Month: August 2019

by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Big Spring’s Harris, Nelson ready to run

With a sophomore starter at quarterback for the third consecutive season, Big Spring will be leaning on the run game this fall to take pressure off its young signal caller and keep the chains moving.

Fortunately for first-year head coach Cannon McWilliams and his Steers, they’ve got a pair of explosive backs to share that heavy load.

Built about as different as two players could be, seniors C.J. Harris and Zephaniah Nelson may look at first glance like an odd couple. But put them together, and they form one dynamic duo.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BIG SPRING TEAM PREVIEW: Steers look to take step forward in McWilliams’ first season

BIG SPRING — Taking over the Big Spring football program after previously serving as the school’s defensive coordinator, coach Cannon McWilliams is excited about the Steers’ future.

His first order of business, though, is laying the foundation necessary to ensure that that forecast stays bright.

McWilliams believes he has the talent on his roster to improve on last season’s 3-9 mark, but his top priority in Year 1 is developing the type of program culture that will lead to long-term, sustainable success.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Wood bringing energy, discipline to Snyder

SNYDER — At 28 years old, Wes Wood brings a youthful energy to the Snyder football program his new players find infectious.

The son of a former coach, he also brings a greater degree of discipline and attention to detail than they’re used to.

Those qualities, which might strike some as paradoxical, were the two most consistently mentioned by players when asked what makes Wood’s coaching style unique. And though this is the first head coaching job of his young career, and his mid-June hire gave him a late start at SHS, Wood has already earned the Tigers’ confidence with a positive first impression.

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by Daniel Youngblood

SNYDER TEAM PREVIEW: Wood, Tigers look to build on last season’s momentum

SNYDER — The Snyder Tigers had a resurgent season in 2018, posting an 8-3 record that marked their first winning campaign since 2011.

Now, with a new coach and a roster that was hit hard by gradation, SHS will try to prove that success — and the momentum built as a result — has staying power. 

Hired to take over the program after Cory Mandrell left for Bowie in May, former Azle offensive coordinator Wes Wood has high hopes for the 2019 Tigers.  But with just 13 lettermen back from last year’s team, including five starters on each side of the ball, Wood and his players will need to get on the same page quickly to achieve those goals this fall.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Sweetwater QB Holsey ready to take next step

There’s baptism by fire, and then there’s what Leo Holsey experienced in his first year as the Sweetwater quarterback.

Forced into action as a freshman and surrounded by youth, the young signal caller had about as difficult an introduction to the varsity game as possible.

Add to this that the Mustangs had won a combined 48 games the previous four seasons with standout QBs Kaegan Jeffrey and Chris Thompson. So every mistake he made while working through his inevitable growing pains was magnified.

Yet, through all that, Holsey made clear and significant progress from Week 1 to Week 11 last fall. And by the end of the season — a tough 1-9 campaign — he’d cemented his claim as Sweetwater’s quarterback of the future.

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by Daniel Youngblood

SWEETWATER TEAM PREVIEW: Young Mustangs seeking playoff return in ’19

  Last year, a young Sweetwater squad took its lumps, struggling through a 1-9 campaign to snap a streak of four consecutive seasons with double-digit win totals.

This fall, coach Ben McGehee is hoping the lessons learned from that experience will help the Mustangs get back on track and back into the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.

That might seem like a tall order, given that SHS was outscored 451-179 last season and lost as many letterman from that team (15) as it brings back. But McGehee saw enough positive signs down the stretch in 2018 to believe a return to the postseason is a realistic goal one year later.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Young Brock squad leaning on veteran leaders

BROCK — For most Class 3A programs, the loss of 19 lettermen and 17 of 22 starters to graduation would be crippling. Brock’s not like most 3A programs.

Sure, the Eagles have to fill those holes just like anyone else in that situation would. But the foundation of coach Chad Worrell’s program is so strong, and the expectations so high, that the idea of rebuilding season or using youth as an excuse is simply unacceptable.

Given the success BHS has enjoyed — the Eagles have averaged 12.5 wins per season since starting their varsity program in 2013 — it would be easy to chalk up the program’s consistency to geography or other factors unique to that community. But doing so would ignore two massive self-made advantages — a program-wide work ethic that promotes internal competition and a leadership cycle that keeps the ship perpetually pointed in the right direction.

