Seguin Magazine

In this issue September 2023

FEATURES

10 SEGUIN MATADORS

With new weapons on offense and veteran leadership on defense, Seguin is looking to shake up District 12 Class 5A.

18 NAVARRO PANTHERS

The Panthers’ Slot T offense gears up for high-caliber teams in Class 4A-II District 13.

26 MARION BULLDOGS

Bulldogs’ new look offense hopes to provide a strong year in Class 3A-I District 13 and beyond.

32 TLU BULLDOGS

Bulldogs’ defense will be an upperclassman-heavy group led by an abundance of seniors returning in 2023.

38 TURNING MIDNIGHT SCREAM INTO MIDNIGHT YELL

Texas A&M has a rare opportunity to become a team capable of competing for championships.

AROUND TOWN

Submitted

Writers

Nolan Alexander

Scot Kibbe

Bryce Hays

Photographers

Felicia Frazar

Allison Magin

Melanie Krause

Dustin Wyatt

TLU Athletics

Texas A&M Football

ADVERTISING

Megan Granzin

Gay Lynn Olsovsky

Friday night lights are back in Guadalupe County and players can now use what they have been practicing all offseason on the football field in front of their biggest supporters.

At the Seguin Gazette, we break down the high-intensity games played by these area athletes and bring you the highlights, the wins and the heart breaking losses.

We give you Game Day 2023, stories previewing what the area teams’ expectations are for the upcoming season while also highlighting seniors who uses his on-field play and leadership skills to uplift their respective teams.

Inside, you can find previews from me for the Seguin Matadors and Marion Bulldogs, Scot Kibbe for the Navarro Panthers and Bryce Hayes takes an in-depth look at what the Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs bring to the table for the 2023 season.

We hope to share the stories and amazing plays so that you can hold on to your kids’ memories for a lifetime.

But most of all, we at the Gazette are ready for the electricity that comes with the Friday night lights.

Writer

It’s a Great Day To Be a Matador Go

As the destination school district of Guadalupe County, Seguin ISD offers quality educational programs and experiences for more than 7,000 students while Seguin High School proudly serves as the flagship high school of the Seguin area.

Come and show your support at Matador Stadium where the Spirit of Seguin lives forever.

It’s a great day to be a Matador!

MATADORS Seguin High School

#2 Cray Island

Donovan Cray

Being a defensive back requires prowess and a physical edge that sets them apart because they have to guard skilled wide receivers who can take over games in an instant.

Seguin senior defensive back Donovan Cray fits the mold while also adding a bit of veteran leadership being the only senior in Seguin’s cornerback group — with sophomore Ian Moreno, junior Kevin Lingueno and junior

Cray played in 10 of the Matadors’ 11 games last season and was clearly one of their best on defense in terms of coverage as a junior.

He did not have the most interceptions on the team with one nor the most deflected passes (3), but there is a reason for that. Team’s rarely threw in his direction.

The senior produced blanket

coverage during 2022 in a district that saw receivers from Smithson Valley, Wagner and Canyon able to take the tops off defenses in a heartbeat. And he stood his ground.

Cray was versatile for Seguin head coach Craig Dailey and his defensive coordinator sometimes playing him at nickel corner for an extra bit of heat off the edge.

Although he did not record a sack

Story by NOLAN ALEXANDER photos by felicia frazar

Adrian Gutierrez.

Seguin high school defensive back 2023

MATADORS HUNGRY FOR SEASON

With new weapons on offense and veteran leadership on defense,

Seguin is looking to shake up District 12 Class 5A.

in 2022, he did snag three quarterback pressures and two hurries, which led all defensive backs.

Being a dominant coverage player sometimes means you can’t get your hands dirty and disrupt plays, but Cray was fifth on the team in total tackles with 56 and he’s also a running back’s nightmare, recording four tackles for loss.

Cray is one of the hardest work-

ing Matadors at practice and has a big job this year holding down the secondary while helping lead the young guys, Dailey said.

“Donovan is a multi-year starter and has done a really good job at being a leader in practice this summer,” he said. “He leads by example, been through the thick of things and it’s an honor he was voted as team captain by his peers not the coaching staff.”

Playoff level production

In Dailey’s third season, he hopes both his Matadors can finally tie things together and make a deep playoff push.

On paper, it might look near impossible to find one receiver to produce like former District MVP Devin Matthews, but Dailey reached deep into his bag of tricks and drew help from Seguin’s track team.

“That was a big question mark in the spring of how are we going to replace him (Matthews),” the head coach said. “I saw the success of the track team last season and now three of my starting receivers were on the 4x100 meter relay team (Nik Henry, Ocean Moreno, and Elliot Weaver) that qualified for state. They can run, they are a little bit undersized and need to grow a little bit in the game but as a group, I think we can get back that production.”

