New Steers coach banking on aggressiveness
over experience
DISTRICT 15-A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
First-year head coach Steve Gunter knows
his team is young, but is counting on their aggressiveness to
lead Robert Lee back into the playoffs.
Gunter will be in his first season at Robert Lee, but will
be entering his seventh year as a head coach with a 34-30 career
record.
After reaching the playoffs with a 9-2 overall record and a
4-1 mark in district play over the 2001 season, the Steers finished
with a 5-5 overall mark and 3-2 district record last year. Robert
Lee tied for second place in District 15-A, but lost a tiebreaker
to miss a spot in the postseason.
“We are going to be young and inexperienced,” Gunter
acknowledged, but added that the Steers “should be aggressive
in our hunt to return to the playoffs.”
While not a large team, coach Gunter feels overall team speed
will be the team’s strongest asset this season.
Gunter also said the defensive secondary is the most improved
area over last season.
Despite the fact that they lost seven seniors to graduation,
the Steers will be returning nine lettermen to the lineup this
season. Five offensive starters will be suiting up again this
year, as will seven defensive starters.
Two of those returning players are second-team all-district
selections Cole Flanagan at tight end and Phillip Rangel at defensive
lineman. Flanagan is the top returning rusher and passer for the
Steers, and will again be key for the offense.
While Gunter is concerned about his team’s lack of experience,
he will have several players returning with three seasons of varsity
experience.
Seniors Flanagan, Rangel, Evan Braswell and Brian Abalos return
for the orange and black again this season, and should help provide
leadership to the young team.
Other players returning on defense will Josh Connor and Brandon
Soliz.
Robert Lee has several newcomers to the varsity level that
the coaching staff hopes will become big playmakers. Kevin Howse,
Tim Barnes, Tony Munoz, Sean Barnett, Trey Sawyer, and Eleasar
Vera lead the newcomers.
SCHEDULE
August
29 Cross Plains 8 p.m.
September
5 at Menard 8 p.m.
12 Garden City 8 p.m.
19 at Christoval 8 p.m.
26 Winters 8 p.m.
October
10 at Roscoe* 7:30 p.m.
17 at Miles* 7:30 p.m.
24 Sterling City* 7:30 p.m.
31 at Roby* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 Bronte* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
Robert Lee Steers
- School colors: orange and black
- District: 15-A
- Last year’s record: 5-5 (3-2, tied second place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2001
- Last district championship: 1994
- Head coach: Steve Gunter
- Career record: 34-30
- Years at current school: first
- Assistant coaches: Wayne Alexander, Kerry Gartman, Steve
Kommpa
- Returning and/or probable starters: Cole Flanagan; Phillip
Rangel; Josh Connor; Evan Braswell; Brian Abalos; Brandon Soliz
- Position changes: none
- Returning all-district players: TE Flanagan (second team),
DL Rangel (second team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: none
- Returning all-state players: none
- Top new players: Honse, Barnes, Munoz, Burnett, Sawyer, Vera
- Transfers: none
- Team strengths: speed
- Team weaknesses: size, experience
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