Velasquez
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Hernandez Johnny Pena
Plainview looking to sustain growth with revamped coaching staff
A Bulldog ball carrier scores a touchdown under the lights of Greg Sherwood Memorial Stadium. File photos: Ma’Rico Holland. / For The Herald
By Reece Nations Sports/Education Editor, Plainview Herald
Nothing seems “interim” about the way Wyatt Martinez has coached the Plainview High School Bulldogs since taking the reins in June.
When former Head Coach Johnathon Haddock announced he would be leaving the Plainview football program to take another head coaching position, many were left with deep concern for the upcoming season. As it turned out, the Bulldogs already had a determined leader waiting in the wings for such an opportunity.
Now, as his debut as head coach of the Bulldogs draws nearer, Martinez is priming his team to defy expectations. He told the Herald he’s already seen flashes of brilliance by his team in its preseason training.
“I think that’s so much fun for the kids just to bring that juice every day and have that competitive nature,” Martinez said. “We’re big on telling them ‘We leave it on the field. It doesn’t leave with us, you know, we leave it on the field.’ We leave as Bulldogs together, but during the competition, I think that’s always a good deal for them.”
New to the program is offensive
coordinator Ian Walraven who will carry on with the same balanced runpass attack out of the multiple spread system from years prior. Martinez said the Bulldogs like to run a lot of runpass option calls out of their sets as well, emphasizing smart, unpredictable offensive play.
Defensive coordinator Drew Cunningham returns to orchestrate the Bulldogs’ odd front, 3-3 stack on the other side of the ball. Though Plainview will look to set up three down linemen each play on defense, Cunningham will look for ways to disguise his secondary with anywhere from four to five defensive backs at a time.
“That’s a big part of what we wanted when we got Coach Cunningham here, and he’s done a great job with that,” Martinez said. “We run cover three maybe the best I’ve ever seen a high school team run cover three. It’s not our only coverage, but we do work in it quite a bit and it’s very multiple as well.”
Impact players for the Bulldogs this season are set to include junior quarterback Seth Mayberry, a threeyear returning starter. Already a holder of multiple school passing records, Martinez said he expects Mayberry to set a new record for most passing yards PLAINVIEW, continues on page 4
players hype each other up on field during a game. File photos: Ma’Rico Holland. / For The Herald
PLAINVIEW
continued from page 2
in a career by a Bulldog player on the first game of the season.
Another player looking to make a difference for his team is senior wide out Maddox Ellis. Ellis, another returning letterman, should prove to be one of Mayberry’s favorite targets over the season.
Joining Ellis at receiver is senior Abram Garcia who will look to fill in the gaps left by past year’s corps. Garcia had an impressive series of performances in the preseason, first at the “Back the Red and Blue” intrasquad scrimmage on Aug. 10 and then during a scrimmage against the Shallowater High School Mustangs on Aug. 16.
Defensive backs Zach Soliz and Josiah Miller also return to man the secondary this season. Up front, senior linebacker Jeremiah Guitron and senior nose tackle Elijah Soliz will look to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
The Bulldogs’ first game of the new season on the road against the Randall High School Raiders in Amarillo on Aug.
30. Randall managed a playoff victory last year on its way to a 7-5 overall record and second place finish in its district standings.
Plainview will then travel to play the Pampa High School Harvesters in their second game of the season on Sept. 6. The Bulldogs then will get back-to-back home games, first against the Hereford High School Whitefaces on Sept. 13 and then against the Dumas High School Demons on Sept. 20.
In last year’s matchups, Plainview was narrowly defeated by the Whitefaces 24 to 21 but managed to beat the Demons 30 to 24. The Bulldogs will then travel to Lubbock for their only Thursday game of the season to open district play against the Lubbock-Cooper High School Pirates on Sept. 26.
After resting up during the team’s week six bye, Plainview will resume district play at home against the Wichita Falls Legacy High School Leopards on Oct. 11. The Bulldogs will again hit the road on Oct. 18 to play against the Abilene Cooper High School Cougars.
The following team’s matchup sees them take on the Palo Duro High School
Dons at home on Oct. 25. Palo Duro will look to avenge its 41 to 14 loss to the Bulldogs from last season.
Plainview must then travel to Wichita Falls to challenge the Memorial High School Mavericks on their home turf on Nov. 1. Plainview will close out its district schedule at home against the Wylie High School Bulldogs on Nov. 8.
Even in the face of steep odds, the Bulldogs this season are aiming to play focused, disciplined and crafty football in Martinez’s first year as head coach. His message to fans is clear: come show your support and watch us put on a show.
“I’m just thrilled for the opportunity,”
Martinez said. “We’re going to be really big on what our brand of football is, and we want people to believe that. We want the Plainview community to believe in what our brand of football is meant to be, what Plainview football means to be a part of, that it’s all of us together against anybody else that wants to come in here and play against us.”
Fans can find the Plainview Bulldogs full schedule including kickoff times online at plainviewisd.org/page/ athletics. For more high school football previews and coverage, visit myplainview.com.
Bulldog
Quarterback Seth Mayberry reads the defense on an option play. File photos: Tim Wetzel / For The Herald
Head coach Wyatt Martinez addresses his team at midfield of Greg Sherwood Memorial Stadium. File photos: Reece Nations / For The Herald
The varsity football team is coached by Wyatt Martinez, Drew Cinningham, Ian Walraven, Doug Davis, Santana Soliz, Edgar Zamarripa, Andrew Villa, aaron Montgomery, Michael Wickware, Blake Summers, Austin Hauk, and Neil Billingsly. File photos: Reece Nations / For The Herald
Abernathy looking to make strides after moving to 2A Division 1
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solid district.”
