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STEPHENVILLE YELLOW JACKETS
STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE | Thursday, August 28, 2014
Thursday, August 28, 2014 | STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE
STEPHENVILLE YELLOW JACKETS
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SHS talent level brings excitement, expectations But you still have to go out there and play the game. “But you still have to go out there and play the game.” Gillespie, in all his excitement, is ne word word comes easily to quick to point out that there are areas mind for Stephenville Coach of his squad that will be filled by young, inexperienced players. Joseph Gillespie when he “We have a lot of guys who are discusses the 2014 edition of his Yellow green,” he said candidly. “We have Jackets – excited. some guys who have moved in and “I’m excited,” he began the late July interview. “I would say that regardless. haven’t played at our level and done I love the game and I love being around what we do, so we’ve got a lot of growkids. Watching what a season does for ing to do.” That growing will start with the this age of kids. They’re going to do so interior line. With returning startmuch growing from Day 1 to Christers Noah Perez and Austin Rudloff mas. That’s a fun thing for me to get to manning the tackle slots, Gillespie watch.” is cautiously optimistic about his Of course, his excitement also offensive line. incudes the return of highly touted “Obviously that’s where it all quarterback Jarrett Stidham and standstarts,” he said. “They’ve had a great out running back Kaegun Williams spring, a phenomenal summer, but to drive the offense of the No. 1 rated we need to get quarters, minutes ‘Jackets. under our belts. Our interior line is “It’s great when you have guys like your quarterback returning and all the as wet behind the as they can be.” Defensively, the coach won’t go so battles he’s been through. And you’ve far as to be excited…but he’s getting got Kaegun, who is not a freshman there. anymore. A 1,700 yard rusher as a “I feel a lot better right now than freshman. It’s hard for me to fathom I did in January,” he said. “We lost a right now that he’s just going to be a good crop of football players. We’re sophomore. That puts a giant grin on going to be young, but they’re hungry my face.” to be coached and that’s always fun. Here comes that word, again. They’re just green enough not to “I’m excited about our receiving know any better. We get to mold corps, too, from a physicality standthem and shape them.” point,” he said. “We have a bigger, taller Coach Joseph Gillespie has to manage the expectations placed on his 2014 Yellow Jackets, and target presence about us. see ‘jackets preview, 4 prepare them to play in one of the toughest districts in Class 4A. ByPhil Riddle
phil.riddle@empiretribune.com
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‘Jackets preview
dual-threat senior trigger-man threw for more than 2,600 yards and ran for nearly 900 more in 2013, accounting for 44 touchdowns. His appearance at the Nike Elite 11 Continued from 3 Quarterback Camp in July cemented his place among the nation’s top high Offense school signal callers. When pressed to identify his “…nobody carried the two days of offense’s base formation, Gillespie Elite 11 competition better than Jarrett responds that they don’t have one. Stidham, ” Gary Laney of the Oregonian “I don’t know that we have a stanwrote. “The Texas Tech commit was dard set, other than it’s spread,” he said. consistently solid on both days of the “I don’t even know if I would define us competition and many think he had as spread. I would define us as multiple. the best performance of the all-star We’re extremely multiple. “ crew, better than his fellow Texan At a summer coaches meeting, the (Kyle) Murray and better than anybody SHS football brain trust was outlining else.” their offensive scheme for 2014. Stidham’s backfield mate is sopho“We were sitting there hashing with more Kaegun Williams, who accumuour new coaches, we drew up the base lated almost 1,700 yards rushing last of our offense which was 27 or 28 difyear as a freshman. ferent formations,” Gillespie said. “That “Everybody is well aware of Jarrett was just the base. We can run every and becoming aware of Kaegun,” Gilsingle play that we have, run-wise, pass- lespie said. “So they’re going to capture wise, out of every formation that was their share of the headlines. That also up there. We can do it from a huddle, comes with the nature of their posia no-huddle, which brings on all the tions. little nuances. It changes the pace of the “Those guys, and I can speak congame.” fidently for them, their first praise is The success of the offense will run going to their offensive line, the guys in through QB Jarrett Stidham. The the trenches that seldom get recog-
STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE | Thursday, August 28, 2014
nized. If it weren’t for them and how they grow, we couldn’t be successful as a team. That is the one unit, that every year since I’ve been head coach, that’s made the biggest improvement over any other unit. We certainly expect that to continue.” Standouts on the line, of course are tackles Perez on Stidham’s left, his blind side, and Austin Rudloff on the right. “They were starters last year and were part of the state championship experience in 2012,” Coach Gillespie said. “They’ve got a lot of experience and a lot of games under their belts.” The familiar theme of excitement returned to the discussion when the coach talked about his incoming receiving corps. Tall and talented, the receivers feature some returning talent, like 3-year letterman Ben Martin, and junior Malachi Taylor, both playing the H-spot. Josh Nowell, a lanky 6-4 junior and Darian Brown, in Gillespie’s words, ‘a playmaker,’ who moved up from the JV late last season are also expected to be important offensive weapons. Add move-in Austin Stufflebean from Granbury and returnee Alonzoe Kendall, who can also be classified as a standout,
and Stidham has a multitude of quality targets. The Yellow Jackets expect to get tight end and 3-year letterman Brock Morrison back from off-season Tommy John surgery. “We’re hopeful to have him back” Gillespie said, “when is the big question mark. His experience alone is huge.”
Defense
The Yellow Jackets’ offense is not the only part of the team that gets Gillespie’s competitive juices flowing. “I’m extremely excited from a defensive standpoint,” he said, adding experience through the defensive heart gives the team a strong foundation. “Our seniority starts right down the middle,’ said the coach. “(Noseguard) Cameron Reynolds is going to be the anchor of the defensive line.” The 6-1, 290-pound defensive lineman takes up space and blockers as the focal point of any opposing running game. “He plays the position the way the position is supposed to be played,” Gillespie said. “With a nasty physical attitude, a tough mentality and leadership. He has such great feet for such a big man. He
thinks he’s a skill player. He wonders why we don’t throw him the ball.” Behind Reynolds is another threeyear letterman in middle linebacker Josh Gillespie. “We’re looking for great leadership from him as well,” said the coach. Completing the strong run through the defense’ middle is free safety JohnClark Giddings. “He quarterbacks the defense,” Gillespie said of Giddings, who started for SHS last year at corner. “Especially back there in the secondary. He understands every aspect of the defense. He’s played corner, outside linebacker and safety for us. Anytime you’ve got someone with that much knowledge and experience. He can really direct a lot of traffic.” As a unit, the defense’ strength, at least early, appears to be up front. The line of Reynolds, and ends Justice Bethea and Colby Stone bring valuable game and playoff experience. That experience could be used to bring along a green linebacking corps and defensive backfield. “We’re green there,” Gillespie reported, “but they have the potential to be great. And then our secondary, is see ‘jackets preview, 5
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Thursday, August 28, 2014 | STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE
‘Jackets preview
Continued from 4 the same. They’ve just got to get some game experience.” It seems Gillespie’s excitement is based on a considerable amount of experience. Experience that not only includes game-type situations, but preparation. “The biggest deal is how you approach it,” he said. “From film study to how we conduct oursleves in the locker room, the hallways and the classroom., and of course, during s a season and in a game.” That experience allows for the release of pent-up emotions in what is naturally an emotional game. “They’re tense, they’re tight and there’s pressure,” Gillespie said. “The kids feel it and the coaches feel it. It’s an intense, brutal, violent game and you’ve got to be prepared not just physically, but mentally, as well. At the same time, you’ve got to have fun because this is one of the greatest games there is.” That’s exciting.
