2023 Texas Tough

2023 Texas Tough

ABOUT THE COVER

The Texas Tough 2023 football section cover was designed with photos from Andy Zavoina, Dennis Knowlton, Michelle Greenway and Frank Fernandez. Pictured, from left to right, are Ellison’s Kesean Meeks, Chaparral’s Kenneth Johnson, Harker Heights’ Kabriel Anderson-Dale, Killeen High’s Tekoree Landours, Shoemaker’s Malik Esquerra and Copperas Cove’s Mike Uini.

Cove looking to get out of recent rut

By Thaddeus Imerman Killeen Daily HeralD

Since 2018, the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs have been ... well ... the underdogs. Following the sudden departure of Jack Welch in 2018, the Bulldawgs have struggled to find their footing, winning just seven times in the last four years — three wins coming in 2019.

With just four wins in the past three years combined, senior players on this year’s teams are ready to put the narrative to bed.

“The last few years — we’re tired of talking about it — but we have a lot of stuff in our necks,” said senior linebacker Joe Carpenter. “We’re not happy about our (past) performance, and a lot’s been changed since these past few years. We’re excited to get back out and show people what we’ve become and what we will become.”

Despite two blowout wins against 5A opponents (39-9 over Georgetown East View and 51-18 over Waco University) a year ago, head coach Tony Johnson — now in his second season — knows more needs to be done.

The main point of emphasis this year has been on mental discipline to finish games.

This offseason, Johnson and his coaching staff have been working to get the team to play for all 48 minutes of a game.

“There were three or four other games where we were in them for a half,” Johnson said Tuesday. “We never really — other than those two wins — played, in my opinion, a complete four quarters.”

Having turned around other programs in the past, Johnson said it takes a lot to overcome a defeated mentality, but he said his team is unequivocally capable of it.

“When you’re in the lull (and) losing so much, it becomes habitual, and it’s hard to break that,” Johnson said. “I use a boxing term, like older boxers get numb to being

hit in the face — it becomes a paycheck. Don’t make this a paycheck.

“Stop being numb when you get

HeralD | file

Copperas Cove’s Mike Uini (55) blocks a Georgetown player during the 2022 season opener at Bulldawg Stadium. Uini, a four-star offensive lineman, has already committed to reigning national champion Georgia.

hit; it’s football, you’re going to get hit. Things are going to go bad. When they go bad, we rebound, we get better and we move on.”

To help overcome some of the defeated mentality, Johnson and staff have worked in the offseason to constantly drill technique and fundamentals.

So far, it seems to be catching on.

“I feel like we’ve done an amazing job as an entire defensive unit getting everything down to a ‘T’ and just learning from the basics — perfect technique for the basics,” Carpenter said.

To get to the playoffs, the Bulldawgs will have to be — as Johnson put it — “road warriors.”

The 2023 season features six games away from Bulldawg Stadium and four games in front of the Cove faithful.

“When you’re going on the road, it’s such a different animal,” Johnson said. “We need to embrace that and embrace that opportunity to showcase ourselves on the road without our home crowd.”

Going into the season, Johnson is confident that the offense is the strength of his team this year.

Copperas Cove boasts size and physicality on the offensive line

COPPERAS COVE BULLDAWGS

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 2-8

2021: 1-9

2020: 1-9

2019: 3-7

2018: 7-4

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 25 at Georgetown 7:00

Sept. 1 at G’town East View

Sept. 8 Manor

Sept. 14 at Waco University*

DISTRICT 12-6A

Sept. 29 at Bryan

Oct. 6 Pflugerville Weiss

Oct. 13 at Waco Midway

Oct. 20 Hutto 7:30

Oct. 26 at Harker Heights^ 7:00

Nov. 3 Temple 7:30

*-Waco ISD Stadium

^-Buckley Stadium

and a wide receiver corps led by Trishstin Glass, Demetrius Pearce and Joshua Butler. Johnson said he expects Micah Casson to start at quarterback but says Gabriel Rodriguez is too athletic not to play him somewhere on offense if Casson takes the reins.

At the running back position, it may be running back by committee.

One of the leaders of the offense is tackle Mike Uini, a big lineman

who recently committed to play college football at the University of Georgia.

“Being more mature and just giving in (and) buying in to the coaches and the process,” Uini said of what he feels “better” looks like.

To help put the offense in a position to get better, for Uini, the answer is simple.

“I would say as long as we buy in to ourselves, buy in to the process, buy in to the coaches, while we focus on our own jobs,” he said.

On defense, Johnson expects to start a lot of young guys, though the secondary is experienced. On the front seven, Johnson said the Bulldawgs will have a new nose guard and a new defensive tackle and a handful of linebackers with limited experience.

“How they develop, we can do a lot offensively to help them — sustaining drives, keeping the ball and not going three-and-out all the time,” Johnson said. “If we can do that offensively, which I think we can, that’s going to take some pressure off those young guys and put them in better situations where the other team has to go the length of the field and not have a short field.”

Copperas Cove opens the season Friday on the road at Georgetown. The first game at Bulldawg season is scheduled for Sept. 8 against Manor.

Familiar name now in charge of Knights

By Thaddeus Imerman Killeen Daily HeralD

Coming into the 2023 season, the Harker Heights Knights are eager to finish the job they started a year ago.

The Knights enter the season on the heels of a 9-1 regular season campaign that saw them come within two games of the state championship, losing 60-24 in the 6A regional final to eventual champion DeSoto.

Now, the Knights have their eyes set on going those two steps further.

The coach chosen to lead them there is Mark Humble, a former quarterback who served as a backup on Killeen High’s 1991 state championship team.

Humble succeeds Jerry Edwards, who took the position at Colleyville Heritage High School in March after having served as Heights’ coach since 2013.

”I think that’s everyone’s ultimate goal,” Humble said of winning a state championship. “If you don’t talk about it, then you don’t believe it, you don’t instill (it in) the kids, you’ve got zero chance of doing it. So that’s always going to be the ultimate goal.”

That said, Humble admitted that he does not want to only build a championship season but a championship program.

“We rewind and we talk with our kids it all starts with our purpose first,” Humble said. “Our first two goals are to be, number one, 100% passing rate all year and (two,) a 3.0 GPA. That’s got nothing to do with football. So if we can do those two things, I know we’ve got a good football team.”

After the academic goals come all the accolades.

“If we don’t do those first two,

then you can forget about the rest,” Humble said.

Speaking of the rest, “Dave Campbell’s Texas Football” magazine has the Knights picked to repeat as champs of the seven-team District 12-6A this year.

The Knights got over the hump last year, beating Temple midway through the season and finishing undefeated in the district.

To get there, offensively,

is likely to ride the arm of Dylan

Plake, a two-year starter and senior quarterback, who finished last season with 2,084 yards and 22 touchdowns passing, along with 150 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

“Plake ... is a three-year starter that can manage the offense and will cause serious issues for opponents,” the “Texas Football” magazine said.

PLEASE SEE knigHTs, 

Humble

HeralD | file Harker Heights’ Kabriel Anderson-Dale (30) shows off a Royse City fumble recovery during the Division II-6A area round of the playoffs on Nov. 18 at Waco ISD Stadium.

knigHTs

That said, the offense may evolve as the year progresses.

“We do a great job of evaluating our personnel and doing what our kids do well, so it’s always going to center around the quarterback,” Humble said. “We’re a multi-personnel, multi-formation, multi-tempo team. But what we do is, every year, our offense may look a little bit different because we do what our kids can do.”

Plake may be called upon early to lead the Knights downfield as the team looks to move forward with the absence of Re’Shaun Sanford and Aimeer Washington, a twoheaded running back monster from the past two years.

Acknowledging that Sanford cannot be replaced, Humble said it may be a “running back by committee” type of situation to begin the year.

“I think you’ll see a lot of names fill in there and do a really good job for us at running back,” Humble said.

Being called upon to lead the Knights offense is music to Plake’s ear.

“He’s definitely motivated me by putting me into a bigger role of leadership by pushing me every day,” Plake said. “We go as you

HARKER HEIGHTS KNIGHTS

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 12-2

2021: 9-2

2020: 7-4

2019: 4-7

2018: 1-9

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 24 Ellison (B)

Sept. 1 Smithson Valley (B)

Sept. 8 at RR Cedar Ridge*

Sept. 15 Odessa Permian (S)

DISTRICT 12-6A

Sept. 22 Pflugerville Weiss (S)

Sept. 29 at Waco Midway

Oct. 6 Hutto (B)

Oct. 20 at Temple

Oct. 26 Copperas Cove (B)

Nov. 2 at Bryan 7:30

(B)-Buckley Stadium

(S)-Searles Stadium

*-Dragon Stadium

go. That’s the motto that we have written on the wall for the quarterbacks. We go as you go. So, when the team’s up, you’re going to be up.”

Make no mistake, Plake said he would like to go 10-0 and finish with a state championship.

Last year, the Knights came just two points shy of an undefeated season, losing only 28-27 to the

storied Odessa Permian Panthers. This year, the Knights will seek to avenge that loss when Permian travels to Killeen on Sept. 15.

Defensively, the Knights look to lean on senior linebacker Kabriel Anderson-Dale.

Harker Heights returns five starters on defense.

“That’s the beauty of high school football,” Humble said. “Guys graduate and go on and do great things, then new names step up and fill those roles and new stars emerge.”

Anderson-Dale is the projected defensive MVP for District 12-6A, according to “Texas Football.”

“I came a long way since my freshman year, so to come into my senior season, and have my head coach rely on me heavy, it’s a really great feeling, and I’m really excited to take my team to the next level,” the senior linebacker said.

Throughout the offseason, Anderson-Dale said he has sensed a lot of cohesion on the team.

To help increase cohesion on the team, coaches installed game goal boards in the hallway of their practice facility for offense, defense and special teams.

Each game, the defense will be looking to meet specific goals, such as having a certain amount of tackles for loss, turnovers, etc.

“It gives us something to strive for,” Anderson-Dale said.

Ellison looks to end 5-year playoff drought

By Thaddeus Imerman Killeen Daily HeralD

With only two nondistrict games on the schedule, it will not take the Ellison Eagles long to begin their push to end their five-year playoff drought in earnest.

The Eagles have not made the playoffs since 2017.

In order to get into the playoffs, the Eagles will have to emerge as one of the four best teams in District 4-5A Division I.

To do so, Ellison will rely on the basics.

“I think you have to be fundamentally sound, and you can’t beat yourself,” said head coach Danny Servance. “We’re really trying to make sure we take care of ourselves before we worry about our opponent. We’ve got to be sound in what we do. We’ve got to be disciplined and not be an opponent to ourselves.”

To Servance, the team that makes the fewest mistakes typically comes out on top.

There are four ways Servance said he and his staff are working on mental discipline with their players.

First is repetition. Second is relevance. Third is intensity. Fourth is unique teaching methods.

Heading into the season, Servance said there is a lot of work to do, but falling back on a classic cliche, the Eagles will take it one game at a time.

“I think we’ve got a long way to go, but we’ve seen flashes of a really good football team,” Ellison said.

To snap the playoff drought, the Eagles will rely on a group of raw talent and inexperienced players — many of whom did not start much a year ago.

Due to graduation, Ellison lost a lot of starters from last year’s team that finished a game out of a playoff spot.

