Month: August 2024

by Daniel Youngblood

FORSAN FEATURE: Physical senior Stockton a model for Buffs on and off the field

Playing in a Forsan program that prides itself on physicality, few players personify that gritty, hard-nosed mentality more than senior Huston Stockton. 

A 6-foot-1, 205-pound bruiser at running back and defensive end, Stockton is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the football.

Entering his senior year off a junior campaign that saw him earn first-team all-district honors at both of his positions, Stockton could make his biggest impact yet for the Buffaloes in 2024. And Forsan coach Jason Phillips feels that’s a good thing for a program seeking its fifth consecutive playoff berth.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

2024 FORSAN FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Strength up front has Buffaloes feeling optimistic

Forsan coach Jason Phillips has been around long enough to know the ingredients he needs to build a successful football team. So it should probably excite FHS fans that he feels the 2024 squad checks all of the most obvious boxes.

The Buffaloes, who are coming off back-to-back tri-district championships, return 19 of their 28 lettermen from last year’s 8-3 squad, including all but three starters on offense and an experienced defensive front.

Add to this a group of reinforcements from a 7-1-1 junior varsity team, and it’s easy to see why the longtime Forsan mentor is chomping at the bit to get on the field and see what this year’s team can accomplish.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

COLORADO CITY FEATURE: Monpere a big part of Wolves roster in more ways than one

It isn’t hard to find Liam Monpere on the football field during Colorado City Wolves games.

For one thing, he stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 250 pounds. For another, he runs REALLY fast for a guy that large. That’s “REALLY,” as in “4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash” fast. After a while, fans just stop asking, “Who IS that big guy running all over the field?”

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

2024 C-CITY FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Wolves seek to continue upward climb in Leaf’s third year

Colorado City coach Monty Leaf is convinced the Wolves have the athleticism this fall to compete for a playoff spot in District 3-2A Division I.

But, he says, that’s not likely to occur until his troops navigate the giant fork in the road facing Leaf and Co. as he begins his third year with the program.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

GOLDTHWAITE FEATURE: Eagles counting on veteran offensive line

Goldthwaite coach Andy Howard mentions all the time how success can breed more success.

The Eagles’ success this fall hinges on an offensive line that returns four senior starters looking to return Goldthwaite to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

Left tackle Jacob Ross, left guard Edmond Martinez, right guard Daniel Barrera and right tackle helped Goldthwaite finish second in Class 2A during the annual state lineman challenge over the summer.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Zach Duncan, Special to Big Country Preps

2024 GOLDTHWAITE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Eagle progress expected to continue with return of several starters

GOLDTHWAITE — Andy Howard saw growth in his second season at Goldthwaite.

After a winless debut, the Eagles won three times last fall and were more competitive in a difficult district.

With 17 starters returning and a drop to Class 2A Division II, Howard is ready to unlock the next stage of his program’s rebuild.

“It’s a process. You’re going to see progress and then there’s days where you feel like you’re not advancing,” Howard said. “You have to stay in it day by day. It’s time for the process to start paying off some more.”

Continue reading “2024 GOLDTHWAITE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Eagle progress expected to continue with return of several starters” →

by Daniel Youngblood

SANTO FEATURE: Junior FB/LB Hollingsworth brings toughness, leadership to Wildcats squad

rioIn Santo’s flexbone offense, no position is more important than the fullback. So finding the right player(s) for that role is of paramount importance.

In junior Justin Hollingsworth, SHS coach Devon Mann is confident he’s found that player.

Hollingsworth, who was shifted from tight end to fullback last year, made an immediate splash at the position for a young Wildcats team in 2023. And entering this season with higher expectations for a more experienced roster, Mann is ready to put even more on the junior’s plate this fall.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

2024 SANTO FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Playoff expectations return with deeper, more experienced roster

 

Santo coach Devon Mann went into the 2023 season knowing it would be a learning process for a young and inexperienced roster. 

So when the Wildcats finished 3-7 and missed the playoffs for the time since 2013, he accepted the experience for what it was — a bump in the road on the way to better days ahead.