On offense, Abernathy runs plays out of the spread and lines up in the 5-3 defensively. Wiley said these schemes have worked for the Antelopes due in part to players’ familiarity with the system.
Forcing turnovers on defense at the high school level requires teams to stop the run, he said. Otherwise, “nobody will ever throw it.”
Executing for the team this season will be senior two-way lineman Kelton Carver. At 6’4” and 270 pounds, Carver has already drawn interest from college programs after first lettering in Football in 2023.
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“There’s been a hundred different schemes that win state championships,” Wiley said. “You know, it’s just matter of can you get your kids to do what you want them to do and line up and execute the way you want them to.”
Also a two-way lineman, senior Jackson Arrington is another returning starter looking to make an impact in his high school season. Senior running back Rolando Martinez, a three-year varsity letterman who changed his position from free safety last season, is expected to man the backfield for Abernathy this season.
ABERNATHY, continues on page 7
By Reece Nations Sports/Education Editor, Plainview Herald
Floydada High School Whirlwinds football is in its best shape in years after finishing with a winning record in backto-back seasons last year.
Head Football Coach Justin Wiley, now in his fifth year at the helm of Abernathy’s program, told the Herald that school size was the biggest factor
that led the school’s move from Class 3A Division 2 to Class 2A Division 1 during UIL redistricting. In their last two years at the 3A level, the Antelopes never played a single game with enrollment above the cutoff for 3A schools.
“I think overall it’s good for our kids just because we have the same numbers that the schools we play have,” Wiley said. “But it’s still a ringer of a district. You know, New Deal, New Home, Olton, Floydada, us and Post still is a pretty
Abernathy faced Muleshoe on Sept. 22, 2023. File photos: Ma’Rico Holland II/Plainview Herald
ABERNATHY
Wiley said the Antelopes will approach the season one game at a time. In a district as competitive as 2A Division 1 Region 1 District 2, it’s pointless to circle games on the calendar.
“No, no bulletin board material for anybody,” Wiley said. “They’re just– I feel like everybody on our schedule is good. And they’re all good programs with good coaching staffs that have been in place for a while.”
Abernathy plays its first game of the season at home against the Stratford High School Elks on Aug. 30. Stratford, who are defending district champions, finished last season with a 14-1 record that included a deep playoff run. Next, the Antelopes travel to play the Sunray High School Bobcats on Sept. 6. Sunray also posted an impressive 12-3 record last year with its own deep playoff run that extended its season into December.
The following week, a former in-district foe in the Littlefield High School Wildcats will travel to Abernathy to play on Sept. 13. Abernathy will then hit the road to play against the Farwell High School
Steers, another winning program last year, on Sept. 20.
The Antelopes close out their nondistrict slate of games against the Friona High School Chieftans on Sept. 27.
Abernathy’s bye week evenly divides its schedule into two halves as the district schedule gets underway after their week
six break.
They play their first district game of the season at home against the New Home High School Leopards on Oct. 11. New Home were the champions of 2A Division 2 Region 1 District 4 with an 11-1 overall record and made a respectable second-round playoff exit
against Sunray last year. Abernathy hits the road again to take on the New Deal High School Lions on Oct. 18. The Antelopes must then host the Floydada High School Whirlwinds the following week on Oct. 25.
The Antelopes’ final away game of the regular season sees them play the Olton High School Mustangs on Nov. 1. Lastly, Abernathy will host the Post High School Antelopes on Nov. 8 to close out district play.
Though only time will tell how Abernathy will fair among their new district opponents, they do seem to fit in well among their peers. Despite dropping down from 3A, Wiley said Abernathy is still only the third largest school by enrollment in District 2.
“We have six home games this year,” Wiley said. “That’s just the way we could get the season scheduled. So, we have a lot of home games this year, and we got new turf this past year. Our stadium is a pretty nice stadium for a 2A school, and so come on out and watch us.”
Fans can find the Abernathy Antelopes full schedule including kickoff times online at abernathyisd.com. For more high school football previews and coverage, visit myplainview.com.
Floydada aims to keep winning under Head Coach Compton
By Reece Nations Sports/Education Editor, Plainview Herald
Floydada High School Whirlwinds football is in the best shape it’s been in years after finishing with a winning record in back-to-back seasons.
Now, as Head Coach J.R. Compton enters his fourth season at the helm of the Whirlwinds, he and his players will steel their resolve to reach new heights.
Floydada went 6-4 overall last year and narrowly missed the playoffs in a threeway tie for third place with Tahoka and
Sundown high schools.
Ultimately, it was the Whirlwinds’ 36 to 34 loss against the Tahoka High School Bulldogs that kept them out of the postseason despite a late-season surge of back-to-back wins. Instead, the Olton High School Mustangs placed second district with a 3-2 record and qualified for the playoff spot.
“We were able to finish the season off on a high note,” Compton told the Herald. “You know, you just never want to go in to those last couple of games
FLOYDADA,
Floydada took down Lockney 35-21 in the 101st annual Floyd County Championship. File photo: Don Brown/For The Herald
continues on page 9
depending on help. You want to try and do as much by yourself as you can, and we needed some help that we didn’t get there at the end. It was a successful season, but it was a little disappointing.”
To get back in the hunt, Compton said the Whirlwinds are sticking with what works. Floydada’s approach as a spread, two-back team featuring an odd 3-2 stack defensive alignment will remain the standard for now.