”We got a lot of questions answered that needed answering,”

HeralD | file

Ellison quarterback Sidney Holland throws against Red Oak on Sept. 16 at Leo Buckley Stadium.

EllisOn

said third-year coach Danny Servance. “We felt a lot better coming out of spring and going into two-a-days.”

Ellison is returning two starters on defense and six on offense.

Since spring, head coach Servance said his team has made positive strides.

“In spring ball, I thought we got better each week,” Servance said. “And that was the goal — and to stay healthy.”

Through practice, Servance said some potential new starters have emerged along with growing leadership from those returning.

“That whole group (defense), pretty much we graduated — besides Kesean Meeks and Sema’j

Howard,” Servance said. “Even though Adrian Mitchell, before he got hurt this past year at defensive end, so I guess we could say three guys coming back.

“But besides those guys, we had some guys step up and do a really good job — Marquivio Ballard, who’s our new middle linebacker, and he did a great job in spring. He got better and gained confidence, played at a high level during the spring and really came on and did a terrific job for us. We were really excited about how well he played in the spring.”

Meeks, a senior inside linebacker, said he has taken it upon himself in the offseason to help out the players who did not play a lot last year.

“I’ve been teaching them how fast the game plays and preparing them how to get stronger, get faster and try to get them mentally prepared for the next level,” Meeks said during practice in August.

Some of the things Meeks has helped his inexperienced teammates with is how to shed blocks and other fundamental, defensive techniques.

From Meeks’ perspective, the team has grown every day.

“Everybody’s been showing up since summer workouts started,” he said. “And that’s a good sign for the team how everybody’s locked in and on board when it’s football season.”

As a leader on the defense, Meeks said he and his teammates possess a lot of speed and a lot of physicality.

Servance also spoke about the prospect of the offense.

“Offensively, we moved the ball really well in the spring and had our offensive line take strides and be much better than they were this past year. Jordyn Jews stepped up and became a really good receiver for us and a good leader more than anything.”

Jews said he has seen a lot of

ELLISON EAGLES

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 5-5

2021: 4-6

2020: 2-8

2019: 3-7

2018: 4-6

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 24 at Harker Heights (B) 7:00

Aug. 31 Pfl. Hendrickson (B) 7:00

DISTRICT 4-5A-D1

Sept. 15 at Red Oak 7:00

Sept. 22 Shoemaker (B) 7:00

Sept. 29 at Waco* 7:00

Oct. 6 Cleburne (S) 7:00

Oct. 13 at Killeen (B) 7:00

Oct. 20 Granbury (B) 7:00

Oct. 27 at Midlothian 7:00

Nov. 3 Lake Belton (B) 7:00

(B)-Buckley Stadium

*-Waco ISD Stadium

(S)-Searles Stadium

talent coming up from the junior varsity level, and he has been helping coach his teammates.

“We’re disciplined ... staying in the weight room, stay on top of the plays,” Jews said during practice.

From a wide receiver’s perspective, like Jews, discipline means not lining up offsides, making key blocks, catching the ball and not holding.

Servance also highlighted another player that should contribute on the offensive side of the ball.

“Joseph Fowlkes, also, a very explosive player on offense — played running back and slot receiver. And, he’s a kick specialist, so he can do multiple things and try to get the ball in his hands as much as we possibly can because he’s a threat every time he has the ball in his hands.”

Ellison is picked by “Dave Campbell’s Texas Football” magazine to finish fifth in the district. The Eagles begin their season Thursday against Harker Heights at Buckley Stadium.

Roos ready to take another step forward

By cLay WhITTIngTOn HeralD CorresponDent

Josh Sadler does not believe the process ever eases.

A little more than one year ago, Killeen replaced longtime head coach Neil Searcy, and the late hire caused Sadler to miss out on the opportunity to conduct spring practices with the team.

As a result, the Kangaroos entered the season with little cohesion.

Making matters even worse, the University Interscholastic League’s biennial reclassification placed Killeen in the nine-team District 4-5A, Division I, giving it just two contests before embarking on its lengthy playoff quest, which fell short.

More than a year later, one might assume the Kangaroos’ current situation is far less difficult than the one Sadler originally inherited, but he disagrees.

“I know what to expect from the kids,” Sadler said, “and they know what to expect from me, so that part is better, but to me, this job never gets easier. It is still the same struggle every single year.

“You are still trying to keep kids motivated and interested in football despite the heat and everything else. You always want to just keep the buzz and excitement around your team and help it grow.”

Killeen certainly took a step forward last season.

After recording just eight wins in their previous three seasons, the Kangaroos were 4-6 overall in Sadler’s debut, finishing sixth in the final district standings.

While the intention is to build on the showing, Killeen must at-

PLEASE SEE ROOs, 11

Killeen High’s Tekoree Landours runs down the sideline after a catch for a long gain against Waco at Leo Buckley Stadium on Nov. 4.

ROOs

tempt to do so without several instrumental pieces to last season’s team.

Running back Jakobe Deloach, center Connor Beeman, inside linebacker Cameron Gee and defensive end Aaron Barnwell each graduated after representing the Kangaroos on the all-district first team. Additionally, offensive tackle Kevin Kopitskie and safety Lamarrion Cotton must be replaced.

Despite the departures, talent remains.

Defensively, seniors Jaeshaun Peyton, a cornerback, and linebacker Galayum Taylor will help anchor the unit, while junior receiver Tekoree Landours is poised to be a primary target for returning senior quarterback Roderick Norman.

“We had a decent year last year,” Sadler said. “I thought we were very competitive and the kids played hard all the time, but we just came up short in a few key ballgames. So, I’m really excited to see what this group can do.

“We’ve had a full offseason under our belts together, and I think all the puzzle pieces are there for an exciting season.”

Killeen won three of its first four games last season before suffering

KILLEEN KANGAROOS

LasT FIVe seasOns

2017: 4-6

2021: 2-8

2020: 3-6

2019: 3-7

2018: 5-5

2023 scheduLe

Aug.

(B)-Buckley Stadium

*-Reeves Athletic Complex

^-Tiger Field at Belton HS #-Waco ISD Stadium

through a five-game losing skid responsible for spoiling any playoff hopes, and ending the program’s six-year postseason drought remains difficult.

After two teams — Midlothian and Red Oak — advanced beyond the bi-district round last year, a pair of different squads enter with high expectations. Lake Belton and Shoemaker are ranked 19th and

22nd, respectively, in the preseason state rankings.

Killeen plays all four of the schools within a five-game stretch, starting at home against Midlothian on Sept. 29 before traveling to Lake Belton the following week. Then, after hosting Ellison, the Kangaroos play at Red Oak and host Shoemaker.

Although there might be more comfort and cohesion between Sadler and his team as Killeen prepares to start its schedule, the campaign will be dotted with adversity as the program strives to reach its previous glory and capture its first state title since 1991.

Plenty of hard work remains, but Sadler admits one aspect of his job takes little effort.

“The game of football itself and just getting out there with the kids and having fun,” he said, “there is nothing that is hard about that. That part is easy.

“When you just get to focus on playing the game that we’ve been preparing for since December, it is always a great day.”

‘We had a decent year last year. i thought we were very competitive and the kids played hard all the time, but we just came up short in a few key ballgames.’

Josh sadler

Killeen High head coach

Wolves set to contend for district title

By cLay WhITTIngTOn HeralD CorresponDent

Shoemaker head coach Toby Foreman understands there is a difference between youth and inexperience.

On the heels of producing a third season with at least seven victories and a playoff appearance in the last four years, the Grey Wolves enter 2023 in position to contend for the District 4-5A, Division I championship.

Upon examining the team’s roster, however, questions could arise.

Preseason No. 22 Shoemaker lost seven defensive starters to graduation and has just 20 seniors, who are being joined by 11 sophomores.

Most teams are typically expected to field more upperclassmen and fewer lower classmen than the Grey Wolves are preparing to open with, but Foreman believes distinctions must be made.

“We are going to have to lean on some young guys,” he said, “but for example, one of those guys is going to be (junior quarterback) Malachi Jerome, who was named all-district newcomer of the year last season and one of the leading passers in the district. So, those things all matter, and there are not a lot of question marks with the guys like him.

“The question marks are on the guys who are coming from the Thursday night lights to the Friday night lights and how they make that transition.”

Despite having experienced youth, plenty of voids must be filled by departing standouts.

Along with Jerome, former Shoemaker end Zavian Tibbs received an all-district superlative, being named co-defensive player of the year. Furthermore, receiver

Javante Carson, center Wilbert Martin, inside linebacker Valentino Greene, defensive tackles To’O To’O Maugaotega and Jequarrius McClendon and end Darrion Burleson were each first-team selections.

For all the talent lost, the Grey

Wolves have no shortage of known commodities on the field for every aspect of the game.

Senior safety Malik Esquerra, who is verbally committed to Texas Tech, anchors the defense, while

HeralD | file Shoemaker’s Malik Esquerra runs back an intercepted pass against Ellison on Sept. 23 at Joseph L. Searles III Stadium.

SHOEMAKER GREY WOLVES

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 8-3

2021: 3-6

2020: 7-3

2019: 7-4

2018: 2-8

2023 scheduLe

wOlVEs

FrOm Page 12

senior running back Jerrod Hicks and senior receiver Johnathan Lahmann highlight an offense responsible for 34.7 points per game a year ago.

K’Mare Balfour and Isaiah Butler-Tanner, who are both juniors, join senior guard Kareem Edmon on the offensive line, while junior Maurice Starr, who also plays receiver, returns as the team’s top kick returner.

“This team is going to have the ability to score fast,” Foreman said, “and overall, this team is just very fast. We just have a really good mix, and the potential to be really good is there.”

It will not take long for the Grey Wolves to begin understanding where they stand.

With nine teams competing for

four playoff berths, every outcome is critical, and the race begins almost immediately as each team is only afforded two games before opening the marathon, eight-game district schedule.

Midlothian, which emerged as undefeated district champion, and Red Oak were the only teams to beat Shoemaker, but each game was decided by five points or less.

In order to reverse the roles and capture the district title, though, Shoemaker cannot afford to let close contests escape their grasp, especially early on.

Last season, the Grey Wolves split their first four district games with the quartet of contests being decided by a combined 17 points, including a one-point win, 34-33, at Lake Belton. This year, the Broncos are No. 19 to start the season.

While a long, difficult path must be navigated before the program can reach the district’s pinnacle, Foreman chooses to not focus on

Aug. 25 at San Angelo Central 7:00

Sept. 1 at Chaparral (S) 7:00

DISTRICT 4-5A-D1

Sept. 8 at Midlothian 7:00

Sept. 15 Lake Belton (B) 7:00

Sept. 22 at Ellison (B) 7:00

Sept. 29 Red Oak (S) 7:00

Oct. 12 at Waco* 7:00

Oct. 20 Cleburne (S) 7:00

Oct. 27 at Killeen (B) 7:00

Nov. 2 Granbury (B) 7:30

(S)-Searles Stadium

(B)-Buckley Stadium

*-Waco ISD Stadium

the future.

“I just want to see these guys keep getting better each day,” he said. “That is a big deal. We have to increase the speed of our progression, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, it is not as much of a progression.

“On offense, though, we have a lot of different pieces with a lot of different personnel groupings and so on.”

‘This team is going to have the ability to score fast, and overall, this team is just very fast. We just have a really good mix, and the potential to be really good is there.’

