El Campo Leader-News Football Preview

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Football Preview EL CAMPO: HAS NEW PLAYOFF PATH THIS YEAR

Offense Defense packed full HORNETS of returners

2020

DON’T COUNT THEM OUT!

Good Luck to all area teams!

ECHS DERBY DOLLS

Derby Dolls this 2020-21 school year are Front row l to r: Junior Lt. Cambrie Priesmeyer, Junior Lt. Dharma Sabrsula, Senior Lt. Kayla Bolfing, First Lt. Ava Hulsey, Co-Captain Kennedy Klatt, Co-Captain Kendal Klatt, Senior Lt. Jocelyn Pacheco, Junior Lt. Brianna Shanks, Junior Lt. Aiyana Gonzalez. Second row l to r: Spirit Committee President Hannah Sutton, Corresponding Secretary Makayla Valenzuela, Historian Sonya Catete, Natalia Reyes, Tristann Nusser, Elizabeth Garza, Teara Cooper, Director Jenna Zabodyn, Kimberly Reyna, Valery Pesina, Sydney Acosta, Recording Secretary Aviah Jones, President Kelly Stayton, Vice President Lauren Drabek. Third row l to r: Manager Kimberly Delapena, Manager Kierra North, Laniyah Young, Taylor Miller, Trianna Manzano, Makayla Vasquez, Julisa Solis, Kaitlyn Galvan, Corri Rodriguez, Ashley Acuna, Savannah Prihoda, Karolyne Brown, Marley Babcock, Natalie Garcia, Ludivina Hernandez, Ariana Magallan, Angela Contreras, Emma Orozco, Jasmine Canales, Raven Colwell, Manager Brinnlee Shanks, Manager Hannah Morton

Good luck to all area teams GOOD LUCK HOMETOWN FOOTBALL TEAMS!

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LOUISE BRANCH 206 North Street • (979) 648-2691

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Schools won’t be selling as many tickets this season

101 E. CALHOUN • 979.543.2381

PROUD TO SUPPORT OUR LOCAL FOOTBALL TEAMS

Going to a football game will not be the same experience as in years past. Both El Campo and Louise are complying with University Interscholastic League (UIL) guidelines to limit the stadium capacity to football games this season to 50 percent.

Ricebird stadium has a total capacity of 5,438 between the home and away side. This season, each game, there will only be 1,765 home tickets and 954 visiting tickets sold.

All tickets for home games will be sold online through a link on the El Campo ISD website (ecisd.org) that they will share. No tickets will be sold at the gate.

To enter the the stadium, you must have the ticket code printed out or on your personal phone so it can be scanned. El Campo is requiring masks and there can be no groups larger than 10 seated together. Seating this season is first-come,

first-serve.

Parents of participants will have the first opportunity to purchase up to two tickets on Monday.

Season ticket holders will have the next opportunity on Tuesday to purchase two tickets.

Students will have an option to buy one ticket on Wednesday.

The remaining tickets will be sold two at a time, Thursday and Friday. Anyone is allowed to buy tickets on these days.

Louise will conduct sales online, with parents of participants getting the first chance to buy tickets. Students and general admission will be made available afterward until sold out.

With the UIL lifting their ban on live-streaming football games, as of printing, both schools have not ruled out the possibility of games being broadcast live.

The 2020 El Campo Ricebird and Louise Hornet Football Preview is a special section of the El Campo Leader-News.

The El Campo Leader-News is published Wednesdays and Saturdays. For information, contact 979-543-3363 or visit www.leader-news.com.

Copyright 2020

Best of Luck to all athletes!

From:

El Campo Memorial Hospital Mid Coast Medical Clinic Mid Coast Medical Center Mid Coast Rehabilitation Mid Coast WellCare Mid Coast CampusCare Mid Coast HealthPlex WHARTON COUNTY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE WWW.MYWCEC.COOP

www.ecmh.org EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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RICEBIRD FOOTBALL: IT’S IN OUR BLOOD.

