Merkel seniors working to be first
playoff team since 1963
DISTRICT 3-3A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
The Merkel Badgers haven’t played
past the second week of November in nearly four decades.
The 25 seniors on this year’s team will be fighting to
make the 2003 season the first postseason appearance for the District
3-3A school since 1963.
The experience-heavy squad, according to fourth-year coach
David Flowers, has both the desire and ability to be the group
that finally breaks into the playoffs.
There are only five players on the preseason roster who are
not seniors, all of those are juniors.
“(We) will have 20-plus seniors that have been successful
throughout their high school career,” Flowers said. “They
push each other and are very competitive as a team.”
The defense should be the strongest aspect of the Badgers this
season, with seven returning starters expected to be back. Three
starters will return to the offense.
Twin brothers Justin and Brandon Head will again be anchoring
the defense for Merkel in their senior season.
Brandon, 6-3, 250 pounds, was a first-team all-district selection,
an Abilene Reporter-News All-Big Country team member and
a second-team all-state player for his work at defensive tackle.
He totaled 111 tackles and six quarterback sacks for the Badgers
in 2002.
Justin, 6-3, 240 pounds, tallied 100 tackles and 10 quarterback
sacks. He was selected as a first-team all-district player as
well as an All-Big Country selection.
Christopher Hart, who led the team last season with 130 tackles
— 66 of them solo and eight of them resulted in a loss of
yards — returns on defense. Hart, 6-0, 185 pounds, added
three quarterback sacks and two interceptions, returning one for
a touchdown.
The senior was named to the all-district team as a first-team
linebacker and was the third member of the Badgers to be selected
as an All-Big Country player. Hart also helped out offensively,
netting 114 yards on 19 carries.
Chris Cobb will be back at the helm for Merkel for his senior
year. Cobb, 5-11, 175 pounds, completed 65-of-120 attempts for
1,083 yards and nine touchdowns in 2002 with just four interceptions
on the year.
SCHEDULE
August
29 at Monahans 8 p.m.
September
5 Clyde 8 p.m.
12 at Ballinger 7:30 p.m.
19 Post 7:30 p.m.
October
3 at Breckenridge 7:30 p.m.
10 Seminole* 7:30 p.m.
17 at Snyder* 7:30 p.m.
24 Denver City* 7:30 p.m.
31 at Sweetwater* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 Lamesa* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
Merkel Badgers
- School colors: purple and gold
- District: 3-3A
- Last year’s record: 6-4 (2-3, fourth place)
- Last playoff appearance: 1963
- Last district championship: 1966
- Head coach: David Flowers
- Career record: 60-27-1
- Years at current school: fourth
- Assistant coaches: Keith Mullins, Steven Flowers, Jeff Smith,
Lyle Leong, Tim Cope, John Martinez, Ryan Holmes, Jimmy Bellah
- Returning and/or probable starters: FL-C Aaron Walla, 5-9,
175, Sr.; QB-SS Chris Cobb, 5-11, 175, Sr.; TE-C Stephen Russel,
6-1, 175, Sr.; TB-DE Brady Rutledge, 5-8, 170, Sr.; TE-LB R.D.
Perry, 6-1, 185, Sr.; FL-C Jerrad Knight, 5-11, 170, Sr.; FB-LB
Christopher Hart, 6-0, 185, Sr.; OT-DT Justin Head, 6-3, 240,
Sr.; OT-DT Brandon Head, 6-3, 250, Sr.; DG-NG Weyland Cooley,
5-11, 220, Sr.; C-DT Daniel McDuff, 6-0, 190, Sr.; NG Derrick
Holden, 5-8, 180, Sr.; OG-DT Randal Burfiend, 5-10, 180, Sr.;
TE-DE Brad Campbell, 5-11, 175, Sr.; OG-DT Juan Cerna, 6-0, 190,
Sr.; OG-DT Tim Wilson, 6-3, 245, Sr.; WR-FS Brad Elliot, 5-10,
155, Sr.; OT-LB Buddy Shipman, 6-0, 185, Sr.; OG Joe Flores,
5-9, 175, Sr.; WR-C Dustin Jenkins, 5-9, 160, Sr.; WR-DE Wayne
Jowers, 5-11, 175, Sr.; TE-C Matt Murdock, 6-0, 170, Sr.; FB-LB
Sammy Prieto, 5-9, 180, Sr.; RB-C Timmy Wiebe, 6-0, 165, Sr.;
RB-C Cody Lambert, 5-10, 175, Jr.; OT-NG Dale Dentler, 5-11,
205, Jr.; OT-LB Wade Lawson, 6-0, 200, Jr.; C-LB John Rouse,
6-0, 185, Jr.; FL-C Chris Walker, 5-8, 150, Jr.
- Position changes: none listed
- Returning all-district players: Rec. Walla (first team),
DB Walla (second team), LB Hart (first team), DT B. Head (first
team), DT J. Head (first team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: B. Head, J. Head, Hart
- Returning all-state players: DT B. Head (second team)
- Top new players: none listed
- Transfers: RB-DB Lambert, 5-11, 180, Henrietta
- Team strengths: strong, quick, attitude
- Team weaknesses: experience on the offensive line
|