Yellow Jackets By The Numbers 996 – Enrollment at SHS 2,691 – Jarrett Stidham’s passing yards in 2013 10 – The number of touchdowns scored by Brock Morrison last season
2012 – Stephenville’s most recent state title 1 – Coincidentally, the Yellow Jackets’ preseason ranking and the jersey number of QB Jarrett Stidham Photo By Phil Riddle.
Quarterbacks from Huston Academy, Stephenville FAITH, Lingleville, Hico and Stephenville gathered at the Historical House Museum in Stephenville prior to the start of the 2014 season. Pictured are, back row from left, Shadd Cole, Colbe Stoker and Hunter Wood. Front row, from left, Justin Lickiss-Weldon and Jarrett Stidham. Thanks to the Heritage House Museum in Stephenville for graciously allowing us to use their facilities for the cover photo.
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STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE | Thursday, August 28, 2014
Top ranking a two-edged sword expectations a call for motivation or a burden to carry? “I think it’s all in the maturity of your team,” said Stephenville head t’s a blessing. coach Joseph Gillespie. “There’s It’s a curse. been times where you’ve wanted to The Stephenville Yellow use and gotten to use it as fuel for Jackets are picked by two of the your team. We’ve been there a few area’s most respected preseason times and there’s been times when football magazines to finish the it was that curse. “ year hoisting the Class 4A state And, according to Gillespie, championship trophy. there are times when the roles get Dave Campbell’s Texas Footreversed in mid-season. “When ball calls Stephenville’s returning it’s been the curse,” he said, ”we’ve players the reason the ‘Jackets are been able to say, ‘We were picked picked to win state. to win it all and went 1-4 in non“The No. 1 Yellow Jackets bring district. If that was pressure to you, back a bevy of talented skill posithe pressure’s gone.’” tion players including one of the Gillespie said being ranked atop best quarterbacks in the state the classification is nice, but it’s in Jarrett Stidham,” E.J. Holland something to which he pays little wrote in the magazine, released attention prior to the campaign. earlier this summer. “But it’s not “I read Texas Football because I just about Stidham. Stephenville want to learn the other teams and also brings back 1,600-yard rusher their kids, how many they have Kaegun Williams and an array of coming back, what the magazine big hitters on defense.” thinks of them,” he said. Friday Night Football magazine Like the coaches not picked No. also has SHS at the top of the Class 1, Gillespie holds fast to the sports 4A food chain, based on much the axiom, ‘It’s not how you start, it’s same criteria as Texas Football. how you finish.’ “This season’s team returns many “I’ve been a part of teams that of the starters from (last year’s 12-2 started out a season like a state semi-final qualifier),” reads the championship caliber football writeup. “Offensively it starts with team. Unfortunately, they didn’t get the one-two punch of quarterback a lot better. Our No. 1 goal, espeJarrett Stidham and running back cially in preseason is to take those Kaegun Williams.” progressive steps forward and be But is starting the 2014 cambetter from one Friday to the next paign with the weight of those Friday, he said
By Phil Riddle
phil.riddle@empiretribune.com
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Stephenville opens the 2014 season as the team to beat in Class 4A Division I.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to have been part of several state championships here and the common denominator is they gelled at the right time. Those state championship caliber teams start looking like state championship caliber teams around week 9, week 10.” Still, Gillespie said he and his coaching staff can use the pre-
season ranking as motivation. “We’re certainly going to turn it into a positive,” he said. “Texas Football can’t control us. ESPN can’t control us. We can only control ourselves. The big focus every time, regardless of whether we’re No. 1 or No. 100, is how you finish.” Finishing at the top, of course, comes with its own set of challenges
along the way, one of which is carrying the preseason ranking as a weight additional to the work to do during the season. “It’s hard to maintain, at any level, from NFL all the way to our level, that potential for that long,” Gillespie said. “You want to keep it at an even keel. Pressure will be there soon enough.”
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Intelligence is a must for 2014 football players
STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE | Thursday, August 28, 2014
Stephenville Football Schedule Date; Opponent; Site; Time Aug. 29; Anchorage South; Home; 7:30 Sept. 5; Gatesville; Away; 7:30 Sept. 12; Everman; Away; 7:30 Sept. 18; Lubbock Cooper; Home; 8:00
“three yards and a cloud of dust” has evolved into a much more complicated game, even though the goal remains the same. “Technology has helped,” he said, “and he lingering stereotype is that of a then just the mindset and mentality of less than articulate lunk, strong and athletically gifted, but intellectually coaches and kids. I can’t imagine the things we coach now that, had I known all of that challenged. And it couldn’t be further from the truth. when I was a player, what type of football player could I have been in that day and age. Consider this: “And my son, 20 years Stephenville head football coach Joseph from now if he’s Gillespie explained his Yellow Jackets don’t coaching, is gohave a true base formation. “I don’t know that we have a standard set, ing to be sitother than it’s spread,” he said. “I don’t even ting there, know if I would define us as spread. I would looking back define us as multiple.” to this He said when he and his coaching staff reported earlier this summer to plan for the as the stone age. 2014 season they drew up the base of the team’s offense, which ultimately consisted of Offenses are constantly 27 different formations. changing and it And, add to the exponential difficulty of takes defenses a little learning the scheme to the fact that every longer to catch up. By the time single play they feature can be run from they catch up and start shutting every single set. “We can run every play that we have, run- things down, then here come wise and pass-wise, out of every formation,” the offenses changing again. It might be kind of like fashGillespie said. “We can do it from a huddle or a no-huddle, which brings on all the little ion. We might see some of the old school football nuances. It changes the pace of the game. come back eventually.” “Anything that allows us to dictate to the It indubitably takes defense, that’s the goal. On both sides of the more mental acumen ball. It’s a chess game.” So, coach, that depth of understanding of to compete in today’s the playbook requires an intelligent group of game, ergo; smart guys make better players, right? “No doubt,” he said. “And that’s something players, according to the coach. we’ve been very proud of. We have led the “Definitely, 100 state several years in our classification in percent,” he said. academic all-state football players. “That’s some“The day of the dumb jock, the dumb thing we’ve football player, they’re over. That stigma is been able still out there, but you can’t play this game to hang our anymore without being highly intelligent.” Coach Gillespie said the old style game of hat on here. By Phil Riddle
phil.riddle@empiretribune.com
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Especially when we’re in the top three in the state, 100 percent pass rate at each level throughout each six weeks.” The pressure mounts, too, as the volume of athletic preparation expands to on-field workouts, training and film work. Combined with the necessary classroom work, student athletes must be able to handle the load.
