FORT BEND High School
FOOTBALL PAGE 1B H Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Travis looks to get back on track this fall By Michael Sudhalter msudhalter @ fortbendstar.com
Travis High head football coach Randy Cunningham has coached high school football for nearly 30 years, but he’s only coached his son, senior quarterback Cody Cunnigham, for one. Together, the Cunninghams will look to put the Tigers back in the postseason. “Coaching my son been a pleasure,” Coach Cunningham said. “Watching him grow as a young man and quarterback has been a great experience.” Cody started seven games in 2013, passing for 1,000 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Tigers, who finished 3-6 last season. He’s received interest from schools such as Midwestern State and Texas Lutheran. Travis reached the third round of the playoffs in 2012, losing to eventual state runner-up, Lamar. “We want to play in December the way to get there is to (work at it) every day,” Coach Cunningham said. “This group is used to winning, and they work hard. This group is very unselfish, and they want to do whatever they can to help the team be successful.” The Tigers, now members of 6A-23, will be tested early on Thursday vs. Katy Seven Lakes at Mercer Stadium and Sept. 4 at Katy High, which finished as the state runnerup last fall. “I want to see where we are as a program,” Coach Cunningham said. “I respect Katy tremendously. We’ll see how we’ll react against the big boys.”
Travis will open district competition on Sept. 12 at Alief Taylor a team that’s widely predicted to win the 6A-23 crown. Senior wide receivers Stevens Sims, who has offers from McNeese State and Southern, and Spencer Griffin, who’s received offers from Utah State and Southern, are expected to be Cody’s top targets. D.J. Gauthier and Emmanuel Atoyabi will lead the Tigers’ rushing attack, and they have the good fortune of running behind an experience offensive line that includes returning starters Greg Kimpler, D.J. Gonzalez and Andrew Britten. Defensively, Travis will be strong in the secondary and defensive line with cornerback Darius Stokes and defensive lineman Jaylon Hodge leading the way. Coach Cunningham said some of the receivers will pull double duty in the secondary, while senior fullback Tyler Seymour will double as a linebacker corps, which is led by juniors Tyler Padgett and Cleo Amadi.
SEASON
THE STAR
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TRAVIS High School Aug. 28 vs. Katy Seven Lakes (Mercer), 6 p.m. Sept. 4 at Katy, 6:30 p.m. (Televised Game) Sept. 12 at Alief Taylor, 7 p.m. Sept. 18 vs. Kempner (Mercer), 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at Hightower (Hall), 7 p.m. Oct. 4 vs. Austin (Mercer), 6 p.m. Oct. 10 vs. Clements (Mercer), 7 p.m. (Homecoming) Oct. 25 vs. Alief Elsik (Mercer), 6 p.m. Oct. 31 at Alief Hastings, 7 p.m. Nov. 8 vs. Dulles (Mercer), 1 p.m. Head coach: Randy Cunningham (33 years, 9 at Travis) Record last season: 3-6, missed the playoffs. Division I commits: none at the moment. Returning starters: 8 on offense, 6 on defense. Team strength: Senior leadership Question marks: staying injury-free. Three key players: Cody Cunningham (Quarterback), Steven Sims (Wide Receiver/ Defensive Back), Spencer Sims (Wide Receiver/Defensive Back) Top newcomer: William Farrar (Offensive Lineman) Toughest game: Sept. 4 at Katy Outlook: Travis went three rounds deep in the playoffs in 2012 and will look to return to that form.
All About Cakes is Supporting
Linemen are key to Bush's 5A-23 success
See Bush Football Schedule & Info on page 10B district opener on Sept. 25 against Willowridge. Bush msudhalter@ fortbendstar.com will kick off the season at 6 p.m. Saturday vs. Alief Taylor, There are seasons where widely predicted to win 6A-23, coaches have an idea of where at Mercer Stadium. they’re team will finish. Aldridge, a seventh-year This isn’t one of them for head coach who graduated Bush head football coach Allen from Willowridge, has two Aldridge. major conference commits in “We could win the district, offensive lineman Josh Jones miss the playoffs or finish any- (Oklahoma State) and Mbi where in between,” Aldridge Tanyi (Maryland). said. “Our district is stacked. Senior Roderick Wicker is We have a definite chance if we a three-year starter on the ofcan come together as a team.” fensive line who could also see The top four teams in snaps on defense. the district qualify for the Bush graduated senior playoffs, and Dave Campbell’s quarterback Ronald Monroe, Texas Football has the Broncos now at Vanderbilt. Instead of selected to finish fifth in an trying to duplicate what Monulta-competitive district. roe did, Aldridge is focused on The Broncos finished 9-3 building upon the strengths last season and return five of the new signal-caller, junior starters on each side of the ball Jazz Johnson, last season’s as they enter Class 5A-District backup who specializes in run23, which features fellow Fort ning the football. Bend ISD schools Elkins, Among Johnson’s favorite Ridge Point, Marshall and Wil- targets will be Sedrick Brown lowridge, along with perennial and Greg Jones-Rollins. power Texas City. Galveston Senior Michael Roe will be Ball and Santa Fe round out the starting running back, but the district. Aldridge expects depth at that Bush will play a trio of position. home non-district games at “We’ll have a nice rotation,” Mercer to be prepare for the Aldridge said.
By Michael Sudhalter
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