In many ways, those things are interrelated. And it’s the presence of both that has this year’s team feeling good about its chances of upholding the program’s elite tradition.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BROCK TEAM PREVIEW: Heavy roster turnover won’t alter Eagles’ expectations

With just 10 lettermen back from last year’s 13-2 state semifinalist squad, Brock will have some retooling to do in 2018. But don’t think for a minute that the Eagles’ expectations have changed.

Sure, some things will look different when Brock takes the Eagle Stadium field Aug. 30 against Brownwood. But despite returning just two offensive and three defensive starters from last year’s team, coach Chad Worrell and his players will enter the season with the same lofty goals they’ve always had.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Wall defensive front seeks to restore elite standard

WALL — When talking about last year’s 9-3 record, all-state defensive end Joe Walker may have offered the best and most concise summation of the Wall Hawks’ collective viewpoint.

“It’s not a bad record, obviously. But it’s not a Wall record,” he said. 

Walker’s sentiment is a common one among Wall players, who are hoping to return the program to its established standard this fall after having a streak of eight consecutive seasons with 11 or more wins snapped in 2018. That it’s being delivered by a member of the Hawk defensive line — long a strength of vintage Wall teams — is likely a positive sign.

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by Daniel Youngblood

WALL TEAM PREVIEW: Experienced Hawks squad poised to contend

WALL — For most programs, a 9-3 season would be considered a roaring success. For the Wall Hawks, that showing a year ago marked their lowest win total since going 7-4 in 2009.

Wall, which posted a combined 96-14 record from 2010 to 2017, was still a tough out last fall, reaching the third round of the playoffs for the eighth time in the past nine years. But youth and inexperience reared their heads at times, playing a key role in the Hawks’ 0-2 start and keeping them from hitting the 11-win plateau that had served as the low water mark during the eight seasons leading up to 2018.

With much of its talent back from last year’s squad, however, Wall’s setting its bar as high as ever for the 2019 campaign. And while he was proud of what his young team accomplished last year, Hawks coach Houston Guy is expecting a more vintage WHS team this time around.

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Jim Ned’s Kimmel, Hayes among area’s best linebackers

TUSCOLA — There is perhaps no position in football that is more associated with aggression and toughness than that of linebacker. 

And with Jim Ned Indians working hard to shed their reputation as a basketball school in recent years, perhaps nothing illustrates their success in that endeavor more than their linebacking corps. 

Jim Ned, which enters the the 2019 season with legitimate district title hopes, has some of the best linebacking in the Big Country at any level. 

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by Evan Ren

JIM NED TEAM PREVIEW: Indians ready for dangerous district

TUCSOLA — With the exception of the days when Colt McCoy stood in the pocket at Jim Ned, the Indians have seldom been seen as a Region I threat in football. 

Until now. 

For those who haven’t noticed, the Indians are in the midst of a culture change. It started under former coach Jerod Womack and progressed even further last year under current mentor Matt Fanning.  Facing a monstrous schedule, the Indians posted a second straight 9-3 record last year, earning  a playoff spot in what has been rated as the second most difficult 3A district in Texas. 

Coming off their best two-year run in 15 years, the Indians enter the 2019 campaign with excellent numbers and a chance at both a district title and deep playoff run. 

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Eastland’s got a secret — quality receiving and rushing

                Alex Gonzales

EASTLAND — Behind every great quarterback is a quality group of skill personnel that enables him to achieve his full potential. 

In Eastland, where much of the preseason writing is focused on standout quarterback Behren Morton, a secret has been inadvertently created by the media. 

The Mavericks are loaded at the skill spots.

“Actually, we need to back up a year,” Eastland coach James Morton said. “The reason Behren has gotten the attention he has gotten is because of those skill guys and they’re all back for another year. 

“A quarterback is only as good as his skill guys. … I think Behren would be the first guy to tell you that.” 

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by Evan Ren

EASTLAND TEAM PREVIEW: Mavericks counting on both lines to develop

EASTLAND — Most preseason conversations regarding the 2019 Eastland Mavericks will center around highly touted quarterback Behren Morton. 

That’s understandable, given that the 6-2 junior is already receiving more Division I collegiate interest than most players could ever dream of. 

The son of Eastland coach James Morton earned that attention with 2,664 yards passing last year as a sophomore, hitting 203 of 315 passes with 18 TDs to only two picks.

The quarterback spot, however, won’t be what determines how far the Mavericks get in 2019. That, in the view of its coach, will be the performance of guys in the trenches. 

