District 11 championship could again be decided by one game

SIX-MAN DISTRICT 10

By Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003

One loss may decide the 2003 Six-Man District 11 championship.

The championship came down to just that in 2002, as Panther Creek defeated Blackwell 40-20 in week seven, and finished 6-0 in district play, while the Hornets finished at 5-1.

The Panthers lost seven seniors to graduation, but retained nine lettermen for the 2003 season, with three starters returning on both offense and defense. Four players return as 2002 all-district selections. Head coach Mitch Lee, at Panther Creek since 1994, said this team “will not be as deep as usual, but should be very competitive.” Lee said that while there will be inexperience at the quarterback position, the Panthers should make up for that with their speed and running game.

Blackwell aims to unseat the Panthers and reclaim the district crown it last wore in 2000.

The Hornets saw seven seniors graduate in May, but return 12 lettermen to the 2003 squad. Two returnees were offensive starters and three were starters on defense.

Blackwell will not be incredibly large in either size or numbers, but coach Duane Hyde says his team’s strong points will be quickness and physical strength.

Santa Anna finished third last season with a 4-2 district mark, losing to both Panther Creek and Blackwell. Kyle Hauk, in just his second season as head coach for the Mountaineers, hopes to again compete for the district champion.

Citing experience and speed as the team’s strengths, Hauk is concerned about his team’s overall depth.

If the Mountaineers stay healthy, however, they could be a tough team to beat.

Novice will be fighting to finish above the .500 mark in district play this season.

Novice finished with a 3-3 district record last season and was 6-4 overall. Head coach Charles Bryant feels this year’s group is more mobile than the 2002 squad, a trait he feels is his team’s biggest strength. He is concerned about the size and speed of his athletes, but says that despite being small, they never quit and will “fight for a win every night.”

Paint Rock ended the 2002 season 1-8 overall and 1-5 in district. The Indians retained all but one senior from that squad, so this year’s team brings increased motivation to improve into the 2003 season.

In all, six lettermen will be returning, with two offensive and two defensive starters among them.

Contact sports writer Troy Shockley at shockleyt@reporternews.com or 676-6770.

Blackwell Hornets

• School colors: green and white
• Last year’s record: 9-2 (5-1, second place)
• Last playoff appearance: 2002
• Last district championship: 2000
• Head coach: Duane Hyde
• Career record: 84-33
• Years at current school: 12
• Assistant coaches: Blake Kinney
• Returning and/or probable starters: E-LB Paul Rodriguez, 5-9, 170, Sr.; QB-LB Trevor Hood, 6-0, 150, So.; E Johnny Bryant, 6-1, 175, Sr.; RB-LB Matt Miles, 5-8, 145, Jr.; E Angel Saquedra, 5-11, 200, Jr.; RB-LB Jake Wilkinson, 5-8, 140, So.; E Justin Roland, 6-0, 155, Sr.; e-LB Jeremy McWhorter, 5-10, 160, Jr.; C-E Josh Scott, 5-9, 160, Sr.; SE-S Ryan Ragland, 5-8, 145, Sr.
• Position changes: none listed
• Returning all-district players: LB Rodriguez (second team), RB Miles (second team)
• Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
• Returning all-state players: none listed
• Top new players: RB-LB Harvell, 5-8, 145, Fr.; E Watts, 5-10, 165, Fr.
• Transfers: none listed
• Team strengths: quickness, strength
• Team weaknesses: speed, size, numbers

Novice Hornets

• School colors: blue and white
• Last year’s record: 6-4 (3-3, fourth place)
• Last playoff appearance: 2001
• Last district championship: 1969
• Head coach: Charles Bryant
• Career record: n/a
• Years at current school: fourth
• Assistant coaches: Don Beard
• Returning and/or probable starters: QB-CB Tanner Spikes, 6-2, 175, Sr.; RB-E Joey Blake, 5-9, 165, Sr.; E-CB Brandon Whittington, 6-1, 180, Sr.; C-E Danny Schmidt, 6-2, 155, Sr.; QB-S Justin Vaughn, 5-11, 150, Jr.; B-E J.W. Vaughn, 5-11, 150, Jr.; B-S Robert Henson, 5-9, 150, Jr.; E-CB Jonathan LaMadrid, 5-9, 140, Jr.; E-S Travis Liles, 5-9, 130, So.; B-S Corey Pringle, 5-8, 140, Fr.; C-E Aaron Briley, 5-8, 140, Fr.
• Position changes: none
• Returning all-district players: QB Spikes (second team), RB Blake (second team)
• Returning All-Big Country players: none
• Returning all-state players: none
• Top new players: B Pringle, 5-8, 140, Fr.; E Briley, 5-8, 145, Fr.
• Transfers: none
• Team strengths: mobility
• Team weaknesses: size, speed

