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TLU FOOTBALL
{ feature } Texas Lutheran University BULLDOGS
Story by Bryce Hayes photos by Dustin Wyatt
Following a 3-7 season that saw the Bulldogs finish seventh in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) and the retirement of head coach Ricky Matt, Texas Lutheran football enters a new era in 2022. Former Texas Lutheran offensive coordinator Neal Lahue accepted the opportunity to serve as the Bulldogs 23rd head coach in program history as he guides the team program into its 25th season since its return to play in 1998. LaHue brings over 35 years of coaching experience to Texas Lutheran including stints at Ingleside, Calallen, Seguin, Tivy, Hays and Westlake High Schools – coaching future Super Bowl champion Drew Brees during his tenure at Westlake. LaHue has also coached collegiately at Texas A&M-Kingsville (1985-87, 2020-21) for two stints along with a two-year tenure at Texas Lutheran (2018-19) as offensive coordinator. During his tenure as offensive coordinator at Texas Lutheran University, the Bulldogs compiled a 15-5 record, including a 2019 season that saw the Bulldogs average 33.4 points and 424.1 yards per game. Now, returning to Seguin as the head coach of the
Bulldogs, LaHue looks to replicate that same success and turn around a Bulldogs squad that ranked eighth in total offense in the ASC last season.
The Bulldogs had an impressive offseason overturning their staff - including promoting Beau Grech to defensive coordinator and poaching Jody Ford from Incarnate Word to add to a staff that now rivals a Division-I staff in terms of size with 14 coaches on staff. The coaches have worked hard since February to bring in a recruiting class of 78 players, including three transfers, as they look to replace a class of 13 seniors and six all-conference players.
Texas Lutheran will look to return to its winning ways against a competitive schedule that boasts three D3Football.com Preseason Top 25 teams in ninth-ranked, rival Trinity (TX) (Sept. 17), defending national champion No. 1 Mary Hardin-Baylor, and No. 6 Hardin-Simmons. The Bulldogs will host both Mary Hardin-Baylor (Oct. 15) and Hardin-Simmons (Nov. 12) at Bulldog Stadium in 2022.
Previewing Texas Lutheran’s Offense FOR 2022
After two seasons under now-retired offensive coordinator Brent Verzwyvelt, the Bulldogs will implement a new offense. Gone are the days of the modified Wing-T and Veer Triple Option offense that was heavily reliant on running the football as the Bulldogs move to the spread offense under the tutelage of LaHue.
The offense returns a number of All-Conference talent in quarterback Seth Cosme, tight end Aaron Sotelo, wide receiver Trent Stefka, and running back DaKory Willis. The Bulldogs also return last season’s leading rusher in Jacob Forton who rushed for 608 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
The Bulldogs passing game is led by senior all-conference tight end Aaron Sotelo who led all Bulldogs with 24 receptions last season. All-ASC wide receiver Trent Stefka returns on the outside following a 2021 season that saw him lead the team with 345 receiving yards.
The offensive line is where the biggest question marks lie as the Bulldogs only return one starter, senior right guard Nakoven Lewis, up front.
Expect a newer, fast-paced offense in Seguin in 2022 as the Bulldogs sort the depth chart through camp starting Aug. 11 until the home opener on Sept. 3 against Howard Payne.
Previewing Texas Lutheran’s Defense for 2022
Youth and inexperience defined the Bulldogs defense in 2021 as freshman were littered across the Bulldogs’ defense that finished in last place in the ASC. Now under the leadership of first-year defensive coordinator Beau Grech and led by a defensive line with three returning all-conference players: Montrey Smith, Christian Monroe and Joshua Stanton, the Bulldogs look to return to form as one of the more formidable defenses in the conference. The
Bulldogs will shift from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 with a more experienced back end of the defense returning this season. Six of the top 10 leading tacklers return along with 10 players that started at least one game last season.
The secondary will be led by cornerback Eugene Robinson IV, who led Texas Lutheran with three interceptions last season.
Two of Texas Lutheran’s leading tacklers, Markel Turner and David Augustin, return to a linebacker corps that should be able to shuffle through talent throughout the season.
There’s still questions about the Bulldogs defense as it adjusts and shuffles players around to the new scheme and while, still relatively young age wise, the young Bulldogs grew up last season and returns a more mature group that learned from last season’s growing pains.
Previewing Texas Lutheran’s Specialists for 2022
Texas Lutheran must replace first team All-ASC kicker Juan Ocampo, who finished his four-year career as a four-time all-conference kicker and third all-time in field goals made (30) in TLU history. The 2021 ASC Newcomer of the Year and New Braunfels native Cameron Welch is expected to handle the punting duties, while a camp battle will ensue for kicking and kickoff duties. The Bulldogs return their top three returners from last season in Eugene Robinson IV, Keon Torello, and DaKory Willis. 2022 provides a clean slate for Texas Lutheran as it begins a new era under LaHue and staff. The ASC schedule will always be a gauntlet, but one thing the staff promises is that the Bulldogs will compete from the first kickoff through the final horn. The style of play will be a stark contrast from 2021 so Bulldogs fans can expect to see a stark contrast in style of play as they witness a Bulldog team that will look to rekindle the championship spirit in Seguin as Bulldog Stadium returns to full capacity for the first time since 2019.
TLU BULLDOG FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Trinity
6 p.m., September 17 Multi-Sport Stadium, S.A. Sul Ross State 6 p.m., September 24 Bulldog Stadium, Seguin North American Univ. 7 p.m., October 1 North American Univ., Houston Austin College 1 p.m., October 8 Jerry Apple Stadium, Sherman Mary Hardin-Baylor 1 p.m., October 15 Bulldog Stadium, Seguin
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HOSPICE
McMurry
1 p.m., October 22 Wilford Moore Stadium, Abilene East Texas Baptist Univ.
1 p.m., November 5 Georgetown Athletic Complex, Georgetown WITH HEART.
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Hardin-Simmons
1 p.m., November 12 Bulldog Stadium, Seguin
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