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Smallish McKay has learned to channel his aggression

BRECKENRIDGE — At 5-9 and 195 pounds, Breckenridge senior offensive lineman Zane McKay is easy to underestimate.

And that’s just the way he likes it. 

McKay, who may be among the smallest offensive tackles in the Big Country, has found compensation within the reaches of his own heart. In the process, he has come to exemplify the sort of grit the Breckenridge team has counted on under coach Casey Hubble in recent years. 

“It’s something that we’ve tried to hang our hat on since we’ve been here,” Hubble said of McKay’s tough style of play. “Breckenridge has tough kids. We always try to play the game extremely physical and Zane encompasses that.” 

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by Evan Ren

BRECKENRIDGE TEAM PREVIEW: Buckaroos ready to face the gauntlet

BRECKENRIDGE —If piling up impressive records is the lone criteria for success, then Casey Hubble’s Breckenridge Buckaroos aren’t a blip on the radar. 

If consistently peaking at the right time and qualifying for the playoffs is the top priority, then Hubble has yet to fail during his five seasons in Breck.   

Hubble has posted a modest 28-31 overall record at BHS, which is misleading if one takes into consideration the level of difficulty he chooses for his non-district schedule.  But the Bucks are 17-9 in district play during that time, with five straight postseason appearances, a district title and a regional semifinal appearance. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Clyde’s Baker growing into role as undisputed leader

With more than 160 tackles to his credit over the past two seasons, Bo Baker has been a leader for the Clyde Bulldogs since he was a sophomore.

This year, for the first time, he’ll be the leader.

Playing alongside do-it-all standout Payton Burton each of the past two seasons, Baker managed to keep a relatively low profile despite near-elite production in his first two varsity seasons. But with Burton graduating in the spring, and Baker’s role in the offensive backfield slated to grow to match his importance to the Bulldog defense, that’s unlikely to to be the case in his third.

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by Daniel Youngblood

CLYDE TEAM PREVIEW: Experienced Bulldogs look to make leap in 2019

CLYDE — A case could be made that the Clyde Bulldogs were the best 3-7 team in the state relative to their competition level a year ago. But that’s little consolation to second-year coach Scott Campbell, who has much bigger goals in mind for his program.

Sharing a district with Wall, Jim Ned, Eastland, Breckenridge and Early, Clyde’s path to the playoffs will be as treacherous as ever in 2019. But Campbell has good reason to believe his Bulldogs are due a big leap this fall. The experience gained through last year’s frustration will likely play a large role in that.

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Early’s Smithson a small, but determined target

EARLY — At only 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds, Early receiver Timmy Smithson doesn’t cast an imposing shadow. In fact, some may say he barely casts a shadow at all. 

That is, until one looks at his résumé. 

Smithson, who earned all-state honors as a junior last season, accomplished this feat despite getting extra defensive attention while playing in one of the most difficult 3A districts in Texas. 

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by Evan Ren

EARLY TEAM PREVIEW: Longhorns making no excuses in brutal district

EARLY — If one were to cite the chief problem with the Early football program, it may very well be geography. 

After racing out to a 4-1 record during the non-district portion of their 2018 schedule, the Longhorns jumped headlong into what one computer power rating service ranked as the second toughest 3A district in all of Texas. 

They closed with an 0-5 finish, a 4-6 overall mark and spent Thanksgiving at home.  By season’s end that same computer service rated Early (despite its last-place finish) high enough to have reached postseason play in several other districts. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Competition drives Brady’s Galindo twins to be their best

BRADY — You don’t have to ask Brady twins Benjamin and Caleb Galindo who’s the better athlete to get an opinion on the matter.

Just ask them about their relationship and they’ll volunteer that information independently.

But tread lightly if you’re a fan of middle ground and compromise. You won’t find any here. The stakes of this long-raging debate are simply too high.

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by Daniel Youngblood

BRADY TEAM PREVIEW: Bulldogs eyeing playoff return in 2019

BRADY — It’s rare that a 2-8 season represents progress, but that was the case for Brady in 2018. Coming off a winless campaign the year prior, the Bulldogs found themselves in position to make the playoffs in their final game of the season last year.

With the bulk of its talent back from that team, including eight offensive and nine defensive starters among 16 returning lettermen, Brady is hoping to take the next step this fall. And for third-year coach Shay Easterwood, a BHS grad himself, that means returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Tough, knowledgeable, versatile — that’s Comanche’s Conine

COMANCHE — At 5-foot-10 and 280 pounds, Comanche offensive lineman Jeron Conine isn’t someone you’d associate with the quarterback position. 