Toby Foreman, Shoemaker head coach

Bobcats’ 2nd season should be smoother

By cLay WhITTIngTOn HeralD CorresponDent

Alan Haire knows far more about his program after a single season. More importantly, he knows far more about his players.

One year after being rushed into the season as Chaparral’s inaugural head coach, Haire enters his second year with a familiarity he lacked before. During his last offseason, priorities surrounded hiring coaches, organizing practices, ordering equipment for workout facilities and even learning which keys coordinate to specific locks.

Now, however, the hectic pace of preparing for a season while simultaneously fostering the Bobcats’ entire athletic program from its inception has eased, and Haire can focus on more critical aspects.

“Last year at this time,” he said, “I barely even knew anybody’s last name or much less their first name or what grade they are in. So, this year, I’m really just able to connect more with all of them as far as actually getting to know them.

“The more you know about a kid, the better you are going to be able to coach him. That has been a really nice change.”

In 2022, there was simply no time for formalities as Chaparral struggled to be competitive in its debut.

The Bobcats lost their first eight games by an average of 29 points before collecting the team’s only victory to date in a 50-18 win versus Pflugerville Connally.

Although the 1-9 campaign was not the season Chaparral envisioned, a majority of the players get another opportunity after only 12 lettermen were lost to gradua-

PLEASE SEE BOBCATs, 1

HeralD

Chaparral’s Kenneth Johnson (30) runs for a touchdown against Pflugerville Connally on Oct. 21 at Joseph L. Searles III Stadium.

CHAPARRAL BOBCATS

LasT FIVe seasOns

Second season

2022: 1-9

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 25 at Killeen (B) 7:00

Sept. 1 Shoemaker (S) 7:00

Sept. 8 Marble Falls (S) 7:00

Sept. 15 at Bryan Rudder* 7:00

DISTRICT 11-5A-D2

Sept. 22 at Waco University^ 7:00

Sept. 28 Pflugerville (S) 7:00

Oct. 6 at Elgin 7:00

Oct. 13 Leander Rouse (S) 7:00

Oct. 20 at Pfl. Connally# 7:00

Oct. 27 Belton (S) 7:00

(B)-Buckley Stadium

(S)-Searles Stadium

*-Merrill Green Stadium at Bryan HS

^-Waco ISD Stadium

#-The Pfield at Pflugerville HS

BOBCATs

tion.

Among the returners is a trio of offensive standouts in last season’s leading rusher Kenneth Johnson, a sophomore, senior tight end Micah Curtis and junior lineman Torrie Henry.

Defensively, senior cornerback Adonis McKenzie resumes his role anchoring the unit after being named the Bobcats’ only District 11-5A, Division II First Team representative on either side of the ball.

Talent on the field is only part of the reason Haire is confident in his team’s ability to improve.

“We are well ahead of where we were at this point last year,” Haire said. “We’re still young in a lot of

different positions, but they are recognizing terminologies, formations and schemes much better than before. It feels like we are just light years ahead when it comes to recognition of those things.

“We’ve got a lot of youth, but that is just part of building.”

Chaparral starts off with a pair of clashes against fellow Killeen ISD schools, playing at Leo Buckley against Killeen before hosting No. 22 Shoemaker the following week.

In 2022, the Bobcats lost the encounters by a combined score of 94-6.

Regardless of the outcomes, Chaparral will be forced to endure a grueling schedule with its bye date once again set for the final week of the season, and while the trek will be difficult, the Bobcats will enter with something it was previously forced to slowly forge over time — camaraderie.

Unlike last year, when Chaparral were not afforded spring training and essentially all met for the first time at two-a-days, bonds are established.

Players have collectively experienced an agonizing two-month wait before celebrating a historic victory, spent hours together practicing in the sweltering summer heat and made numerous bus trips across the state,and after a year, Haire feels his players truly understand the concept of being a team.

“There is definitely more of a united feel of togetherness,” he said, “because they’ve gone through all the strength and conditioning and they’ve seen what it takes from successful teams we’ve played against. Those teams have shown us where we would like to be one day.

“With all that, the kids start wanting to do their best daily, and that is when good things start happening.”

FrOm Page 1

Numbers give Badgers many options

By cLay WhITTIngTOn HeralD CorresponDent

Games are only played once a week, but Troy Rogers wants his players competing every day.

While some teams enter the season with a specific set of starters and predetermined list of backups, Lampasas’ roster is fairly fluid following the graduation of 18 lettermen, including seven starters, creating numerous opportunities for untapped talent to emerge.

And the Badgers are not lacking options.

After having as few as 90 players involved in Lampasas’ entire program in recent years, approximately 135 are part of the teams going into 2023, and the Badgers’ head coach believes the turnout could be the key to success this season.

“When you have numbers,” Rogers said, “you have depth, and when you have depth, you have competition. Then, once you have competition, you have guys working hard every single day because there is someone behind them who wants their job.

“So far, we’ve had lots of good competitions at lots of positions, and that is an exciting thing.”

Although Rogers is pleased with the potential of his unknown commodities, whoever emerges will have big shoes to fill.

Among the Badgers’ departed players are quarterback David Flores, running back Aden Rascoe, receivers Ethan Moreno, Owen Stubbs and Carter Johnson, offensive lineman A.J. Luna, defensive lineman Landon Stegal and linebacker Kaeson Raub.

The group helped Lampaas post an overall record of 6-5 last season and record its fifth consecutive playoff appearance.

While the goal is to always reach the postseason, the Badgers would also like to earn the District 13-4A, Division I championship along the way, which would be their first since collecting back-to-back undefeated titles beginning in 2019.

Lampasas must overcome defending district champion San Antonio Davenport, though.

Despite entering just its second season as a varsity program, the

PLEASE SEE BAdgERs, 1

Dennis KnoWlton | HeralD Lampasas quarterback Reed Jerome looks to pass during a scrimmage against Salado on Aug. 11 at Badger Stadium in Lampasas.

LAMPASAS BADGERS

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 6-5

2021: 5-6

2020: 9-1

2019: 13-2

2018: 7-5

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 25 Elgin 7:30

Sept. 1 Northeast Early College 7:30

Sept. 8 G’town East View 7:30

Sept. 14 at Pfl. Connally* 7:30

Sept. 22 at Wimberley 7:30

DISTRICT 13-4A-D1

Oct. 6 Burnet 7:30

Oct. 13 at Taylor 7:30

Oct. 20 SA Davenport 7:30

Oct. 27 Marble Falls 7:30

Nov. 3 at Canyon Lake 7:30

*-The Pfield at Pflugerville HS

BAdgERs

FrOm Page 1

Wolves have high expectations, ranked No. 11 in the preseason poll. Last season, the Badgers fell 55-34 at Davenport.

“They are the new kids on the block,” Rogers said, “but they are the returning district champ, and they are bringing a whole lot of talent back. So, they are the ones that everyone is penciling in as the team to beat, but this district is full of good teams.

“There is a lot of parity.”

Offensively, Lampasas will rely on sophomore running back Jett Walker, who was second on the team with 386 yards rushing last season, junior lineman Kevin Castruita and senior tight end Preston Isom, while junior lineman Rider

Morua will anchor the defense after being named all-district newcomer of the year in 2022.

Levi Rivera, a senior, and junior Reed Jerome, who are both linebackers, will complement Morua along with junior lineman Brady Renfrew and senior defensive backs Ayden Shaw and Brock Langford. Others will undoubtedly arise from Rogers’ large talent pool, but regardless of the combination, he is confident it will yield positive results after witnessing his players’ interactions since the start of summer conditioning workouts.

On the field, in the weightroom and outside of the game, Rogers has admittedly seen a strong bond develop between the Badgers, and while camaraderie cannot replace size, speed or strength under the Friday night lights, he believes it can still deliver victories.

“I’ll see some high school teams with 12 (NCAA) Division I athletes on it,” Rogers said, “and I just think to myself, ‘How are they not winning state every year?’ The reason is obvious — they aren’t playing together.

“I’m not throwing stones at anyone, but that is just the reality. If you don’t come together as a unit and a family and play for the guys next to you, then it really truly doesn’t matter how talented you are, because you won’t be very good.”

Hornets look to build on Hunter’s 7-win debut

By cLay WhITTIngTOn HeralD CorresponDent

The goal each week is to simply win a football game, but Aaron Hunter’s philosophy is far more complex.

Gatesville’s second-year head coach made an impressive debut by guiding the Hornets to seven victories — the program’s most since 2017 — and back into the playoffs last season, but the accomplishment is already not enough.

As a Gatesville alum, Hunter is familiar with the program’s rich history highlighted by a 14-10 victory against Abilene Wylie in the 2000 Class 3A, Division I state championship, and he understands exactly what the team means to its community.

So, despite his immediate success, Hunter’s sole focus remains reviving the Hornets, and diagramming touchdown plays is only part of the process.

“We just want to take the next step as a program,” he said. “We don’t want to just make the playoffs — we want to win the district championship. We don’t want to just get in the playoffs — we want to win playoff games.

“It all comes back to us, because we control that. It is accomplished by how we do things. Are we disciplined? Are we doing things as we are supposed to do them? Are we disciplined? Are we growing as young men? Are we making good choices and having good character? Are we staying committed? Are we being accountable? These are all the things we discuss on a constant basis.”

There is no debating the approach to this point.

PLEASE SEE HORnETs, 1

Dennis KnoWlton | HeralD Gatesville’s Lawson Mooney (30) returns an interception against Caldwell during a threeteam scrimmage on Aug. 12 at Academy High School. Lawson earned District 11-4A-D2 co-defensive player of the year honors last season.

GATESVILLE HORNETS

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 7-4

2021: 4-7

2020: 4-6

2019: 0-10

2018: 3-7 2023

HORnETs

FrOm Page 1

Prior to Hunter’s arrival, Gatesville experienced some shaky seasons despite producing playoff appearances.

Between 2018 and 2021, the Hornets only accumulated eight wins, which Hunter almost equalled in one year, but replicating the feat will be difficult.

the final week of the regular season schedule, and should they reach the postseason, a potential bi-district encounter with No. 4 Cuero looms.

Gatesville could thrive in the environment, though, after returning 13 starters from last year’s team that never suffered consecutive losses.

Oct.

Oct.

Along with being situated in District 11-4A, Division II with two teams – No. 9 Waco Connally and No. 25 Madisonville — ranked in the preseason poll, Gatesville faces No. 6 Glen Rose in the second week and No. 17 Godley three weeks later.

Adding to the adversity, the Hornets do not have any opportunity to rest unless they return to the playoffs because their bye date falls on

“Everybody goes through lulls,” Hunter said, “but it is about how you battle out of it. Our leaders and captains have to bring us out of it so everybody else doesn’t just fall into the trap of being OK with being OK.

“A lot goes into that, but it comes down to us as a coaching staff challenging our kids to be better every day.”

The Hornets’ offense will be engineered by senior quarterback Jacob Newkirk, who returns behind senior linemen Zach Bryant, a guard, and center Gabe Charles, while the defense will be spearheaded by Lawson Mooney. The senior back was named all-district co-defensive player of the year in 2022.

Additionally, senior safety Sean Aguilar will help anchor the unit.

While talent remains, replacing departed standouts Trevor Smith, a receiver, tight end Kyle Shafer, guard Steven Bomar, outside linebacker Mason Mooney, defensive end Lucas Garcia, cornerback Kason Herbelin and punter Carter Williams among others is an almost impossible task.

