LEXINGTON EAGLES
Eagles have defensive force in LB Allert ROSTER
By DAVID CAMPBELL david.campbell@theeagle.com
Linebacker Chase Allert is the eye in the middle of the storm that is Lexington’s defense. Unlike a hurricane, it’s not that calm when he arrives. “I would say that one of my better qualities is that I finish plays,” said Allert, the four-year Eagles’ starter. “If I see the ball going somewhere, I’m going to go after it. If that ball’s going somewhere, I’m going to it.” Lexington ALLERT coach Kirk Muhl says that Allert is a tough guy to escape. “I’ve never seen him outrun on the football field,” Muhl said. “His motor runs extremely high all of the time. He’s got great feet, great hands. Of course, he’s been taught that for a long time. It’s genetic.” Allert is the son of Texas linebacker Ty Allert and the grandson of Texas State Hall of Honor member Buzzy Allert. Both played in the NFL. “Chase plays just like his daddy,” Muhl said. “If somebody’s blocking him, he doesn’t stay blocked. He gets off everything and gets there in a hurry.” Chase Allert had 192 tackles his junior year. He recovered two fumbles and forced six. He is the leader of an experienced defense that could be on the cusp of an outstanding year. “That’s our defensive doctrine,” Allert said. “We put pressure on and it’s real fast, a highimpact defense. It adapts and it moves around a whole lot.” Allert was the Defensive MVP of District 12-3A Division II last year against a group of teams that he is unlikely to see this season with the Eagles’ move into 13-3A and Region IV. Lexington ended a two-year dry spell with a
1 Gavin Thomas jr.; 2 Trevor Patschke sr.; 3 Colby Bexley jr.; 4 Cameron Milligan sr.; 6 Nate Jones jr.; 7 Walker Hess jr.; 8 Caleb Meyer soph.; 9 Ryan Garrison sr.; 10 Nic Dillon sr.; 13 JaKobe Cooper soph.; 14 Jacob Townsend sr.; 15 Jordan Kerr soph.; 19 Tanner Meuth jr.; 21 Jonathan Gamm sr.; 22 Sam Perry jr.; 28 Jaden Tucker jr.; 35 Nathaneal Clifford sr.; 44 Aaron Allert fr.; 48 Chase Allert sr.; 50 Jordan Higgins jr.; 55 Dalton Brister sr.; 57 Wesley Sanders jr.; 60 Jordan Cranston soph.; 64 Clayton Faske soph.; 70 Barrett Lerche sr.; 72 Cade Hawley soph.; 77 Wyatt Retzlaff jr.
FACTS Head coach — Kirk Muhl (10-21 overall; 10-21 at Lexington) District — 13-3A Division II 2015 record — 5-6 (4-2 in 12-3A Division II) 2015 playoffs — bi-district: lost to Crockett 48-14 Playoff appearances (16) — 1964, 1968, 1978, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015 Returning lettermen — 15 (5 offensive, 7 defensive starters) All-time record — 392-422-26 Playoff record — 27-15
return to the postseason in 2015. “It’s an honor that Coach Muhl puts me there,” Allert said. “You get a chance to make a lot of plays. If you have your guys up front doing what they need to do, and that defense is working like it’s supposed to, it gets you going.” When he first assumed the role as a freshman, anchoring the defense was a struggle. “We had a lot of young guys and with that defense, you have to know where you need to be and when you need to be there or it doesn’t work,” said Allert, one of seven defensive starters returning. “This year, we have a lot more experience. We have hardly lost anyone and knew what we were supposed to do the first week.” Allert says it helps to have a head coach who has played linebacker at high school and in college. “Yes it does; he loves his defense,” said Allert, a defensive specialist who admits has longed for an offensive shot. “I’ve tried to convinced them, let me tell ya. They don’t want me to hurt myself on offense or anything. We don’t play a whole lot of guys both ways. We like to keep every-
Thursday, August 25, 2016
SCHEDULE Date Opponent Aug 26 at Mart Last year: did not play Sept 2 Thorndale Last year: did not play Sept 9 Rockdale Last year: did not play Sept 16 at Jarrell Last year: did not play Sept 23 at Weimar Last year: did not play Sept 30 Open Date District 13-3A Division II Oct 7 Blanco Last year: did not play Oct 14 at Comfort Last year: did not play Oct 21 Rogers* Last year: did not play Oct 28 Johnson City Last year: did not play Nov 4 at Florence Last year: did not play *Homecoming
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one real fresh.” Allert’s focus on defense is not out of the ordinary for the Eagles. Muhl has 22 starters — 11 on offense and 11 different guys on defense. “We don’t just have the elite athlete that have to go both ways,” said the Lexington coach. “We’ve got a bunch of workmanlike kids that are there every day. They get after it. Lexington has an experienced offensive backfield with junior quarterback Walker Hess and senior running back Nic Dillon. Dillon rushed 183 times for 1,197 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior. Hess, who moved into the starting quarterback spot late in his freshman season, has a full year as the spread offense trigger man now. “He threw the ball really well against Caldwell,” said Muhl of the Eagles’ first scrimmage. Hess passed for 1,100 yards and rushed for 400 as a sophomore. Nathaniel Clifford will be a
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Eagle photo by Dave McDermand Seniors Ryan Garrison (back), Jacob Townsend (left) and Trevor Patschke will try to lead the Eagles to a return trip to the playoffs in 2016. key receiver with great hands and Lexington has depth at that position. Sam Perry and Jordan Kerr are other top pass-catchers. Wesley Sanders, Jordan Higgins, and Wyatt Retzlaff are all juniors and leaders in the offensive line. “I’ve got a 14-year-old playing my right tackle,” Muhl said of sophomore Cade Hawley. “He’s really good, a young sophomore who won’t be 15 until the end of this month. He’s about 6-3, 195 [pounds].” Clifford and Dillon are the only two seniors on offense. There are four senior starters on defense. Defensive tackle is a strong position with Nate Jones and Jaden Tucker, two converted running backs, playing there. Trevor Patschke is a standout defensive end and has been one of the Eagles’ most versatile players. “He’s played everything,” Muhl said. “He can play defensive end, linebacker, strong safety, cornerback or free safety. He’s
played all of them.” Senior safety Ryan Garrison has been starting since his freshman year. And there’s another freshman named Allert also playing linebacker. Aaron plays the other linebacker spot. “He’s just like [Chase],” Muhl said. “He has the same tenacious spirit in how he does things.” With the move to the new district, Lexington will not play a single team that the Eagles faced last season in its 10-game regular season.
ALL-TIME PLAYOFF VICTORIES
Cameron leads the Brazos Valley with 69 playoff wins followed by Bremond’s 65.
School Total playoff wins 1. Cameron 69 2. Bremond 65 3. Navasota 48 4. Brenham 44 5. A&M Consolidated 40 6. Calvert 31 7. Franklin 30 8. Lexington 27 9. Rockdale 24 10. Bryan 20
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