Yet for a time in the eighth grade and his freshman season in high school, that is the position Conine played before the natural progression of things steered him up front. For those who know him, it comes as no surprise that the senior spent time behind center, given his athleticism and knowledge of the Comanche’s wing-T offense.

He is now a key element in the Comanche attack as a senior lineman on a junior-dominated team. He will not only be leaned upon for leadership, but for expertise in the scheme itself. 

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by Evan Ren

COMANCHE TEAM PREVIEW: Rebuilding or reloading? Indians hope its the latter

COMANCHE — After six successful years at the helm at Comanche, coach Stephen Hermesmeyer may be facing the single biggest test his program has seen since his arrival there in 2013. 

With three straight district titles under his belt, Hermesmeyer returns only three starters on both sides of the ball this year among 11 lettermen, 

This is the second straight year the Indians have had absorb a large graduating class — virtually depleting them of varsity experience. It is at this point, however, where the foundation of the program can be tested. 

Are the Indians capable of enduring a difficult non-district schedule with a junior-heavy roster, then capturing a seventh-straight playoff berth?   

Put simply, rebuild or reload? 

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Dublin’s Huffman may keep things light, but he’s deadly serious on the field

DUBLIN — Start with serious production on the ground. Add some production as a receiver. Sprinkle in some speed and finish by throwing in a dash of humor, and you’ve got Dublin utility man Hagen Huffman. 

If, as a Big Country football fan, you haven’t heard of Huffman yet, a quick education may be in order. 

The 17-year old senior is one of the most versatile returning Class 3A players in the Big Country. And in all likelihood, he will be a key element if the Lions are to repeat the success they had in last year’s 8-3 season.

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by Evan Ren

DUBLIN TEAM PREVIEW: Lions hope to answer questions in the trenches

DUBLIN — With his team facing a host of questions heading into the 2019 football season, Dublin coach Bob Cervetto remains as upbeat as ever. 

Returning just five starters on both sides of the ball from last year’s 8-3 team, the Lions have taken graduation hits all over the field and on both sides of the ball. 

Despite all the new faces, a sprinkling of proven standouts remain among the starting 22. That, along with an above-average overall maturity level are what Cervetto will be counting on heading into this year’s campaign. 

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Anson’s Hagler equipped for success in senior campaign

           Drew Hagler

ANSON — For two straight seasons, Anson senior dual-threat quarterback Drew Hagler has posted numbers to rival any high school signal caller in the Big Country. 

As a sophomore in 2017, he threw for 1,547 yards, rushed for 1,266 and accounted for 28 touchdowns.  Last year as junior, while playing on a youthful 5-6 team making its Class 3A debut, he put up 2,021 yards through the air, rushed for 1,163 and had a hand in 29 scores.

This year, however, a senior-dominated Anson club with experience throughout its roster, has furnished Hagler with the opportunity for a breakout campaign, even by the standards he has already set. 

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Backfield tandem of Callahan and Nichols carrying on Cisco tradition

CISCO — Though they have diversified in recent years, the I-based Cisco Loboes are still known for a straight-ahead approach when it comes to moving the chains. 

At this they’ve been quite successful, posting a 192-40 overall mark since coach Brent West’s arrival 2002, with five trips to state championship games and a title in 2013. 

While generally fielding a team worthy of top-10 consideration, Cisco’s upper-tier teams have almost always possessed three key elements: an excellent offensive line, an effective blocker at fullback and a capable tailback. 

Entering the 2019 season, an untested offensive line will still have to prove itself, but the two other pieces of the puzzle appear to be in place with tailback Stanley Callahan and fullback Cam Nichols. 

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by Evan Ren

CISCO TEAM PREVIEW: Loboes must reload to answer two big district challenges

CISCO — The sun will rise in the east, a compass will point north and the Cisco Loboes will win a district title in football. 

Most truisms stay the same forever, until we apply them to pigskin.

Perennial power Cisco, which hasn’t lost a district game since 2010, will face two difficult challenges to keep that streak alive this season in difficult road games at Ballanger (Sept. 27) and Anson (Nov. 1). Both clubs are expected to dramatically improve, both games are on grass surfaces (away from Cisco’s customary turf) and both clubs are armed with dangerous quarterbacks. 