With 16 lettermen back from that squad, including eight starters on both side of the ball, Mann remains steadfast in that conviction. And with a talented group of call-ups from a 7-3 junior varsity squad providing depth that was missing a year ago, he’s expecting those better days sooner rather than later.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

WINTERS FEATURE: Blizzards to lean on strong O-line group to get Wing-T rolling

Winters coach Matt McCarty has big plans for his Blizzards during the upcoming football season. That’s “big,” as in the collective 1,000-plus pounds the team’s starting offensive line weighs this season.

If/when Winters begins turning the tide as a program after a 1-9 campaign last fall, the five guys charged with opening holes and protecting the quarterback will likely lead the way.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

2024 WINTERS FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Numbers-thin Blizzards looking forward to fresh start in DII

After a tough 1-9 season a year ago, the Winters Blizzards are eager to start 2024 with a clean slate. That, indeed, will be the case, both literally and figuratively.

After competing in District 4-2A Division I last fall, the Blizzards are moving to District 7-2A Division II. That means a slew of new opponents, as well as a chance to compete on a more level playing field against smaller schools with lesser numbers in their football programs.

Winters coach Matt McCarty said during preseason workouts that the Blizzards have 30 athletes playing football this fall, so those players will represent the varsity team. There will be no junior varsity squad this year.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

ROSCOE FEATURE: Ivan ‘the terrible’ McCann a very good one for Plowboys

In some ways, Roscoe senior Ivan McCann is a paradox. 

With a happy-go-lucky demeanor that belies a mean-as-a-rattlesnake playing style, the Plowboys star is as personable off the field as he is ornery on it.

But when those two seemingly contradictory dynamics come together, they form one of the Big Country’s most interesting players, who is — in all ways — a dynamo for coach Jake Freeman and the Plowboys.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

2024 ROSCOE FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Hungry Plowboys look to build on last year’s success

With a 10-3 record and a trip to the region semifinals, the Roscoe Plowboys experienced their best season in 15 years last fall. The challenge for coach Jake Freeman and Co. this year is to back that up with another strong campaign.

Buoyed by a talented nucleus of 14 returning lettermen, including six starters on both sides of the football, the Plowboys have reason to be optimistic in 2024.

But after graduating nine seniors from last year’s team, including 1,000-yard receiver Seth Wilcox and All-Big Country Preps Defensive Player of the Year Parker Gleaton, Roscoe will need some young players to fill some gaps if it hopes to replicate last year’s success.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

MILES FEATURE: Wilhelm, Bulldogs working to build a winning tradition

It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that the Miles football program is currently in the midst of a golden era. 

Coming off back-to-back eight-win seasons with even bigger expectations for a senior-heavy squad this fall, the Bulldogs are experiencing levels of consistency and success seldom — if ever — seen in the history of MHS football.

For fifth-year coach Jayson Wilhelm, getting the Bulldogs to this point is a source of pride. But it’s sustaining and building on that success that drives him.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

2024 MILES FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Experienced Bulldogs have playoff run in sights

Entering the 2024 season off its best two-year stretch since 1999-2000, the Miles football program has a chance to do something historic this fall. 

After following an 8-3 season in 2022 with an 8-4 campaign last year, the Bulldogs are in position to stack three consecutive winning seasons for the first time in program history. 

Perhaps the best part for Miles fans, though, is that’s where the goals start this season for coach Jayson Wilhelm and his squad. With 18 of 22 lettermen back from last year’s team, including eight offensive and nine defensive starters, the Bulldogs feel that even more special accomplishments are within reach.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

HAMLIN FEATURE: Talented, deep junior class ready to help lead Pipers in 2024

In a perfect high school football world, there’s ideal balance in the classification breakdown of the lineup. That is to say that, on 45-player varsity roster, you have roughly 15 seniors, 15 juniors and 15 sophomores, all of whom have played together with members of their class and with members of the other classes enough that the units on both sides of the ball work in concert Friday night in and Friday night out.