Sept. 26; Alvarado; Home; 7:30 Oct. 10; *Brownwood; 7:30 Oct. 17; *Snyder; Home; 7:30 Oct. 24; *Big Spring; Away; 7:30 Nov. 7; Abilene Wylie; Home; 7:30
“Then they’re still able to take dual credit classes and AP classes,” Gillespie raves. “Kids will have 31 hours of college credit when they graduate. That speaks volumes about our parents, this community, our teachers, our administrators and of our kids and our coaches.” Nope. No dumb jocks here.
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Tough row to hoe for favored Stephenville By Phil Riddle phil.riddle@empiretribine.com
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he preseason football rankings for the Texas High School Coaches Association were released earlier in August and, not surprisingly, the Stephenville Yellow Jackets rest atop Region I. Actually finishing there may be tougher than a preseason vote, however, as three members of the Yellow Jackets’ District 3 4A were also selected among the top 10. Rated second and receiving a first place vote is perennial power Abilene Wylie, coming off an 8-4 year in 2013. The Bulldogs were ranked 21 in preseason statewide polling. “It’s going to be tough,” SHS Coach Joseph Gillespie said of Stephenville’s new district home. “We’re not going to get to take a week off. We’ve got a tough football team to play every week.”
Taking third place in the THSCA regional poll were the Big Spring Steers, a 9-4 playoff team last season. Coach Phillip Richey’s Steers are ranked No. 13 in Friday Night Football’s preseason top 25 in Class 4A. Stephenville’s arch-rival Brownwood is also in the Region 1 top 10 as picked by coaches. The Lions, were 4-7 a year ago, but an experienced offensive line and last season’s District Newcomer of the Year, wide receiver Conner Howard all returning, BHS is expected to be tough. The other District 3-4A team, Snyder, was left out of the top 10, but still garnered four votes and is not considered an easy out. “We open with Brownwood, at Brownwood,” Gillespie said, “and that’s always a tough game. Then we get Snyder. They play that tough West Texas style of football, a very physical game. We’ve played them in the playoffs before and they can be hard to beat.
“Big Spring, has eight returning on offense,” he continued, “but they lost virtually their entire defense. But let me tell you something, those eight they have on offense are good football players.” He also had high praise for Wylie, considered to be the Yellow Jackets main competition for a district title. “Hugh Standifer, who has probably coached longer at Abilene Wylie that I’ve been alive, will always produce a great football team. He’s a legend and you know what type of team he’ll put out.” Texas coaches selected Argyle to win Region II, Navasota slightly over Carthage in Region III, and Lavernia in Region IV. Also earning recognition in the poll was Glen Rose, which was picked seventh in Class 3A, Division I, Region III after a No. 15 overall preseason ranking, and Hico, rated No. 5 statewide in early polls, selected to take second to Mart in Class 2A, Division I, Region 11.
Running back Kaegun Williams takes a handoff from QB Jarrett Stidham in Stephenville’s Blue-Gold Scrimmage. Williams and Stidham are two reasons the Jackets carry a No. 1 ranking into the season.
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STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE | Thursday, August 28, 2014
D U B L I N FOOT BA LL
Seniors look to bring glory back to Dublin By CALEB MCCAIG caleb.mccaig@empiretribune.com Twitter @caleb_mccaig
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ew teams in the area have more to prove in 2014 than the Dublin Lions, and this year’s class of seniors have taken it upon themselves to try and return glory to Dublin. The Lions haven’t made a trip to the Texas state playoffs since 2003, and many people, including some seniors, think it’s time to end the skid. “Our overall goal this year is to make the playoffs,” said senior quarterback Brady Holleman. “It’s something Dublin hasn’t done in a long time, but we think we have the team to get it done this year.” After going 4-6 last year, with only one district victory, a realignment year has given a more experienced Dublin team a favorable shot to make the playoffs. Their new home is district 10-3A which includes pre-season top five opponent Rogers, Jarrell, Marlin, Clifton and Bruceville-Eddy. The match-up against Rogers already has the attention of one Dublin player. “I think one team we really want to beat this year is Rogers,” said senior wide receiver Ricky Chacon. “They’re ranked in the top five and everyone is already saying they’re going to win district and if we were to beat them then that would shock the state. It wouldn’t shock us, but it would definitely earn Dublin some respect.” After another year of off-season
CALEB MCCAIG/E-T
The Lions will look to make the playoffs behind seniors (Left to right on the bottom) Travis Blazi, Ambrosio Rodriguez, Brady Holleman, Marcos Sanchez, Ricky Chacon, (top row L-R) Abel Aguilar and Isaac Campos.
training including speed and strength exercises, the hard work has begun to show on the practice field, something that senior running back and linebacker Travis Blazi says will play into the team’s success. “Our team this year has a new sense of urgency,” he said. “We aren’t out there going through the motions anymore. We’re out there doing things we haven’t been able to do in past years and setting the bar higher every day.”
