New coach optimistic after strong offseason
for Ranger
DISTRICT 14-A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
Playing under its third head coach in
as many seasons, the Ranger football team is hoping to turn offseason
success into regular season wins.
Russell Joy will take over the reigns for the Bulldogs in 2003
season his first job as a head coach.
Last season Ranger played to an overall record of 5-5 and a
district record of 4-2, good enough for third place in 14-A under
coach Gary Durham.
Joy is excited about the chances his team will have in the
upcoming season, saying he saw many areas of improvement in the
off-season.
“They made huge gains in the areas of strength and agility,”
Joy said. “They also had some leaders emerge and began to
work as one unit.”
While concerned about the depth of the Bulldogs’ roster,
Joy said that the team’s greatest asset will be its strength
and overall quickness.
Twelve seniors are gone from the 2002 squad, but 11 lettermen
are expected to return to the lineup, with five starters on offense
and six on defense.
Five members of the 2003 Bulldogs will play their third season
at the varsity level and should give the team valuable leadership.
The group, all seniors, is Milton Monroe, Brady Alexander,
Keaton Kelley, David Alexander and Jason Fuentes.
Monroe, 6-1, 185 pounds, will play tight end and defensive
end; Alexander, 5-11, 240, will play offensive guard and defensive
tackle; Kelley, 5-9, 160, will play at wide receiver and defensive
back; Alexander, 5-11, 240, will suit up as an offensive guard
and defensive tackle; and Fuentes is a 6-1, 240-pound offensive
and defensive tackle.
Coach Joy is aiming to take the Bulldogs back to the postseason
following a two-year drought. Ranger hasn’t played past the
second weekend in November since 2000, when it also won the district
championship.
Joy faces his first test as head coach under the lights Friday
night, when his Bulldogs take on Cisco in the season opener. The
first district challenge will come against May, also scheduled
at home, Sept. 26.
SCHEDULE
August
29 Cisco 7:30 p.m.
September
12 Millsap 7:30 p.m.
19 at Covington 7:30 p.m.
26 May* 7:30 p.m.
October
3 at Throckmorton* 7:30 p.m.
10 at Tolar* 7:30 p.m.
17 Baird* 7:30 p.m.
24 at Gorman* 7:30 p.m.
31 Rising Star* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 at Cross Plains* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
Ranger Bulldogs
- School colors: maroon and white
- District: 14-A
- Last year’s record: 5-5 (4-2, third place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2000
- Last district championship: 2000
- Head coach: Russell Joy
- Career record: 0-0
- Years at current school: first
- Assistant coaches: Rick Ragsdale, James Teter, Colt Power,
Bruce Goodwin
- Returning and/or probable starters: TE-DE Milton Monroe,
6-1, 185, Sr.; C-LB Brady McCormick, 5-11, 180, Sr.; OT-DT Jason
Fuentes, 6-1, 240, Sr.; OG-DT David Alexander, 5-11, 240, Sr.;
WR-DB Marcus Moreno, 5-9, 150, Sr.; WR-DB Keaton Kelley, 5-9,
160, Sr.; WR-DE Corkey Dossey, 6-2, 170, Sr.; WR-DB Nick Williams,
6-1, 165, Jr.; WR-DB Monty Monroe, 5-11, 160, Jr.; OT-DE Jared
Calvert, 6-3, 335, Jr.; RB-LB Justin Teter, 6-0, 170, Jr.; OG-DT
Andrew Lopez, 5-10, 225, Jr.; WR-DB Vishal Patel, 6-2, 175, Sr.;
TE-DE J.J. Russell, 6-0, 165, Sr.; TE-DE B.K. Dempsey, 5-11,
160, Jr.; WR-DB Jesse Velos, 5-10, 150, Jr.; RB-LB Jarrel Moreno,
5-9, 175, So.; WR-DB Julian Moreno, 5-10, 155, So.
- Position changes: none
- Returning all-district players: none
- Returning All-Big Country players: none
- Returning all-state players: none
- Top new players: OT-DE Calvert, 6-3, 225, Jr.; OG-DT Lopez,
5-10, 225; WR-DB Pate, 6-2, 175, Sr.
- Transfers: none
- Team strengths: quickness, strength
- Team weaknesses: depth
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