P.O. Box 1541, El Campo, TX 77437 Phone: 979-543-1453 Fax: 979-543-1533

Friday Nights Start Here

El Campo Independent School District

700 West Norris, El Campo, Texas 979-543-6771

Home of the Ricebirds!

4 EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Football to be different COVID gives football new challenges

By JOSHUA REESE sports@leader-news.com

Football is back, but it won’t be the same, at least for this year.

The El Campo Ricebirds and the Louise Hornets again will take the field and play under the lights this Friday night with the goal to make it to the playoffs like any other normal season.

However, they’ll do it with a watchful eye on the coronavirus which caused schools statewide to close around spring break and stay closed until this month.

During the offseason, both schools were able to have summer workouts, but it wasn’t smooth sailing. El Campo and Louise shut down workouts

El Campo Ricebirds

Head Coach Wayne Condra 4A-1 Region III District 12 @ Gonzales @ Calhoun Wharton (HC) @ St. Thomas Stafford @ Brazosport Bay City Columbia @ Needville

8/28 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/9 10/16 10/23 10/30 11/6

L-N Photo by Joshua Reese

Let Me Check

One of the new things about sports this season is checking students and coaches temperatures before practice to make sure no one sick is working with the other students. Pictured is Head Atheltic Trainer Robert Easter using a temperature gun to check a student before coming to practice. proactively after students came into potential contact with the virus.

While no coaches or students tested positive and the schools returned to workouts,

Louise Hornets

Good Luck Ricebirds & Hornets!

Head Coach Joe Bill 2A-2 Region IV District 16 Danbury Bloomington High Island Woodsboro (HC) @ Aqua Dulce Runge @ Falls City Pettus @ Yorktown

8/28 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9 10/16 10/23

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Don’t forget to self screen it was a reminder of the constant added worry on top of the everyday grind of playing football.

Not only do players this season have to learn which gap assignment they have on dif different run plays, they also have to be mindful of who they are around away from the football field.

With COVID-19 still present in the area and the state, a simple trip just about any anywhere could keep them away from the team and the sport they love to play if they end up contracting the virus.

“You don’t want (students) to worry about it, but be conscious of it,” Ricebirds Head Coach Wayne Condra said.

“Nobody is telling you not to hang out with your friends, but be smart. Keep your social distance, wear a mask indoors and protect yourself, that’s a big key. That’s something

Masked Up

L-N Photo by Joshua Reese

During the Ricebirds offseason workouts, Rueben Owens (left) and Blake Korenek (right) run through a speed ladder drill in front of Coach Gabe Cavazos who’s wearing a mask.

6 EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

you’ve got to be conscious of so we can keep our (players) safe.”

A positive sign for football, volleyball has been scrimmaging and playing games against other teams for a few weeks and so far has had no hitches.

For volleyball games, play players on the bench wear masks, fans are spread out throughout the bleachers and there is only a 50 percent capacity allowed.

This is what you will expect this football season.

Stands celebrating together after a touchdown, won’t be as loud this year with fewer people allowed in the stadium.

The message for athletes, fans and even media this upcoming year is if you aren’t feeling well, stay away and support, cheer and cover from afar.

Birds playoff path

New region, new Ricebirds

By JOSHUA REESE sports@leader-news.com

While the El Campo Ricebirds ended last year in a third-round playoff loss to the Liberty Hill Panthers, they made an impression and, with a bevy of returners, they’ll enter this season as one of the best programs in the state.

The Ricebirds came into the 2019 season looking to prove that three wins the year before was a fluke. El Campo started (See POSTSEASON, Page 22)

Next Time A Different Result Ricebird running back Charles Shorter looks for a hole being opened by his linemen against Liberty Hill.

L-N Photo by Joshua Reese

GOOD LUCK TO ALL AREA TEAMS! El Campo Ricebirds ••• Louise Hornets ••• St. Philip Pioneers

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Proudly Supporting The R icebirds & H ornets!

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Defensive line re-make Birds return experience

By JOSHUA REESE sports@leader-news.com

Defense wins championships.