In years past, Compton said the team relied heavily on its talented stable of running backs to share a fair amount of the load offensively and that these players have since graduated, leaving a deep hole in the depth chart for the next-men-up to fill. Regardless, the Whirlwinds can expect be led offensively by senior returning letterman Tyrean Henderson who both threw and rushed for over a thousand yards each last season.
Senior all-district receiver Braun Hobbs is also set to return this season and make a big impact on offense. Senior outside linebacker Logan Smith is another returning difference-maker for
the Whirlwinds with high hopes for his final high school season.
Compton said “about 95%” or more of his team hold jobs outside of school and athletics. At Floydada, not a single player nor their time is taken for granted.
“The meat of our strength and conditioning is done at eight o’clock in the morning, but we keep (the weight room) open all day because there’s some that are working at eight o’clock in the morning,” Compton said. “And they get off and we close at about 5:30 or 6, but we close when they’re done and don’t just close it to close it. We want to give them every opportunity to get better.”
Floydada’s first game of the season will come on the road against the Tulia High School Hornets on Aug. 30. The Hornets are looking for a big turnaround from last season under Head Coach Frederick Jordan in his first year at Tulia.
The Whirlwinds will then be tested at home on Sept. 6 by a Lockney High School Longhorn football team coming off a bi-district championship and 7-3 overall record last season. Floydada bested Lockney 35 to 21 when the teams played last year.
Floydada will play its annual
homecoming game against the Smyer High School Bobcats the following week on Sept. 13. The Whirlwinds must then travel to Lubbock and face the Trinity Christian High School Lions on Sept. 20.
The Whirlwinds return home the next week to play the Hale Center High School Owls on Sept. 27 before recuperating during its week six bye. District gets underway on the road against the Olton High School Mustangs on Oct. 11.
Floydada faces another challenge the following week against the district newcomer New Home High School Leopards on Oct. 18. The Leopards won a Class 2A Division 2 Region1 District 4 title last season and finished with an impressive 11-1 overall record.
The Whirlwinds have back-to-back away matchups before closing out the season at home. They will play on the road against the Abernathy High School Antelopes on Oct. 25 before travelling to Jimmie Redman Memorial Stadium to play the Post High School Antelopes on Nov. 1.
Lastly, Floydada will challenge the defending district champion New Deal High School Lions for its last game of the regular season on Nov. 8. New Deal
Best Wishes to All Area Teams
went undefeated in district competition last season and rattled off a pair of postseason wins that briefly extended their season.
At the end of the day, though, the real game Compton is preparing his players for is the game of life. This premise is what his entire high school athletics philosophy is based on.
He said people in public education had better “be in it for (the kids)” or else they’re “not going to be successful at it.”
“When it comes to the game of football, we’re only here for a while and we need to enjoy that time that we’re here,” Compton said. “Because the important thing is, when you’re done with it, we put upstanding young men (and) women out into society and give them a chance to be successful. The good thing about athletics is they’re gonna go through some trials and tribulations that a lot of people don’t have, and they learn to fight through.”
Fans can find the Floydada Whirlwinds full schedule including kickoff times online at floydadaisd.esc17.net/ page/football. For more high school football previews and coverage, visit myplainview.com.
Hale Center’s Coach Puente optimistic about 2024 football season
By Ellysa Harris Plainview Herald
The 2024 football season appears to be off to a good start for the Hale Center Owls.
As he embarks on his second year as athletic director/head football coach of his alma mater, Coach Marc Puente says he’s feeling pretty good about what he’s seen in practice which makes him excited for what’s to come as the season really gets underway.
“It’s been a really good start,” he said. “It’s been really positive. Our kids know the system. The effort is great.”
The Owls went 4-7 in 2023 losing to New Home in bi-district.
“One thing for us last year is we came in really late,” he acknowledged. But now, he added, the team’s had time to rebuild and get his systems in place. The players are showing confidence and feeling more comfortable in what they’re doing.
This year’s team includes about 12 seniors and 12 underclassmen, Puente said. It’s a good mix he expects to be led by the senior class.
He’s bringing back many four-year
HALE, continues on page 11
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Hale Center head coach Marc Puente relays a play to his players in 2023. File photos: Albert Gomez/For The Herald
starters for a good mix of some more seasoned talent and promising younger talents who will undoubtedly be presented with opportunities to step up.
The team has spent more time in the weight room. They’re getting visibly bigger, faster and stronger.
Some of the key players to look out for this season include Aidan Baldridge, Jessie Castillo, Hector Gerhardt, Kobe Gonzales, Michael Lopez, Javan Rumbaugh and Pablo Cardenas.
“It’s been a total buy-in from all our kids,” Puente said.
It’s good for a team will face a challenging schedule.
“We start off with Ropes,” Puente said. “They’re turning into a powerhouse.”
In Week 2, they’ll face Plains, then Wheeler for Homecoming in Week 3.
“We’ve never played those guys,” Puente said of Wheeler.
Next up is Smyer on Sept. 20 before the Owls face Floydada in Week 5.
There’s an open week for Oct. 4 before the team kicks off district play against Ralls on Oct. 11.
Ralls has been a district champion
contender for a couple of years in a row so he expects a bit of a challenge.
The Owls will then hit the road to meet Crosbyton on Oct. 18 before two back-to-back home games against Sudan on Oct. 25 then Lockney on Nov. 1.
Hale Center will face Morton on Nov. 8.
“It’s going to be a wide open district but tough every week,” Puente acknowledged.
The Owls can handle it, though. They’ve been working hard since the disappointingly early end to the season in November. They’re hungry for a shot at what Puente says they deserve.
“I think our schedule is favorable for us,” he said. “I think we have an opportunity to be in every ballgame. Pre-district and district are just going to come down to us to do what we need to do and be disciplined to be able to compete and end those ballgames.”