Paint Rock Indians

• School colors: maroon and white
• Last year’s record: 1-8 (1-5, fifth place)
• Last playoff appearance: 1987
• Last district championship: n/a
• Head coach: Sam Boyd
• Career record: 14-40
• Years at current school: seventh
• Assistant coaches: Bill Hulsey
• Returning and/or probable starters: RB-LB Patrick Bignall, 5-11, 170, Jr.; QB-CB Brian Plumley, 5-8, 150, Sr.; E-DE Eric Soto, 5-8, 225, Sr.; E-DE Arnold Campos, 5-8, 225, Sr.; C-CB Andy Ruiz, 5-9, 200, So.; RB-S Darrell Rose, 5-7, 135, So.
• Position changes: none listed
• Returning all-district players: none listed
• Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
• Returning all-state players: none listed
• Top new players: none listed
• Transfers: none listed
• Team strengths: work ethic
• Team weaknesses: low number of players, team speed

Panther Creek Panthers

• School colors: black and silver
• Last year’s record: 10-3 (6-0, first place)
• Last playoff appearance: 2002
• Last district championship: 2002
• Head coach: Mitch Lee
• Career record: 179-54-3
• Years at current school: tenth
• Assistant coaches: Monte Moore
• Returning and/or probable starters: QB Eric Halfmann, Jr.; RB Corey Bledsoe, Sr.; E Tyler Corley, Sr.; E Josh Beights, Jr.; RB Troy Hall, Jr.; E Yancy Otts, So.; RB Camden Lowe, So.; E John Meyer, Sr.; RB Rick Mayo, Jr.
• Position changes: none listed
• Returning all-district players: RB Bledsoe (first team), LB Halfmann (first team), K Corley (second team), E Beights (honorable mention)
• Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
• Returning all-state players: none listed
• Top new players: none listed
• Transfers: none listed
• Team strengths: speed, running game, quickness
• Team weaknesses: inexperience at quarterback

Santa Anna Mountaineers

• School colors: black and gold
• Last year’s record: 7-3 (4-2, third place)
• Last playoff appearance: 1990
• Last district championship: 1990
• Head coach: Kyle Hauk
• Career record: 52-52
• Years at current school: second
• Assistant coaches: Bob Kerr, Craig Steele
• Returning and/or probable starters: LB-RB Seth Salazar, 5-7, 135, Sr.; LB-QB Jaryd Salazar, 5-8, 152, Sr.; DE-E Steven Blanton, 5-11, 157, Sr.; LB-E Jeramy McGee, 5-7, 136, Jr.; LB-TB Matthew Vasquez, 5-6, 134, Jr.; LB-RB Ramiro Guerrero, 5-3, 125, Jr.; LB-C Bryan Fellers, 5-19, 144, Jr.; DE-E Jeffery Hale, 5-8, 143, Jr.; NG-C Julio Bernal, 5-8, 210, Jr.; NG-C Zachary Carter, 5-9, 194, Jr.; LB-RB Ryan Guerrero, 5-0, 116, So.; LB-E Ryan Matthews, 5-7, 145, So.; LB-RB Robby Hale, 5-4, 128, So.; DE-QB Patrick Kerr, 6-1, 168, So.
• Position changes: (JV) QB-E Kerr
• Returning all-district players: RB-LB S. Salazar (second team), SB J. Salazar (second team), RB-LB M. Vasquez (honorable mention)
• Returning All-Big Country players: none
• Returning all-state players: none
• Top new players: RB-S Hale, E Kerr, C-LB Fellers
• Transfers: none
• Team strengths: experience, speed
• Team weaknesses: depth

Projected Finish

Six-Man Dist. 11
1. Water Valley
2. Panther Creek
3. Blackwell
4. Santa Anna
5. Novice
6. Veribest
7. Paint Rock