Of course, that world doesn’t exist — certainly not in the lower classes, where finding 45 players program-wide can be a monumental task.

Hamlin coach Jason Botos has come really close this year, though. He has 44 players out for football this season between his varsity and junior varsity teams. What he doesn’t quite have is classification balance. With eight seniors, 12 juniors and the remaining roster members underclassmen, Botos has a relatively young team trying to improve on the 5-5 record Hamlin registered last fall.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Yale Youngblood, Special to Big Country Preps

2024 HAMLIN FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Seasoned Pied Pipers hoping for return to playoffs

With 18 starters returning for the 2024 season — nine on both sides of the ball — the Hamlin Pied Pipers look primed to take a big step forward after finishing 5-5 in Jason Botos’ inaugural season as head coach at the school.

But those aren’t even the numbers that excite Botos the most.

“We have 44 kids this summer,” Botos said as preseason workouts were winding down earlier this month. “It makes practice so much better when you have numbers.”

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

CROSS PLAINS FEATURE: Daniel Purvis out to make the most of final season with son Kade

Daniel Purvis spent much of his early tenure at Cross Plains dreaming about coaching his son, Kade.

Now, as he approaches the fourth and final season with his son as the Buffaloes starting quarterback, the 14th-year CPHS coach is wondering where the time has gone.

If you ask Coach Purvis, he’ll tell you that coaching his son has been everything he had hoped it would be. But with just 10 guaranteed games remaining and no way to slow the passage of time, he finds himself in a more contemplative state than he expected to be at this stage.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

2024 CROSS PLAINS FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Buffaloes look to return to winning ways this fall

The 2023 season didn’t go quite as smoothly or well for the Cross Plains Buffaloes as they had hoped it would. The team’s 4-7 campaign last year marked the program’s first sub-.500 record since 2015, leaving a bitter taste in the Buffs’ mouths despite qualifying for the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season and11th time since 2011.

With 10 of 15 lettermen back, including seven offensive and nine defensive starters, Cross Plains is hoping to get back on the winning side of things this fall.

But doing so, as it often does for a numbers-thin Buffaloes program that’s playing 11-man football with Class 1A enrollment, will likely depend on keeping key players healthy and developing enough depth to survive the rigors of a difficult District 7-2A Division II schedule.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

ALBANY FEATURE: Coaching stability is off the charts at Albany

ALBANY — In an era when long-term coaching stability is becoming increasingly rare at the high school level, the Albany football program has become an exception of staggering proportions. 

With head coach Denney Faith (37 years) and assistants Rod Britting (28 years), David Fairchild (21 years), Jimmy Fuentes (22 years), Ryder Peacock (13 years) and Tate Thompson (nine years) comprising the Lions’ staff, Albany has roughly 130 combined years of coaching stability among six guys.

Not only has Faith become the dean of area football coaches, but his support staff is just as firmly entrenched as he is.  The net result is a family, built on trust, professionalism, ethics and hard work.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

2024 ALBANY FOOTBALL PREVIEW: State champion Lions have multiple positions to fill

ALBANY — After winning back-to-back 2A DII state titles, the Albany Lions enter this season on a 27-game winning streak and ranked No. 2 in the state by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine. 

Statewide, the expectations are for the Lions to make a deep playoff run and possibly get to Arlington for a third straight year. 

But will the numbers — and the loss of all-state running back Adam Hill — allow them to get there? 

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Brandon McAuliffe

2024 MUNDAY FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Full staff fuels optimism in Langston’s second year

Admittedly, Brandon Langston’s first year as a head coach did not go anywhere near as well as he had hoped it would.

A steep learning curve, while being shorthanded two coaches, hit the Moguls leader right square in the eyes.

In 2024, however, things are looking vastly different for the small school in southeastern Knox County. Langston said that Munday has beefed up its football coaching staff from three to five while also adding a full-time athletic trainer.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

HASKELL FEATURE: A quick Q&A with fourth-year Haskell coach Mitch McLemore

HASKELL — Entering his fourth season at the helm of Haskell’s football program, Mitch McLemore has a chat about the progress of his program, his past and the direction he sees the game taking in this brief preseason Q&A with Evan Ren. 