While an improved defense didn’t lead the Ricebirds to a championship last year, it did make them a tough team to face week in and week out.

A dominant senior-led defensive line helped El Campo shutout two teams and hold two others to a lone touchdown.

The Ricebirds will have to replace their entire defensive line, but a majority of the rest of the defense returns.

Behind an aggressive defense, the Ricebirds held teams to 225.5 yards on average, a district best.

El Campo had 30 takeaways through their 13 games, averaging over two a game, giving their high-powered offense more time with the football.

Everything last season started up front with the power and speed from their defensive tackles who wreaked havoc on the line and the ends who put pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

L-N Photo by Joshua Reese

Eyes On You

Junior fullback/defensive tackle Johntre Davis (right) gets some work on the defensive side of the ball trying to grab the quarterback (trashcan).

While the Ricebirds have to replace last year’s four man senior defensive line, it’s nothing they haven’t had to deal with

good luck

birds!

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8 EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

before.

“Every year is different,” Head Coach Wayne Condra said. “We’ve got multiple (de-

fensive) fronts that we use.

Some years some groups run these fronts better than other groups two years ago. It’s a

Cannell and Ricebird Football, Two Traditions of El Campo Excellence!

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Defense could be fierce change every year and we change it to what best fits us.”

While it was the seniors who started last year, incoming junior Juan Leal, senior Kade Johansen and junior Johntre Davis got some experience rotating in. Juniors Clarence Farrow and Thomas Martinez and senior Lee Balderas fill out depth at defensive tackle and sophomore Hal Erwin and senior Carson Whittington could see time at defensive end this season.

The linebacking core is one of the most experienced units on the team with seniors Kaden Alcalais, Oziel Alanis, Tyler Baklik and junior Jacob Lopez all returning.

Stopping wide receivers this year will be the guys who throw to wide receivers, with quarterbacks junior Isaiah Anderson and senior Cullen Braden slated to see time on defense. Junior De’Koreyus Ward and sophomore Rueben Owens will also be counted on this season. Playing safety in the defense will be seniors Nathan Willis, Charles Shorter and Ryan King. Also in the mix are juniors Trey Clark, Bradon Amestoy, Jackson Jenson and sophomore Reed Jung.

Of the players the defense will count on this year, 12 saw action last season. With all that experience, it’s not far-fetched to think El Campo could be feared once again by opposing offenses in 2020.

GOOD LUCK TO OUR GRIDIRON GLADIATORS.

Clark And Destroy

Junior safety Trey Clark (12) seeks out the junior varsity quarterback Brock Rod (5) during practice.

DUCKETT, BOULIGNY & COLLINS, L.L.P Attorneys At Law

As we kick off another exciting football season, we wish the Louise Hornets and El Campo Ricebirds good luck and much success. We’ll be cheering for you all the way to championships!

L-N Photo by Joshua Reese

Proud supporters of the El Campo Ricebirds and proudly serving the Texas Gulf Coast for over 70 years.

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2020 EL CAMPO RICEBIRDS

OZIEL ALANIS

KADEN ALCALAIS

BRADEN AMESTOY

ISAIAH ANDERSON

TYLER BAKLIK

KYLE BALCAR

LEE BALDERAS

CULLEN BRADEN

TREY CLARK

JOHNTRE DAVIS

JACK DOROTIK

HAL ERWIN

CLARENCE FARROW

MARCO FRANCO

CARTER HLAVINKA

SLOAN HUBERT

10 EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

S

SHAMAR HUDLIN,

HENDRICK HUNDL

JACKSON JENSEN

KADE JOHANSEN

REED JUNG

RYAN KING

BLAKE KORENEK

JUAN LEAL

JACOB LOPEZ

THOMAS MARTINEZ

HARRIS MICKELSON

KERRY NORTH

XAVIER OLVERA

REUBEN OWENS

LUCUS PFEIL

DAVID REESE

CHARLES SHORTER

MATTHEW SOSA

ROBERT STEWART

DAVID URSERY

EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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TRAYTON VACLAVICK