A pair of Hale Center defenders take down a Ropes ballcarrier. The Owls fell to Ropes 33-6 Sept. 15, 2023. File photos: Albert Gomez/For The Herald
Hart embracing ‘Together We Will’ motto under new head coach
By Reece Nations Sports/Education Editor, Plainview Herald
Hart High School Longhorns football has a homegrown leader guiding the team as its head coach this season.
Adan Carrasco was hired by Hart ISD over the summer to lead his hometown program into a new era. The Longhorns are coming off a 4-5 record overall and a third-place finish in UIL Class 1A Division 2 Region 1 District 2 six-man competition.
Though players were displeased with how the chips fell last year, Carrasco told the Herald there were plenty of positive takeaways to build a solid foundation on and grow from. This season’s preseason camp consisted of regimented weightlifting, conditioning and position training.
“It’s been very encouraging,” Carrasco said of the team’s summer regimen.
“You know, we had a few varsity boys show up but a lot of them work, so a lot come by in the afternoons and do the weightlifting and skills afterwards... We saw a number of junior high kids as well, so it was a very positive one.”
Carrasco said this year’s Hart team has the potential to be versatile at every position. He’s counting on returning senior players to be disciplined and mentor the next-man-up behind them to maintain the highest possible level of competitiveness year-over-year.
Coaches Corbin Whitfield and Anthony Washington are respectively tasked with offensive and defensive coordinating duties this season. Carrasco said MJ Singleton also joined the coaching staff to teach “technical skills” to the wide
receiver position group.
“Coaching my alma mater in football– I would like to leave behind an impact after this first season,” Carrasco said. “I want to leave the kids with values and everything else. I want these kids to know how to work hard and have good sportsmanship, and I want them to find out a little bit more about themselves.”
Offensively, Carrasco said the Longhorns will run various formations out of the J-bird. Though a balanced run-pass attack can be executed in this scheme, the leverage it develops lets teams create conflict for opposing defenses with backside pulls on sweeps and combination blocks on quick dives.
On the other side of the ball, Carrasco said the Longhorns will strive to “mix things up” by showing multiple looks each game. Man-to-man and zone coverage are both the focal points of Hart’s defense until they “establish identity,” he said.
Senior quarterback Noah Marin, a returning starter, will be the team’s catalyst for points as he navigates the offense this season. Senior defensive lineman Dominic Dominguez also returns as the squad’s anchor and will look to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
“I want the town to look at us and say, ‘Hey man, this coach really left an impact, and we did better than what everybody else thought we were gonna do,’” Carrasco said. “So, we can just build on what everybody said we weren’t gonna do. I think that’s a start that would be great.”
The Longhorns will have one extra week of preparation before they play their first game of the season because
the team’s bye week falls on the first week the regular season. Hart will then play every week consecutively from the first week of September until the first week of November.
On Sept. 6, Hart will kick its season off with a home game against the Whitharral High School Panthers. Whitharral is coming off an excellent
last season that saw the team claim a district championship and win its firstround playoff matchup on its way to a 10-2 overall record.
Next, the Longhorns play their first away games of the season back-to-back against the Motley County High School
HART, continues on page 12
2024 Hart Longhorn Varsity Football Schedule
Head Coach- Adan Carrasco
Asst. Coaches: Corbin Whitfield, M J Singleton, Anthony Washington
Athletic Director: Adan Carrasco adan.carrasco@hartisd.net
Managers:
Cheerleaders: Brizeth Soltero, Bri’Anna Nalley, Roylynn Gonzales, Tabree Worsham, Diana Longoria, Alesia Gonzalez, Mylie Marin. Adamari Morales, Hannah Hernandez, Braelynn Geopfert
Mascot: Emily Lujan
Cheer Coach: Candyce Whitfield
Principal: Christa Chambers Superintendent: Juan Dominguez
Matadors on Sept. 13 and the Wildorado High School Mustangs on Sept. 20. They play their next opponent, the Wellman-Union High School Wildcats, at home on Sept. 26. The following week, Hart will travel again to play the Miami High School Warriors on Oct. 4. Hart’s first district matchup of the season comes against the SpringlakeEarth High School Wolverines on Oct. 11. The defending district champion Wolverines finished 8-4 last season on their way to a playoff appearance and first-round win against the Valley High School Patriots.
The Longhorns will take a break from district competition to play the West Texas Tornadoes, a team of homeschooled students under the Texas Association of Independent Athletic Organizations, at home on Oct. 18. Hart resumes its district matchups with another home game against the Nazareth High School Swifts on Oct. 25. Hart will begin to wind down its district schedule with its final away game of the regular season against the Happy High School Cowboys on Nov. 1. The Longhorns will close out the district
calendar at home against the Kress High School Kangaroos on Nov. 8.
Now, with one of their own alumni at the helm, Hart’s program appears to be headed for an upswing. A tradition Carrasco decided to revive from his days at the school for this season was the team motto “Together We Will.” He said this message embodies the willpower he hopes to inspire across the entire in support of the high school six-man program. Despite struggling with loss in his personal journey, he expressed immense gratitude for being given the opportunity to lead his hometown team on Friday nights.
“It’s almost like a dream come true,” Carrasco said. “I mean, the way everything happened– I came from East Texas... You know, things happened and mom passed away, and so I had come back over here. I was working until the last two years and, all of a sudden, I was wanting to come back. But I never dreamed that I was going to come back as the AD-head coach.”
Fans can find the Hart Longhorns full schedule including kickoff times online at hartisd.net/page/overview. For more high school football previews and coverage, visit myplainview.com.