With everyone getting better around them, senior lineman Ambrosio Rodriguez says he thinks the passing game is what will be key. “We have receivers this year who can really catch and run with the ball, but I think the big factor will be how much the offensive line has improved,” he said. “We’re stronger and faster and I think that will be a big part of our success.” With playoff hopes on the line, the Dublin players know there
Dublin Football Schedule Date; Opponent; Site; Time Aug. 28; Hico; TSU; 7:30 Sept.5; Albany; Home; 7:30 Sept.12; Rio Vista; Away; 7:30 Sept.19; Crawford; Home; 7:30 Sept. 26; Grape Creek; Home; 7:30
Oct. 10; Bruceville-Eddy; Away; 7:30 Oct. 17; Marlin; Home; 7:30 Oct. 24; Rogers; Away; 7:30 Oct. 31; Jarrell; Away; 7:30 Nov. 7; Clifton; Home; 7:30
are those who doubt that they can end the decade long playoff skid, but they have a message for those people. “We can’t let anyone get to us, we’re here to gain respect,” said
Chacon. “We know Dublin hasn’t had a winning season in a long time, but we’re here to change that.” Follow the Empire-Tribune on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/empiretribune
Lions By The Numbers 17 – The number of Lions’ returning lettermen 21 – QB Brady Holleman’s TD passes last year 11 — The playoff drought, in years, that Dublin is hoping to end this season.
1 — The number of Top 5 opponents Dublin faces in District 10 3A DII. 3 – The number of offensive linemen back for 2014.
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Freshman Yellow Jackets
Stephenville’s freshman football team
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Adam Saenz
Austin Northcutt
STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE | Thursday, August 28, 2014
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Alonzoe Kendall
75
Austin Rudloff
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Andrew Brawner
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Anthony Chavarria
50
Ben Martin
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Ben Tackett
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Ciara Abila
Colby Trinkle
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Conner Warmerdam
Dustin Lundy
46
Cameron Reynolds
Garrett Crew
Colby Stone
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71
Darian Brown
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47
Grant Isham
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Jarrett Stidham
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Joaquin Talamantes
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John-Clark Giddings
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Jose De Saracha
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Josh Bulla
Justice Bethea
Justin Wade
STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE | Thursday, August 28, 2014
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Josh Gillespie
27
Joshua Nowell
7
Justice Weisner
42
Justin Stufflebean
88
Kaegun Williams
24
Keith Jackson
26
61
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JV Yellowjackets
Stephenville’s JV blue squad
Stephenville’s JV white team
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Landon Reeves
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Mason Yoes
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Noah Perez
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Lio Garcia
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Malachi Taylor
Matthew Chapman
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Michael Fick
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Rhett Dittfurth
Ragan Wood
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STEPHENVILLE EMPIRE-TRIBUNE | Thursday, August 28, 2014
2014 Stephenville Yellow Jackets 1- Jarrett Stidham
27 — Josh Gillespie
2- Josh Bulla
36 — Ragan Wood
5 — Ben Martin
40- Landon Reeves
7 — Justice Bethea
42 — Justice Weisner
8 — Anrew Brawner
46 — Dustin Lundy
9 — Anthony Chavarria 10 — Colby Trinkle 11- Rhett Dittfurth 13 — Jose De Saracha 14 — Adam Saenz 15 — Joshua Nowell 17 — John-Clark Giddings 18 — Darrian Brown 20 — Colby Stone
47 — Garrett Crew 50 — Austin Rudloff 52 — Eric Garcia 53 — Ben Tackett 55 — Grant Isham 58 — Noah Perez 61- Justin Wade 62 — Cameron Reynolds
21 — Mason Yoes
71 — Conner Warmersdam
22 — Ciara Abila
75 — Austin Northcutt
23 — Malachi Taylor
79 — Joaquin Talamantes
24 — Kaegun Williams
80 — Alonzoe Kendall
29 — Matthew Chapman
84-Michael Fick
26 — Keith Jackson
88 — Austin Stufflebean
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Experience gives Texans the edge in defending their LSC crown By Phil Riddle phil.riddle@empiretribune.com
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here’s a one-word reason Tarleton Coach Cary Fowler is optimistic about his team’s chances of reaching the postseason this year. Experience. Consider the fact that the Texans have more than 400 games of college football experience. And that experience has allowed them to grow as a team into one of the Lone Star Conference’s juggernauts. “It’s a strength of ours,” Fowler says of his squad’s time playing the game together. “They’ve been through a lot. We’ve lost some games on last plays and we’ve won some on last plays and last second field goals. We’re battle tested. We played the toughest schedule in the country a year ago. “ That experience and the Texans’ playoff snub after winning a share of the conference title a year ago are driving Fowler and his team, the preseason favorite to win the LSC. “There’s not another team in any sport, anywhere, that won a con-
ference title and didn’t make the playoffs,” he said. “It doesn’t just put a chip on our shoulder, it puts the whole casino.” When discussing units on the team, the all-important experience becomes very evident. “Most of our offensive line is back,” Fowler began, “our backfield is back, we lost one guy. And there’s not a senior in the bunch. There’s one senior on the offensive line.” It’s the coach’s first recruiting class that makes this team so unique with an abundance of time on the job, but relatively few seniors. “When we came in, Tarleton was very successful but there was a different philosophy,” Fowler explained. “There was a lot of junior college and transfer recruiting. I came in with a heavy freshman class recruiting plan and tried to maintain those classes. “That means we were recruiting a different type of athlete. You know you’ll probably get 50 percent of them because we’re tying to recruit against small Division I or Division I AA programs. If I was recruiting against another Division II school, I
Phil Riddle/E-T
Coach Cary Fowler’s Texans bring more than 400 games of college football experience into the 2014 campaign.
didn’t really want that kid. “ His first class, mostly juniors on the field, spent a red-shirt year. “That’s why we’re so young,” he said. “It’s our first class of red-shirt juniors. There were 15 in that first class where I was head coach and all 15 will graduate or have already graduated.”
