Veteran leadership could make Roby
a contender
DISTRICT 15-A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
Last season they were experienced; this
year, they are seasoned veterans.
Roby head coach Chris Burtch, who returned 13 lettermen in 2002,
will be seeing 16 lettermen returning for the 2003 campaign, including
eight starters on each side of the ball.
The fourth-year coach feels Roby’s experience should bring
positive results.
“We have a good group of returning starters and lettermen,
and believe their experience will help with a tough non-district
and district schedule,” he said.
“We ended the year with confidence and hope to carry that
over (into this season).”
Josh Sepeda should do a lot of the carrying for the Lions,
returning to the lineup after being named as a first-team running
back on the all-district team in 2002. The senior, who racked
up nearly 1,500 yards last season, was also named all-district
as a linebacker on the second team, and a utility back on the
All-Big Country team. Sepeda, 6-0, 170 pounds, will be moving
from the defensive line to the secondary, starting this year as
a safety in addition to running back.
The line shouldn’t be hurt by the move, with three defensive
standouts also be back for Roby.
All-Big Country selection Stuart Posey, a 6-0, 180-pound senior
linebacker, had 141 tackles last season; first-team all-district
junior Matthew Pippin, a 5-8, 160-pound lineman, had 102 tackles,
and fellow lineman Judd Bond, a 6-0, 240-pound senior, added 86.
Bond was also named to the all-district team at both offensive
and defensive line.
J.W. Chick will again be leading the offense for the Pride.
Chick was named to the second-team all-district squad at quarterback
in 2002, as well as a first-team linebacker.
Burtch said this year’s team is stronger than last season’s
and he is also pleased about the depth of his roster.
The only concern the coach has is the team’s overall speed.
Though, with the kind of line the Lions should field, and the
veteran leadership the players in key positions should provide,
the rest of District 15-A should be worried.
SCHEDULE
August
29 at Hawley 7:30 p.m.
September
5 Rising Star 7:30 p.m.
12 Knox City 7:30 p.m.
19 Throckmorton 7:30 p.m.
26 at Cisco 7:30 p.m.
October
10 Miles* 7:30 p.m.
17 Bronte* 7:30 p.m.
24 at Roscoe* 7:30 p.m.
31 Robert Lee* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 at Sterling City* 7:30 p.m.
* District games
* District games
Roby Lions
- School colors: red and black
- District: 15-A
- Last year’s record: 6-7 (3-2, second place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2002
- Last district championship: 1996
- Head coach: Chris Burtch
- Career record: 39-47
- Years at current school: fourth
- Assistant coaches: Lonnie Hines, Chris Bearden, Paul Page,
David Acevedo, Benny Lockhart
- Returning and/or probable starters: RB-DE Daniel Day, 5-11,
175, Sr.; TE-LB Stuart Posey, 6-0, 180, Sr.; OT-DT Judd Bond,
6-0, 240, Sr.; OT-DT Andrew Haley, 6-4, 270, Sr.; OT-DT Wes Terry,
6-2, 230, Sr.; OT-DT Brandon Hampton, 5-10, 230, Sr.; OT-DT Daniel
Castor, 6-0, 220, Sr.; OT-LB Cody Reed, 5-7, 170, Sr.; RB-FS
Josh Sepeda, 6-0, 170, Sr.; OL-DE Matt McKay, 6-0, 175, Sr.;
WR-CB Skyler Terry, 5-11, 140, Sr.; WR-CB Shane Stuart, 6-3,
150, Sr.; WR-DE Cory Alldredge, 6-0, 170, Sr.; QB-LB J.W. Chick,
6-0, 150, Jr.; WR-CB Jance Morris, 6-2, 160, Jr.; OT-DT Elijah
Shaw, 6-6, 350, Jr.; OT-DT Hunter Stuart, 5-10, 185, Jr.; RB-DT
Matthew Pippen, 5-8, 160, Jr.; TE-DE Josh Moffett, 6-2, 160,
Jr.; RB-CB Frankie Gonzales, 5-11, 150, Jr.; WR-CB Raymond Barrera,
6-1, 140, Jr.; RB-LB Joe Posey, 5-10, 160, So.
- Position changes: LB-S Sepeda
- Returning all-district players: RB Sepeda (first team), LB
Sepeda (second team), LB Posey (first team), OL-DL Bond (first
team) DL Haley (second team), LB Chick (first team), QB Chick
(second team), RB Day (second team), DL Pippin (first team),
K Moffett (second team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: UB Sepeda, LB Posey
- Returning all-state players: none
- Top new players: OL-DL Terry; RB-DE Alldredge; OL-DL Stuart
- Transfers: RB-DE Alldredge, 6-0, 170, Sr., Sweetwater
- Team strengths: experience, depth
- Team weaknesses: speed
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