Undeterred Kress looks to bounce back in head coach’s second year
By Reece Nations Sports/Education Editor, Plainview Herald
Kress High School football experienced a downturn in its 202324 season as first-year Head Coach James Shelton helped etch his team’s new identity into Kangaroo Stadium’s turf.
Now in his second year at the helm of Kress, Shelton hopes to build on all the things that fueled the team’s late season three-game winning streak and propelled them to a 3-1 record in district play. As it turned out, last year’s squad would learn just how unpredictable six-man football can be as just a single play would end up sending the team to the postseason.
The Kangaroos beat the Petersburg High School Buffaloes on Oct. 13 as time expired when quarterback Kingston Brumley miraculously found receiver Zavian Pacheco in the back of the endzone on a pass that was tipped
by a defender. This win pushed Kress to a second-place finish in its district and qualified them for the playoffs despite a 4-7 overall record.
While reaching the playoffs with a firstyear head coach was itself a milestone, Shelton said his staff are telling players to raise their expectations this time around. Just making the playoffs this season shouldn’t be satisfying.
“‘Oh, we scored a few touchdowns on that team.’ That’s not good enough, right?” Shelton told the Herald. “So, we have to set our goals higher and just change the mentality of making Kress a sports school, right? Making teams think, ‘Oh, crap, we’re playing Kress this week.’ That’s the mentality I want because if we can do that, our talent will speak for itself.”
Shelton said he’s looking to implement a more balanced run-pass attack to his team’s spread scheme on offense. Just as last season’s offense didn’t quite hit its stride until week 7 in its 52-point KRESS, continues on page 14
victory against the Anton High School Bulldogs, Shelton expects his team this year to start rolling offensively after finding what does and does not work against certain looks.
On the other side of the ball, Kress brought in defensive coordinator Chris Berry to implement the 5-1 zone. Staples of this scheme include a lot of help-side action and transitions, allowing the team to use stunting blitzers in certain situations and work from an alignment they call “Army Cover 2.”
“A lot of people when they think of the 5-1, they think it’s going to be all out blitzes and so forth,” Shelton said. “We mix it up and we have a lot of stunts with it. We have a lot of man-to-man off the line. We have a lot of role coverage for the passing, so... it’s hard to block. It’s hard for linemen at this level to know the right offense alignment and understand how to block them.”
Their strategy on defense is to get into the teams’ heads by making them think that pressure is always
players join hands as they march toward midfield for a pregame coin toss. File photos: Don Brown.
coming while successfully hiding where it comes from. Shelton said the best opportunities for causing turnover stem from putting pressure on teams’ quarterbacks.
The Kangaroos’ first game of the season will be away against the Loop High School Longhorns on Aug. 30. Shelton said he wanted his team to play Loop because “Coach Bear (Chesley) does a phenomenal job with his Longhorns,” describing them as a “eight- or nine-win team
every year.”
Following its season opener, the team’s next three games against Wellman-Union on Sept. 6, Southland on Sept. 13 and Paducah on Sept. 20 will all be at home with 7:30 p.m. kickoffs. An away game against the White Deer High School Bucks of Carson County on Oct. 4 will be the Kangaroos’ last nondistrict matchup played on the road.
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Kress
Kress’s first district game of the season will come at home against the Nazareth High School Swifts on Oct. 11. The Swifts finished second last season in UIL Class 1A Division 1 Region 1 District 2 six-man competition and managed to qualify for the playoffs much like the Kangaroos did in District 3 last year. They then take the Happy High School Cowboys on in a road matchup slated for Oct. 18. Happy won last season’s encounter 68 to 22 en route to a district title and a deep playoff run. The Kangaroos will play the Panhandle Christian Home Educators Warriors at home on Oct. 25 before resuming district competition at home against the Springlake-Earth Wolverines on Nov. 1. Springlake-Earth has won its district the last three years in a row, dating back to the 2020-21 season. Kress’s final game of the regular season will be a district matchup at home against the Hart High School Longhorns on Nov 8. “It’s just a phenomenal district when it comes not just to talent with the kids, but just awesome coaches,” Shelton said. “There’s nothing but really good coaches in the district that I, as a coach, have to compete against, be able to keep up with and be able to out-coach sometimes in those situations where
they’re more talented than we are. So we’re super, super excited about that.”
Shelton’s belief in his team’s ability to compete against top-tier opponents remains strong despite their stiff district competition. Some of the team’s top players to watch out for this season include senior defensive back Cole Todd, who mans the high safety position in the team’s 5-1 defense, and sophomore quarterback Brumley, a returning starter from last season.
Of all the opponents on the team’s schedule this season, Shelton said the team’s archrivals of Happy and Nazareth hold special significance in terms of their mindset. If he has his way, these teams should begin to consider
Kress as equal opponents.
“I don’t think there’s much bigger home game than Nazareth, and so we made Nazareth our homecoming game this year,” Shelton said. “Nazareth is definitely a rival, but Happy is probably going to be the number one (school rival). So we know how packed those stands are going to be on both sides. It’s going to be a huge game, a must-win for both teams. I’m super excited to see how we lean up against that.”
Fans can find the Kress Kangaroos full schedule including kickoff times online at tuliaisd.net/o/ths/page/athletics. For more high school football previews and coverage, visit myplainview.com.
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Lockney set to face tough opponents this season
By Ellysa Harris Plainview Herald
The Lockney Longhorns football team includes quite a few familiar faces this season.
Head Coach Jonathan Thiebaud said most of his offensive line is back.
“I think I’m bringing back seven or eight on offense and about the same on defense,” he said.