Offense
The overriding team experience translates to depth, especially at the receiver spots where, out of 12 on the roster, just one, Clifton Rhodes III, is a senior. Rhodes, a fifth-year senior is expected to own most of Tarleton’s school receiving records by midway through the season. “He’s been a tremendous player for us,” Fowler said. “He’s a better man, a
better leader.” Bubba Tandy, a freshman last year, played in eight games and caught for 650 yards and accountted for 1,000 all-purpose yards. Preseason AllAmerican. More than 1,000 all-purpose yards. Le’Nard Meyers caught for over 700 yards. There are some young receivers who are expected to pressure the starters. “Really look for a big year out of Alex Sanchez from Stephenville and Tyler Wright, who is just a sophomore on the field after two years of injuries. A pair of former Tarleton coaches’ heirs, Kason Fornes, grandson of former TSU coach Buddy Fornes, may be the team’s fastest player, and Tate Whitten, son of Todd Whitten
who used to roam the sidelines at Memorial Stadium, are also looking for breakout seasons. Former Crowley quarterback converted to wide receiver E.J. Speed rounds put the receiving squad. Speed, 6-5 presents a big target for either TSU’s passer. The rest of the receivers have been wearing purple in the fall for three years. That bodes well for the Texans who operate offensively out of the Air Raid attack, with a little more emphasis on running the ball. “Ideally, I would want to have four receivers in the range of about 700 yards each receiving,” Fowler said, “and two 1,000-yard backs. And we’ve been pretty close. We’re unselfish, we’re not going to have a player see Texans, 25
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than 500 yards a year ago and racked up just over 350 receiving yards. As Continued from 24 impressive as his sophomore season was in 2013, Henshaw has some seriof the year in the conference because ous competition for playing time in we’re so balanced. That’s really the Glen Rose standout Cody Burtscher, way I want it.” Jabari Anderson, who set an Oil The TSU offensive line is anchored Bowl record with 187 yards rushing by preseason All-American Lucas two years ago, and Glenn Roberts, Love, a 4-year starter. He is joined the East Texas Player of the Year for up front by 2-year veterans of the 2012. starting lineup Robert Hinton, Nick Collin Strayhan is back at QB for Perez and Kody Travis, all from the Texans. He will split time to some from Stephenville. Along with 6-6, degree with University of Memphis 320-pound Corin Brooks, a transfer transfer Eric Mathews. “They’re both from UTEP, and Spencer Harvey, a tremendous competitors and they versatile player who can handle any can both throw every ball and they line spot. can run,” Fowler said. “I’m a guy “We’re very big on the offensive that’s going to play two quarterbacks. line, long and athletic,” Fowler said. I know you’ll see both of them play.” “People call us the skinny kids all Defense the time, but we’re 6-4, 6-5, 6-6 on The one area of the Texans that s the offensive line. But we don’t have senior-heavy is the defensive line. anybody well over 300 pounds. The big guys up front are led by “We’ve got athletic guys who can 3-year starter Juan Gonzalez, the run block and pass protect. We had son of former Ranger slugger by the three receivers that last year caught same name. for right at 700 yards.” “He’s bigger than Dad, Fowler said Another preseason All-America selection, Zach Henshaw, returns for of the 6-5, 290 pounder the Texans, Henshaw ran for more Gonzalez is joined by the team’s
most prominent NFL prospect, Ronnie Faimoa, a 300-pound tackle that was hurt the first game of 2013. Add in powerful Ethan Perkins, Jared Thames of Glen Rose and the Texans are deep as well as experienced at tackle. Three-year starters Pat Bettiol and Andre Allen, Damien Ward, returning from injury, Stephenville redshirt freshman Chase Varnado and twin giants Anthony Gonzalez and Brandon Johnson at 6-4, 270, will rotate at defensive end. Top linebackers in the Texans’ 4-25 defensive alignment include senior Alex Anderson and Cody Marley, a Denton Guyer graduate who transferred to TSU from Kansas State and outside backer Jeremy Lewis from Trinity Euless. The defense is rounded out by corners Trey Lott, a transfer from Sam Houston State who holds several kick return marks at the school, and Brandon Moore, along with safeties Charles Moore and Devin Figures. Fowler makes no bones about his ultimate goal – a national title, though he hasn’t put a timeline to his championship.
“There are so many things that have to happen,” he said. “I feel like I had an unbelievable team that could have made a run last year, but by the time we got to Game 10, we had 31 players on injured reserve. “You have to have some luck” Fowler added, “the ball has to
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bounce your way. I think it’s going to happen here in the very near future. How about this year, Coach? “If all things stay in place, and we can get in the tournament, we can make a run for it,” he said. “I like our chances of getting in the tournament and playing for a long time.”
Texans By The Numbers 0 – The total number of conference champions that failed to make the playoffs before Tarleton in 2013 34 – The number of points the Texans scored against LSC cochampion ENMU in 2013 7 – The number of points ENMU scored against LSC co-champion TSU 117 – The number of carries by fullback Zach Henshaw last season 1 – Preseason conference ranking by the Texans
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cardinals By The Numbers 2 – Number of receivers named Vankranenburg on the Cardinals’ roster Phi Riddle/E-T
Lingleville must wade through one of six-man’s toughest districts to earn a second consecutive playoff spot.
Lingleville Football Schedule Date; Opponent; Site; Time Aug. 30; Rising Star; Away; 8:00 Sept. 12; Bryson; Away; 7:30 Sept. 20; Iredell; Away; 7:30 Sept. 26; Newcastle; Home; 7:30 Oct. 3; Walnut Springs; Home; 7:30
Oct. 10; Gordon; Away; 7:30 Oct.17; Zephyr; Away; 7:30 Oct. 24;Gustine;Home;7:30 Oct. 31; Strawn; Away; 7:30 Nov.7;May;Home;7:30
62 – Enrollment at LHS 4.9 – How long it takes QB Colbe Stoker to run 40 yards 4 – Number football seasons Lingleville has played 21 – The number of players that shoed up for two-a-days for Coach Darrell Wallace
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Cardinals lookng for second straight playoff appearance By Caleb McCaig caleb.mccaig@emiretribune.com
The Lingleville Cardinals football program is poised to continue the success they’ve had in their short existence as the sport begins to settle in the DNA of the district. After a playoff appearance in 2013, the Cardinals are looking up to hopefully return to the postseason. “We’re looking really athletic so far,” said head coach Darrell Wallace. “We’re only in our fifth year of existence, but our boys are getting more and more football savvy each year. We’re going to have a pretty young team this year after graduating four seniors, but I think once we get our feet under us I think we can be very competi-
tive.” The Cardinals received a boost this preseason when 21 individuals showed up for two-a-days, the most the program has had out in their short history. “I think our kids are really liking football thus far,” Wallace said. “I think they’re excited that we added it and they enjoy playing it. I have a really good relationship with my players and we focus on making sure that they have fun. We realize it’s a competitive sport, but we put a lot of emphasis on them enjoying the experience as well.” The challenges of being a young program are many, no matter where it is, but Wallace says he thinks that the mental aspect of football in Lingleville is starting to take hold. “We’ve been implementing our offense
and our audible system in for the past five years and it seems like the kids are really starting to understand it,” he said. “That may sound normal for a team who has been doing stuff for a long time, but installing a system is a real process. The kids have put a lot of effort into learning the system and have really progressed from a football standpoint.” As the Cardinals have been conducting practices, several individuals have stepped up and seem to be up to the task of making an impact on the season. Several names that seem inclined to lead Lingleville include runningback Tim Griffin, quarterback Colbe Stoker, wide receiver Bart Vankranenburg and defensive standout Tony Olveda.