The Matadors also return senior running back John Jackson, who is a flat out baller whether on the court or under the Friday night lights.

In Seguin’s opening game at home last season against Alamo Heights, Jackson tore up the Mules defense with 20 carries for 218 yards and four rushing touchdowns.

On the year, he carried the rock 141 times, rushed for 798 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and nine rushing touchdowns, which were team highs in all major categories. He got involved in the passing game, catching eight passes for 40 yards. And that was while splitting the back field with both Matthews brothers, Jakyari and Devin, so this will be the first season Jackson is the lead horse.

Rounding out the offense is big-play tight end Jackson Pond for his final year on varsity. Pond may not have

the best receiving stats in the state, but he may have the biggest catches in the biggest moments.

In his 13 catches in seven appearances, the tight end hauled in five of those with one hand in Seguin’s final drives. Those passes resulted in 170 yards and four touchdowns.

On the defensive line, Seguin is returning arguably its best pass rusher in senior Evrin Contreras. In all 11 Matador games last year, Contreras was fourth on the team in tackles (60), his eight tackles for loss was a team high, and he tied for third in sacks with two alongside three other former teammates who graduated (Brychan Dilworh and Jakob McLeod). But the big stat is his 14 quarterback hurries. If he is not sacking the quarterback, a majority of the time he is forcing the quarterback to make a tough throw.

2022 District’s top dogs Smithson Valley Rangers

The Rangers were a force to be reckoned with on defense, allowing a total of 167 points for the duration of the season and 46 points against seven other district teams.

Smithson Valley ended its 2022 campaign 12-2 overall and undefeated in Class 5A-1 District 12 at 7-0.

Their long playoff run came to an end in the regional quarterfinals at the hand of the College Station Cougars by a score of 26-21.

Although the Rangers lost one of their offensive linemen to A&M and two wide receivers, they return their quarterback for his senior season.

All three linebackers and one defensive lineman who started last season are also returning for their senior years.

Look for a veteran group that is looking for the top spot in the district and a farther playoff run than they achieved in 2022.

Canyon Cougars

After a 4-6 overall record and a sixth-place finish in the district in 2021, Canyon fired back with a second-place

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spot in District 12 and a nine-win season.

Canyon’s playoff run was cut short in the first round to Georgetown 21-10.

The Cougars’ success was due in part to the dynamic tandem of senior Deuce Adams and graduate wide receiver Xayvion Noland.

Adams was the district’s top thrower with 3,007 yards and a 66.9% pass completion while adding 34 passing touchdowns and six interceptions.

He’s also an avid runner, accumulating 290 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 117 carries.

The Cougars are losing 1,561 yards in production from the graduation of two wide receivers, but senior Eli Adams is returning with an 848-yard 2022 campaign to go along with 13 touchdowns.

All three junior running backs who ran in the backfield last season will return to Canyon for their senior year. They combined to rush for 1,037 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Look for a high-powered offense to bolster the Cougars to the top of the district and possibly a longer time in the Class 5A playoffs.

Wagner Thunderbirds

Wagner made a big leap last season from a sixth-place finish in its old district to third in the new one. Wagner bolstered a 6-5 record throughout the season and found five wins and two losses against district foes.

Like most of District 12, the Thunderbirds only experienced one round of the Class 5A playoffs after being bounced by College Station 37-19.

Part of their success included a stifling run game spearheaded by graduate Jeremiah Chery and senior Juan’yae Taylor, who combined for 1,792 yards, 23 rushing touchdowns, seven 100-plus-yard rushing games and no fumbles.

Taylor, who rushed for 828 yards and a team high 13 touchdowns is now the lead back for Wagner, which has a couple of sophomores and juniors who could also see time in the back field.

Starting Thunderbird quarterback

Cameron Smith is coming off a 758-yard and 19-touchdown season while only turning the ball over seven times.

Wagner is only losing two starters on the defensive side of the ball so look for a team that relies on a heavy dose of the run game to manage the clock and a defense that is well rested and prepared to come up with a lot of stops.

Boerne-Champion Chargers

The Chargers missed out on the playoffs last season, finishing fifth in the district behind Seguin with two wins and five losses. Their offense scored more than 21 points just three times against District 12 opponents.

They are led by a dynamic quarterback in Jordan Ballin who is also the top rusher returning for his senior season. Ballin threw for 2,005 yards, passed for 27 touchdowns and threw seven picks. In the ground game, the senior quarter-

back rushed 58 times for 369 yards and a team high five rushing touchdowns. This could be a rough start to the year for Ballin as his top three weapons and back-up running back all graduated in 2022. It could take the Boerne-Champion coaching staff a little time to find the right pieces to replace the amount of production they lost.