EMMANUEL VELASQUEZ

DE’KOREYUS WARD

NATHAN WILLIS

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Contributed Photo by Connie’s by Glenn

2020 Ricebird Seniors Row one: (l-r) Robert Stewart, Marco Franco, Blake Korenek, Matthew Sosa, Tyler Baklik, and Kyle Balcar. Row two: (l-r) Oziel Alanis, Charles Shorter, Head Coach Wayne Condra, Nathan

Willis and Lee Balderas. Row three: (l-r) Kaden Alcalais, Harris Mickelson, Ryan King, Trayton Vaclavick, Cullen Braden and Kade Johansen.

Good Luck to our Area Teams!

Hit 'em hard, nate!

Love, Mom & Dad

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Avai 210 W. Railroad St. • El Campo • 979-541-5229 www.thefeedstoreec.com EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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2020 Ricebird Coaches Bottom row: Josh Kurz, Mark Dominguez, John Garza, Gabe Cavazos, Chris Kerzee and Gary Figirova. Middle row: Ramiro Jaime, Matthew Schoener, Kevin Lewis, Herman Mauch, Matt Sohrt, James Harp, Jesse Galvan and Russell Krenek.

LET’S GO BIG RED!!!

Contributed Photo by Connie’s by Glenn

Top row: Head trainer Dean Easter, Corey Golan, Elliott Babcock, Head Coach Wayne Condra, Craig George,Trent Popp and Derrick Cash.

GOOD LUCK THIS season A Boys! A

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“Your Friend in the Tire Business”

2020 Derby Dolls Bottom row: (l-r) Junior Lt. Cambrie Priesmeyer, Junior Lt. Dharma Sabrsula, Senior Lt. Kayla Bolfing, First Lt. Ava Hulsey, Co-Captain Kennedy Klatt, Co-Captain Kendal Klatt, Senior Lt. Jocelyn Pacheco, Junior Lt. Brianna Shanks and Junior Lt. Aiyana Gonzalez. Middle row: (l-r) Spirit Committee President Hannah Sutton, Corresponding Secretary Makayla Valenzuela, Historian Sonya Catete, Natalia Reyes, Tristann Nusser, Elizabeth Garza, Teara Cooper, Director Jenna Zabodyn, Kimberly Reyna, Valery Pesina, Sydney Acosta, Recording

2020 Cheerleaders Bottom row: (l-r) Kinley Tompkins, Holly Foegelle, Alexia Alcalais, Makenzie Cortez, Madisyn Ortez, Margaret Evans and Avery York.

Top row: (l-r) Emmy Lou Russell, Skylar Dornak, Kennedy Ritz, Julia

Contributed Photo by Connie’s by Glenn

Secretary Aviah Jones, President Kelly Stayton and Vice President Lauren Drabek. Top row: (l to r) Manager Kimberly Delapena, Manager Kierra North, Laniyah Young, Taylor Miller, Trianna Manzano, Makayla Vasquez, Julisa Solis, Kaitlyn Galvan, Corri Rodriguez, Ashley Acuna, Savannah Prihoda, Karolyne Brown, Marley Babcock, Natalie Garcia, Ludivina Hernandez, Ariana Magallan, Angela Contreras, Emma Orozco, Jasmine Canales, Raven Colwell, Manager Brinnlee Shanks and Manager Hannah Morton.

Contributed Photo by Photography by Susan Crump

Foegelle (co-captain), Megan Foegelle (co-captain), Aubery Samaripa, Anna Rod and Ally Sohrt.

EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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2020 EL Campo Ricebird Varsity Roster Row one: David Ursery, Reed Jung, Jacob Lopez, Blake Korenek, Robert Stewart, Emanuel Velazquez, Marco Franco and Shemar Hudlin. Row two: Isaiah Anderson, Charles Shorter, Juan Leal, Trey Clark, Brandon Amestoy, De’Koreyus Ward, Xavier Olvera, Matthew Sosa and Tyler Baklik. Row three: Danielle Earls (student trainer), Clarence Farrow, Kaden Alcalais, David Reese,Thomas Martinez, Jack Dorotik, Rueben Owens, Kerry North,

Derby Doll Booster Club proudly supporting

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Contributed Photo by Connie’s by Glenn Hendrick Hundl and Melina Washington (student trainer). Row four: Raylynn Rodriguez (student trainer), Hal Erwin, Sloan Hubert, Carter Hlavinka, Harris Mickelson, Ryan King,Trayton Vaclavick, Cullen Braden and Kaden Johansen and Allison Bena (student trainer).

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2020 EL Campo Ricebird Marching Band Front Row: (l-r) Stefany Flota and Avery Victorin. Second Row: (l-r) Gabriella Sardellich, Michelle Medrano, Jolie Konarik and Linda Martinez.

Third Row: (l-r) Camille Gonzalez, Mia Cruz, Ana Medellin, Yulisa Vasquez and Diana Mejia. Fourth Row: (l-r) Alejandro Fernandez, Ismael Brito, Elizabeth Flota, Emily Kresta and Samiya Smith. Fifth Row: (l-r) Luis Fonseca, Seth Mallory, Connor King, Nathan Fisher and Fabian Rosas Sixth Row: (l-r) Miguel Gonzales, Shelby Krpec, Cole Deleon, Sophia McLain,Alisa Tomlinson and Jason Martinez. Seventh Row: (l-r) Daniel Gonzales,Alex Gonzalez,Yanira Cardona,Alexander Harper, Robert Harper, Miles Shaffer and Cedrick Kimble. Eight Row: (l-r) Marcus Ontiveros, Grace Evans, Edward Garcia, Leslie Zahn, Dylan Gutierrez, Derek Brito and Nicholas Debo. Ninth Row: (l-r) Cullen Arnder, Dana Barnes, Isabel Rodriguez

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and Resendo Munoz. Not Pictured: Jason Martinez, Matthew Reyna,Adrian Cruz, Joa Janda, Jordan Frye, Jonathon Fisher, Ryan Mejia, Joseph Johnson, Christian Martinez, Paul Osore, Alexandra Montez, Madi Breland, Melody Espinosa, Christina Cole,Whitney Rebector, Karina Dominguez, Lisette Vargas, Marissa Barron, Abigail Zapata, Gladiz Reyna, Selene Rodriquez, Alma Rosales, Laura Reyna, Alya Cerda, Regina Barnes, Ava Bustamante, Chelsie Cobia, Gillian Mendoza, Samantha Hurtado, Cesilia Reyna, Daniela Alba, Marisol Jaramillo, Riley Respondek, Karina Ramirez,Ashley Mancine, Brenda Gonzales, Rylee Zapata, Jaylin Hawkins, Jesse Alemda and Kianna Spears.

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Trying to stay rollin’ El Campo offense returns plenty

By JOSHUA REESE sports@leader-news.com

The El Campo Ricebird of offense ran like a well-oiled machine last season. El Campo, behind a trio of running backs, took the state by storm. While they finished third in the ultratough 4A D1 District 13, they went three rounds deep in the playoffs.

With a senior offensive line packed full of multi-year starters, the Ricebirds gained 3,613 yards, with 3,221 of them coming on the ground, a district high in 2019. While the seniors on the line stayed healthy for a majority of the season, quar-

terback and wide receiver, injuries forced them to count on their depth and, they didn’t disappoint. Backup players like incoming senior quarterback Cullen Braden earned experience while holding their own, keeping them a top tier team.

During the season, including the playoffs, the Ricebirds scored at least 40 points four times. El Campo’s offensive output averaged 30 points a game.

Leading the Ricebirds this season is Braden who took over during last year’s game in Needville after an injury. With workhorse running backs, the need for Braden to throw a lot

was limited, but he did throw for 188 yards and a touchdown during the regular season. Junior Isaiah Anderson also could see work and senior Blake Korenek fills out the depth this season.