Hunter feels it is his responsibility to find a way to do so, though.

“We constantly have to be looking at how we can separate ourselves,” he said. “What makes us different, and what can we hang our hat on? The big thing for us has to be accountability and discipline.

“We have to be the ones who raise the standard here.”

Flipping close losses into wins is Salado’s goal

By TIm WaITs fMe neWs serviCe

SALADO — Few are as knowledgeable about the history of Salado football as Tom Westerberg.

Despite his long coaching career elsewhere, the 1982 graduate is aware of the seasons that have seen great success, others of disappointing lows and many more somewhere in between.

Westerberg would like to be part of the wheels in motion that put his alma mater on a higher plane and keep them there as the village is on the cusp of significant growth.

Some of that will require picking up victories that got away from them a year ago with the same hard-knocks schedule that led to a 3-8 campaign.

“It’s not the easiest schedule in the world,” admitted Westerberg, whose non-district opponents include strong powers in Boerne, Malakoff, Hitchcock along with old local rival Academy before entering into a small, but salty District 11-4-II slate against Waco Connally, Madisonville, Gatesville and Robinson. The Eagles lost eight of their last nine games, though many were close contests in Westerberg’s first season.

“Now that we’ve been here a year with our offense in place, our coaches in place I have a better feeling that we will respond a little bit better,” he said.

The Eagles have a mixture of veterans spliced in with a corps of sophomores who will need to get ready quickly to compete on Fridays.

The best place to have an experienced leader is at quarterback and the Eagles have that in senior Luke Law, a statuesque 6-6, 230-pounder who threw for almost 2,300 yards a

threw for nearly 2,300

year ago. He recovered from a foot injury that kept him out the Eagles’ overtime playoff loss to Cuero and was showcased in 7-on-7 spring football.

“Luke has another year under his belt,” said Westerberg. “He’s been to all kinds of camps and has done a good job getting ready this summer.”

Law will have a talented set of receivers in Morgan Adams, Bren-

dan Wilson and Korbin Konarik to choose from. “All are good athletes and we’ve got to get the ball where they can catch it and run,” said Westerberg.

What they plan to do more this season is run, largely on the strength of Kase Maedgen’s wheels.

“We will rely more on the run this season, especially early,” said

ray sWinDle | speCial to fMe neWs serviCe Six-foot-6, 230-pound quarterback Luke Law returns to lead the Salado offense. He

yards last season.

sAlAdO

Westerberg. “If you have to throw 40 or 50 times to win it, you probably aren’t going to win. You’ve still got to run the football and run out the clock and to win football games you have to run it.”

Up front, the Eagles have a mostly new array of linemen. Josh Barker will get the nod at center flanked by guards Brooks McLane and Trey Waters. At the tackles, Tyler Blackwood and Kaleb Bellis will see time. The Eagles have also added a tight end in James Renick, whose primary job is to block but will be used in routes as well.

While the skill positions are largely veterans, the Eagles have a half-dozen sophomores to rely on

for both sides of the ball.

Defensively, Salado should be strongest in its linebacking set led by Phoenix Flores, Dusty Rhiddlehoover, Davis Graham, former safety Lincoln Hossfeld and Lucas Beyer.

Westerberg said they plan to rotate numerous players along the front line led by Dawson Barksdale, JJ Adams, Noah Romney and Brodie Landon.

The secondary will be youthful with twins Devonte and Demonte Foster at the safeties and Brayden Dildine and Caine Cruddas on the corners.

Towns Sather will do the placekicking and Sully Anderson is expected to handle the punting. While the schedule remains rough, the Eagles believe they have the arsenal and means to deal with it even better this time around.

SALADO EAGLES

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 3-8

2021: 7-4

2020: 11-2

2019: 8-4

2018: 4-6

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 25 at Fredericksburg 7:00

Sept. 1 Bryan Rudder 7:00

Sept. 8 at Malakoff% 7:30

Sept. 15 at Academy 7:00

Sept. 22 Boerne 7:00

Sept. 30 at Hitchcock* 1:00

DISTRICT 11-4A-D2

Oct. 6 Robinson 7:00

Oct. 13 at Gatesville 7:00

Oct. 21 Waco Connally 7:00

Nov. 3 at Madisonville 7:00

%-at Waco Midway HS

*-Merrill Green Stadium at Bryan HS

Draper contends with 2 droughts at FHS

By cLay WhITTIngTOn HeralD CorresponDent

Upon his arrival, Robert Draper immediately encountered a pair of droughts.

After spending the previous three seasons as an assistant at Marble Falls, Draper accepted the role as Florence’s new head coach in late May following the departure of Drew Bridges, who despite finding success on the field could not end the program’s five-year playoff absence.

Well aware of the situation, Draper welcomed the opportunity to stop the skid, but Mother Nature is refusing to help.

As a result of restrictions placed on the city, the Buffaloes’ field has not received any water since June while being baked under relentless 100-degree temperatures, and it is unusable for competition, forcing all of Florence’s games to be played away from home this season.

The scenario is unfavorable for all involved, but Draper has accepted the reality.

“At this point,” he said, “it is what it is. During my first month as athletic director, I had to hire seven coaches in June, which is not easy at a small Class 3A school. Then, I had to find all the places where we could play football games.

“We’re all just trying to embrace this the best we can. We are just going to have to be road warriors.”

The Buffaloes are coming off a one-win season in which they were outscored by 270 points in nine games, suffering four road losses by a combined 135 points.

While Florence will not be playing any contests at home until 2024, it will become familiar with some of the temporary surroundings.

Aug. 16.

After scrimmaging at Joseph L. Searles III Stadium, the Buffaloes return to the venue for their season opener against San Saba. Additionally, Florence will play twice at Liberty Hill — Sept. 22 versus Dublin and Oct. 27 against Buffalo — along with having games against Bruceville-Eddy (Sept. 1) and Rog-

ers (Oct. 13) at Jarrell and Salado, respectively.

“(Killeen ISD Executive Director for Athletics) Micah Wells and Killeen ISD have been accommodating to us and so friendly to us that it is unreal,” Draper said. “They have PLEASE SEE FHs, 23

anDy zavoina | HeralD Florence players work on blocking technique during practice at Florence High School on

FHs

gone out of their way to help us in any way they can.

“I live in Killeen now, and as a Copperas Cove guy, I never thought I would say that, but I’m very proud of it because of the way they have treated us.”

Along with the pair of games, all of Florence’s subvarsity games will be played at Killeen ISD’s Roy J. Smith Middle School, and Searles Stadium was available for all necessary varsity games, but Draper declined because each contest would have been on a Saturday.

As if not already taxed enough as a new head coach, the Buffaloes have an inexperienced roster returning only seven starters, and Draper is installing completely new schemes and philosophies with the most drastic being an overhaul of the offense.

Florence will begin running the slot-T, which requires a significant amount of attention to detail in order to execute successfully.

Among those expected to have instrumental roles are senior tight end Joey Lopez, two-way linemen Enrique Palacios and Hayden Regier and running back/linebacker Tanner Moreland.

Defensively, outside linebacker Danny Casteleon will help spearhead the unit.

Initially, issues could arise from the new run-heavy offense, but potentially, it could be a gamechanger for the program with just one five-win season (2016) in the past 15 years.

“Learning the slot-T is a process,” said Draper, who is considered an expert of the style after dedicating much of his coaching career to working with offensive linemen within its parameters, “but once you get it down, it is almost like breathing. After getting all the little things down, it’s easy.”

FLORENCE BUFFALOES

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 1-8

2021: 4-6

2020: 0-10

2019: 1-9

2018: 2-8

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 25 San Saba (S) 7:30

Sept. 1 Bruceville-Eddy* 7:30

Sept. 8 at Thrall 7:30

Sept. 15 at Johnson City LBJ 7:30

Sept. 22 Dublin% 7:00

DISTRICT 13-3A-D2

Oct. 6 at Lexington 7:30

Oct. 13 Rogers^ 7:30

Oct. 20 at Elkhart 7:30

Oct. 27 Buffalo% 7:30

Nov. 3 at Clifton 7:30

(S)-Searles Stadium

*-at Jarrell HS

%-at Liberty Hill HS

^-at Salado HS

anDy zavoina | HeralD

First-year Florence head coach Robert Draper talks with his team during practice Aug. 16 at Florence High School.

Belton embracing high expectations

By jOn BrOOks fMe neWs serviCe

BELTON — While Belton’s run to the area playoffs last year was largely powered by a staunch defense, that’s not to say its offense didn’t play a significant role as well.

In fact, there was little difference statistically between the groups’ effectiveness.

Behind a productive running game, the Tigers led a balanced offensive attack that ranked third among area teams, churning out an average of 374.5 yards per game.

Though there will be some new pieces in place this fall, Belton’s plan is to continue full steam ahead.

“Initially, we’ve put a lot on them in the first four days just throwing

a lot of plays at them and formations,” offensive coordinator Barry Campbell said. “We try to get in a good majority of our offense, probably about 90 percent of what we’ll run this year, we try to get in this first week. So I think they’ve handled it well. The kids are retaining a lot. They’re moving fast, which means they’re not having to think too much. They’re just reacting and playing.”

Gone are quarterback Ty Brown, who moved to Waco Midway after starting the last two years at Belton, top receiving targets Garrett Oliveira, Slade LeBlanc and Mason Ramm, and second-leading rusher LJ Underwood, as well as all but one starter on the offensive line.

But the Tigers feel confident in the players they’re bringing back,

which includes a couple of seasoned transfers at key positions.

That starts under center, where Temple move-in Reese Rumfield will take over for the departed Brown. While Rumfield settles into his new scheme, he brings experience after starting the last two years for the Class 6A Wildcats.

He also feels confident in the group around him, which includes junior Shaun Snapp, a unanimous first-team all-league pick at running back as a sophomore, and senior John Roach, last year’s District 11-5A-II offensive line MVP, snapping him the ball.

“I think our offense is looking very electric,” Rumfield said. “I mean, we got the dudes. Like, if we PLEASE SEE

ray sWinDle | speCial to fMe neWs serviCe Belton’s Diego Coleman (85), John Roach (64), Dathan Walker (1) and Reese Rumfield (10) will be key contributors for the Tiger offense.

BELTON TIGERS

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 9-3

2021: 6-5

2020: 3-7

2019: 3-7

2018: 7-4

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 24 at Pfl. Hendrickson* 7:00

Sept. 1 Brenham 7:00

Sept. 8 at Huntsville 7:00

Sept. 15 San Angelo Central 7:00 DISTRICT 11-5A-D2

Sept. 21 at Pflugerville 7:00

Sept. 29 Elgin 7:00

Oct. 6 at Leander Rouse^ 7:00

Oct. 13 Pfl. Connally 7:00

Oct. 27 at Chaparral 7:00

Nov. 3 Waco University 7:00

*-The Pfield at Pflugerville HS

^-Bible Stadium at Leander HS

BElTOn

give it to them fast, I mean, they’re going to do stuff with it, so I think we’ll be fine.”

Among the options receiving the ball from Rumfield, Belton will feature Jarrell transfer Dathan Walker, a senior, along with seniors Isaac Abel (15 catches, 346 yards, two TDs) and Diego Coleman (eight catches, 108 yards, three TDs), among others.