The team graduated some size last year but the Longhorns are shaping up well as they prepare for the 2024 football season.
“We’re not exactly small but we’ve gotten quite a bit faster,” he said. “I think that’s going to be a huge benefit for us. We’re bringing a bunch of people back and a group of guys that’s kind of hungry to put another trophy in the trophy case.”
The Longhorns ended the 2023 season with a 7-3 record as co-champions of their district before being knocked out by Morton in the first
round of playoffs. Though the outcome of the last game didn’t quite go as the Longhorns would have liked, it capped a good season considering the team was plagued by injuries.
Looking toward 2024, the Longhorns have their eyes set on another playoff run. It won’t be an easy road, though. Lockney will open the regular season by hosting West Texas for Week 1 on Aug. 30.
“They’re a 3A school,” Coach Thiebaud noted. “They’re big.” It was a good physical matchup last year and this year, their quarterback is healthy. He expects it to be a challenge, but a welcome one.
For Week 2, the Longhorns will face county rival Floydada before a matchup against Plains for Week 3.
“They’re always super athletic,” he said.
In Week 4, the Longhorns will host Quanah for a Homecoming matchup before taking on Clarendon in Week 5.
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“We kind of scheduled pre-district to give us some tests to see where we’re sitting,” Thiebaud said.
When district begins, there won’t be an easy game, he acknowledged.
After an open week for Oct. 4, Lockney kicks off district against Morton on Oct. 11. They’ll travel to Sudan on Oct. 18 before facing Ralls on Oct. 25. The Longhorns will face Hale Center on Nov. 1 and close district with Crosbyton on Nov. 8.
“It’s always a war in this district,” Thiebaud said.
Thiebaud has coached the Lockney Longhorns for four years. This is his third year as head coach. He began coaching the offensive line when he came to Lockney.
“Getting to see my offensive line mature has been really, really fun,” he said. “I’ve coached them all four years since I’ve been here.”
They’ve kind of become coaches in their own right, he added. They know his expectations and help coach their teammates to meet them. Offensive line returners include Rudy Jimenez, Tucker Southard, Matthew Garcia, Masen Rehkopf and Xavier Alaniz.
But they aren’t the only guys to watch this season. Other key players will be Xavier Jimenez, Dyllan Thiebaud, Daniel Alvarado, Dahlen Silva, Darren Jimenez and Aatrayu Leal.
“We’re bringing back a ton of experience,” he said.
The boys have put in a lot of work this summer, he noted.
“I’m just excited to get it going,” Thiebaud said.
Floydada took down Lockney 35-21 in the 101st annual Floyd County Championship. File photos: Don Brown/For The Herald
Floydada took down Lockney 35-21 in the 101st annual Floyd County Championship. File photos: Don Brown/For The Herald
Lockney runs out of the tunnel prior to the start of the game.
Olton prepares for 2024 football season with 14 returning seniors
By Ellysa Harris Plainview Herald
Ross Lassiter has known this group of seniors since they were in third grade. He and his family moved to Olton ISD nine years ago and his son younger of two sons was among those kids. He’s watched them grow. He’s watched them mature.
This year, he hopes to watch that growth culminate into a good football season.
The 2024 Olton Mustang Football Team includes 14 returning seniors, he said. Their positions are distributed about evenly on both sides of the ball.
“Expectations are high for 2024,” Coach Lassiter said.
The 2023 team earned second in district and finished the season 7-4 after losing in the first round of playoffs. With a more seasoned team and most of his starters returning, Lassiter hopes to do better this season.
Football season officially began with
the go-ahead from UIL to start summer practices at midnight on Aug. 4.
He talked with the Herald at the start of the following week and by that point, he hadn’t been working with his team for very long.
What he did see, though, was positive.
The start of the new season drew 58 kids to the field for football. He hopes to place about half on varsity.
After just one full week of practice, Lassiter said his team shows promise on both sides of the ball.
“I’m seeing defense a little ahead of our offense,” he said. “It’s pretty normal for a football team this time of year.”
The boys are stronger, they’re bigger and they’re faster. They worked hard through the summer and show general improvement as the fall season begins. Right now, the team is focused on defining its strengths as they prepare for the official start of what promises to be a competitive season.
“I feel like the strength of our team this year is our senior class,” he said.
Asked if there are any players he expects to see great things from this season, Lassiter said there are several.
On the offensive side of the ball, he
named seniors Raymond Ramirez (starting quarterback), Jaxon Tomsu, Alan Vasquez, Landon Lassiter and
A group of Olton defenders take down Sudan running back Marcello King. File photo: Ma’Rico Holland II/Plainview Herald
OLTON, continues on page 18
Adolfo Garcia. He also noted juniors Isaiah Ruiz and Chris Cabrera.
On the defensive side, he named seniors Wyatt Nelson, Jaime Reyna and Avery Garcia. He also noted juniors Fabien Gutierrez and Keon Brown. Vasquez also has a role on the defensive side, Coach Lassiter added.
“They’re excited,” Lassiter said of his team, and he’s just as excited to see what they can do.
Game 1 is against Sudan.
“Sudan puts a great team on the field every year,” he added. “It’s always a good game when us and Sudan line up against each other.”
Then the Mustangs face Dimmitt, a 3A school, for Week 2.
In Week 3, the Mustangs will face Texico, New Mexico, the reigning state champion in their division in our neighboring state.
“They’re a good team,” Lassiter said. “It’s always a tough game for us.”
Ropes in Week 4 will be a good test for the Mustangs before they take on Vega in Week 5, which will be their last nondistrict opponent of the season. District starts Oct. 11 and the schedule is loaded.