On defense, the Chargers return their leading tackler in senior defensive back Evan Kuhl who, last year, led all his teammates in tackles with 109, was second in the team in interceptions with three and produced three deflected passes and a forced fumble which another teammate recovered.

For the Chargers to make a playoff push, they need to find offensive production early before district starts and hope the six returning starters on defense can give enough chances for the offense to be on the field.

Seguin MATADOR

2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Laredo United

7:30 p.m., September 8

United ISD Activity Complex

Kyle Lehman

7 p.m., September 14

Matador Stadium

S.A. MacArthur

7:30 p.m., September 22

Heroes Stadium

Boerne Champion

7 p.m., October 6

Matador Stadium

Buda Hays

7:30 p.m., October 14

Bob Shelton Stadium

N.B. Canyon

7:30 p.m., October 20

Matador Stadium

SA Wagner

7 p.m., October 26

Matador Stadium

Smithson Valley

7:30 p.m., November 3

Smithson Valley

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PANTHERS Navarro High School

#32 Hard-nose hayden

Hayden Toliver

When the Navarro Panthers made their deepest ever playoff run — a berth in the state semifinals in 2016 — they were led by two defensive standouts named Jake Wright and Ty Shelton.

Whether or not they reach that level this year, the Panthers again appear to have two defensive stand-

outs leading what might be their best defense since 2016.

One of those is senior inside linebacker Hayden Toliver, who has wreaked havoc on opposing offenses since taking the field for Navarro as a sophomore. He has twice been named first-team all-district. Fans watching the Panthers’ defense could often simply focus on Toliver as he

nearly always found his way to the ball.

Head couch Rod Blount said his achievements on the field are matched by what he does away from it.

“Hayden is an amazing kid,” Blount said. “He is ranked number one academically in his class right now and he takes that same effort and understanding to the football field. He studies film and

Story by Scot Kibbe photos by Allison Magin

Navarro high school inside linebacker 2023

NAVARRO’S RUN GAME READY TO RUMBLE THROUGH OPPONENTS

The Panthers’ Slot T offense gearing up for highcaliber teams in Class 4A-II District 13.

can make calls and get guys in the right place. He leads by example by doing things the right way in the weight room and the classroom. He is exactly the leader you want out there.”

Senior defensive end Landun Taylor also spearheads the unit. Taylor led the team with eight sacks last season and has been chosen as Preseason Defensive

MVP for the district by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

Taylor is one of the most athletic players he has seen, Blount said.

“He played at least four different positions on offense for us last year and was on almost every play on special teams,” Blount said. “He is one of the fastest kids on our team. He’s a lock-

down defensive end who makes freakish plays all the time.

“But the best thing about Landun is that he is always smiling, always happy and always picking people up. You can’t be in a bad mood around Landun. The positive attitude he brings to the team is even bigger than the plays he makes on the field.”

With Toliver and Taylor leading a solid defensive unit, Panthers’ fans hope to find as much to smile about as they did in 2016.

For many high school football programs, the 2022 Navarro Panthers’ 8-5 record and third round playoff finish would seem like a pretty nice season.

But the standards at Navarro these days are much higher.

Last season marked the first time since 2011 that the Panthers failed to win at least 10 games and the first since 2017 in which they failed to advance four rounds in the playoffs. Four of those five losses in 2022 came by 20 points or more.

Injuries must receive much of the blame for the sub-par season. Key players were lost on both sides of the ball and at no point did the team seem to play with its full arsenal.

Blount, who is 52-15 in his five years at the school, hopes his 2023 squad has better luck with injuries. While that cannot be guaranteed, he sees plenty of reason for optimism in how his players are approaching the season and fixing the things they can control.

“We were all disappointed in how last year turned out,” he said. “But the kids have seen the errors from last year and are doing a great job working to

correct them. There is no bickering or blaming, just a bunch of guys who love each other and sell out completely.”

Blount is especially impressed with the leadership of his seniors.

“They worked hard every single day this summer, doing all the little things right and holding each other accountable,” he said. “They are locked in and focused and setting great examples for their teammates.”

The Panthers will need to improve most on offense this season after their normally high-scoring Slot-T offense could never get on track in 2022. In its five losses, Navarro never scored more than 14 points. That was the first season in 20 years that a Panthers team failed to score more than 14 points in five games.

Though always a run heavy offense, Navarro has been most effective when it has at least some passing threat to help open the running game. But last season, they produced almost nothing in the air. For example, they failed to connect on a single pass in their district championship game against Wimberley or in any of their three playoff games.