“Skill-wise, I think we have it down. I don’t think there’s a team in district that can guard all of us, to be honest,” said Walker, who had 22 receptions for 359 yards and five scores for Jarrell last fall. “We have all the talent in the world. What we can do with that, it’s up to us, but I think we can go far.”

Up front, Belton will be anchored by Roach, a three-year starter who will welcome a mostly new group around him, though Campbell said seniors Luke Lamberte and Jackson Chappell also bring some limited varsity experience back.

“We still have some question marks on the offensive line. But we have some kids that are getting after it,” Belton head coach Brett Sniffin said after the first day of practice. “That’s the biggest spot where we want to see probably the most improvement. We’re not going to be very big, so we’re going to need some scrappy dudes that are going to get in there and get after it.”

Roach, who will help pave the way for Snapp (163 carries, 1,091 yards, 13 TDs) and change-of-pace backs Jay Burrola and Gino Zecca, is expecting the most from his team.

“I think we’re going to go far this season, I really do. We’re building something special,” the senior said. “Offense, we have some new pieces and we’re learning the plays but we do have a lot of the core returning. Our offense works the best when we can get 150-plus yards of rushing. Because then that opens up the passing game, opens up the readoption. It makes it a lot easier to play.”

Also new for the Tigers this fall will be the expectations.

After running the table in league play en route to the program’s first outright district championship since 1999, Belton is welcoming the chance to prove itself again.

“Now the expectation is to do it again,” Campbell said. “And definitely with the higher standard, it’s more pressure, and so we just have to go out there and give (opponents) the same thing. We have to match them with our best game. With the guys we have returning, I think we have a really good shot at that.”

FrOm Page 2

Strong Tiger defense returns 8 starters

By jOn BrOOks fMe neWs serviCe

BELTON — This time last year, Belton’s defense had its share of question marks. With one returning starter, coaches spent a bulk of the preseason evaluating and deciding on which players to put where in trying to find the best fits at each position.

Shift ahead to now, and the opposite is the case.

The Tigers return eight starters, including most of the front seven, from a unit that continued to get stronger with the passing of each week in 2022. Six of those returners — first-teamers Ethan Arendall (DE), Bryson Sauceda (DT), Wyatt Butler (ILB) and Luke

Flores (CB) and second-team nods Sam Shepard (ILB) and Giani Zecca (OLB) — were all-District 11-5A-II selections a year ago, helping Belton reach a few historic milestones along the way.

The six are seniors this year, and they and the rest of their teammates intend to pick up where they left off.

“We had a lot of kids step up last year and got a lot of valuable playing time,” defensive coordinator Christopher Harbin said. “This year, we have quite a few coming back. It helps a ton. Little things that we do like checks and calls and talking and communication, they’re all just falling right in and it’s a carryover from last year.”

The Tigers boasted a top-four

defense among area teams last fall, a unit that surrendered 292.7 yards per game and just 83 points (13.8 per game) in six league contests — all wins — en route to earning the program’s first outright district title in more than 20 years. Belton then pitched a shutout in a 56-0 bidistrict blowout of Austin Northeast to secure its first playoff win since 2016.

The group now sees that as a starting point.

“As a whole defense, I think we’re looking to get some shutouts. We almost had two last season, but the only one we got was in playoffs and that was against a fourth seed, so that was kind of expected on our

ray sWinDle | speCial to fMe neWs serviCe

Belton defensive players for 2023 include Alton McCallum (12), Bryson Sauceda (63), Wyatt Butler (3) and Ethan Arendall (36).

TigER

end,” said Butler who led the Tigers in tackles (99), tackles for loss (23) and sacks (5½) last year.

“Fourteen points or less, that’s about it,” Arendall responded when asked about the goals for this season. “District champs,” Saucedo added shortly thereafter, to which Butler responded, “At least, at least.”

In addition to adding a few more blanks to the resume and more hardware to the trophy case, the players also agreed on another subject. They would like to force more turnovers than the handful they produced last year.

“It’s big, it’s a momentum-turner,” Harbin said. “The scheme that we played last year throughout district and in the playoffs didn’t

lend to a lot of turnovers, because we were playing a lot of man. We’re getting back to our roots and playing a lot of cover-two and stuff like that, so it should generate more.

“I also think the kids knowing how important they are. A little more emphasis on let’s get the ball out and get it, so I’m glad that they’re saying that because we say it all the time, so at least they’re hearing it.”

Three-year varsity member Alton McCallum will be one of the more experienced members of the secondary for the Tigers. The lanky defender, who also returns kicks, said the group’s athleticism should see an uptick this year, which could help in the turnover department.

“I feel like we have a faster team this year. We have a lot of speed, so being able to get to the ball fast will be (a strength),” McCallum said.

While trying to remain cautious-

ly optimistic, Harbin said he sees the defense settling in nicely as a whole. But it mostly starts up front.

“Our D-line I think is where we’re going to hang our hat,” he said. “We play three down but we have five kids who can really go, but our front seven I think is really good. The thing we were looking for the most coming in was DBs and right now we have eight back there and they’re all playing really well, so that’s encouraging. I hate to say we’re good at all levels, but we’re seeing signs that all of them can play at this level.”

Head coach Brett Sniffin agrees with his coordinator in noticing that the defense has come a long way in the past year.

“They have a lot more games under their belt, so I feel way more confident in the defense now than I did at this time last year,” Sniffin said.

Broncos favored to win 1st district title

By jOshua WeaVer fMe neWs serviCe

Lake Belton nearly won a district championship in its first year of eligibility, losing two league games by a combined three points last season.

Couple that with the Broncos winning with relative ease their other six District 4-5A-I contests by an average margin of 21 points, pundits with Dave Campbell’s Texas Football picked the fourthyear program to hoist the district gold ball trophy when November rolls around.

There’s a lot of time between then and now and plenty for Lake Belton to do in order to adhere to that prognostication.

“I mean, it sounds good but at the same time, we have to go get it,” said senior wide receiver Micah Hudson, the five-star preseason pick for 4-5A-I offensive MVP who led the area in receptions (64) and yards receiving (1,143) to go with 14 touchdowns. “You can’t rush the process and you can’t cheat the process. So, we just have to keep grinding hard. We have to keep working, trust each other, trust God, trust the coaches, and everything will fall into place.”

The Broncos bid adieu to their first senior class after recording an 8-3 record that included the program’s inaugural playoff appearance — a 56-28 setback against Burleson Centennial, which eventually was eliminated in the fourth round by Aledo.

“I don’t think last year we snuck up on anybody. I think people kind of knew what kind of talent we had. This year, we’re not (sneaking up on anyone) as well. Our kids understand that and they’re not taking anything for granted. They

the country.

are finding a way to go one degree more, and that’s going to be a key for us to be successful,” Lake Bel-

head coach Brian Cope said.

PLEASE SEE BROnCOs, 2

ton

ray sWinDle | speCial to fMe neWs serviCe Lake Belton receiver Micah Hudson is one of the most coveted high school prospects in

LAKE BELTON BRONCOS

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 8-3

2021: 9-0

2020: 9-1 (debut season)

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 25 Leander Rouse^ 7:00

Sept. 1 at Buda Johnson* 7:30

DISTRICT 4-5A-D1

Sept. 7 Red Oak^ 7:00

Sept. 15 at Shoemaker (B) 7:00

Sept. 22 Waco^ 7:00

Sept. 29 at Cleburne 7:00

Oct. 6 Killeen^ 7:00

Oct. 13 at Granbury 7:00

Oct. 20 Midlothian^ 7:00

Nov. 3 at Ellison (B) 7:00

^-Tiger Field at Belton HS

*-Shelton Stadium at Hays HS

(B)-Buckley Stadium

BROnCOs

FrOm Page 2

“We set the standard of making the playoffs and now we have to do whatever it takes to raise the standard. I think we have a lot of kids that are hungry to lead and become player-driven. Our JV was 9-1 and won district, so those kids are hungry to come in along with the returning varsity kids.”

New faces are in places vacated by those seniors, starting with quarterback Eli Mascarenas, a junior who takes over behind center for Connor Crews. In the backfield with Mascarenas are three firsttime, full-time contributors in running backs Cameron Hamilton (senior) and Ryan Camacho (junior), along with sophomore Davion Peters, who Cope said will invoke

memories of Kordell Stewart of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“He’ll be that ‘Slash’ for us,” Cope said.

Mascarenas and Peters helped Lake Belton’s 7-on-7 team qualify for the state tournament in June in College Station where the Broncos won their pool and advanced through the quarterfinals.

Joining Hudson outside are twoway starter Ty Legg, Caleb Santana, Cash Robin, Zach Dodd, Bryce Davis, Kellen Scarborough and Peters. Isaiah Koonce and Colton Thompson will provide options at tight end.

“I think we have to be able to run the ball more efficiently,” added Cope, whose offense, guided by coordinator Matt Uzzell, led the area at 412.9 yards per game (160.6 rushing, 252.3 passing). “Last year, we got into situations where there was five in the box and you have to win. We did that in a lot of games and sometimes we weren’t as successful.”

Paving the way for it all on the offensive line are four returners who started all or some of the 11 contests in 2022: Kaden Bradshaw, Brett Harmon, Braden Gutierrez and Rolando Tapia.

“We’re a smaller offensive line so we know we have to be more physical than other people,” said Bradshaw, a 6-foot-2, 260-pound senior. “We’re going to need to run the ball more this year, so we’re going to have to be more physical in the box and that’s something we are really focusing on this year.”

Cope said during fall camp that there was an ongoing competition for the fifth spot between Diego Velazquez and Caleb Loper.

“We’re going to go as the front five go. I think that’s going to be the key piece, and then Eli Mascarenas managing the offense,” Cope said.

Lake Belton D has experience, athleticism

By jOshua WeaVer fMe neWs serviCe

Garrett Combs first noticed the facilities, a bit of a bump up from what he was used to. And then the ease at which he clicked with a group of like-minded defenders.

“I came over at the beginning of January, right after the break, and I came in with a hard-working attitude,” said Combs, Lake Belton’s 6foot-3, 265-pound defensive lineman who transferred in from Salado. “I felt the guys took me in. I’ve helped them and they’ve helped me.

“It’s a family here. We’ll go to war for each other.”

Game-night battles are to be

expected for the Broncos defense this season as one half of the equation that Lake Belton hopes equals a District 4-5A-I championship and second straight playoff appearance in as many tries.

Fortunately, the Broncos welcome back seven starters, and head coach Brian Cope believes athleticism across the board will pay dividends for coordinator Randy Hooton’s bunch.

“We’re more athletic in 10 of the 11 spots than we were last year,” he said.

Gone is last season’s leading tackler Javeon Wilcox, who now is at TCU. But that’s about the only glar-

ing vacancy in a unit that wants to improve upon its third-down stops and lower its per-game averages of 354.9 yards and 27 points.

“I think we just have to come out ready to play and not be scared of any team, and know that we worked hard this offseason,” said 5-11, 170-pound senior Ty Legg, who returns after making 80 stops last season and with plenty of responsibility as a flexible asset both defensively as a linebacker/safety and offensively as a wide receiver.