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TSU’s Bettiol recognized for off-field efforts
Bettiol’s resume of community service includes volunteering with Big Brothers Big arleton State UniSisters, serving as a member of versity defensive the Tarleton State SAAC and lineman Patrick membership in the Fellowship Bettiol is a nominee for the of Christian Athletes. 2014 Allstate AFCA Good “Year after year, the ‘good Works Team, according to a works’ associated with this recent release. impressive group of studentAllstate and the American athletes continue to inspire Football Coaches Association and raise the bar for future annually recognize selected nominees,” said Jim Haskins, college players who have, president of Allstate’s West Ter“made a commitment to ritory and a member of the 2014 enriching the loves of othAllstate AFCA Good Works ers while contributing to the Team voting panel. greater good of their commuThis year’s nominees’ heroics nities,” the release explained. extend beyond touchdowns and In order to meet the criteria tackles. From establishing an set forth by Allstate and the epilepsy awareness campaign AFCA, each player must be ac- that has touched the lives of tively involved and committed more than 100,000 families to to working with a charitable founding a book club program organization or service group to provide at-risk youth with while maintaining a strong safe and structured after-school academic standing. activities, the impressive service E-T Staff Report
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resumes of these remarkable student-athletes has earned them recognition on a national level. “It’s great to see all the ‘good works’ these student-athletes are doing at their universities and in their communities,” Grant Teaff, AFCA executive director said. From this year’s record number of 182 nominees, a final roster of 22 award recipients — comprised of 11 players from the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and 11 players from the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, Divisions II, III and the NAIA — will be unveiled in September. Past members of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team include Super Bowl champion quarterbacks, Peyton and Eli Manning and Heisman Trophy winners Robert Griffin III and Tim Tebow.
Contributed
Patrick Bettiol makes a tackle in a 2013 game. Bettiol is a nominee for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team, based on his off-field work in the community.
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Tarleton trio honored with All-America selection were named Third-Team Offense All-Americans heading into the 2014 TEPHENVILLE season. — USA Football Love, a senior offenNetwork, Inc. published the 26th annual sive lineman from Van Alstyne, has played in all USA College Football 30 games of his Tarleton Division II Preseason career and started every All-American teams and game on the Texan ofTarleton State had three fensive line in each of the athletes recognized. Lucas Love, Zach Hen- past two seasons. Over shaw and Le’Nard Meyers the last two seasons with TSU Athletics
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Le’Nard Meyers
Love on the offensive line, Tarleton State has averaged over 33 points and 466 yards per game. He was a second-team allLSC selection in 2012 and an honorable mention honoree in 2013. Henshaw, a junior running back from Canyon Lake, receives the Allsee tarleton, 30
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Tarleton Football Schedule Date; Opponent; Site; Time Sept. 13; West Texas A&M; Away; 6:00 Sept. 20; Florida Tech; AT&T Stadium; 5:00 Sept. 27; Midwestern State; Home; 7:00 Oct. 4; Texas A&M/Commerce; Away; 7:00
Tarleton
Oct. 11; Texas A&M/Kingsville; Home; 6:00 Oct. 18; Eastern New Mexico; Away; 7:00 Oct. 25; McMurry; Away; 2:00 Nov. 1; Angelo State; Home; 7:00
Gatesville. Meyers led the Texans in catches and receiving Continued from 29 yards a year ago with 731 American honors as a fullback. He has played in yards on 58 receptions with four touchdowns. 18 games in his Tarleton His breakout performance career and is coming off of the season helped Tara sophomore campaign leton come from behind in which he ran for 523 and beat No. 4 West Texas yards on 117 attempts A&M 31-27 on Oct. 12 as with a touchdown while Meyers totaled 178 yards also catching 27 passes on nine catches and a pair for 351 yards and two of scores. scores. USA Football Network’s Rounding out the Texan Preseason All-American Preseason All-American Team is selected by a selections is Le’Nard Meyers, a junior wide receiver from
national panel including Head Coaches, Sports information Directors, members of the Football Writers Association of America, Metropolitan New York Football Writers Association, New England Football Writers Association and Philadelphia Football Writers, pro football scouts plus staff journalists of Lindey’s Sports Annuals, The Sports Network and USA Football News. Tarleton State will open the regular season on the road September 13 in Canyon against West Texas A&M at 7 p.m.
Lucas Love
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Hico Tigers and Hyles brothers look for big playoff run ended up where they did. Hico won’t have much to complain about because two of their top Twitter @caleb_mccaig rivals also joined them in district he hunger is real in Hico, 7-2A including Goldthwaite, Tolar, Hamilton, DeLeon and San Saba. and another trip to the With a new district, Blake Hyles state semi-finals won’t be says Hico is the team to beat. enough to stop the craving in 2014 “I think coming into this year for the fans or the Hico Tigers, with some of our big rivals in our especially brothers Duane and district we definitely have a target Blake Hyles. Hico enters the 2014 season with on our back,” he said. “But I think we deserve one after how we perhigh expectations from not only formed last year. We worked really themselves, but also the media hard and I think we’re deserving of after being ranked fourth in 2A the recognition we’ve received.” division 1 in the Dave Campbell’s If the Hyles brothers themselves pre-season poll. Some say rankings don’t matter, can build on their combined 2,600 yards rushing and 34 total touchbut Duane Hyles thinks it has downs last year then Hico could given the Tigers a needed boost. “It has gotten everyone fired up,” very well be looking at a long playhe said. “It’s brought up everyone’s off run, but Duane says they don’t deserve all the credit. intensity and has really raised the “Having all of the success Blake confidence of the team. We came and I have is nice, but I don’t want out here and started two-a-days to credit for what the big guys do and it was like we picked up exup front for us,” he said. “We look actly where we ended last year.” good in the newspapers and the In a realignment year there are always questions about why teams magazines but the big guys are the By CALEB MCCAIG
caleb.mccaig@empiretribune.com
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ones who don’t get any recognition and are the real reason that we succeed. Without them we aren’t the players that we are today.” Even with their success, there is always somewhat of a sibling rivalry, something that holds true to the Hyles as well. “There is definitely a rivalry between Duane and me and not just in football, but in everything we do,” Blake said. “I feel good if Duane gets a tackle or does something good, but right after that I feel like I have to do one better. He makes me better on the field.” As the days to their first game wind down, the Tigers know that CALEB MCCAIG/E-T only one thing can settle their Junior Blake Hyles and his brother, senior Duane Hyles look are hunger this year. looking forward to another big season and hopefully helping Hico “Last year left a bad taste in our win a state championship. mouths, we felt that if we got past Stamford then we would have a ring on,” Duane said. “But we’re focused on this year and we definitely have a shot at our ultimate goal, winning state.” 4 – Preseason rank of the Tigers