“I see us being able to be successful,” Lassiter said, adding that he expects a dog fight every week through District. There’s a break in Olton’s schedule between non-district and district play. Olton will kick off district by hosting Floydada in Week 7. The Mustangs will travel to Post in Week 8 before returning to host New Deal in Week 9. Abernathy, a new (but familiar) 2A conference opponent, will come to Olton in Week 10 and the Mustangs will travel to New Home for the last district game on Nov. 8.
“Once we get into district, it’s going to be really tough,” Lassiter said. “Our kids will prepare and play hard. It’s going to be interesting to see who comes out of district.”
Isiah Ruiz carries the ball during Olton’s victory over Vega. Sept. 29. File photo: Ma’Rico Holland II/Plainview Herald
Petersburg looking to make strides with revamped coaching staff
By Reece Nations Sports/Education Editor, Plainview Herald
Marcos Rendon’s 15th year with Petersburg ISD will be his first as head coach of its six-man high school football team.
After finishing 5-5 and narrowly missing out on the UIL Class 1A Division 1 Region 1 District 3 playoffs, the Buffaloes approached their summer training camp workouts intent on competing for a district championship this time around. Although Petersburg is in a new district this year, Rendon told the Herald that the move to District 5 reunites the team with some familiar foes from years past.
Players and coaches alike will get a clean slate to start the season as an entirely new Buffaloes coaching staff takes over this season. Rendon said the team will operate using a combination of the J-bird and spread on offense and the 3-3 defense.
Petersburg will look to pair blocking combinations with sweeps and sprints outs to create the separation needed to produce big play opportunities. Speed will similarly be a point of emphasis in the team’s 3-3 defensive look as players look to meet opponents off the line of scrimmage.
Rendon said senior two-way players Dayln Parraz, Corbin McWilliams, and Lucas Rendon were all noteworthy returners to watch out for this season. The Buffaloes will kick off their season on the road against the O’Donnell High School Eagles on Aug. 30.
O’Donnell, formerly of District 5, finished last season 2-1 in district play and 8-3 overall on its way to a playoff berth. The Buffaloes will then play at
home in back-to-back weeks against the Claude High School Mustangs on Sept. 6 and the Springlake-Earth High School Wolverines on Sept. 13.
Petersburg then will play back-to-back games on the road against the Roby High School Lions on Sept. 20 and the Southland High School Eagles on Sept. 27. The Buffaloes’ last non-district matchup will come at home against the Motley County High School Matadors on Oct. 4 before kicking off district play on their trip to rival Lorenzo High School on Oct. 11.
The Hornets will try to avenge last season’s 78 to 43 loss to Petersburg and improve on a 1-3 record against in-district competition. The team’s first district home game will come in its week eight matchup against the district newcomer Silverton High School Owls scheduled for Oct. 18.
Silverton is coming off an exemplary season last year in which the Owls posted a 9-3 record overall, made an undefeated district title run, and nabbed a postseason victory over the Amherst High School Bulldogs. The Buffaloes lost a competitive week one matchup to Silverton last season before the teams were put in the same district.
Petersburg plays its last district away game of the season against the Spur High School Bulldogs on Oct. 25 before recuperating during its week 10 bye week. The Buffaloes final district matchup of the season will be against the Valley High School Patriots on Nov. 8.
Fans can find the Petersburg Buffaloes full schedule including kickoff times online at petersburgisd.net. For more high school football previews and coverage, visit myplainview.com.
Petersburg players take the field at Buffalo Stadium. File photos: Ma’Rico Holland.
A Petersburg ball carrier gains ground against Spur. File photos: Don Brown.
Petersburg running back Colton Sharples carries the ball on a run play. File photos: Ma’Rico Holland.
Petersburg Quarterback Corbin McWilliams pitches the ball. File photos: Ma’Rico Holland.
Silverton embraces idea of being underdog in 1A Division 1
By Ellysa Harris Plainview Herald
The Silverton Owls will compete as 1A Division 1 six-man this football season.
With the district experiencing a little bit of welcome growth, Silverton will compete with teams that are a little bigger this season – and fourth year
Head Coach Kevin Hurn is OK with that.
Having been a part of this district for nine years now, Hurn says, he’s grown right alongside his kids. He knows they’re ready.
“From what I’ve seen so far, we’re very resilient,” Hurn said.
Silverton lost two players who were state track runners and all-state football players to graduation. In six-man, he noted, “that’s a pretty big loss.” As a result, he expects some people to have low expectations of the Owls.
“I hope people outside of our locker room keep that bar for us,” he said with a laugh. “I love being the underdog.”
People outside the know don’t see what he’s seen every day in practice. He sees all around growth and a team hungry to show up and show out.
“We’re going to be competitive,” he said.
The Owls had a good season in 2023 – one of the best they’ve had in more than a decade, or so Hurn has been told. They made playoffs as a district champion last year. They got knocked out in the second round. They ended the season with a 9-3 record, the best one they’d had in a while.
When all is said and done, he noted, the upper classmen have exhibited good leadership.
“We’ve had one of the best summers we’ve ever had here,” Coach Hurn said. “The line’s been drawn. The standard has been set.”
This year’s team include a bigger sophomore class. The backfield, he added, is senior- and junior-heavy.
Asked if there are any players to watch this season, Hurn named Zaden Ortiz, Jace Alvarado, Cooper Mullins, Alonso
Beltran and Lucas Holt.
“They’re a gritty bunch of kids,” Hurn noted. “They know what the standard is.” They want to win games, he added, which is good because the team is facing a challenging schedule this season.
The Owls will play mostly on Thursdays this year, a result of a shortage of referees.