“We need to be able to hit play action passes off our trap and our sweeps to get defenders to back off,” Blount said. “We struggled to do that last year but they have looked a lot better in camp on those and some of our other pass plays.”

Last year’s backup quarterback — senior Colton Schuelke — and sophomore Austin Davidson will battle for playing time under center.

They will share the backfield with a talented corps of running backs. The Panthers return their leading rusher from last season, halfback Antwoin Mebane, who carried for 801 yards and 10 touchdowns despite being hobbled through much of the campaign. Fullback Diego Chapa, a physical runner who gained 424 yards in 2022, also returns. Sophomore Kohen Blount will miss some early games with injury but will be counted on to contribute once district play hits, as he did last year (456 yards, four touchdowns).

The offensive line will be led by two-time first-team all-district selection Mack Berry. Another all-district team member, Matthew Richardson, will join Berry on a unit Blount says is “starting to gel.”

To be successful, they will also have to eliminate the costly penalties and turnovers that stymied them last season.

The Panthers are excited about a defensive unit that returns seven starters, including inside linebacker Toliver, defensive lineman Taylor and outside linebacker Nick Schwarzlose, who led the team in tackles with 114 last season. That unit kept Navarro in games against Wimberley and Lago Vista (playoffs) while the Panthers’ offense struggled.

They are also looking for big things this year out of linebacker Jacob Arias and safety Gabriel Rangel, second team all-district.

The unit will be led by a new coordinator as Justin Dunnam takes the headset.

“The foundation of our team this year will be the defense and making opponents earn every single yard,” Blount said of the unit.

Concerns for Blount include depth — he believes the gap through training camp between his first and second units has been too wide. But he said that can be narrowed and he is excited about his sophomore class.

The schedule is also formidable. Including Navarro, the four teams that qualified for the playoffs from District 13-4A-II all reached the final four of the region.

Following their trip to the state championship game last year, Wimberley is the overwhelming favorite to win the region again behind returning standout quarterback Cody Stoever. Lago Vista and Jarrell have key parts to replace but Blount believes they will put plenty of talent on the field under quality coaching.

The non-district schedule includes three opponents that blew the Panthers out last year — Cuero, La Vernia and Navasota. La Vernia returns 14 starters from 2022, while Navasota returns 16.

BULLDOGS Marion High School

#3 Wrecking Ball Bo

BO Stahl

Senior quarterback Bo Stahl is ready to do what he does best while also commanding the high expectations that come with a Ryne Miller-led Bulldog team.

The best way to describe Stahl is like a wrecking ball, you know he’s there and you know he’s coming downhill but there is nothing a solo defender can do to stop him. In most cases, it takes a couple of defenders to bring Stahl to a stop.

Starting the 2022-23 season, Stahl found a spot as the backup quarterback

option, but Miller knew he had something special waiting in the wings.

“Bo is a great football player, a great young man and takes care of his business in the classroom,” the head coach said. “Being an 1,100-yard rusher last year, he is fun to watch, explosive and just a good, hard-nose, savvy football player who is going to lower his shoulder and get the first down. He’s everything you want out of a quarterback.”

In his junior year, Stahl played six games at starting quarterback, com-

pleted 24 passes for 284 yards (11.8 yards per completion), and threw four passing touchdowns and two interceptions. But that is not even the tip of the iceberg to what he brings his senior year.

He is an avid rusher, carrying the ball 193 times for 1,144 yards (5.9 yards per carry), securing seven 100-yard plus rushing games, averaging 114.4 yards per game and rushing for a team high 11 rushing touchdowns in 2022.

His best game in his junior campaign was a dominant ground attack

Story by Nolan Alexander

photos by Melanie Krause

Marion high school Quarterback 2023

MARION TENACITY SHINES THROUGH Bulldogs’

new look offense hopes to provide a strong year in Class 3A-I District 13 and beyond.

in Marion’s away matchup with the Blanco Panthers.

The Bulldogs put the pedal down from the start of the game to the final whistle, defeating Blanco 48-6.

With graduate Dillion Sanchez still at starting quarterback, Stahl found his work between the tackles, rushing 15 times for 125 yards (8.3 yards per carry) and three rushing touchdowns. He still threw three passes and completed two of them for nine yards.

Unsettled Business

Miller is entering his sixth season as the leader of the Bulldogs football team. Finishing last season 6-4 overall and 3-3 in district while missing the playoffs left a bad taste in his team’s mouth that he intends to wash out, Miller said.