Arkansas commit Selman Bridges, who measures 6-4 and was

ray sWinDle | speCial to fMe neWs serviCe Lake Belton defensive players include Adam Walden (67), Selman Bridges (2), Garrett Colmbs (44) Trey Phillips (0) and Ty Legg (4).

picked by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football as the preseason district defensive MVP, will anchor the secondary one season after recording a pair of picks and 46 tackles.

Defensive back Peanut Brazzle (30 tackles in 2022) adds experience as a four-year starter, junior Joshua Mallard had 30 tackles and two sacks in 2022 and is tasked with filling Wilcox’s spot, while Garrett Roland, John Cole, Aisen Filitonga and Tre Phillips provide depth at linebacker. Combs’ linemates include Adam Walden (30 tackles) and Jeremiah Jeremiah Battreall, and defensive backs Torre Mallard and Malachai Bazemore are expected to contribute.

“I think the defense is going to

surprise everybody. I think we are a lot tougher and we have more athletes than last year,” Combs said before explaining one of the points of emphasis heading into the season. “Mainly just sticking to our job, not try to be greedy when making plays. Just stay in your gap and fill those gaps.”

Lake Belton fell three points shy of claiming a league title in its first year of eligibility, losses to Midlothian and Killeen Shoemaker in which the Broncos yielded an average of 36.5 points. The Panthers wound up in first place and the Grey Wolves second. After finishing third a year ago, Lake is predicted to leapfrog both and into the top spot.

“We really need to make sure that we tackle better. We’re more athletic, which means we’ll get there faster, but now we have to finish,” Cope said. “The key for us is

we try to put our top players on the defensive side of the ball.”

The Broncos open the season Friday at Tiger Field in Belton against Leander Rouse before hitting the road for the first time Sept. 1 to take on Buda Johnson.

After that, the rugged eight-game 4-5A-I slate commences Sept. 7 with a home game versus Red Oak. The rematch with Shoemaker is scheduled for Sept. 15 in Killeen while Lake Belton welcomes Midlothian on Oct. 20.

“We want to be more player-led this year,” said senior Micah Hudson, an offensive threat at receiver but could see spot duty on defense once again this season. “As a team we have to be more passionate. The coaches can’t be more passionate than we are because we’re the ones playing. We have to be ready to work, trust each other and work with each other.”

Wildcat offense ready to pick up the pace

By greg WILLe fMe neWs serviCe

Football is a game of adjustments, and that seems accurate for the Temple Wildcats’ offense entering this season.

Dynamic wide receiver and versatile four-year star Mikal Harrison-Pilot (Houston) graduated, but big-play junior Christian Tutson is poised to succeed him as Temple’s go-to pass catcher.

Reese Rumfield was on track to give the Wildcats a rare three-year starting quarterback, but after last season he transferred to Belton. Now, junior Kade Stewart and senior Damarion Willis have a prime

opportunity to become Temple’s top QB.

The Wildcats didn’t expect to have a difference-making player at tight end, but then sophomore Davarion Campbell moved to Temple and started employing brute force to knock defenders backward.

And then there’s the style in which second-year coordinator Robby Case wants to attack opponents — with the goal of overwhelming them.

“We’re going to try to get back to the old Mike Spradlin tempo days and go as fast as we possibly can. That’s been a big emphasis,” Case said, referring to the former Temple head coach whose fast-paced

offense lit up scoreboards from 2011-15 as the Wildcats reignited their winning tradition.

Fans will get their first regularseason look at Temple’s revamped offense when the Wildcats open at McKinney Boyd at 7 p.m. Friday. They need one win to become the fourth Texas high school with 800 football victories.

Wildcats eighth-year head coach Scott Stewart (63-23, seven playoff berths) said he wanted to see his team’s Aug. 17 home scrimmage against Killeen before finalizing personnel decisions.

Quarterback clearly is one of

ray sWinDle | speCial to fMe neWs serviCe Temple offensive players include Endrei Sails (71), Adrian Scott (24), Kade Stewart (13) and Armando Gonzalez (58).

wildCAT

FrOm Page 32

those. Rumfield passed for 4,066 yards and 44 touchdowns in two seasons with Temple but sometimes struggled with production and turnovers in three playoff games, including last year’s 30-21 bi-district home loss to Waxahachie.

Intelligent, improving left-handed passer Kade Stewart — last year’s top junior varsity quarterback — and the elusive Willis have competed all spring and summer. Because Willis, a starting safety last season, is a potential weapon at receiver and running back (Case called him “our Swiss Army knife”), the 6-foot3, 175-pound Stewart is likely to begin as Temple’s starting QB.

“We grade every throw, every step that every kid takes. I really want to analyze that after the scrimmage,” said Scott Stewart, Kade’s father. “Both are pretty effective and they each give you a different dynamic. Kade ran 4.6 (seconds in the 40-yard dash), but Damarion has a wiggle that’s hard to teach.”

Said Case: “They’re both playing really well. If Kade’s good enough and we can have Damarion playing receiver, it gives us a lot of options.”

After 1,000-yard rusher Deshaun

TEMPLE WILDCATS

LasT FIVe seasOns

2022: 7-4

2021: 9-3

2020: 10-2

2019: 9-3

2018: 8-3

2023 scheduLe

Aug. 25 at McKinney Boyd^ 7:00

Sept. 1 at Willis

Sept. 8 College Station

Sept. 15 at Arlington Martin

DISTRICT 12-6A

Sept. 22 Bryan

Sept. 29at Pflugerville Weiss*

Oct. 6 Waco Midway

Oct. 13 at Hutto

Oct. 20 Harker Heights

Nov. 3 at Copperas Cove 7:30

^-McKinney ISD Stadium

*-The Pfield at Pflugerville HS

Brundage graduated, Temple believes 190-pound junior Adrian Scott will keep the running back position strong along with capable seniors Jervonnie Williams and Rymond Johnson.

“Adrian has emerged,” Case said. “He’s a leaner, faster version of Deshaun but runs violent just like Deshaun did and has great hands.”

Harrison-Pilot (48 receptions, 978 yards, nine touchdowns plus five TDs rushing) is difficult to replace,

but speedster Tutson is a good place to start. As a sophomore he made 26 catches for 610 yards and eight touchdowns and scored 10 TDs overall despite missing some district action with an upper-body injury.

“Christian’s so fast that we underthrow him half the time. I’m trying to get him to go up and attack those deep balls,” Case said. “This summer he got a Nebraska offer and it was like a light switch went on.”

Senior slot receivers Jeremiah Lennon and Jaquon Butler return, potentially with Willis and even junior safety O’Ryan Peoples. Senior Tavion Flowers and talented sophomore Preston Thomas join Tutson at outside receiver. They’re learning from new receivers coach Davion Curtis, a former Wildcats star.

Stewart said the explosive physicality of sophomore tight end Campbell (6-1, 215), a Waco La Vega transfer, reminds him of former Temple enforcer Chris Minter.

“Davarion just got here and doesn’t know where he’s going yet,” Case said, “but he puts his hands on people and they go the other direction. We’re excited.”

All-district senior center Endrei Sauls (6-2, 310), a Lamar commitment, spearheads Temple’s line. Senior left tackle Armando Gonzalez is another returning starter.

“Endrei is the guy. He’s unbelievable,” Case said.

An intriguing prospect is 6-6, 275-pound junior Kirk Gildon at right tackle.

“The way Kirk’s moving athletically and starting to strike people off the line, he has a chance to be a high-level prospect,” Case said. “He just needs to get stronger.”

Imposing sophomore Isaiah Guerra is the left guard, while the right guard battle includes juniors Juan Castillo and Terrance Black and senior Logan Ash.

Temple tries to fill big losses on defense

By greg WILLe fMe neWs serviCe

Taurean York was not normal. He became the Temple Wildcats’ starting middle linebacker as a 14-year-old freshman in 2019 and played that position brilliantly for four seasons. An intense player and vocal leader, York compiled 435 career tackles and earned District 12-6A’s Defensive Most Valuable Player award three consecutive seasons along with multiple all-state honors.

“When you start getting scouting reports emailed to you on Sunday afternoon from your sophomore starting linebacker, you know something’s different,” said Scott Stewart, Temple’s defensive-minded eighth-year head coach whose

program seeks its 11th straight playoff berth.

But after York transformed himself from unheralded recruit to Texas A&M signee, he’s not around to spearhead the defense this season. In fact, the only two returning starters are senior nose guard Ayden Brown and junior safety O’Ryan Peoples.

Three projected starters on the 4-2-5 defense are sophomores: cornerback Jason Bradford, end Jamarion Carlton and Mikah Boldon at York’s old middle linebacker spot. Stewart and defensive coordinator Robert Havens praise Boldon’s ability and potential, but they’re making sure Boldon knows he’s not expected to replicate everything York did.

“Mikah knows who Taurean

is, but I’m really cognizant of not bringing that up, because no one’s ever going to be Taurean York,” said Havens, a motivator and respected line coach whom Stewart promoted to coordinator after Dexter Knox left coaching following last season.

“Mikah has a high motor and is very intelligent. I trust him as our middle linebacker, even though there’s going to be growing pains,” Stewart said. “But I don’t know I’ve ever coached a kid who just got the game like Taurean did. Just hang his shoes up on the wall and don’t worry about trying to fill them, because you’re not going to.”

Temple graduated York and also first-team all-district performers

ray sWinDle | speCial to fMe neWs serviCe Temple’s replenished defense will count on Jamarion Carlton (11), O’Ryan Peoples (8), Bryce President (5) and Jason Bradford (4).

TEmplE

in safety Naeten Mitchell (New Mexico State), cornerback Steve Jackson (Mary Hardin-Baylor) and linebacker/safety Josh Donoso, plus several other seasoned standouts.

The Wildcats have a battle-tested ringleader in feisty 245-pound nose guard Brown (41 tackles, seven for loss), 12-6A’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore and a first-team all-district pick last season.

“Ayden leads by example. That whole front six feeds off him. He’s earned that,” Havens said. “He’s slimmed down and is moving way better. That’s always good to have a sideline-to-sideline nose guard.”

Athletic “boom” safety Peoples

collected 24 tackles and five pass breakups as a sophomore starter, though a shoulder injury sidelined him several games.

“O’Ryan’s knocking some rust off, but he’s fantastic in the back end,” Havens said.

Joining Peoples in the safety group are skilled junior De’Avonte Carr at free and senior Mason Mills at the hybrid strong safety/outside linebacker position.

Strong, quick junior Lezlie Jackson shifts from special teams ace to starting cornerback after his older brother Steve Jackson excelled there.

A most intriguing Temple prospect is 6-foot-2, 185-pound cornerback Bradford, the rangy sophomore who’s received scholarship offers from Oklahoma State and Texas State before playing a varsity snap. Havens compared him to former Wildcats cornerback

Markel Reed (Boise State); Stewart said Bradford “is going to be as good as anybody who’s ever come through here.”

“JB’s long and has what you can’t teach. It’s hard to teach what it takes to play cornerback,” Stewart said about Bradford. “He loves the island. He wants to be mano a mano. And Lezlie Jackson is the exact same way. He might like being on the island more than JB, if that’s even possible.”

Flanking Boldon is weakside linebacker Bryce President, a 200pound senior who moved back to Temple after starting for RockwallHeath. He’s a younger brother of former Wildcats star quarterback/ receiver Chad President, Waco Midway’s new offensive coordinator.