Tigers By The Numbers
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Hico Football Schedule Date; Opponent; Site; Time Aug. 28; Dublin; TSU; 7:30 Sept. 5; Crawford; Away; 7:30 Sept. 12; Jarrell; Away; 7:30 Sept. 19; Archer City; Home; 7:30 Sept. 26; Breckenridge; Away; 7:30
Oct.10; *DeLeon; Away; 7:30
1,023 – Passing Yards by QB Hunter Wood in 2013 13 – Number of wins posted by Hico last season
Oct.17; *Tolar; Home; 7:30 Oct. 24; *Hamilton; Away; 7:30Oct.31;
2 – Number of players named Hyles selected as preseason district MVPs
*Goldthwaite;Away;7:30 Nov. 7; *San Saba; Home; 7:30
17 – The number of touchdowns scored by each Hyles brother last year
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SHS Band
The Yellow Jacket Marching Band
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Knights’ expectations are high for a fourth straight crown fluid,” he said. “We’re a faith-based team and we pray over our roster that we’ll do what God wants us to tephenville FAITH Home- do and have what we need. Then school Knights are, for the every year we have who we need. Every year. third straight year, begin“This year’s been no different. ning the football season as the We were down to eight players reigning state champions. and we knew we’d have a team but And with a returning core of we were afraid we’d be very thin. veteran players on both sides of There were a couple of players out the ball, Coach Nick Braun has there waiting in the wings for the similar expectations for the 2014 season to start so our numbers are crew. up.” “We’re actually looking quite Braun said his squad returned good,” Braun said a week into twofrom its summer break ready to a-days. play and it’s showed in even their A great initial reaction for the coach of a program worried about earliest workouts. “Our first practice we looked numbers not so long ago. “The world of six-man homeKressyn Cole Photo school teams is actually quite see knights, 37 The Stephenville FAITH Knights at the Cotton Bowl after winning the 2013 state title, their third in a row. By Phil Riddle
phil.riddle@empiretribune.com
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Knight’s Shadd Cole claims national award By Phil Riddle phil.riddle@empiretribune.com
His humility belies his reputation as an athlete. Shadd Cole was the 2013 National Home School Football Player of the Year in Division II. That was the cap to three consecutive all-state selections and back-to-back Texas Christian Athletic League Player of the Year honors. But ask him if he has a picture of him with the national award and he’ll grin and just say shyly, “No.” But the shyness ends when he steps foot on the football field. Cole, a 6-2, 180-pound spread back for three-time state champion Stephenville FAITH, has accumulated more than 9,600 yards rushing and more than 150 touchdowns throwing and running. His father, Rod Cole, is Tarleton’s Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Performance, as well as the athletic director for FAITH. Dad’s pride in his son’s accomplishments is evident. “I’m very proud of him,” Coach Cole said. “He does all the things I wish I could have done when I was an athlete. I played offensive guard and linebacker. I never got to run the ball and pass the ball like he does. “I think he came out of the womb throwing a football and shooting a basketball. He’s got a talent you can’t really teach.” Cole, the younger, is starting his seventh season playing football. “I’ve been playing since sixth grade,” he said. “I started playing 11-man, Pop Warner ball in College Station. I played two years in Mineral Wells and I’ve played all through high school.” Even though he began his grid career playing the 11-man game, he has transferred his abilities easily into the 6-man format where he plays spread back and running back, the triggerman for the Knight’s attack. “In six-man, the quarterback can’t run with the ball, Cole explained. “The ball is snapped to an upback, then pitched to the spread back who can either run or pass.” This year, Cole hopes to expand
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Stephenville FAITH spread back Shadd Cole takes off for a gain in a 2013 game. Cole, who led the Knights to their thrid consecutive state crown last year, was named the National Homeschool Player of the Year in 2013.
his role with the Knights, playing receiver part of the time. “I played a little at receiver last year,” he said. “Not as much as we’d have liked. We have a couple of formations that allow it this season. I actually like playing receiver better than quarterback.” Cole, who has decided this is his last playing football competitively, wants to go out with a fourth consecutive state title in 2014. “It would be awesome,” Cole smiled. “It was obviously a goal, but I never really knew if I would get one. The last three years have been huge, way more than I expected.” When asked about his favorite of his three championship seasons, Cole said last year has a special place
in his memory, since, in his mind, he had a bigger part to play. But his favorite was the 2012 title run. “I was almost like a role player, distributing the ball, the first couple of years,” he said. “Then last year I had it a little more on my shoulders. The second one was my favorite, though. We went undefeated that year and that was fun.” He added there is a down side to the expectations that come with such a level of success. “It can be pretty stressful,” Cole admitted. “Especially last year, after losing some of the players we lost, we were the underdogs until we beat a couple of teams. I think we’ll start out the same this year. Even though we’ve won three straight state titles,
we still feel like we’re the underdog until we’ve proven ourselves with the new players that come in.” Still, a high preseason ranking stirs the competitive spirit inside the FAITH standout. “I kind of enjoy it,” he admitted, “getting everyone’s best shot. I enjoy the challenge.” After this season, the challenge will, most likely come from basketball. “I’d rather play basketball than football,” Cole admitted. “I enjoy it more. I enjoy the games in football, but I really enjoy everything in basketball, the practice, the games, everything.” It’s not like basketball is a new experience for him. During his time competing for FAITH, Cole
has earned a reputation as a legitimate two-sport standout, garnering all-state kudos as a freshman and sophomore averaging 13 and 16 points a game, respectively, then helping Granbury Cornerstone to a 22-4 season mark last season and a state runner-up finish. Basically a guard, Cole has posted minutes at every position on the court. His dad, admits he’ll miss watching his son play football and that he wouldn’t mind seeing him compete at a higher level. “I think back to sixth grade and his first season playing Pop Warner ball and …yeah, I’ll miss it. I’d like to see him play a little 11-man,” the elder Cole said. “But, you have to go with your heart.”
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Continued from 35 maybe as good as we’ve ever looked during our receiver drills,” he said, “which was a pleasant surprise. I’m very encouraged.” The Knights’ offensive base will most likely be a spread formation, even though Braun would like a more conservative approach at times “I’d love to tell you in my heart that our tight formation, our pro set, is what I like to run. But with really high quality spread backs that make us extremely difficult to stop. When it comes to crunch time, I’ll loosen up and go that spread offense.”