“We really have not talked about a redemption season just yet, but we talked a lot about the expectations of getting into the playoffs and what it

takes to get there,” Miller said. “When you go 6-4 and miss out, it’s disappointing for sure. I know our guys and our coaches had a sour taste in their mouths, but these guys know the expectations and the standards to play at.”

The Bulldogs wanted to bring a new look to the offensive side without making things too complicated for a unit losing a big portion on the outside with the graduation of the former districts utility MVP Dominic Castellanos.

That led to the Bulldog football team bringing in Eddie Veyran as the new offensive coordinator, Miller said.

“We do have a new offensive coordinator, but not a whole lot of things has changed,” the head coach said. “Obviously, we have Bo who is our top rusher and makes everything go. We have some great young receivers and we are returning four out of the five offensive linemen from last year. We have some really good running backs. A lot of power rushers in the backfield and they have done a great job on picking up on the verbiage and learning new things.”

With missing the 2022 playoffs by one game, Marion took a little extra time putting in additional hours in different areas of the game, a big part of this season will see Marion leaning on the four-year guys and just trusting the work the players exerted in preparation for the season, Miller said.

“We had a great offseason, really invested a lot of time into our leadership and our seniors,” he said. “We have invested a lot of time in the weight room to make sure we are stronger and able to compete and these guys did an excellent job in the offseason and this summer.”

Class 3A-1 District 13 2022 playoff teams

Llano Yellowjackets

District 13’s top team, Llano finished last year 13-1 overall and undefeated in district at 6-0. The Yellowjackets scored the most points in district play with 232, while also allowing the least with 45 points.

Llano did not drop a single game in the regular season and made it all the way to the regional quarterfinals until they met their match against Edna, 40-21.

Llano returns starting quarterback Briggs Green, who was the Yellowjackets’ top rusher with the graduation of Carson Kuykendall and Miguel Hernandez. Green threw for 2,402 yards, 32 passing touchdowns and six picks. He rushed 120 times for 363 yards and six rushing touchdowns.

Blanco Panthers

The Panthers finished last season second in the district with four wins and two losses and 8-5 overall. Blanco’s playoff hopes ended in the regional round to the Edna Cowboys, 36-22.

Marion got the best of the Panthers in its district matchup, throttling them 48-6.

Blanco returns its dual-threat quarterback senior Cameron Anderson, who completed 55 of his 91 throws, accumulated 617 passing yards and threw five touchdowns and six interceptions.

On the ground, Anderson was second on the team in 2022 in carries with 56 and second in yards with 300. His three rushing touchdowns tied a team high with a running back who graduated this offseason.

Look for a team that will make the playoffs and make life hard on teams that don’t know how to take care of the ball with a game-managing rushing offense.

Randolph Ro-Hawks

Randolph tied Blanco in the district at four wins and two losses, but a loss head-to-head with the Panthers, 10-7, pushed the Ro-Hawks into the third-place slot.

Randolph protected home field against the Bulldogs 27-13 on homecoming night and a revenge game was slated on Marion’s home field in the 2023-24 season.

The Edna Cowboys are 3A District 13 killers as they bounced the Ro-Hawks out of playoff contention in the area round 16-7.

Like most of the district, they have a quarterback in Aaron Davis who can stretch the field with his arm and his legs.

Davis heads into his senior year coming off a 650-plus yard passing season, adding 800-plus rushing yards. The quarterback scored 21 total offensive touchdowns and only turned the ball over twice.

This is an efficient offense that prides itself on ball security and making the most out of opportunities presented. Look for another playoff push by the Ro-Hawks, but how deep they go depends on Randolph’s younger defense.

Luling Eagles

This is a team that Marion has circled on its schedule, starred and made note of from last year’s wild ending to the season.

Both teams came into the final game of the 2022 regular season with the same stipulation. Win and you’re in or lose and it’s back to the drawing board.

Signs pointed up when Marion scored off a cheeky hook and lateral play with less than three minutes on the game clock.

But it was a last-minute drive by the Eagles, who scored a touchdown with no time remaining that ended all hope of the Bulldogs’ playoff chances.

Luling ended last season 6-5 overall and 3-3 in district and return

seven

ball.

Sophomore running back Cayden Lopez returns for his junior season after tearing up the district in the run game. In 147 carries in 2022, Lopez ripped off 919 yards and dou-

ble-digit touchdowns with 10. He also led the team in 100-plus-yard rushing games with four.

