BROWNWOOD — With only offensive starter returning from last season, the one player Brownwood coach Sammy Burnet would hope to have back would be quarterback Ike Hall. 

As luck would have it, that is precisely who will return in 2023 to run the Lions’ pistol attack — surrounded by a combo of fresh faces and older players who didn’t start offensively a year ago.  

Nonetheless there is plenty of reason for optimism in the Brownwood camp, with nine defensive starters, 17 lettermen and of course, Hall returning from last year’s 10-3 club. The Lions will also have several players from last year’s 9-1 JV squad promoted to add extra depth to what is expected to be a 40-man roster.