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ʹͼ͵ͲͽͶ͑΅ͺͶ΄͑ Class: 3A Region: 3 District: 18 School Colors: Blue and Gold Playoff Appearances: 19 State Championships: 1976 Head Coach: Jeff Miller Years in Coaching: 19 Years at Rockdale: 7 Coaching Record: 32-34 Assistant Coaches: JR Lemons, Hunter Hamrick, Bart Gibbs, Charlie Hall, Sergio Garcia, Clay Cox, Trey Swor, Trey Young Andre Johnson, Eric Willard, Michael Young, John Kovar FIVE-YEAR TREND 2011 – 4-6, No Playoffs 2010 – 5-6, Bi-district 2009 – 8-3, Area 2008 – 9-3, Regionals 2007 – 4-7, Bi-district 2011 RESULTS 8/27 Abilene Wylie 9/2 @ Salado 9/9 Cameron Yoe 9/16 @ Liberty Hill 9/23 Madisonville 10/7 @ Navasota 10/14 Smithville 10/21 @ La Grange 10/28 Giddings 11/4 @ Caldwell 2012 SCHEDULE 8/31 @ Salado 9/7 Burnet 9/14 @ Cameron Yoe 9/21 Liberty Hill 9/28 Smithville 10/5 @ Hillsboro 10/12 @ Taylor 10/19 Madisonville 10/26 @ Navasota 11/2 OPEN 11/9 Caldwell 18-3A COACHES’ POLL 1. Navasota 2. Madisonville T3. Rockdale T3. Taylor 5. Caldwell
14-35 42-51 11-10 26-21 13-10 14-53 14-21 14-24 3-28 49-34
2011 REVIEW
Rockdale got off to a slow start in losing their first two games, won three in a row to wrap up non-district play, but dropped four of their final five contests to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Tigers had a hard time putting points on the board at times, getting held to two touchdowns or fewer in seven of their ten games. Despite the scoring woes the Tigers did find their passing game in 2011. Head coach Jeff Miller said, “The best part of the season was our ability to throw the football. We set season passing and receiving records. The worst part was dropping to 4-6 and missing the playoffs.” RETURNING STARTERS SR QB Ethan Brinkley 6’3, 210—1st team all-district, 176-303, 2,037 yds passing, 15 td, 8 int, 3 rushing td JR WR/LB Austin Caffey 6’0, 175—23-3A newcomer of year, 33 rec, 358 yds, 42 tackles JR WR/DB Clayton Gibbs 6’0, 175—HM all-district, 23 rec, 220 yds, 2 td JR T Josh Pelzel 6’6, 280—2nd team all-district SR T Pedro Ibarres 6’4, 220—honorable mention all-district SR TE Patric Trejo 6’3, 220—honorable mention all-district SO TB Dailynn Ramey 5’10, 175—461 yds rushing, 4 td SR DE Gabriel McQuinn 6’1, 250—39 tackles JR LB James David 6’2, 225—HM all-state, 1st team all-district, 118 tackles, 2 int SR LB Markus Hayes 5’10, 215—2nd team all-district, 104 tackles JR DB Ladontice Coats 5’10, 170 SR K Noe Zelaya 5’8, 165—2nd team all-district KEY RETURNEES SR CB/WR William Dean 5’11, 180 Marco Hernandez 5’10, 190 JR FB SR FB/LB Excell Nelson 5’10, 215 KEY NEWCOMERS JR TB/LB Elijah Brooks 5’10, 210—started at DT for 4A Port Lavaca Calhoun as soph, 14 tkls, 85 yds rushing SO WR/DB Pearce Loth 6’3, 175—expected to be impact WR Offense: Multiple I Defense: 4-3 COACH MILLER SAYS: “We will be able to count on strong defensive play and experience at offensive skill positions… We need to work on offensive Line development and quality depth at all positions… Fans will see a competitive, tough non-district schedule, strong defensive play, and maturation of offense… We expect a playoff season and to make a two or three game deep playoff run.”
2012 OUTLOOK
Although the Tigers are coming off a losing season, things are looking up in 2012. Rockdale returns a solid group of leaders on both sides of the ball and should be Navasota’s biggest competition to win District 18-3A. Seven starters return on offense, led by senior quarterback Ethan Brinkley, who led the Tigers the quarterfinals of the State 7-on-7 Division II championship bracket this summer. He has a pair of talented junior receivers to throw to in Austin Caffey and Clayton Gibbs and solid young tailback to hand the ball to in Dailynn Ramey. The Tiger offensive line may be the question mark as only two starters return. Tackles Josh Pelzel and Pedro Ibbars will team up with tight end Patric Trejo on the outside, but young interior linemen will have to step up this season. The Tiger defense has six starters back, led a solid trio at linebacker in juniors James David and Caffey and senior Markus Hayes. Gabriel McQuinn is the only starter back on the line, while Gibbs and Ladontice Coats return in the secondary. Noe Zelaya is back as a second-team all-district performer at kicker. Rockdale plays a tough non-district slate, and if they can build some momentum they should be in prime position to make their fifth trip to the playoffs in the past six years.