Just like last season, Marion’s final district game of the season will be against the Eagles, but this time it is at Luling’s home field.

seniors combined on both sides of the

Marion BULLDOG

2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Gonzales

7 p.m., September 8

Veterans Stadium, Marion

Karnes City

7 p.m., September 15

johnson field, Karnes City Randolph

7 p.m., September 22

Veterans Stadium, Marion Blanco

7 p.m., October 6

Panther Stadium, Blanco

Llano

7 p.m., October 13

Veterans Stadium, Marion Ingram

7 p.m., October 20

warrior Stadium, Ingram Cole

7 p.m., October 27

Veterans Stadium, Marion

Luling

7 p.m., November 3

Eagle Field, Luling

BULLDOGSTexas Lutheran University

After a 4-6 2022 season, the Texas Lutheran football program retooled and reloaded for 2023 under second year head coach Neal LaHue. The 2022 season may not have gone as planned for the Bulldogs’ 25th season since reinstating football in 1998, but there were some highlights. Tight end Aaron Sotelo, who is now playing his grad year at Houston Christian, became the first offensive

skill player to earn All-American status for the Bulldogs since 2014 as Sotelo was named a third-team All-American by D3football.com. Quarterback Seth Cosme, a third-team All-American Southwest Conference (ASC) honoree, was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in NCAA Division-III in LaHue’s offense — finishing fourth in NCAA Division-III with a 73% completion percentage. It was also a step

in the right direction following a 2021 season that saw the team finish with a 3-7 record.

The 2023 season sees the Bulldogs return six all-conference players and more than 150 players reported to fall camp, including some potentially impactful transfers, as they look to tackle one of the toughest schedules in Division-III, per D3SportsData. The Bulldogs open the season Sept. 2 in

Story by Bryce Hayes photos by Dustin Wyatt

rekindles the magic Bulldogs’

Wisconsin against 21st-ranked Wisconsin-Oshkosh — one of four teams ranked in the preseason on the Bulldogs’ schedule. The Bulldogs will host preseason No. 3 Mary-Hardin Baylor (UMHB) at Bulldog Stadium on Oct.

7, while traveling to No. 8 Hardin-Simmons on Oct. 14 and Howard Payne on Oct. 28.

After traveling to Wisconsin and to Georgetown to face former ASC conference foe Southwestern on Sept. 9,

the Bulldogs will host Florida’s Ave Maria in a first-time matchup for the 2023 home opener. The Bulldogs will host Ave Maria, UMHB, East Texas Baptist, McMurry and Austin College in 2023 with the Oct. 28 matchup against the East Texas Baptist Tigers serving as homecoming.

The offseason, as always, saw some turnover in who will lead the Bulldogs with TLU alums Johnny Garcia and Fabian Facundo returning to coach the Bulldogs’ offensive line and secondary, respectively. Tommy Holmes returns to the Bulldog staff after two years away as defensive line coach while Julius Scott joins the Bulldog staff to lead the wide receivers’ room. Running backs coach Matt Gustafson was promoted to assistant head coach and former Bulldog Vincent Campos was promoted from student assistant to wide receivers coach. Beau Grech and Kendrick Marshall return for their second stints as defensive and special teams coordinators, respectively, under LaHue.

The Bulldogs Offense

The Texas Lutheran offense returns its all-conference backfield with quarterback Cosme deciding to play his fifth-year and the dynamic running back duo of Jacob Forton and DaKory Willis alongside him. Forton led TLU in rushing with 506 yards while finishing tied for second in the ASC in rushing touchdowns (10) and third in all-purpose yards (1,031) as an integral part of the Bulldogs’ offense and a primary benefactor of the schematic change from 2021 to 2022 under LaHue.

The Bulldogs return all but one starter up front in the trenches of the offensive line. After a 2022 season that saw a practically all-new starting lineup up-front expect a more experienced

TLU

defense will be an upperclassman-heavy group led by an abundance of seniors returning in 2023.

group protecting Cosme and paving the way for the rushing attack.

TLU lost four starters from 2022, including leading receiver and All-American tight end Sotelo. But one thing is glaringly clear from watching the Bulldogs practice and perusing the roster on paper. Even with a loss as big as Sotelo to the Bulldog offense, they should be more explosive. Cayleb Klostermann is the only returning starting wideout for the Bulldogs as gone are the days of a reliance on smaller, shiftier receivers as they now deploy a bigger receiving corps that could rival the TLU basketball starting five with Cosme as their point guard. Texas Permian Basin transfer Caleb Camarillo, Western New Mexico transfer Jacob Wallace and Klostermann are poised to play major roles in the TLU passing game along with sophomore wide receiver Joshua Muncrief and junior tight end Cole Andrus — two players who started to carve out roles in 2022.

The Bulldogs Defense

The Texas Lutheran defense returns five of its top-seven leading tacklers and seven of eleven starters from 2022 as the defense will be tested in 2023 with a number of high-powered offenses on the 2023 slate. Unlike the previous two seasons, the defense will be an upperclassman-heavy group led by an abundance of seniors returning in 2023.