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by Evan Ren

ANSON TEAM PREVIEW: Rebuilt, veteran Tigers poised to make a 3A splash

ANSON — The Anson Tigers absorbed a double-whammy in 2018, being bumped up to Class 3A by realignment while at the same time, having its roster depleted of experience by graduation. 

Coach Chris Hagler’s junior-laden crew slugged its way through a 5-6 campaign at the higher level, gradually improving as the season progressed to post a 5-2 district mark and reach the playoffs. 

This year, however, the Anson camp is hoping that last season’s toil will finally pay dividends. There’s reason to believe that could be the case, with eight offensive and nine defensive returning starters among 18 lettermen.  

This includes senior quarterback Drew Hagler (2,021 yards passing, 1,153 rushing 29 total TDs), who is about to embark on his final season behind center for the Tigers. 

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Ballinger’s Nunez ready to follow up on huge junior season

BALLINGER — Edgar Nunez wasn’t exactly a household name throughout the Big Country as he entered his junior season last year.

Having endured all the growing pains expected of a varsity sophomore in 2017 when he replaced his injured brother (Javier) at quarterback, he was an unknown commodity. 

It didn’t take long for that to change. 

Not only did Nunez have a breakout season last year, but he earned All-West Texas and All-Big Country Preps honors in the process — leaving the fans, his coaches, the area and even himself a bit surprised. 

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by Evan Ren

BALLINGER TEAM PREVIEW: Bearcats ready for three-way district dogfight

BALLINGER — It could be argued that third-year Ballinger coach Chuck Lipsey inherited a program at the shallow end of a down cycle in 2017.

It can also be demonstrated that he has gradually taken the Bearcats from mediocrity to the level of area threat. A 4-7 mark in his debut campaign was followed by a 7-4 mark and bi-district loss to Childress last season.

That upward trend is about to continue — at least, if the preseason numbers and natural progression hold true, and the Bearcats avoid injury problems.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Merkel linemen excited about new physical offensive scheme

The Merkel offensive linemen didn’t have any say in the direction their offense would go under new coach Brian Ramsey. But talking to that bunch, you’d have thought they hand picked the scheme themselves.

The Badgers will be switching from the spread option attack they utilized under former coach John Cornelius to a physical slot-T/wing-T hybrid this fall.

And members of a Merkel line unit that averages upwards of 275 pounds per man are having a field day with the change.

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by Daniel Youngblood

MERKEL TEAM PREVIEW: New-look Badgers look to keep playoff streak going

MERKEL — The 2019 Merkel football team will have a distinctly different look than the Badgers squads fans got to cheer into the playoffs in 2017 and 2018.

Gone are John Cornelius (now the coach at Sudan) and do-it-all athlete Jonah White (now a running back at Baylor). And taking over the MHS program is a coach in Brian Ramsey who will be shaking things up this fall.

With White off to college and no athletic equals to take his place, the Badgers will be trading their explosive spread option offense for a slot-T/wing-T base and a new “three yards and a cloud of dust” mentality. But if all goes well, Merkel will be closing this season the same place it has each of the past three: in the postseason.

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: Green-but-talented Sanchez will be a Bangs bell cow

BANGS — If you wish to speak with Bangs’ junior Ethan Sanchez, you may want to do it prior to the football season.

He’s about to be a busy man. 

Sanchez, who will be the featured running back in Bangs’ offense, will balance his remaining time as a starting linebacker. It is the same role he was thrust into as a green sophomore in 2018, but one at which he showed noticeable potential. 

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by Evan Ren

BANGS TEAM PREVIEW: Maxfield enters second year optimistic

BANGS — A season removed from installing his system at Bangs, second-year coach Kyle Maxfield is more relaxed and more optimistic than he was in 2018. 

Perhaps he should be.

With seven offensive and eight defensive starters back among 13 lettermen, the prospects of improving on his 3-7 debut with the Dragons look promising. And the numbers are only the beginning.

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by Daniel Youngblood

Feature: Coleman’s Greaves, Rosales hungry after injury-shortened 2018

Coleman senior Blake Greaves and junior Corbin Rosales didn’t need any help getting fired up for this football season. Both had been counting down to two-a-days since having their 2018 campaigns cut short by injury in the Bluecats’ Week 3 win over Goldthwaite.

Greaves, a receiver and linebacker, was lost to a broken collarbone that required surgery and six screws to repair. For Rosales, a quarterback and defensive back, it was an avulsion fracture in his hip that sent him to a sidelines.