Temple projects big things for 6-5, 215-pound sophomore end Carlton, who holds a Nebraska offer and was a varsity basketball standout as a freshman. Stewart said Carlton shares similarities with exTemple great Ta’Quon Graham — now with the Atlanta Falcons — but must continue to strengthen his lean frame. Havens said Carlton needs to sharpen his mechanics and improve as a pass rusher.

“Jamarion has a chance to be a Power 5 defensive end, probably a top prospect,” Havens said.

“He’s got long levers, great eyes and block destruction and he’s super smart. We’ve got to get him there on pass rush.”

Added Stewart: “There’s no shortcuts in that process. But Jamarion has that natural twitch. His first two steps off the line, he’s faster (than Graham at this age).”

Senior Nasaiah PresidentLighten is the other starting end. Havens said emerging junior tackle Demontrae Wheelock “is becoming a little bit unblockable.”

2023 KILLEEN ISD VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DAY/DATE KILLEEN ELLISON HARKER HEIGHTS SHOEMAKER CHAPARRAL

No. 17 TCU goes into Dykes’ 2nd season with holes to fill after getting bullied in CFP title game

By sTePhen haWkIns ap sports Writer

FORT WORTH — TCU cornerback Josh Newton still looks at a photo showing him standing on the field after the lopsided loss in the national championship game as confetti rains down and Georgia celebrates its second title in a row.

“I was just standing out there just to try to remember that feeling forever so I can come back and conquer it,” Newton said.

The other figure in that photo from last January is Chandler Morris, the quarterback who was the starter for the Horned Frogs in their opener before he got hurt and spent the rest of the season backing up Heisman Trophy runner-up Max Duggan.

“One thing (Morris) told me ... we’ll be back next year,” Newton said. “I haven’t doubted it since.” Even though so many others do. The 17th-ranked Horned Frogs were picked to finish fifth in the Big 12 preseason poll after the departures of Duggan, their top two running backs, top three receivers and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley. Then again, no one expected the Horned Frogs to have an unde-

feated regular season and be in the College Football Playoff in their first year with coach Sonny Dykes.

“When the season started I felt like we were an average football team, honestly, probably slightly below average. We won some games, got a little confidence,” Dykes said. “It was a fun ride go on. ... At the same time, we’ve got to move forward. What happened last year is certainly not going to have any bearing on what’s going to happen this year. A big challenge for us.”

TCU got into the four-team CFP even after an overtime loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game, then beat Michigan in the national semifinal game before that 65-7 loss against the dominant Bulldogs to finish 13-2.

“It’s motivated us,” said linebacker Johnny Hodges, who led the Frogs with 87 tackles after transferring from Navy. “We had a great year, we had a fun time. ... The end of the season kind of left a foul taste in our mouth.”

QB1 agaIn

Morris, the former Oklahoma transfer, again goes into the season as TCU’s starting quarterback.

“No one wants to lose their job

kind of in the way that Chandler lost his last year. But I think that Chandler is smart enough to understand in a lot of ways it’s an opportunity to kind of sit back and to watch and to learn and to come out of the other end better,” Dykes said. “He just seems like a different guy right now than he did a year ago. I think he’s more mature. I think he’s more focused. I think he understands his role more than he did.”

Even while playing games in each of the last three seasons, Morris is listed as only a sophomore. After the 2020 season at Oklahoma during the pandemic that didn’t count against any player’s eligibility, he got in four games for TCU in 2021. That included his first start when he had 531 total yards (461 passing and 70 rushing) filling in for an ailing Duggan; Morris got hurt after starting the next game.

“I want to go prove that I’m the best on this team, and I want to go prove that I’m the best in the country,” Morris said.

He will be working under offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, the former Baylor assistant who left Arkansas after three seasons to replace Riley after he left for the OC job at Clemson.

The scheduLe

In one of the nation’s mosthyped season openers, TCU will host Deion Sanders’ coaching debut with Colorado. The Buffaloes, who won only one game last year after opening with a 38-13 loss to TCU, will be rejoining the Big 12 next season.

The Horned Frogs’ league opener is at former Southwest Conference rival Houston on Sept. 16.

No. 23 A&M looks to rebound from terrible season with help from new offensive coordinator Petrino

By krIsTIe rIeken ap sports Writer

COLLEGE STATION — Coach

Jimbo Fisher had one of the worst seasons of his career last year when No. 23 Texas A&M won just five games behind an impotent offense.

His solution to help turn things around in 2023: Bobby Petrino.

Fisher hired the former Louisville, Arkansas and Atlanta Falcons coach as his new offensive coordinator, bringing Petrino back to FBS football for the first time since 2018.

Petrino was fired at Louisville after the Cardinals won just two of their first 10 games in 2018; in 2020, he took over at FCS school Missouri State.

“My knowledge of (Fisher’s) success and what he likes to do (on) offense made it very, very attractive,” Petrino said. “When I was coaching at Missouri State, I was having a great time. One of my goals there was to mentor and raise young coaches. So that was a lot of fun. But I always had the itch to get back to this conference and be able to coach at this level.”

Fisher’s job security has been a popular topic given the massive contract — and massive buyout — he has at Texas A&M, where he is a pedestrian 39-21 over five seasons. He is counting on Petrino to refire the Aggies offense.

Petrino was 119-56 over 14 seasons as an FBS head coach, taking Louisville to eight bowl appearances over two stints and Arkansas to three bowls. Under Petrino,

Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 2016.

Petrino also had his share of controversies. He signed a 10-year contract before the 2006 season with Louisville but left a year later

for the Atlanta Falcons. After a 3-10 start in 2007, he left for Arkansas.

Petrino twice won at least 10 games with the Razorbacks, including two New Year’s Six bowl apPLEASE SEE A&m, 3

ap | file

Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman throws down field against Mississippi during an Oct. 22 game in College Station. Texas A&M opens its season against New Mexico on Sept. 2.

pearances, but he was fired in 2012. He lied about a motorcycle accident involving a female staffer and failed to disclose when she was hired that the two were in an extramarital relationship.

In College Station, Petrino inherits an offense that ranked 101st in scoring with just 22.8 points a game last season and one that came in 93rd in total offense (360.9 yards per game).

“He’s been very productive as a head coach and as an offensive coordinator… and he has balance,” Fisher said. “It’s not just all throws, it not just all pass, it’s a balanced attack (and) he has a very similar philosophical nature and is a very

proven guy who has a great mind for the game and does a great job teaching and getting great production.”

QuarTerBack cOmPeTITIOn

Petrino is poised to improve Texas A&M’s offense, but for now he and Fisher haven’t chosen a quarterback, with Max Johnson and Conner Weigman vying for the starting job.

Johnson threw for almost 4,000 yards in two seasons at LSU before transferring to Texas A&M before last season. He had 517 yards passing with three touchdowns in four games last season before a seasonending hand injury.

Weigman threw for 896 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception in five games as a freshman after Johnson’s went out.

Both players say that the competition in camp has made them

better.

“He has done a great job of understanding the system,” Johnson said. “I think he’s really athletic. We learn from each other’s successes and mistakes.

“We pick each other’s brains, talk off the field, and are able to understand offenses more from each other.”

smITh reTurns

Top receiver Ainias Smith returns for a fifth season. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Smith is back after breaking his right leg in Texas A&M’s fourth game last season. He was off to a great start last year before the injury and had piled up 291 yards receiving with two touchdowns. Smith had more than 500 yards receiving with six touchdowns in each of the two years before his injury and the Aggies are expecting him to build on that this season.

Smith is also the team’s punt returner and has a punt return TD in his career.

demanI Leads deFense

While Smith leads the offense, the Aggies will look to senior defensive back Demani Richardson to pace the defense. Richardson ranked first on the team in 2022 with 73 tackles and he broke up five passes, had an interception and forced a fumble.

scheduLe sTuFF

Texas A&M opens the season Sept. 2 at home against New Mexico before a visit to Miami the following week. The back end of their schedule should be the most challenging when they face teams currently ranked in the AP Top 25 in four of their last seven games. They host No. 4 Alabama Oct. 7 and end the regular season with a trip to fifth-ranked LSU.

Baylor’s Dave Aranda embraces transfer portal after slipping from Big 12 title to losing record

By sTePhen haWkIns ap sports Writer

When Baylor coach Dave Aranda was reflecting on what went wrong during the losing season that followed a Big 12 championship, he came to the realization that he couldn’t always change people. And that sometimes it is the right thing to bring different players into the program.

“Really hard lessons from last year,” he said.

Aranda now embraces the transfer portal. In the aftermath of last season’s 6-7 record, and losing their last four games, the Bears have added more than a dozen transfer players. That includes five from Power Five schools along with a pair of big brothers from BYU to bolster the offensive line that lost three six-year seniors, a four-year starting left tackle and a 10-game starter who transferred to Florida.

“I think one of the struggles for me has always been if you say yes to something, a player outside of your team that’s in the portal, you’re saying no to a player on your team,” Aranda said. “I think for me to kind of come to grips with hey, this is what needs to happen for the betterment of the team as opposed to just looking at what’s best for that one particular player on your team.”

This will be Aranda’s fourth season in his first head coaching job. His began with the fractured pandemic season in 2020, which came without spring drills for the new coaching staff to install its

schemes and get to know the players on the field.

Aranda, the defensive coordinator for LSU’s undefeated national championship team before coming to Baylor, fired defensive coordina-

tor Ron Roberts — previously his boss — at the end of last season after Baylor had allowed 370 yards and 27 points a game.

ap | file

Baylor head coach Dave Aranda walks the sideline during a Sept. 2, 2022, game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan. Baylor opens its season at home against Texas State on Sept. 2.

shaPen uP

Blake Shapen completed 17 passes in a row and threw three touchdowns in the Big 12 championship game as a redshirt freshman. The quarterback followed that up an inconsistent 2022 season — just like the entire team.

“Anytime you don’t have the season you want to have, and (not) be able to perform like we did the year before, it’s tough,” said Shapen, who threw for 2,709 yards with 18 TDs and 10 interceptions. “But I think it was good for me to grow from it, see what it looks like going through a whole season.”

Aranda said Shapen has grown as a leader, and put in a lot of work since last season.

“Big fan of his,” Aranda said. “The team sees that, and the guys see that and they want to work hard for him.”

runnIng Bears

Richard Reese set a Baylor freshman record with his 972 rushing yards last season, when he also ran

for 14 TDs.

While the Bears’ second- and third-leading rushers are gone — Craig Williams is now a high school coach and Qualan Jones was recently dismissed from the team because of an off-field issue — they have added Oklahoma State transfer Dominic Richardson.

“Dom keeps pushing me every day and making me a better player,” Reese said.

Richardson led the Cowboys with 543 yards rushing and eight TDs last season. Having him could allow Baylor to use Reese in different ways, like in third-down situations and catching the ball.

neW dc nO sTranger

Matt Powledge was only away from Baylor for one season before returning to replace Roberts as the defensive coordinator.

Powledge was the safeties coach and special teams coordinator the first two seasons on Aranda’s original staff. The 36-year-old Texas native spent the year away as co-DC and safeties coach at Oregon.

“To find people that are real and authentic and comfortable with who they are, and don’t have to be anybody else, I know players see that,” Aranda said. “They connect with that.”

hOme a LOT

The Bears will spend a lot of time along the banks of the Brazos River this season, with their first four games at home and a record eight overall. Utah, one of four Pac-12 teams joining the Big 12 next season, gets a preview of McLane Stadium on Sept. 9, two weeks before Texas makes its final scheduled visit to Waco before leaving for the SEC. The Bears also host new league member Houston, their first meeting since the Southwest Conference broke up in the mid-1990s.