All-conference defensive backs, safety Mason Hardy and cornerback KJ Wilkerson highlight the secondary entering 2023. Hardy led the team — and finished second in the ASC — with four interceptions last season while also finishing as the fourth leading tackler after converting from quarterback to safety two weeks before the 2022 season. Wilkerson thrived in his first season, seeing significant playing time, intercepting two passes and breaking up five passes in the secondary. Hardy and Wilkerson look to lead a secondary that will be pushed to its limits week in and week out in a pass-happy American Southwest Conference schedule.

The Bulldog linebacker corps may

be the most experienced group on either side of the football with seniors spread throughout the group. Seniors Canon Kromis and Caleb Giles return as the leading tacklers — with Giles also acting as one of the Bulldogs’ best ball hawks in 2022 with three interceptions last season. The Bulldogs second level will also feature seniors David Augustin, James Gipson and Markel Turner in a group full of wisdom and experience that will certainly feature as the nucleus of the Bulldogs defense.

Seniors Joshua Stanton and Christian Monroe — both All-ASC performers in 2021 — will look to return to all-conference glory in 2023 along the Bulldogs defensive line.

Questions will loom over the Bulldogs defense that struggled at times in 2022 but 2023 will host a more seasoned defense for Texas Lutheran than it has seen in years, which could poten-

tially lead to more success.

Previewing the Bulldogs Special Teams

“Special teams will win or lose you ball games” is a quote that every football coach in the country painstakingly knows. Special teams was a thorn in the side of Texas Lutheran in 2022 — allowing three returns for touchdowns and a number of long returns that completely swung games in opponents’ favor last season. Avoiding those situations will be a focus throughout fall camp and the 2023 season, as controlling special teams drastically changes the expected points for opposing teams.

The Bulldogs return everyone on special teams with all-conference kicker Joaquin Rodriguez handling the kicking duties and New Braunfels native and 2021 Newcomer of the Year junior

Cameron Welch handling the punting duties for TLU. Seniors Eugene Robinson IV and Forton return as the two leading return men from 2022.

As loaded as the American Southwest Conference is, there is little discussion on a regional or national level about the Bulldogs entering the 2023 season. That being said, the Bulldogs enter 2023 with a veteran group and corps that could exceed the expectations of most under LaHue. With a relatively young group in 2022, LaHue got the group to buy in to being “road warriors” — going 4-1 on the road, winning their final four road games. Winning on the road is hard at any level — especially with a young team. With that experience and an offseason to grow together as a group, the Bulldogs should be extremely competitive and look to rekindle the magic of 2019 to put on a show for the city of Seguin in 2023.

TLU BULLDOG

2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Southwestern Univ.

7 p.m., September 9

Georgetown, TX

Ave MAria

6 p.m., September 16

Bulldog Stadium, Seguin, TX

Sul Ross State

1 p.m., September 24

Jackson Field, Alpine, TX

Mary Hardin-Baylor

1 p.m., October 15

Bulldog Stadium, Seguin, TX

Hardin-Simmons

1 p.m., November 12

Abilene, Tx

East Texas Baptist Univ.

4 p.m., October 29

Bulldog Stadium, Seguin

Howard Payne University

1 p.m., October 28

Gordon Wood Stadium, Brownwood, Tx

McMurry

1 p.m., November 4

Bulldog Stadium, Seguin

Austin College

1 p.m., November 11

Bulldog Stadium, Seguin

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Turning Midnight Scream

into Midnight Yell

The promise of college football is in the air as we rapidly approach the 2023 season. With that promise comes hopes, and expectations and unrealized potential for many teams. But for a small few of those teams the alignment of those three ingredients can result in a recipe for success.

This premise may apply to no team as well as it does to the Texas A&M

Aggies. Perhaps no other team has as hopes and high expectations, combined with more potential, than A&M. There were many teams in 2022 that felt like they underperformed and were forced to hit the reset button or make some significant changes for 2023. For most of those teams, if their adjustments were calculated properly, they may see results of a few more wins and improvements

in a particular statistical area like points per game on offense or differences in their turnover margin.

But what separates the Aggies from the pack is that if their adjustments (such as naming Conner Weigman the fulltime starter and hiring Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator) result in A&M improving as Jimbo Fisher hopes, and the team is able to tap into the unrealized

Story by Hunter Hewell Photos courtesy Texas A&M Football

Photo courtesy Texas A&M Football

potential of the absolutely stacked roster that they have built, they can likely reach or exceed their expectations: to win the SEC West and have a shot at competing for a national championship.

