Skill & experience key to Jim Ned’s
playoff dreams
DISTRICT 9-2A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
It’s not a deep team this year
in Tuscola, but it is one filled with experience at the skill
positions, which could lead to another fine season for the Jim
Ned Indians.
Fifth-year coach Brad McCoy welcomes back 16 lettermen from
2002, and five offensive and defensive starters from a team that
finished 8-2 overall and 3-2 in District 9-2A.
Top among that group is quarterback Colt McCoy. A 6-3, 175-pound
junior, McCoy threw for 1,604 yards last season, following a 2,000-plus-yard
season his freshman year at the helm of the junior varsity squad.
McCoy, an all-Big Country selection and second-team all-district
quarterback, completed 94-of-172 passes for 19 touchdowns in 2002
and added 213 yards on the ground on 49 carries, scoring five
touchdowns.
McCoy will also have two big targets returning at wide receiver
in Cam Holson and Chase Cook, both first-team all-district selections.
Holson is a 6-5, 185-pound junior, while the senior Cook enters
the season at 5-9, 150.
Running back Terry Smith, an all-district nomination for his play
in the secondary, had 76 carries for 590 yards and five touchdowns
in 2002 and again will play both ways for the Indians.
First-team all-district teammate Justin Odell rejoins him in
the secondary. Odell led the Tribe with 72 assisted tackles, 14
solo tackles, four quarterback sacks and four interceptions last
year.
McCoy said the team has set high standards for itself and says
that the desire it shows is one of the team’s biggest strengths,
along with speed and experience.
“They expect to win and play to win,” he said.
If the Indians can stay healthy, they will be a top contender
for the district crown; something they haven’t accomplished
since 1973.
SCHEDULE
August
29 Wall 7:30 p.m.
September
5 at Coahoma 7:30 p.m.
13 vs Eastland x 10:30 a.m.
19 at Clyde 7:30 p.m.
October
3 Stamford 7:30 p.m.
10 Goldthwaite* 7:30 p.m.
17 Coleman* 7:30 p.m.
24 at Bangs* 7:30 p.m.
31 Winters* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 at San Saba* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
x at Brownwood
Jim Ned Indians
- School colors: red and white
- District: 9-2A
- Last year’s record: 8-2 (3-2, tied second place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2001
- Last district championship: 1973
- Head coach: Brad McCoy
- Career record: 87-51-1
- Years at current school: fifth
- Assistant coaches: Doug Handley, Vince Lavallee, Bill Roark,
Chris Holson, Jay Wise, Jeff WIlliamson
n Returning and/or probable starters: TE-DE John Starnes, 6-3,
205, Jr.; WR-DB Tim Ellison, 5-6, 135, Sr.; T Jesus Torrez, 6-0,
185, Sr.; G-DE Jarred Barrier, 6-2, 200, Sr.; C Matt Gleason,
6-0, 175, Jr.; G-T Sean Hoag, 6-1, 230, Sr.; T-E Garrett Gwin,
6-0, 175, Jr.; WR-DB Chase Cook, 5-9, 150, Sr.; QB-DB Colt McCoy,
6-3, 175, Jr.; RB-DB Terry Smith, 6-1, 170, Sr.; WR-DB Justin
Odell, 5-9, 165, Sr.; WR-DB Cam Holson, 6-5, 185, Jr.; T-E Randy
Parrish, 6-3, 230, Sr.; FB-T Eugene Villanueva, 5-9, 230, Sr.;
T-E Sage Watson, 5-9, 175, Sr.; FB-LB Jace Yarbrough, 5-10, 165,
Jr.; FB-LB Josh Lovelady, 5-9, 180, Jr.; LB Matt Blanton, 5-9,
180, Jr.; LB Shane Raymond, 5-9, 165, Sr.; WR-DB Zach Slew, 5-11,
170, Jr.; WR-Sec. Colby Dean, 5-11, 170, Jr.; FB-LB Mark Henderson,
5-8, 180, Jr.
- Position changes: none listed
- Returning all-district players: WR Holson (first team), WR
Cook (first team), Sec. Smith (first team), Sec. Odell (first
team), QB McCoy (second team), DT Villanueva (second team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: QB McCoy
- Returning all-state players: none listed
- Top new players: LB Lovelady, 5-8, 185, Jr.; LB Blanton,
5-9, 185, Jr.
- Transfers: none listed
- Team strengths: speed, experience, desire
- Team weaknesses: depth
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