After spending so much time away from the game, the two can hardly wait for Coleman’s opener against Jim Ned to arrive. And they’ll take the Hufford Field turf when it does with a new appreciation for the opportunity to gear up and play.

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by Daniel Youngblood

COLEMAN TEAM PREVIEW: Bluecats have playoff return on the mind

COLEMAN — After battling through an injury-plagued 2-8 campaign a year ago, the Coleman Bluecats are hoping for a playoff return in 2019.

And with 18 letterman back from last year’s team and improved depth across the board, coach John Elder believes this group is capable of making that happen.

Combining five returning starters on both sides of the ball with reinforcements from a 3-7 junior varsity squad, the Bluecats will still have some limitations that could make competing with the upper echelon of their district difficult. But Elder sees a pathway to the postseason, and he wants his players focused on finding it.

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: C-City’s Thompson Twins hope to bring new wave of success

 COLORADO CITY — For those old enough to remember, hearing someone mention “The Thompson Twins” conjures up memories of a popular British new wave group from the 1980s. The stage name was a falsehood, with no actual twins in the band. 

Some 35 years later, the Colorado City Wolves have their own pair of Thompsons — Alex and Zach — but there’s nothing fictitious about them. 

The 17-year-old twins are so identical, that Colorado City coach Dan Gainey had to develop his own method for differentiating them.

“The only way I can tell them apart is by which girlfriend they’re with,” Gainey said. “And I’m not really sure if they haven’t tricked them from time to time.” 

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by Evan Ren

COLORADO CITY TEAM PREVIEW: Young Wolves hope to keep playoff streak alive

COLORADO CITY — If the Colorado City Wolves are to keep their recent run of success alive, they’re going to have to do it with a myriad of new faces in 2019.

Over the past two seasons, few Big Country teams at any level have outperformed Coach Dan Gainey’s Wolves, who have posted a 22-4 mark during that span.  But with just four offensive and three defensive starters returning among 13 lettermen, C-City must find a way to compensate for a sizable loss in graduated talent and experience. 

 Gone are All-Big Country Preps honorees Tracy Smith (receiver), quarterback Markis Monroe and running back Bubba Williams — the latter two of which doubled as All-BCP linebackers. 

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: It’s all about team for Coahoma star Dobbs

COAHOMA — As a two-way starter and team leader for Coahoma, Keegan Dobbs could talk about himself for quite a while if he wanted to.

The top blocker for a Bulldog offense that rushed for nearly 260 yards per game last year, Dobbs also racked up 70 tackles and 13 sacks from his defensive end position, making him one of the most productive small-school linemen in the Big Country.

But the 6-foot-1, 191-pound senior isn’t particularly interested in reliving past achievements or setting personal benchmarks to shoot for this season. He’s too busy trying to lead Coahoma to new heights to worry about individual goals, accomplishments or accolades.

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by Daniel Youngblood

COAHOMA TEAM PREVIEW: Senior-laden Bulldogs poised for big step forward

COAHOMA — One of the great things about having a junior-laden football team is that it’s a year away from being a senior-led group, and all experience gained is transferable from one season to the next.

It’s this reality that has second-year Coahoma coach Chris Joslin so excited about his Bulldogs’ chances entering the 2019 season.

With 24 lettermen back from last year’s team, including eight offensive and seven defensive starters, Joslin will have the most experienced roster in District 2-3A Division II this fall. And he feels that will make a world of difference for a squad that showed flashes of brilliance during last season’s 4-7 campaign.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: San Saba stars O’Keefe, Salinas enjoying pressure of expectations

SAN SABA — As multi-year starters for San Saba and catalysts for the Armadillos’ gridiron turnaround, quarterback Sean O’Keefe and running back Eli Salinas are feeling some extra pressure these days.

But don’t worry. Ask them, and both will tell you that’s a good thing.

Each has been around long enough to remember when a three-win season in 2017 represented progress. So the pair will gladly take the added expectations and heightened scrutiny that have come with last year’s 14-1 campaign.

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by Daniel Youngblood

SAN SABA TEAM PREVIEW: Loaded Armadillos poised for another deep run

SAN SABA — Coming off one of its best seasons in program history, San Saba will hit the field with a new coach in 2019. But with 16 lettermen back from last year’s 14-1 squad, including nine offensive and seven defensive starters, expectations remain sky high for the Armadillos.

