Rookie De Leon coach has big shoes
to fill in new era
DISTRICT 10-2A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
The 2003 season marks the start of a
new era in De Leon Bearcat football. Longtime head coach Grady
West, who finished his 25th season in 2002, retired at the end
of the school year having compiling a career record of 179-86-4,
all with De Leon.
West led 16 of his teams to the playoffs and leaves behind
a strong tradition of success that should give rookie coach Billy
Fox a running start. Fox, previously an assistant under West,
will take over the ’Cats.
Fox will have just five returning starters from 2002 among
the 10 lettermen expected to again be on the roster. De Leon lost
12 seniors at graduation, and will have only three offensive starters
and two defensive starters back for the 2003 campaign.
Youth is one of the weaknesses that concerns Fox at the start
of the season, along with low numbers and speed. A dozen positions
on the preseason roster are filled by underclassmen.
One of the few starting seniors, though, is Cody Hardin. Hardin
is playing in his third varsity season and is a likely starter
at both tight end and defensive end.
The senior was selected for the second straight year as a second-team
all-district tight end following the 2002 season.
Dustin Wright is also back for the ’Cats. A defensive
standout a year ago, Wright was a second-team all-district selection
at defensive back.
Newcomer Gustavo Chaviria will be charged with leading the
team at quarterback, following the loss of Cody Mahan to graduation.
Chaviria, 5-8, 140 pounds, takes over as field general in only
his sophomore year but will have a few veteran targets helping
him out.
Seniors Anthony Gonzales and Dustin Wright will be back as
both wide receiver and defensive back. Hardin is available again,
as is senior running back Cam Scott. Scott is also a likely starter
on defense as well, at defensive back.
SCHEDULE
September
5 at Eastland 7:30 p.m.
12 Early 7:30 p.m.
19 Comanche 7:30 p.m.
26 at Goldthwaite 7:30 p.m.
October
10 at Crawford* 7:30 p.m.
17 at Hico* 7:30 p.m.
24 Hamilton* 7:30 p.m.
31 at Clifton* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 Dublin* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
De Leon Bearcats
- School colors: maroon and white
- District: 10-2A
- Last year’s record: 2-8 (1-6, fifth place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2001
- Last district championship: 1998
- Head coach: Billy Fox
- Career record: 0-0
- Years at current school: first
- Assistant coaches: Rusty Bennett, Dudley McCarthy, Jerry
Walker, Todd Hatton
- Returning and/or probable starters: RB-DB Jon Brown, Jr.;
TE-DE Cody Hardin, Sr.; RB-DB Kip McCarty, So.; QB-DB Gustavo
Chaviria, So.; WR-DB Dustin Wright, Sr.; RB-DB Junior Pacheco,
Sr.; FB-LB Aaron Smith, Jr.; FB-LB Dewayne Gomez, So.; OL-OL
Brice Shupp, Jr.; OL-DL Sam Mendoza, So.; OL-DL Adam Mureno,
Sr.; OL-DL Aaron Nesolony, Sr.; OL-DL Jess Grindle, Jr.; OL-DL
Corey Vera, Sr.; RB-DB Cam Scott, Sr.; OL-DL Kolby Abbe, Jr.;
OL-DL Brandon Denson, Jr.; WR-DB Cory Chupp, Jr.; WR-DB Anthony
Gonzales, Sr.
- Position changes: none listed
- Returning all-district players: TE Hardin (second team),
DB Wright (second team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
- Returning all-state players: none listed
- Top new players: QB-DB Chaviria, 5-8, 140, So.
- Transfers: none listed
- Team strengths: tradition
- Team weaknesses: numbers, youth, speed
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