Mavs depending on defense, skill positions
for playoff run
DISTRICT 8-2A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
Now that Eastland knows what to expect
from its District 8-2A opponents, the Mavericks expect even more
improvement in the 2003 season and will have a good possibility
of making a playoff run.
Two years ago, the Mavs finished 1-9 overall and 0-7 in District
7-3A, but were moved to District 8-2A last season. During that
campaign, Eastland improved to 5-6 overall and 3-2 to place third
in district play.
Fourth-year coach Mike Schlentz is optimistic about his team’s
chances, but puts heavy pressure on his defense, which returns
four starters.
“Our defensive line will determine out success,”
Schlentz said.
Senior John Williams will be shouldering much of that pressure.
Williams, a 6-0, 210-pound linebacker, was a first-team selection
to the all-district team last season with 65 unassisted tackles.
Williams will also help on the offensive side of the ball, moving
from fullback to tight end.
Junior defensive back Clay Cleveland will be back in the secondary,
and should again be a force opposing quarterbacks and receivers
will have to deal with. Cleveland tallied 37 unassisted tackles
in 2002, and joined Williams on the all-district first team.
The offensive skill positions are in good shape, too, with
both Billy Bob Orsagh and Corey Bullock returning.
Orsagh threw for 1,747 yards, completing 127-of-262 passes
for a completion percentage of 48.5. The first-team all-district
QB threw 22 touchdowns as well, with 11 interceptions. The junior
was also named to the Abilene Reporter-News All-Big Country team.
Freeing up the passing game will be Bullock, who racked up
989 yards on 191 carries, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. Bullock
is the fourth player returning to the Mavericks who was a first-team
selection to the all-district squad.
Schlentz’s only concern for this year is a lack of depth.
He said the Mavericks need to stay healthy if they expect to make
it through the season and into the playoffs. With the experience
he will have at the skill positions, however, if Eastland does
manage to go injury-free, other Class 2A teams had better be ready
for a quality playoff contender.
SCHEDULE
n August
29 at Jacksboro 7:30 p.m.
n September
5 DeLeon 7:30 p.m.
13 Jim Ned@ 10:30 a.m.
19 at Bangs 7:30 p.m.
26 at Clyde 7:30 p.m.
n October
10 Cisco* 7:30 p.m.
17 at Anson* 7:30 p.m.
24 Hawley* 7:30 p.m.
31 Haskell* 7:30 p.m.
n November
7 at Stamford* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
@ Game will be played at Brownwood
Eastland Mavericks
- School colors: red and black
- District: 8-2A
- Last year’s record: 5-6 (3-2, third place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2002
- Last district championship: 1989
- Head coach: Mike Schlentz
- Career record: 6-24
- Years at current school: fourth
- Assistant coaches: B.J. Carlton, Mike Kinslow, Ricky Taylor,
Earl Gandy, Dick Anthony, Bobby Blackwell
- Returning and/or probable starters: QB-S Billy Bob Orsagh,
Jr.; RB-C Corey Bullock, Sr.; FB-NG Tip Stephenson, Jr.; WB-LB
Clay Cleveland, Jr.; SE-C Dane Johnson, Jr.; TE-LB John Williams,
Sr.; G-DE Robert Vasquez, Sr.; T-LB Buck Wheat, Sr.; C-DT J.R.
Pennington, Sr.; G-DE Ben Bible, Sr.; WB-C T.J. Felts, So.; SE-C
Manny Folson, So.; SE-C Joe Alan Martinez, Sr.; SE-DE Gino Gomez,
Sr.; SE-DE Brent Holly, Sr.; G-DE Eric Kincheloe, Jr.
- Position changes: G-C Pennington, F-TE Williams
- Returning all-district players: QB Orsagh (first team), RB
Bullock (first team), DB Cleveland (first team), LB Williams
(first team) DE Vasquez (second team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: Orsagh
- Returning all-state players: none listed
- Top new players: RB Weaver, Jr.; OL Kincheloe, Jr.; OL Wheat,
Sr.; WR Johnson, Jr.; DB Felts, So.; DB Folsom, So.
- Transfers: none listed
- Team strengths: skill positions, speed
- Team weaknesses: depth
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