Hired to replace his former boss Jerod Fikac, who left in February to take the Georgetown East View job, former defensive coordinator Andreas Aguirre will take over a program that he helped jump start. And after seeing San Saba improve from three wins in 2017 to 14 a year ago, he’s determined to keep that train on the tracks and the positive momentum going.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Gonzalez a small, but powerful weapon for De Leon

DE LEON — Standing 5-foot-6 and generously listed at 150 pounds, senior running back Jorge Gonzalez is one of the smaller players on the De Leon roster. But in terms of both past production and potential impact, no Bearcat player stands taller.

Gonzalez, who plays much bigger than his diminutive frame might suggest, is coming off a junior season in which he rushed for 931 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 86 tackles and an interception on defense. And entering his final high school campaign, he’s likely to play an even bigger role for first-year head coach Andrew Dickson.

The added usage will leave a lot of weight on Gonzalez’s shoulders, but two-way standout wouldn’t have it any other way.

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by Daniel Youngblood

DE LEON TEAM PREVIEW: Dickson, Bearcats look to keep ball rolling

DE LEON — With four-year starting quarterback Kevin Yeager graduating, and his father — former head coach David Yeager — resigning his position to follow his son’s collegiate career at the University of Incarnate Word, it would be easy to assume that the De Leon Bearcats are due a significant dip in performance.

After all, Kevin Yeager had one of the most productive careers in Texas high school football history, and the Bearcats won a combined 32 games in his last three seasons behind center.

But those expecting to see De Leon fall off the map this fall are likely to be proven wrong. While the Bearcats will look different — an outcome guaranteed by a switch from the spread to the Wing-T — new head coach Andrew Dickson is confident he has the talent and experience at his disposal to keep the ball rolling at De Leon.

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by Daniel Youngblood

FEATURE: Experienced O-line ready to lead way for young Hico squad

With just eight lettermen back from last year’s 3-7 team, Hico won’t have experience in many spots in 2019.

Fortunately for the Tigers, the one exception to that rule is a pretty important position group.

Of Hico’s five returning starters on offense, three can be found on the line, where seniors Karson Zant and Jacob Harvin and junior Brendon McKinney are all entering their third year as varsity players. And if you ask coach Randy Thornton, that’s a pretty solid foundation to build upon.

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by Daniel Youngblood

HICO TEAM PREVIEW: Tigers look to bounce back from injury-plagued 2018

HICO — Last year, injuries deprived Hico of what might have been a playoff season without them. A depleted Tigers squad struggled through a 3-7 campaign, missing the postseason by a single win.

After going 2-3 through the nondistrict portion of its schedule, Hico saw one-score losses to quality teams from De Leon (21-14) and Crawford (14-10) serve as perfect and painful punctuation marks to the poetic injustice.

With just eight lettermen back from that team, including five offensive and four defensive starters, the Tigers will face depth issues once again in 2019. But coach Randy Thornton feels HHS can get back to the playoffs if this year’s group can avoid the injury bug that hit last year’s so hard.

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by Evan Ren

FEATURE: An introduction to new Goldthwaite coach Keith Virdell

GOLDTHWAITE — Keith Virdell may not have a huge amount of head coaching experience — posting a 9-2 mark at Sudan in his first season last year. 

The new Goldthwaite coach does, however, have an extensive résumé, with assistant coaching stops at Florence, Midland Lee and Lampasas dating back to 2007. Before that, he earned a letter at the University of Texas as a walk-on. 

He comes to GHS armed with a clock-killing slot-T offense, a run-stopping “50” defense and a determination to set a good example.  

He now visits with BCP sportswriter Evan Ren to discuss how he’s enjoying Goldthwaite, how much pressure he feels and his offensive and defensive philosophies in this Big Country Preps Q&A. 

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by Evan Ren

GOLDTHWAITE TEAM PREVIEW: Eagles return to their roots

 

 

GOLDTHWAITE — In a way, the coach Keith Virdell is be taking Goldthwaite back to its roots in 2019, with the installation of a ground-based offense designed to chew clock. 

No, the Eagles will not be going back to the wishbone, which Gary Proffitt used to much success during his lengthy tenure some years back. 

Goldthwaite will, however, be basing out of the slot-T, an offense more commonly seen in east and south Texas than its better-known cousin, the wing-T. 

While the slot-T is different than the wishbone, relying heavily on misdirection rather than the triple option, the objective and requirements are the same: ball control, backed by discipline.    

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