For Game 1, the team will travel to meet Boys Ranch on Aug. 29. The Owls will host Vernon Northside in Week 2.
“They’re also competitive,” Hurn said. “They always play hard and bring their best.”
Nazareth is next on Silverton’s schedule before the Owls meet Booker at Groom in Week 4.
Silverton will host White Deer for Homecoming in Week 5 then travel to Groom for Week 6.
“We know each other pretty well,” Hurn said of the matchup against Groom on Friday, Oct. 4.
Spur is next on the schedule followed by Petersburg, which is another Friday game (Oct. 18).
The Briscoe County Bowl (game against Valley) will be in Silverton this year.
“I hear they’ve got some really, really good things going on over there,” Coach Hurn said.
This game, he added, is a “good ol’ fashioned rivalry.” It’ll be a good one no matter which way it goes.
Silverton will close district play against Lorenzo on Friday, Nov. 1. The Owls have a Bye Week on Nov. 8.
“Lorenzo is athletic,” he said. “They’re always athletic.”
It’s a tough schedule but Hurn can’t wait to show off what his team can do. And if somebody underestimates them, so what? To that, he says bring it.
“We like being the underdog,” Hurn said. “We embrace that. We’ll wear that badge proudly. Win, lose or draw, we’re going to play our tail off every single night.”
Tulia looks to rebound, leave mark on new district
By Reece Nations Sports/Education Editor, Plainview Herald
Though this season will mark Frederick Jordan’s first as head coach of Tulia High School Hornets football, one cannot tell from watching their preseason workouts.
From day one, Jordan said his team has shown up and bought in to the program’s new direction and identity. Now, in a newly realigned district with one fewer team than before, the Hornets are treating last year’s 1-9 record like ancient history.
Their early preseason was difficult, however, as staff turnover meant Jordan had to hire out assistants before developing a training regimen that reinforced the team’s revamped approach. Jordan said “about 80%” of his team from the freshmen through senior-year levels work jobs outside of school, so players already are no strangers to working through adversity.
“We went a little bit old school,” Jordan said of preseason training. “We did a little bit of work really, because workouts consisted of film, strength and conditioning. Then once two-a-days rolled around on August 5th, we were in and out and getting kids and coaches taken care of, working around the heat and different elements. But yeah, we went and had a little bit of a mixture of everything.”
Tulia is aiming to return to form with its first winning season since the team finished 6-3 in 2021. To do this, Jordan said the team will count on returning lettermen quarterback David Molina, two-way lineman Diego Trevino and
outside linebacker Matt Lopez.
Though new coaches will be calling the shots this time around, the Hornets will still run the multiple spread offense and 3-3 stack defense from last year. With an emphasis on solid fundamentals, Jordan said these schemes represent hard-nosed plans of attack that accentuate the team’s natural toughness.
“A lot of families in this community believe in kids going out and working for what they want, and that’s going to correlate to the football field,” Jordan said. “We’re going to show up every day... We’re going to have our lunch pail and our hard hats, and we’re going to get to work.”
Tulia’s first challenge will come during its week one matchup on Aug. 30 at home against the Floydada High School Whirlwinds. The Whirlwinds, under the guidance of third-year Head Coach J.R. Compton, are coming off a 6-4 record last year and will be the first to kick off the Hornets’ non-district schedule this season.
Tulia’s next pair of non-district matchups will both come at home against the River Road High School Wildcats on Sept. 6 and the SanfordFritch High School Eagles on Sept. 13. The team’s first road game comes against the West Texas High School Comanches in Stinnett on Sept. 20.
This trip begins the Hornets’ stint of three straight games on the road, with matchups against the Lamesa High School Tornadoes on Sept. 27 and the Guymon High School Tigers on Oct. 4.
Tulia’s nearly six-hour long and over
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Tulia player Ethaniel Trevino carries the ball for a gain at Younger Field against Sanford-Fritch. File photos: Ma’Rico Holland /For The Herald
“Call
2024 Tulia HS Football Schedule
TULIA
continued from page 22
350-mile trek to Guymon, located in the Oklahoma panhandle, will easily be the furthest distance traveled by the team for a game all season.
The Hornets commence district play at home against the Dimmitt High School Bobcats on Oct. 11. Tulia then plays the Bobcats of Childress High School at home the following week on Oct. 18.
Childress finished last season 8-4 overall, placing second in district competition and managing to defeat the Abernathy High School Antelopes in the first round of the playoffs. The Hornets will then be challenged with another slate of back-to-back games on the road to close out district competition.
On Oct. 25, the Hornets will face their most daunting challenge as a team to date as they go up against the defending district champion Canadian High School Wildcats. Canadian had a stellar 2023 campaign, going undefeated in regular season play and making a memorable playoff run which they will hope to recreate this season.
Finally, Tulia’s Nov. 1 matchup against the Friona High School Chieftans will close out the Hornets’ regular season. The team’s bye period falls on the last week before playoffs start in midNovember.
Despite the problems presented by a late bye week and other obstacles sure to lie ahead, Jordan said the Hornets are well prepared for the season and ready to rise to the occasion. Through shared gratitude for the moment they’re currently in and hope for the program’s bright future, the only direction left for the Hornets to go is up.
“I’m just really thankful for the administration and school board and everyone that gave me this opportunity to be in this position, and I look forward to a great season here in Tulia,” Jordan said. “We’re going to build something that everybody in the community and town of Tulia — and the district as well — can be proud of.”
Fans can find the Tulia Hornets full schedule including kickoff times online at tuliaisd.net/o/ths/page/athletics. For more high school football previews and coverage, visit myplainview.com.
