Highland picked in 8

SIX-MAN DISTRICT 8

By Brian Todd
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003

For the Highland Hornets to repeat as champions in District 8, head coach Karry Owens believes his team must stay focused through the good and bad of the season.

“Success will depend on whether or not the team will keep a positive attitude and work ethic no matter what happens throughout the season,” Owens said.

With 11 returning lettermen and five starters coming back on both sides of the ball, experience should not be a problem for a team that went 5-0 in district (7-4 overall) in 2002.

Nipping at the Hornets’ heals will be the 2002 runner-up Ira Bulldogs (9-3 overall, 4-1 district) which will see 17 lettermen return to a team that reached the regional quarterfinals last year.

Ira head coach Toby Goodwin will rely on second-team all-state selections Jake Barnes and Wes Kellner to make the Bulldogs top dog in the district again.

“We should have more quality depth,” Goodwin said, “and that should provide a solid team throughout the entire season.”

Hoping to knock either Highland or Ira off the top of the heap, the Westbrook Wildcats (5-5 overall, 3-2 district) hope to improve upon last year’s third-place.

Third-year head coach Andrew Hannon said his team’s dedication and sacrifice has been impressive, but with only 10 returning lettermen and two starters back on both sides of the ball, the Wildcats will need to mature in a hurry.

With good ball handlers and receivers coming back, head coach Victor Garcia believes his Loraine Bulldogs are poised to rise in the ranks of District 8.

The Bulldogs will return six starts on offense and defense from last year’s fourth-place team (2-8 overall, 2-3 district). Garcia hopes that experience can put Loraine in the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

After finishing 2002 in fifth place, the Trent Gorillas (2-8 overall, 1-4 district) are hoping to bounce back to playoff form. Second-year head coach Matt Valadez will rely on returning all-district second teamers David Robertson and Jeb Harwell to help lead an inexperienced team.

If head coach Don Jones hopes to return his Hermleigh Cardinals (0-8 overall, 0-5 district) to prominence, his young team will need to overcome a tradition of missing the playoffs that is older than the players themselves.

“It is just difficult overcoming a very long losing streak,” Jones said. “If we can win a game early, it will help tremendously.”

Hermleigh Cardinals

• School colors: red and white
• Last year’s record: 0-8 (0-5, last place)
• Last playoff appearance: 1978
• Last district championship: 1978
• Head coach: Don Jones
• Career record: 103-71
• Years at current school: second
• Assistant coaches: Raymond House
• Returning and/or probable starters: E Dustin Williamson, 5-10, 180, Sr.; E-CB Justin Williamson, 5-9, 160, Sr.; C-NG Justin Kelley, 6-1, 240, Jr.; E Karl Smith, 5-9, 135, Jr.; RB-E Robby Anderson, 5-10, 155, So.; RB-CB Keenon Garcia, 5-8, 145, So.; QB-CB Jonathon McClure, 5-8, 145, So.; E Frank Smith, 5-5, 165, So.; E Georgeanna Smith, 5-2, 120, So.; E Nick Eaton, 6-0, 220, Fr.; G-NG Y.J. Fuentes, 5-9, 180, Fr.; G-E Brian Molina, 5-9, 185, Fr.; RB-CB Steve Hembree, 5-4, 120, Fr.; C-NG Mike Barrera, 5-7, 180, Fr.; G-NG Jose Granados, 5-10, 245, So.
• Position changes: none listed
• Returning all-district players: none
• Returning All-Big Country players: none
• Returning all-state players: none
• Top new players: none listed
• Transfers: none listed
• Team strengths: strength, good off-season
• Team weaknesses: young in skill positions

Highland Hornets

• School colors: blue and white
• Last year’s record: 7-4 (5-0, first place)
• Last playoff appearance: 2002
• Last district championship: 2002
• Head coach: Karry Owens
• Career record: 100-70-3
• Years at current school: eleventh
• Assistant coaches: Kyle Jeffrey, Monte Richburg, Shea Baucom
• Returning and/or probable starters: TE-DE Bosco Covington, 5-8, 185, Sr.; WB-LB Marcos Calderon, 5-11, 175, Sr.; TE-LB Jarrod Plemons, 5-10, 160, Sr.; C-DE Corey Gillespie, 5-7, 190, Jr.; TE-DE Cole Fullwood, 6-1, 190, Jr.; C-DE Josh Underhill, 5-9, 205, Jr.; QB-S Robin Dunn, 5-9, 130, Jr.; QB-S Scott Baxter, 5-9, 135, Jr.; RB-LB David Padilla, 5-10, 160, Jr.; TE-DE Dakota Dean, 5-11, 165, Jr.; WB-S Jonathan Morquecho, 5-7, 120, So.; RB-LB Ryan Adkins, 5-8, 135, So.; C-LB Josh Bruns, 5-8, 140, So.; TE-DE Justin McVey, 5-7, 120, So.; QB-S Eric Emerson, 6-4, 160, So.; TE-DE Matt Gaither, 5-9, 175, So.; QB-LB Ty Basye, 5-8, 125, Fr.; TE-LB Ollie Wilburn, 5-8, 135, Fr.; C-DE Tyler Martin, 5-7, 210, Fr.; RB-LB Robert Bruns, 5-9, 160, Fr.; TE-DE Scott Cunningham, 5-6, 135, Fr.; WB-S Jason Allen, 5-6, 110, Fr.
• Position changes: none
• Returning all-district players: FB-LB Calderon (first team), LB Padilla (first team), RB Padilla (second team), TE Covington (first team), LB Covington (second team), C-DE Gillespie (first team)
• Returning All-Big Country players: Calderon
• Returning all-state players: none
• Top new players: QB Basye, 5-8, 125, Fr.; RB Bruns, 5-9, 160, Fr.
• Transfers: none
• Team strengths: quickness, experience
• Team weaknesses: quarterback, defensive line, depth

