kaz McBride 3 Kenyon Gardner 4 Austin Roe 5 Trey Murff 7 Tyler Ryba 8 Blaine Zapalac 14 Misael Cortez 33 Rodney Walton 34 Nick Lopez 51 Luke Burton 55 D’Keenan Thompson 66 Jake Hernandez 68 Gabe Patten 70 Isaiah Adams 72 Tommy Granger 75 Ignacio Hernandez 78 Ray Mitchell
Position WR/DB WR/DB WR, TE/LB RB/DB QB/OLB QB, WR/DB WR/DB, K RB/LB TE/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL OL/DL
Class Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Fresh. Soph. Soph. Soph. Soph. Fresh.
Managers: TJ Medina and Kevin Nieto
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Schulenburg Football Coaching Staff Walt Brock, Athletic Director/Head Football Coach; David Houston, Asst. football, asst. HS boys basketball, asst. track; Wesley Kutac, Asst. Football, JH boys basketball, asst. baseball; Bob Lantelme, Asst. football, HS Boys basketball, asst. track; Gilbert Price, Asst. Football, Asst. Girls Basketball, Head Softball; Madison Redmann, Asst. football, JH boys basketball, Head Baseball; Rene Valdez, Defensive Coordinator/Asst. Head Football, Head Boys Track; Justin Lookingbill, Special Teams Coordinator/Asst. Football, Head Powerlifting, Asst. Track.
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Flatonia Varsity
#1 Fidel Venegas WR/DB So.
#4 Izick Hernandez RB/LB Sr.
#6 Taylor O’ Reilly RB/LB Sr.
#7 Dayton Cliffe QB/LB So.
#8 Jaidyn Guyton RB/DB So.
#10 Reese Ramirez TE/LB So.
#16 Angel Netro WR/DB Jr.
#20 Keyshaun Green WR/DB So.
#22 Aiden Gonzales RB/LB Jr.
#23 Ricardo Olivares WR/DB Sr.
#24 Holden Kloesel WR/DE So.
#30 Chris Johnston RB/DE Sr.
#32 Aidan Kloesel TE/LB Jr.
#33 Alex Hernandez WR/DB Jr.
#34 Joaquin Vazquez TE/K So.
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FLATONIA BULLDOGS
Fayette County Football 2020
New Stadium With New Faces
By JEFF WICK
The Fayette County Record
The Flatonia football stadium has a new look and so does the team. Artificial turf is being installed at Bulldog Stadium (scheduled to be completed just days before the first home game, Sept. 11.) The Flatonia team that will take the field on that new turf will have a fresh look too, as a host of key seniors graduated form last year’s team. Three-year starting quarterback Juan Netro is gone, so too is superstar running back Dakory Willis, who rushed for 1,779 yards and 24 touchdowns last year. Also gone is leading tackler from last year Erek Herrera. Flatonia only has five seniors players this year. “It’s going to be a different year,” said Flatonia head coach Chris Freytag. “It’s probably the youngest group I’ve had since my first year (as head coach) here, and that’s didn’t go really well. The Bulldogs went 1-9 in Freytag’s first season back in 2010, but since then he’s built the Bulldogs into a small school powerhouse. Flatonia has gone to the second round of the playoffs or beyond each of the last five years, including last year, when they went 11-2 and advanced to the third round before losing to Bremond in overtime. But now Freytag will have to rely on a new cast of characters to try to duplicate that kind of success. And the new district realignments did Flatonia no favors. Continued on page 23
Flatonia’s Izick Hernandez runs for yardage in last year’s playoff game against Iola. He’ll be a big weapon for the Bulldogs this season. Photo by Stephanie Steinhauser
Quick Hits
Flatonia Football By The Numbers
1,191
This is the yards that Bulldog returnee Chris Johnston rushed for last season.
3 This is the number of guys competing for the starting QB spot: Dayton Cliffe, Izick Hernandez and Alex Hernandez.
BEST OF LUCK TO ALL FAYETTE COUNTY FOOTBALL TEAMS!
61-54 Flatonia head coach Chris Freytag’s overall record in 10 seasons as head coach of the Bulldogs.
Last year’s record: 11-2 overall, 4-0 in district Returning starters: Eight on offense, eight on defense Last playoff appearance: 2019, Lost to Bremond in the third round. Reason to be confident: The Bulldogs have made a habit of long playoff runs, why change now? Lingering concerns: The offense lost a lot of playmakers from last season, and this new district is really, really tough.