This article is not a prediction that the Aggies will accomplish either of those goals, but it is an affirmation that they can do it, which is not something most teams can say. They return 10 starters on both sides of the ball, so they are an experienced team. Although the offense is fairly young, with many sophomore starters who started last year, they have experience and should mature as the season continues. They also have a head coach and offensive coordinator who are considered among the best offensive minds in the country and have coached multiple Heisman-winning quarterbacks and prolific offenses. Phil Steele’s “College Football Preview” magazine (the bible of college football) even suggests that the Aggies could improve by a touchdown per game in 2023. That is more than significant as four of A&M’s seven losses were one-score losses.

The pieces are there for Texas A&M to become the team it has longed to be since joining the SEC. They have a difficult schedule, but one that should provide plenty of evidence of A&M’s mettle and depth, should they make it through with only one or two losses. Texas A&M has a rare opportunity to go from not making a bowl game in 2022, to a team capable of competing for championships one year later. There are other teams that will show improvement this year and will turn their program around, but none have the opportunity or ability to make as drastic a turn around as the Aggies hope to make. Excitement, tempered by slight reticence, is the default setting of Aggie alum and fans due to (what feels like) innumerable 8-4 seasons (with last year being a nightmare scenario finishing the season at 5-7) under acclaimed head coaches with uber-talented rosters. However, those same fans have a right to be hopeful about this 2023 squad.

Just remember, Aggies, sometimes, it’s the hope that kills.

Photo courtesy Texas A&M Football

Photo courtesy Texas A&M Football

Texas A&M Aggies

2023 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Miami

2:30 p.m., September 9

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FL

ULM

3 p.m., September 16

Kyle Field, Bryan-College Station, TX

Auburn

September 23

Kyle Field, Bryan-College Station, TX

Arkansas

September 30

AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX

Alabama

October 7

Kyle Field, Bryan-College Station, TX

Tennessee

October 14

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TN

South Carolina

October 28

Kyle Field, Bryan-College Station, Tx

Ole Miss

November 4

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Missippi State

November 11

Kyle Field, Bryan-College Station, Tx

ACU 11 a.m., November 18

Kyle Field, Bryan-College Station, Tx

LSU 1 p.m., November 25

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LA

SEC - Championship

3 p.m., December 2

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA

Event Center

Yellow

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Same location, new practice 1339 E. Court, Ste. 210 Seguin, Texas 78155 • 830.379.1500

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Or visit us at our clinics in Cuero, and Gonzales

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EVENT CALENDAR

-September-

AN AMERICAN EVENT FUNDRAISER: Ninth – 4:30 PM

Hosted by Veterans Ministry for Guadalupe County & Hillcrest Church. Silent auction, 3-gun raffle, booths, door prizes and entertainment. Tickets $25/Limited seating. Call 210-269-7078 for tickets and more information. Location: Hillcrest Church, 1440 Eastwood Dr.

6th Annual Classic Car Show: sixteenth – 9 am - 2 PM

Come out and enjoy some cars, trucks and motorcycles with St. James Catholic Church. For more information, call 830-379-1796 or visit www.saintjamescc.org.

Location: St. James Catholic Church, 510 S. Camp St.

2023 Family Festival: Seventeenth – 10:30 am - 5:30 PM

Come on out and bring the family to have some fun with St. James Catholic Church! Food, drinks, beer, booths, children’s games, wet and dry inflatable slides, petting zoo, pony and train rides, silent auction, cakewalk, and basket and gift card raffles. Live auction starts in the gym at 12 p.m. Live music - Gacho Sol, Clint Taft & The Buck Wild Band, and DJ Marcus Demel. $13 pork steak dinner 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: St. James Catholic Church, 510 S. Camp St.

Third Thursday: twenty-first – 4 - 8 PM

Each month, businesses and shops in Downtown Seguin are open with sales, events, snacks and fun! Each month features a different, exciting theme. Shop Seguin. Shop Local. Shop Small. Help support local businesses as they change to meet the ever-changing environment. Shop online or in-store. Location: Central Park, 201 S. Austin St.

2023 Annual Banquet - Seguin Chamber: twenty-sixth – 5:30 - 8:30 PM

The evening will include a social time, dinner provided by Clear Springs Custom Catering, a presentation from our guest speaker Cynthia Lee an awards presentation, and end with the passing of the gavel from Natalie Jones, 2022-2023 chair of the board, to 2023-2024 Chair of the Board William Vanderwaal. The theme for 2023-2024 is “It Takes a Village.” Tickets are $60 each and will be sold through Monday, Sept. 18.

Location: Seguin Events Complex - Coliseum, 950 S. Austin St.