SWEETWATER — As first-year coach Russell Lucas begins his journey as the head of the Sweetwater football program, he can take comfort in knowing that he has inherited a cupboard that is anything but bare. 

No fewer than 21 lettermen are expected to return from last year’s 8-2 squad, with five offensive and eight defensive starters among them. This includes standout quarterback Leo Holsey, who begins his fourth season behind center for the Mustangs after throwing for 2,261 yards and 31 scores a year ago. 

More good news for the Mustangs: The new system Lucas is installing is quite similar to what they’ve been running at SHS for years, meaning the transition period should be relatively short.