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Flatonia Junior Varsity Num Name Class 2 Austin Arnett Fresh 3 Colt Freytag Soph 4 Gentry Doyle Fresh 5 Levi Gold Junior 9 Cale Janecka Fresh 10 Kenyon Guyton Fresh 16 Aiden Mulholland Fresh 20 Larry Perez Fresh 23 Raymond Toro Fresh 28 Christopher Ramirez Fresh 35 Raymond Toro Fresh 51 Railey Nieto Fresh 52 Davon Walles Fresh 54 Arnulfo Ramirez Soph 55 Phillip Ramirez Fresh 58 Ezequiel Rodriguez Soph 60 Tate Sullivan Fresh 64 Allen Torres Fresh 68 Jovanni Venegas Soph 71 Eric Vasquez Fresh 77 Blaine Luckey Fresh
P.O. Drawer B Flatonia, TX. 78941 (361) 865-3544 FAX (361) 865-3666
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Flatonia Football Coaching Staff
Back row: Chris Gillum, Rodney Stryk, Brad Oden, Bryan Zimmerman. Front row: Steven Pope, Boys Athletic Director and head Chris Freytag, Shane Walker and Brandon Williams. Not pictured: Filmer: Mark Migl; Trainer: Derrl Ohnheiser; Manager Sean Mckim. Photos by Jeff Wick
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Flatonia Varsity Still Competition for Some Starting Positions Continued from Page 21
#77 Tadan Alvarado OL/DT So.
The Bulldogs moved up to 2A Division 1, but with a high school enrollment of just 170 they are among the smallest schools in the state in that division. They were grouped, however, into District 13-2A with teams like Ganado, Schulenburg and Shiner who are among the biggest in the classification. In fact, Ganado and Schulenburg were 3A schools a year ago. Shiner was 12-1 last year. Ganado was 10-4 and Weimar (another new district rival) was 10-2. The Bulldogs will face Runge, Stockdale and defending state finalist Falls City before jumping right into that district schedule. Here’s a look at the team Freytag plans to send onto the field this fall: Three players are still competing for the starting quarterback job, senior Izick Hernandez, sophomore Dayton Cliffe and junior Alex Hernandez. Freytag said all three are different. Alex Hernandez throws the best, Cliffe reads the veer the best and Izick Hernandez has the most experience and throws and runs well. When not at QB, Izick Hernandez will play at running back, Cliffe at back-up tight end and Alex Hernandez at wide receiver.
#78 Oscar Romero OL/DT Jr.
#79 Keston Freytag OL/DT Jr.
#51 Josh Ramirez OL/DT Jr.
#55 Dalton Otto OL/DE Jr.
#56 Jose Galvan OL/DT Fr.
#68 Giovanni Aguillon OL/DL Sr.
Flatonia Varsity Schedule August 28 – @ Runge 7 p.m. September 4 – @ Stockdale 7:30 p.m. 11 – Falls City (Homecoming) 7:30 p.m. 18 –Schulenburg*(Parents Night) 7:30 p.m. 25 – @ Shiner* 7:30 p.m.
Holden Kloesel and Fidel Venegas return as receivers, and Reese Ramirez returns at tight end. After rushing for 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns last year, Chris Johnston returns as a running back and will be a stabilizing force on the offense for the Bulldogs. Ricardo Olivares will also play at running back this season. On the offensive line, Josh Ramirez and Jose Galvan will start at the tackle spots, Keston Freytag at center and Dalton Otto at one of the guard positions. The other guard position is a battle between Giovanni Aguillon, Tadan Alvarado and Oscar Romero. Joaquin Vazquez will handle kickoffs and Venegas will handle point after kicks. Defensively, Venegas and Alex Hernandez will start as cornerbacks, and Jaidyn Guyton and Ricardo Olivares as safeties. Linebackers will be Izick Hernandez, Reese Ramirez and Aiden Gonzales. Starting defensive ends will be Kloesel and Johnston. The defensive tackle spots are still a real question mark, with five guys competing
to win the jobs. “Defensively we’re really young, our back seven is pretty good, our ends are solid, but finding those two DTs is key, if we do that we’ll be a good defense. Our defense is way ahead compared to our offense right now,” Freytag said. Josh Ramirez and Joaquin Vazquez will handle punting duties. One new football coach joins the staff this season, Shane Walker, formerly of Bellville, who will coach the offensive line and defensive ends. Even despite the uncertainty because of their youth, excitement is really high both in the locker room and in the community about the start of this football season –fueled in part by those stadium renovations. “People out in the community are asking me all the time about the field and when it’s going to be done. They saw what our new gym did for this town, and the excitement and the playoff games the gym brought here and the field is generating that same type of excitement,” Freytag said.
October 2 – Open Covid Week 9 –Bye 16 – Weimar* 7:30 p.m. 23 – Open Covid Week 30 – @ Ganado* 7:30 p.m. November 6 – Open Covid Week Bold indicates home game * indicates district game
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Flatonia’s Ricardo Olivares runs away from these Louise tacklers last season. Photo by Stephanie Steinhauser
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