Cross Plains has rookie head coach,
but experienced roster
DISTRICT 14-A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
Cross Plain’s David Hagler will
join two other men in District 14-A making their head coaching
debuts in the upcoming season, while the Buffaloes return an experienced
varsity roster.
Both Ranger’s Russell Joy and Baird’s Bryan Webb
are also in their rookie season as a head coach. May’s Ed
Wuthrich is in just his second season. Hagler will have some help
from holdover Mitchell Atchley as his defensive coordinator and
a roster filled with eight seniors.
Third-year varsity starter Dusty Dickson headlines the group
of returnees. Dickson, 5-11, 160 pounds, played as a wide receiver
until last season. At the start of the 2002 campaign, the senior
was moved to quarterback to fill a hole left by graduation and
the move paid off.
Dickson returns as not only the leading passer, he is also
listed as the leading defensive player last year. Playing as a
defensive back, Dickson received second-team all-district honors.
Casey Pack is also back for the Buffaloes. The 5-10, 165-pound
senior, was a second-team all-district tight end and is projected
to be another factor on offense again for Cross Plains. Pack is
also helping on defense, and will start as a defensive end.
First-team all-district punter Jose Mauricio is kicking again
for Cross Plains this season as well. The senior will be busy
in 2003, as he will also be a starting fullback and strong safety.
In all, the Buffs held on to 15 lettermen from last season,
and had to watch just six seniors depart after graduation. Seven
offensive and defensive starters will be back, and the team is
putting high expectations on itself.
“This team is looking forward to being successful,”
Hagler said. He believes that the experience and that positive
attitude will be the team’s biggest strength. Hagler added
that a lack of overall team speed is his biggest concern.
Other seniors returning for the Buffs are wide receiver/defensive
end Randy Duncan, offensive tackle/defensive end Sammy Gardner,
end/corner Andy Bennett, offensive guard/linebacker Jared Wooten
and cornerback Russell Allen.
SCHEDULE
n August
29 at Robert Lee 8 p.m.
n September
5 at Winters 8 p.m.
12 Hawley 7:30 p.m.
19 Rotan 7:30 p.m.
26 at Tolar* 7:30 p.m.
n October
3 Baird* 7:30 p.m.
10 at Gorman* 7:30 p.m.
17 Rising Star* 7:30 p.m.
31 at May* 7:30 p.m.
n November
7 Ranger* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
Cross Plains Buffaloes
- School colors: purple and gold
- District: 14-A
- Last year’s record: 1-9 (1-5, fifth place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2002
- Last district championship: 1994
- Head coach: David Hagler
- Career record: 0-0
- Years at current school: first
- Assistant coaches: Mitchell Atchley, Jay Wilcoxen, Josh Carty,
Barry Gill
- Returning and/or probable starters: WR-DE Randy Duncan, 5-9,
150, Sr.; OT-DE Ross Sifuentes, 5-8, 180, Jr.; OT-DE Sammy Gardner,
6-5, 240, Sr.; TE-DE Casey Pack, 5-10, 165, Sr.; SE-CB Andy Bennett,
5-10, 160, Sr.; FB-SS Jose Mauricio, 5-6, 155, Sr.; LB Chance
Watkins, 5-6, 150, So.; OG-LB Jared Wooten, 5-11, 210, Sr.; LB
Roy Smith, 5-11, 160, So.; RB-FS Michael Allen, 6-0, 170, Jr.;
CB Russell Allen, 5-9, 150, Sr.; OG Brenton McNutt, 5-10, 200,
Jr.; C Ricky Gibson, 5-8, 190, So.; QB Dusty Dickson, 5-11, 160,
Sr.
- Position changes: none
- Returning all-district players: DB Dickson (second team),
TE Pack (second team), P Mauricio (first team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: none
- Returning all-state players: none
- Top new players: LB Chance Hyles, 5-10, 170, So.; Watkins;
Smith; DB Thomas Dimitri, 5-7, 150, Jr.; Gibson; LB Grady Wellmaker,
6-0, 165, Sr.
- Transfers: none
- Team strengths: experience, attitude
- Team weaknesses: speed
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