The three-heading running attack will remain intact year over year with senior Charles Shorter, junior Johntre Davis and sophomore Rueben Ow Owens all returning. Along with the three, junior Jacob Lopez saw action last season during the playoffs. Senior Kyle Balcar also could get carries.

The biggest question for the offense will be how the Ricebirds replace three linemen

Cullen Braden

Be a winner on and off the field...

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Birds looking to re-stock line and a tight end who started last year. Anchoring the line are two returning junior starters Juan Leal and Kerry North.

“We got most of our skill positions back but we’ve got to put together an offensive and defensive line,” Condra said.

“When you look at the offensive line, you’ve got two starters coming back, but we’ve got some guys who’ve played for us so we expect them to step in and do a great job for us.”

If the Ricebirds can find the right mix of linemen to pair with North and Leal, it will go a long way to making them a dominant offense again this year. Linemen in the mix this season are seniors Oziel Alanis, Matthew Sosa, Robert Stewart and juniors Carter Hlavinka, Sloan Hurbet, Lucus Pfeil, David Reese, Jack Dorotik and sophomore Luke Wingler.

Tight end’s who could see action this season are sophomore Hal Erwin and seniors Trayton Vaclavick and Tyler Baklik.

Sophomore Emanuel Velazquez will handle the kicking duties.

While El Campo doesn’t toss the ball often, they do have seniors Nathan Willis, Kaden Alcalais and Erwin returning.

Also, potentially catching passes this season are Shorter, and a trio of juniors in De’Koreyus Ward, Trey Clark and David Ursery.

Don’t Forget Me

We’ll see you under the Friday Night Lights!

GO BIG RED!

L-N Photo by Joshua Reese

Jacob Lopez wasn’t one of the Ricebirds top three running backs, but they did count on him in the playoffs blocking and carrying the ball.

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EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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Top team in new district?

—Postseason (Continued from Page 7) the season hot and won 10 games for only the secondtime in Head Coach Wayne

Condra’s tenure.

Behind a strong defense and an offense that pounded the ball up and down the field, the Ricebirds went into the playoffs and knocked off their first two opponents in Fredericksburg and an undefeated Beeville Jones.

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In the third playoff game, the Ricebirds ran into the slot-t offense ending their comeback season.

In realignment, the Ricebirds were moved from Region 4 back to Region 3 for the next two years, which could pave the way for them to make a run at the state quarterfinals if everything pans.

This season El Campo will compete in a new district, albeit a familiar one.

District 12, will inclued El Campo, Bay City, Brazosport, West Columbia, Needville and Stafford. With Sealy dropping down and Fulshear moving up, Stafford will be the only new team this season and El

Campo faced them two realignments ago.

The Ricebirds will catch a little bit of a break this season, with other teams in the district having to replace key graduated seniors.

Needville has the tough task of replacing their allstate running back Ashton Stredick.

Bay City will have a new head coach and have to replace Marcus Edwards an all-state defensive back. Brazosport will be replacing Kevin Davis an all-state defensive back. West Columbia will be without now graduated dual-threat quarterback Cameron Ward.

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Tougher

draw afTer realignmenT

Hornets starting 20’ season healthy

By JOSHUA REESE sports@leader-news.com

The Louise Hornets have been to the playoffs in each of the last six years, but this upcoming season that streak gets a tough test with their move to 2A D2 Region 4 District 16.

The Hornets, for the next two years, will be in a seventeam district that includes Falls City, one of the top teams in the state. They will also play Agua

Building A Sting

Dulce, Pettus, Runge, Woodsboro and Yorktown. To earn a playoff spot, it might take two or three district wins.

Underneath first-time Head Coach Joe Bill - a long time assistant coach in Louise, the Hornets had a tough time picking up only one win last season.

Learning a new offense and injuries early and throughout the year hampered the Hornets.

(See RETURN, Page 27) L-N Photo by Joshua Reese

Daniel Gaona III gets in some weight room work with the team.