The Bears will spend a lot of time along the banks of the Brazos river this season, with their first four games at home and a record eight overall.

sarkisian and Texas to ‘embrace the hate’ in last season in Big 12 before joining sec

By jIm VerTunO ap sports Writer

AUSTIN — The last go-around in the Big 12 for Texas could be dubbed the Longhorns’ “Embrace the Hate” tour.

Coach Steve Sarkisian suggested as much for a season where No. 11 Texas is expected to finally contend again for an elusive league championship before the Longhorns leave for the Southeastern Conference in 2024.

Texas hasn’t won the Big 12 since 2009 and every road stop, from Waco to Ames, promises to bring extra spice from home crowds eager to kick the Longhorns in the rear end on their way out.

“We’re the University of Texas, we get it,” Sarkisian said. “I think that they’ve kind of assumed this mentality of ‘Embrace the hate.’ ... We can sit there and be a punching bag or we can go attack the people we’re going to play. I think that they’ve assumed that responsibility to say, hey, we’re gonna go after everybody else, too.”

Texas has a lineup ready to deliver some haymakers. Ten starters return to an explosive offense. Key transfers have added depth on both sides of the ball. All that talent has the Longhorns the preseason favorite for the league crown.

That raises the pressure on Sarkisian, who can answer whether he is really the guy to lead Texas’ longsought return to glory.

Sarkisian is 13-12 heading into his third season at Texas, and is 59-47 overall as a head coach with previous stints at Washington and

Southern California. He has never won more than eight games in a regular season, never lost fewer than four and will earn nearly $6 million this season.

eVOLVIng eWers

Quarterback Quinn Ewers had an inconsistent and injury-plagued freshman season, but emerged from spring drills as the clear No. 1 for 2023 ahead of Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning. Teammates and coaches have praised Ewers’ growth in the locker room and huddle. Gone is the flowing mullet haircut. Still there is the natural arm talent that can mesmerize

with effortless form and quick release.

“I wanted it short,” Ewers said of his new buzzcut. “It’s too hot here in Austin.”

Ewers also changed his diet and workouts to reshape his body. He’s lost nearly 20 pounds.

“The healthy stuff,” Ewers said. “I’m more comfortable in my skin.”

FOrd TOugh

Texas was shocked when linebacker Jaylan Ford wasn’t selected Big 12 defensive player of the year

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers looks to pass against Baylor during a Nov. 25 game in Austin. Texas opens its season at home against Rice on Sept. 2.

TExAs

last season after he was player of the week three times, led the team in tackles and had four interceptions. The Longhorns were maybe just as surprised when Ford opted not to turn pro and instead returned for this season.

“My motivation, as humble as I can be, is telling myself everyday when I wake up that I’m the best linebacker in the country,” Ford said.

WIde receIVer rIches

Wide receiver Xavier Worthy’s 21 career touchdowns rank third in program history. The Longhorns added Georgia transfer receiver Adonai Mitchel, and former Wyoming standout Isaiah Neyor is

ready after sitting out last season with a knee injury. Tight end J.T. Sanders set a school record for catches at that position last season,

“If we can deploy five people in the field, you can’t double everybody or load the box to stop the run,” Sarkisian said. “And all those guys are hard tackles in space.”

rePLacIng BIjan

Texas’ mediocre record over the past three seasons never let Longhorns fans truly appreciate what they had in tailback Bijan Robinson. Now he’s gone to the NFL. That leaves a group of running backs who are light on experience, but have the luxury of playing behind five returning starters on the offensive line. Freshman Cedric Baxter was one of the top recruits in the country and enrolled early to join spring drills.

scheduLe

Texas opens the season at home against Rice on Sept. 2, before heading to a showdown with No. 4 Alabama a week later in a matchup of future SEC rivals. The Longhorns start their final Big 12 schedule Sept. 23 at Baylor. There are back-to-back games against new Big 12 foes Houston and BYU in October after the annual showdown with Oklahoma on Oct. 7.

‘We can sit there and be a punching bag or we can go attack the people we’re going to play. i think (our players have) assumed that responsibility to say, hey, we’re gonna go after everybody else, too.’ steve sarkisian Texas Longhorns head coach

Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough is hoping for a full season under center and a Big 12 title chase

By sTePhen haWkIns ap sports Writer

Tyler Shough again goes into a season opener as Texas Tech’s starting quarterback. He hopes to play every game his third time around with the Red Raiders.

“That’s why I wanted to come back this year, to put a whole season together,” Shough said. “I feel like if we all stay healthy, we’re going to make a run at a Big 12 championship, just with the talent we have and our relationships.”

Texas Tech is 8-1 in the games Shough (pronounced ‘shuck’) started the past two years, winning all eight he started and finished. But the former Oregon transfer missed significant time both of those seasons because of an injured left (non-throwing) shoulder.

“He’s a pro. He’s a guy that comes in and prepares at such a high level,” second-year Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire said. “He’s such a great example to our football team to this is how you have to prepare to play at a high level. It’s really important for him to stay healthy.”

Shough transferred to Texas Tech after starting for Oregon during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when the Ducks won the Pac-12 championship game. He broke his collarbone in his fourth game with the Red Raiders in 2021, then re-injured that shoulder in his last year’s opener and missed six more games.

The Red Raiders went 8-5 last season by winning their last four games. That streak coincided with the return of the 6-foot-5 Shough to the starting role in mid-Novem-

ber, and is the longest any returning Big 12 team takes into this season. He had a career-high 436 yards passing against Oklahoma to end the regular season, then was MVP of the Texas Bowl with 353 yards (242 passing, 111 rushing) and three touchdowns in a win over Ole Miss.

“Candidly, it was just ... I’m going to go out there and have fun, because I’m not going to worry about getting injured. I’m not going to worry about playing bad, or this and that,” Shough said. “I just went out there and was having fun with my teammates. ... I think that showed, and I think it fired up a lot of guys. We all have that similar

mentality.”

FeaTured Back

Tahj Brooks finally gets his chance to be Tech’s featured running back after leading the team in rushing each of the past two seasons when sharing the load with SaRodorick Thompson.

“He’s a workhorse. I feel like he’s an every-down back,” Shough said. “Everything that he does off the field, on the field, he’s a sparkplug.”

Brooks ran for 691 yards with seven touchdowns last season, and caught 26 passes. Shough also

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lauded his ability as a blocker picking up blitzes.

“For me, it’s being more than just a one-dimensional guy,” Brooks said.

WInnIng In cOnFerence

The Red Raiders had a winning record (5-4) in Big 12 play for the first time since 2009, which was Mike Leach’s final season as their coach. Both their conference opener and finale were overtime victories at home and those happened to be wins over Texas and Oklahoma in the same season for the first time.

FuLL hOuses

Texas Tech has already announced sellouts for its home

opener against Oregon on Sept. 9 and the conference opener against Big 12 newcomer Houston on Sept.

Texas Tech quarterback

Tyler Shough passes the ball against Mississippi during the first half of the Texas Bowl on Dec. 28, 2022, in Houston. Texas Tech opens its season at Wyoming on Sept. 2.

30. The stadium capacity is just over 56,000 this season because of an ongoing construction project in the south end. The school sold out its full allotment of nearly 32,000 season tickets, plus all singlegame tickets for those two games. There are about 12,000 seats set aside for students.

aLmOsT ranked

The Red Raiders just missed getting into the preseason AP Top 25 poll for the first time since 2008. They were the first team listed among others receiving votes. Texas Tech hasn’t been ranked at any point since a one-week stay at No. 25 early in the 2018 season.

The scheduLe

The Red Raiders will play five of their conference games on the road, including trips to Baylor and BYU before ending the regular season at Texas the night after Thanksgiving in the last Big 12 regular-season game for the Longhorns. Tech doesn’t have another game scheduled with Oklahoma before the Sooners go with Texas to the SEC next year.

ap | file

houston prepares for its first season in Big 12 with smith and coley vying for QB job

By krIsTIe rIeken ap sports Writer

HOUSTON — Houston coach

Dana Holgorsen was talking with former star quarterback Case Keenum earlier this summer about when he should name a starting quarterback and end the competition between Donovan Smith and Lucas Coley.

Keenum’s answer?

“I wouldn’t,” Holgorsen said he told him. “Just let them compete, because if they compete, it makes them better, and then it should take care of itself.”

Keenum’s answer came from experience with the same situation when he and Blake Joseph were vying for the job in 2008 before Keenum was eventually named the starter on a Houston team where Holgorsen was the offensive coordinator.

Smith and Coley are competing to replace Clayton Tune, the team’s quarterback for the past four seasons.

Smith joined the Cougars after appearing in 21 games for Texas Tech in the past two seasons. The 6-foot-5 Smith threw for 1,505 yards and 12 touchdowns last season after throwing for 1,181 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021. Coley came to Houston after spending last season at Arkansas where he appeared in three games but threw just three passes.

Though Holgorsen hasn’t name a starter, he certainly seems to be leaning toward Smith as the Cougars make the jump to the Big 12 after playing in the American Athletic Conference since 2013.

“The expectations are high for Donovan,” he said. “I felt like it was

Texas

important to bring a guy in with experience, with Big 12 experience… Donovan has impressed me. I think his best days are ahead of him. He’s only been playing quarterback for a couple years. He’s got the upper hand right now based on 21 games of experience, but Lucas Coley has been battling and is really competing hard, and he’s got a lot of good football ahead of him, as well.”

hOLgOrsen’s BIg 12 reTurn

Though the Cougars are new to the Big 12, Holgorsen has plenty of experience in the conference, having coached West Virginia for eight seasons before leaving to take over at Houston. He was the coach at West Virginia when the Mountaineers moved from the Big East to the Big 12 in 2012 and knows the

difficulties of moving up to a Power Five conference.

“This is the deepest conference in the country,” Holgorsen said. “By adding the four schools that we added, I think it adds to the deepest conference in the country. Better get ready to line up and prepare your best each and every week to put your best foot forward, and I think we will do that, and I think we’ll be competitive.”

gOLden receIVer

Receiver Matthew Golden is expected to star for Houston’s offense after a standout freshman season where he had 38 receptions for 584 yards and seven touchdowns. He played in 11 games with eight starts in 2022 and his seven receiving touchdowns ranked second in the nation among true freshmen.

rekIndLed rIVaLrIes

Holgorsen is looking forward to renewing old rivalries with Houston returning to the same conference with fellow Lone Star state schools Texas, TCU, Texas Tech and Baylor for the first time since the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1996.

“So, I think it’ll happen actually a little bit quicker,” he said. “That’s great for college football. That’s great for the Big 12. Certainly, that’s great for the University of Houston and our fan base.”

scheduLe sTuFF

Houston opens the season Sept. 2 at home against UTSA and hosts No. 17 TCU in Week 3. The Cougars host No. 11 Texas on Oct. 21 and travel to No. 16 Kansas State the following week. In all, the Cougars play eight games in Houston.

Tech quarterback Donovan Smith (7) attempts to throw a pass against Houston on Sept. 10 in Lubbock. Smith is now battling to be Houston’s starting QB.