Those high quality backs of which he speaks are Joey Braun and Shadd Cole. Braun is a true triple threat quarterback. He begins his junior season with more than 800 yards and 13 TDS passing, along with 2013’s passer rating of 144.7; 103 yards and six touchdowns running the ball and 760 yards and 15 scores as a receiver. Cole, last year’s National Homeschool Player of the Year, brings gaudy stats to 2014 as well. Playing the spread back spot, Cole completed more than 60 percent of his passes, averaging over 18 yards a toss and amassing 1,672 yards and 29 TDS passing. In addition, he supplied more than 2,800 yards rushing on just 248 carries, and
contributed an additional 300-plus yards on 16 catches. “Joey has a chance to be an excellent receiver with higher expectations that ever this year,” Coach Braun said. “We have a spread back that it’s next to impossible to get your hands on and tackle, and if you do get him we’ve got receivers now that give him a place to go with the ball. That puts defenses in a really tough spot.” On the other side of the ball, Braun is touting improvement over last year’s two-a-day defense. “Last season we didn’t start out as strong as I expected,” he reported. “We did perform better and better as the season went on. I think people will see us pick up where we left off and do even more this
FAITH Football Schedule Date; Opponent; Site; Time Aug. 29; Huston Academy; Home; 7:30 Sept. 5; Blanket; Home; 7:30 Sept. 12; Cherokee; Away; 7:30 Sept. 19; Throckmorton; Away; 7:30
Sept. 26; Cranfill’s Gap; Away; TBD Oct. 3; Greenville Christian; Home; TBD Oct. 10; Sidney; Away; TBD Oct. 24; Killeen Memorial; Home; TBD Oct. 31; Founders Classic; Home; TBD
year. “The guys who were filling in as sophomores will be juniors so they’ll be bigger, stronger and faster. We were OK at defense last year, but I expect us to be more physical, faster to the football this year. Braun, a linebacker for the Knights, and Cole, who plays free safety, are expected to shine on
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defense, as well as Chance Lyons, a Knight since the teams first season. Lyons, a two-way lineman for FAITH, caught five passes for almost 100 yards in 2013, scoring twice, and registered 56 tackles, including eight for losses. The Knights’ defense of their state title begins Aug. 29 with the FCA Challenge, a meeting against local rival Huston Academy.
Knights By The Numbers 3 – Consecutive state football championships 10 – Jersey number of National Homeschool Player of the Year Shadd Cole 144.7 – Joey Braun’s QB rating last season 56 – Number of tackles made by Chance Lyons last season 2014 – The next opportunity for the Knights to win a state title
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Huston Panthers gear up for second grid season By Phil Riddle phil.riddle@empiretribune
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n just their second season of competitive six-man football, The Huston Academy Panthers bring anticipation along with some strong veteran leadership. Coach Regis Idemudia credits that anticipation to an attitude created by a program built on the
three Ds – desire, dedication and determination. He explains, “Desire – the wanting to reach for what you want. – Dedication — to defeat all variables to achieve your goals, and determination that once you reach that goal to keep pushing past to get better at every level.” The former Tarleton State defensive lineman who stayed in
school for his Master’s Degree in sports administration, believes that mantra and he preaches it to his players. “We’re looking pretty good,” said Idemudia a week after two-a-days started. “We’ve got a lot of returning veteran players that are ready to roll. I believe that we’ll be able to do what we need to do to let them be successful as a team this year.”
With a year of learning behind them, both the second-season team and coach are eager to put their 2013 lessons to the test. “One thing I tried to teach them as a team last year was to finish strong,” he said. “To leave everything on the field. They took to that and really worked hard and learned a lot. I think our team is strong and we’ve got a chance to win a few games this year.” The Panthers posted a 1-6 mark in their debut season, defeating Victory Life Academy 66-32 in Week 4 a season past. They came back from a 28-7 deficit to lose by just two to Weatherford Christian two weeks later. Hoping to build on that momentum, Idemudia cites returning talent as a reason for optimism. Two-way standout on the offensive and defensive lines, Lee Powell and free safety and receiver Eric Ariano anchor the Panther’s hopes. Add to that standout quarterback and corner Justin Lickiss-Weldon and there seems to be reason to believe that win number will climb. “Powell is a great lineman on both sides of the ball,” Idemudia said. “He’s a vocal leader who does what he needs to do on and off the field. Eric is also a great leader on the field on both sides of the ball.” Huston’s offensive fortunes are tied up in a multiple set offense. They’ll line up in a wing set, what Idemiudia calls a J-bird formation and a Panther set, conceived as a
launching pad for trick plays. All that is built on the potential of the returning backfield along with that of the big guys up front. “Our team strength on offense lies with offensive line,” the coach said. “We have a strong O-line. (Lineman) Matt Standbury scored more touchdowns than some of our skills guys last year. He’s a real athletic guy. He can get to the ball, he can block and open up the gateway for some of the skill guys.” Defensively, expect to see variations of the basic 2-3-1 formation, according to Idemudye. “We do a lot of disguising of our free safety and middle linebacker.” With Powell (linebacker) and Ariano (safety) also stalwarts on the Panther D, he sees the defensive backfield as being a strength of the team, too. “They all know how to cover, run downhill and get to the ball fast,” Idemudia said. “They know how to tackle in the open field. In six-man, you let one get away, it can be a touchdown.” The Panthers get an early test, facing the three-time defending TCAL state champion Stephenville FAITH Knights in both teams’ debut. Billed as the FCA Challenge, the game is set for Aug. 29 on the Knights’ home field. It’s the beginning of a fun rivalry,” Idemudia said. “It’s kicking off what we’re hoping will be an annual rivalry game. I’m excited about it. It should be fun to watch.”
Panthers By The Numbers Contributed
Coach Regis Idemudia, a former Tarleton Texan, addresses his team during the Panthers first-ever football season in 2013.
Huston Football Schedule Date; Opponent; Site; Time Aug. 29; Stephenville FAITH; Home; 7:30 Sept. 5; Brenham Christian; Away; 7:30 Sept. 19; JCSA; Home; 7:30 Oct. 3; Granbury Cornerstone; Home; 7:30
Oct. 10; Weatherford Christian; Away; 7:30 Oct. 17; Latter Rain; Home; 7:30
.450 – The Panthers winning percentage in their first season of competition 66 – The number of points Huston Academy scored in a victory over Victory Life Academy last year 1 – The number of seasons the Panthers have played football
Oct. 24; Azle Christian; Away; 7:30 Oct. 31; Community Christian; Home; 7:30
2-3-1 – The basic defensive formation for HA
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