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2020 LOUISE HORNETS ROY ARRAMBIDE

ANDREW BELL

DAYLON BRONKOWSKY

JORDAN EDISON

PETE GALVAN

DANIEL GAONA III

KYLE ANDERSON

JADEN BROWN

DAMIEN GUNDELACH

MARIO CAMACHO

ANDREW HUERTA

Not pictured: Jario Rosas, Jakob Litton, Kyrean Albright, Jesus Flores and Trey Drozd.

Go Ricebirds and Hornets!

2348 N. Mechanic, El Campo 979•543•4242 Order online and save at www.pizzahut.com 24 EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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DAYLON MACHICEK

EZEQUIEL MEDINA

ROGERIC SCHOOLER

MARCO TORRES

ANGEL REYES

DUSTIN ROBERTS

ALAN ROSAS

CHRISTOPHER VASQUEZ

ALEX VENTURA

HOLDEN WATSON

ETHAN WENDELL

BLAYKE YEAGER

Louise Football Coaching Staff Danny Gaona Jr, Brian Blank, Chris Chromcak, Head Coach Joe Bill,Taylor Gray, Davis Page and Ethan Zezula.

Head Shots and Coaches Contributed by Portraits Today in Lolita EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

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Contributed Photo

2020 Hornet Cheerleaders Top row: (l-r) Destiny Roberts, Shae Kidwell, Madilyn Kana, Alyssa Jones, Aaliyah Ochoa (co-captain), Mallorie Pena, Allison Capak (captain) and Nattalee Yackle. Bottom row: (l-r)

Kirsten Ochoa, Natalie Sanchez, Breana Viesca and Savannah Morton. Not pictured is cheer sponsor Traci Harvey.

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Casa Hernandez 1010 West Loop • El Campo • 543-3266 Since 1983 • Original Tex-Mex Food

QuarTerback —Return (Continued from Page 27) However, when they got healthy and had their backs against the walls they came together. At 0-7, they had to beat the Somerville Yeguas to make the playoffs. It was a tight game, but the Hornets held on 13-12 at home to earn them a spot in the postseason.

In the past six seasons, the Hornets are 23-42, but 11-15 in district play. When Louise shared a district with Pettus and Runge in 2016 and 2017, they finished in third place in.

While it’s a larger district, Louise has a track record of getting wins when they must.

The biggest problem for the Hornets in their quest to

offers sTabiliTy return to the playoffs will be replacing an unusually large senior class of eight players.

They won’t have another large senior class this year with four, meaning Louise will be quite a bit younger with several freshmen and sophomores on the roster.

While they’re plugging spots, they will start the year on solid footing with incoming (See DEFENSE, Page 30)

I’m Back Hornet Quarterback senior Daylon Machicek loads for a throw during practice in front of the coaching staff. Machicek enters the season healthy this year.

L-N Photo

by Joshua Reese

“Home of the Hornets”

TOUCHDOWN

TOUCHDOWN

Rise as One, Win As All!

Louise Independent School District 408 2nd St., Louise, Texas 979-648-2982 EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

27

2020 Hornets First row: (l-r) Ethan Wendel, Blayke Yeager, Holden Watson, Jaden Brown,Andres Gaona (ball boy), Kyle Anderson, Jordan Edison,Alan Rosas and Pete Galvan. Second row: (l-r) Rogeric Schooler, Daylon Machicek, Roy Arrambide, Dustin Roberts, Andrew Huerta, Mario Camacho, Angel Reyes and Ezequiel Medina.Third row: (l-r) Chris Vasquez, Damien Gundelach, Marco Torres, Dylan Bronkowsky,Alex Ventura,Andrew

28 EL CAMPO LEADER-NEWS | FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Contributed by Portraits Today in Lolita

Bell, Angel Reyes and Daniel Gaona III.Top row: (l-r) Danny Gaona Jr, Brian Blank, Chris Chromcak, Head Coach Joe Bill,Taylor Gray, Davis Page and Ethan Zezula.