Q: Coach, thanks for joining us, we appreciate your time.  First off, before you got your first head coaching job at Junction, tell us about your time spent as an assistant with coach Wayne Hutchinson at Stamford and what that meant to you. 
A:  We were at Knox City before that and had a great five years there and then Stanford became available. We prayed about it and moved and had a great eight years there. But you know, God does what he got does and that was all part of that Junction move. I really wasn’t looking was happy anyway so here we are today many years later and he and I are still like brothers from another mother. To me he’s a great football coach and great man with a great family and our families are very close.”

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Evan Ren

2024 HASKELL FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Youth Haskell could surprise the area if it can stay healthy

HASKELL — Every now and then, hunger can overcome a lack of experience. 

And in Haskell, where a youthful group of sophomores and juniors will lead the HHS football team in 2024, that is precisely what coach Mitch McLemore is counting on. 

“We’re only going to have about five or six seniors,” said McLemore, who has guided the Indians to three straight playoff berths since his arrival at HHS. “But our strength will be that our kids want to play and they want to get better every week. 
“We’ve got a group that has been (in the system) for three years, so a lot of stuff is already (understood) and we’ll just have to tweak a few things.  So they’re hungry and they’re excited.”  

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Brandon McAuliffe

2024 SIX-MAN PREVIEW: Gordon looks to start a dynasty; Division II is Jayton’s for the taking

After dethroning the two-time defending state champion Westbrook Wildcats in Arlington in December, Mike Reed’s Gordan squad is poised to make a run at repeating atop Class 1A Division I this fall. But the Longhorns will have their hands full as four of the top eight teams in the preseason Top 25 are from the Big Country.

But the bigger question entering the 2024 season is: What happens in Division II now that Grayson Rigdon has transferred from Benjamin to Class 3A Columbus?

Rigdon’s move, after winning three state titles between Strawn and Benjamin, swings the door wide open and hoping to break through it are the Jayton Jaybirds.

Here’s a preview of each of the six-man districts in the Big Country Preps coverage area with our predictions for 2024.

You need to be logged in to view the rest of the content. Please . Not a Member? Join Us
by Daniel Youngblood

COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Cooper Cougars, Wylie Bulldogs and Abilene High Eagles … one day to two-a-days

Football is just around the corner, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Wednesday, Aug. 21. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2024 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

Today, we take a look at the Cooper Cougars, the Wylie Bulldogs and the Abilene High Eagles.

Continue reading “COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Cooper Cougars, Wylie Bulldogs and Abilene High Eagles … one day to two-a-days” →

by Daniel Youngblood

COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Stephenville Yellow Jackets … two days to two-a-days

Football is just around the corner, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Wednesday, Aug. 21. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2024 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

Today, we take a look at the Stephenville Yellow Jackets.

Continue reading “COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Stephenville Yellow Jackets … two days to two-a-days” →

by Evan Ren

COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Brownwood Lions … three days to two-a-days

Football is just around the corner, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Wednesday, Aug. 21. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2024 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

Today, we take a look at the Brownwood Lions.

Continue reading “COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Brownwood Lions … three days to two-a-days” →

by Daniel Youngblood

COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Big Spring Steers … four days to two-a-days

Football is just around the corner, and we at BigCountryPreps.com are committed to bringing you the information you need to prepare for your favorite team’s season.

We’ll be releasing our Big Country Preps Preseason Football Preview, the most comprehensive look at the upcoming Big Country football season anywhere, on Wednesday, Aug. 21. But you won’t have to wait until then to sate your gridiron appetite.

Leading up to the first day of fall football practice on Aug. 5, we’ll be spotlighting each 11-man team in the area and posing some of the key questions they’ll face in 2024 as part of our annual “Countdown to Two-a-Days” series.

Today, we take a look at the Big Spring Steers.

Continue reading “COUNTDOWN TO TWO-A-DAYS: The Big Spring Steers … four days to two-a-days” →