Ballinger plans for another 6-3A showdown
with Wylie
DISTRICT 6-3A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
Third-year Ballinger coach Mickey Owens
is expecting it to be another ‘Dog fight for the 2003 District
6-3A championship title. Once again, the final battle will be
reserved until the last week of the regular season, when the Bearcats
travel to Wylie to face the Bulldogs in a game that may again
decide the district champion.
Ballinger has finished second the past two years with only
two district losses in that span, both coming in the last week
of the season to Wylie; the ‘Cats lost 17-16 in 2002, and
35-14 in 2001.
Despite losing 12 seniors to graduation, Owens expects this
year’s team to again be in contention for the title, as 14
lettermen will return to their lineup.
“This team has the potential of being pretty good,”
Owens said. “It will depend on our leadership, not getting
any injuries and knowing our roles on the team.”
Part of that leadership will come from all-state honorable
mention Antonio Posey at running back. Posey, who led Ballinger
in rushing the past two seasons, piled up 1,503 yards on 237 carries,
for an average of 6.3 yards per attempt. The senior tallied 20
touchdowns on the season, was a first team MVP selection on the
all-district team and received a second straight selection to
the Abilene Reporter-News Class 3A All-Big Country team.
While not having the luxury of a deep bench, Owens has eight
returning all-district players, all of whom are upper-classmen.
One of those all-district selections is quarterback Travis
McGee. The senior, who was also a member of the All-Big Country
Team, passed for 1,685 yards on 89 completions, averaging nearly
17 yards per completion. McGee’s receivers pulled in 15 touchdowns
last season.
Senior defensive end J.R. Galvan rounds out the top three returning
standouts for Ballinger. The third All-Big Country player from
the 2002 Bearcats, Galvan had 83 tackles last season and will
again be a key player on defense.
SCHEDULE
August
29 at Greenwood 7:30 p.m.
September
5 at Bangs 7:30 p.m.
12 Merkel 7:30 p.m.
19 at Breckenridge 7:30 p.m.
26 Wall 7:30 p.m.
October
10 Brady* 7:30 p.m.
17 Clyde* 7:30 p.m.
24 at Early* 7:30 p.m.
31 Comanche* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 at Wylie* 7:30 p.m.
* District Games
Ballinger Bearcats
- School colors: red and white
- District: 6-3A
- Last year’s record: 9-4 (4-1, second place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2002
- Last district championship: 1995
- Head coach: Mickey Owens
- Career record: 43-16
- Years at current school: third
- Assistant coaches: Cory Spivey, Jim Fryar, Robert Buxkemper,
Will Duggan, Stephen Hermesmeyer, Ron Ledbetter, Alan Wilson
n Returning and/or probable starters: RB-LB Clayton Hane, 5-11,
165, Sr.; QB-SS Travis McGee, 6-3, 180, Sr.; TB-CB Kendall Jones,
5-7, 150, Sr.; FB-FS Antonio Posey, 5-10, 205, Sr.; OL-LB Derrick
Fuchs, 6-1, 190, Sr.; OG-DE Roland Villareal, 5-9, 190, Sr.;
OG-DT Nyle Davenport, 5-11, 185, Sr.; OT-DT Ryan Escobar, 6-0,
240, Sr.; OG-DE J.R. Galvan, 5-7, 200, Sr.; OT-DT Scotty Rodriguez,
6-0, 252, Sr.; OG-DE Jonathon Nord, 5-10, 185, Sr.; OT-DT Derek
Kuhn, 5-10, 295, Sr.; WR-CB John King, 6-0, 170, Sr.; SB-LB-TE
Russ Vanicek, 6-2, 185, Sr.; FB-LB Darren Kuhn, 5-9, 190, Jr.;
TB-CB Frankie Guerrero, 5-5, 155, Jr.; OG-DE David Blesing, 5-7,
175, Sr.; SB-CB Matt Broyles, 5-11, 170, Sr.; WR-SS Ben Cruz,
5-9, 150, Sr.; WR-FS Dane Turner, 6-0, 175, Sr.; WR-QB-FS Wes
Vanicek, 6-4, 190, So.; SB-FS Ryan Jones, 5-11, 155, Sr.; C-LB
Cole Deeds, 5-10, 215, So.; TE-LB Logan Newsom, 6-3, 190, So.;
WR-CB Chase Bowman, 5-9, 150, Jr.; SB-CB Chris Galvan, 5-9, 145,
Jr.; WR-CB Brandon Lott, 5-11, 135, Jr.
- Position changes: none listed
- Returning all-district players: R King (first team), MVP
Posey (first team), DT Kuhn (first team), QB McGee (second team),
TE-P Vanicek (second team), DT Davenport (second team), DE Galvan
(second team), DB King (second team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: QB McGee, DE Galvan, DB
King, RB Posey
- Returning all-state players: RB Posey (honorable mention)
- Top new players: RB-LB Kuhn, 5-9, 190, Jr.; QB-Rec.-DB Vanicek,
6-4, 190, So.; Rec.-LB Newsom, 6-3, 190, So.
- Transfers: Rec.-DB Broyles, 5-11, 170, Sr., Spring
- Team strengths: experience
- Team weaknesses: depth
|