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Supporting Our Local Teams!

Brandon Rivera 979-637-8321

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swarming —Defense (Continued from Page 27) senior quarterback/linebacker Daylon Machicek back at the helm. Machicek last season missed the first seven games with an injury.

“I think having Daylon, just his leadership from quarterback (early on), is a big difference,” Bill said.

Without Machicek last season, the Hornets were a heavy run team early. Now healthy it allows them to be a little more dynamic if they choose.

It wasn’t until the Hornets’ eighth game when they scored more than one touchdown in a game last season. This year they aim to look better out of the gate with a more modest

To The fooTball

game plan.

“The offense that we’re running this year is a little simpler and we’ve run it before so they’re picking it up pretty easily,” Bill said.

The Hornets have two alldistrict players coming back this season. One of them is incoming senior running back Rogeric Schooler. Over the past few years, Schooler has given Louise contributions all over the field. Last season he became electric with the football in his hands in space. Junior Blayke Yeager also picked up tough yards last season.

Sophmore Mario Camacho is also in the mix.

Blocking the way for the running backs, the Hornets will count on returning road graders juniors Daniel Gaona and Chris Vasquez. They will also look for senior Alex Ven-

tura, sophmores Marco Torres, Damian Gundelach, Pete Galvan and freshman Jairo Rosas and Kyrean Albright to contribute.

Catching the ball this season will be incoming senior Dustin Roberts. Junior Andrew Bell, sophmores Andrew Huerta and Ethan Wendel and freshman- Holden Watson, Kyle Anderson and Jaden Brown could also catch passes this season.

On the defensive side of the ball, with the smaller numbers of a 2A program, the Hornets rely on ironman football, with players playing both ways. This year they plan on having more defensive backs on the field to help guard against the growing influence of the spread offense.

Eating up space to give Louise linebackers free runs at opposing quarterback’s and

running backs, will be defensive line anchored by powerlifters and returners Gaona and Vasquez, who was an alldistrict first-team player last season. Also getting reps on the line will be Gundelach and Albright.

At the linebacker core, Machicek and junior Alan Rosas return. Also tackling people this season will be Camacho and senior Dylan Bronkowsky, along with Huerta, Yeager and sophmore Ezekiel Medina.

Limiting wide receivers and trying to pick off passes will be Schooler, junior Angel Reyes.

Filling out the rest of the defensive back depth is Watson, Bell, Brown, Anderson and sophmore Trey Drozd.

Sophmore Roy Arrambide will be handling the kicking duties.

Good luck El Campo Ricebirds & Louise Hornets!

Wreck ‘em Ricebirds!

Good luck this season!

Good Luck Ricebirds & Hornets!

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GOOD LUCK

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MPL38426

The 2020 Hornet Marching band: Gizelle Balderas Alejandro Balderas Esbeydi Barron Blake Beeson Kyle Beeson Ivan Briano Dylan Bronikowsky Audrey Castro Alex Chitmon Ethan Chitmon

Jayden Cionek Hope Cloutman Katy Cook Kianna Cortez Reign Edison Fatima Feregrino Jesus Flores Aedyn Gaona Damian Gundelach Kobe Gussman Latrell Hearld Andrew Huerta Charlie Huerta Faith Jacques

Alyssa Jones Madilyn Kana Scooter Kight Kayleigh Kocurek Kelly Lemus Haley Luna Kaitlyn Maley Gabriel Martinez Shawn Martinez Ezequiel Medina Benjamin Medina Erica Melchor Imanol Mendez Alexis Mendoza

Monica Montes Maggie Ochoa Hannah Ochoa Destinee Ortega Ethan Resendez Destiny Roberts Kassie Sheard Michala Sulak Matthew Sulak Hunter Swint Macenzie Trevino Kennedy Valdez Christopher Vasquez Francisca Vazquez Vanessa Villeda Julie Warzecha Holden Watson Nattalee Yackel Brooke Yeager and Kasey G. Chitmon Marching Band Instructor.

Good Luck Ricebirds!

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