Ira Bulldogs

• School colors: black and orange
• Last year’s record: 9-3 (4-1, second place)
• Last playoff appearance: 2002
• Last district championship: 2001
• Head coach: Toby Goodwin
• Career record: 38-17
• Years at current school: sixth
• Assistant coaches: Randy Jones
• Returning and/or probable starters: E Jake Barnes, 6-3, 220, Sr.; RB-S Jess Wall, 5-7, 150, Sr.; C-E Brandon Graves, 6-1, 230, Sr.; RB-E Roy Torres, 6-0, 210, Sr.; RB-S Bubba Walker, 5-9, 130, Sr.; E Coby Appleton, 6-0, 180, Sr.; RB-S Justin Taylor, 5-9, 135, Jr.; RB-E Bryson Higgins, 6-0, 160, Jr.; E Brandon Crane, 6-3, 200, Jr.; E Cody Lomax, 5-10, 250, Jr.; C-E Kevin Graves, 5-10, 170, Jr.; E Adam Rivera, 5-19, 155, So.; RB-LB Caleb Guiterrez, 5-10, 165, So.; RB-S Kerry Jamison, 5-8, 140, So.; RB-LB Joel Lollar, 5-8, 150, So.; E Jordan Lollar, 5-8, 150, So.; QB-LB Wes Kellner, 6-1, 170, So.; E Chris Dobbs, 5-9, 130, So.; S Corbin Clements, 6-0, 130, Fr.; E-LB Adrian Paron, 5-9, 140, Fr.; C-E Dale Cink, 5-10, 150, Fr.
• Position changes: none
• Returning all-district players: OE-DE Barnes (first team), QB-K Kellner (first team), OE Wall (first team)
• Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
• Returning all-state players: Barnes (second team), Kellner (second team)
• Top new players: none
• Transfers: none
• Team strengths: depth, experience
• Team weaknesses: team speed

Loraine Bulldogs

• School colors: black and gold
• Last year’s record: 2-8 (2-3, fourth place)
• Last playoff appearance: 1994
• Last district championship: 1994
• Head coach: Victor Garcia
• Career record: 22-28
• Years at current school: fourth
• Assistant coaches: Rick Lucas
• Returning and/or probable starters: OE-S George Davila, 6-0, 145, Sr.; C-DE Jose Delgado, 5-8, 145, Sr.; QB-MB Ryan Lucas, 5-10, 175, Sr.; C-DE D.J. Vanderpool, 5-7, 180, Sr.; RB-S Anthony Esquivel, 5-7, 145, Jr.; FB-LB Steven Woddell, 5-11, 160, Jr.; OE-DE Michael Walker, 5-11, 150, So.
• Position changes: none
• Returning all-district players: SB Lucas (first team), RB Esquivel (first team), SR Davila (second team)
• Returning All-Big Country players: none
• Returning all-state players: none
• Top new players: OE-LB Marcus Williams, 5-8, 130, So.; OE-LB Miguel Acevedo, 6-0, 160, Fr.; OE-DE Levi Hester, 6-0, 145, Fr.
• Transfers: none
• Team strengths: quickness, good ball handlers and receivers, great team attitude
• Team weaknesses: depth, speed

Trent Gorillas

• School colors: blue and gold
• Last year’s record: 2-8 (1-4, fifth place)
• Last playoff appearance: 2001
• Last district championship: 2001
• Head coach: Matt Valdez
• Career record: 3-17
• Years at current school: second
• Assistant coaches: Jeremy Daniel
• Returning and/or probable starters: RB-LB David Robertson, 5-11, 195, Sr.; E-S Jeb Harwell, 5-8, 145, Sr.; E-DE Sam Thompson, 5-6, 185, Sr.; E-DE Philip Orell, 5-6, 185, Sr.; C-DE John Lopez, 5-8, 195, Sr.; E-LB Donny Mitchell, 5-11, 165, Sr.; QB-LB Derrick Chappa, 5-11, 165, Jr.; E-S Matt Jordan, 5-9, 150, Jr.; QB-LB Bubba Gibson, 6-2, 145, Jr.; E-DE Ruben Quintero, 5-9, 150, Jr.; E-DE James Grissom, 6-1, 175, So.; C-DE Jerrad Batten, 6-2, 260, So.; E-S Cory Olson, 5-5, 140, So.
• Position changes: none listed
• Returning all-district players: LB Robertson (second team), E Harwell (second team)
• Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
• Returning all-state players: none listed
• Top new players: RB Brown, 5-7, 145, Fr.
• Transfers: Mitchell, 5-11, 165, Sr., Abilene High
• Team strengths: team unity, young, coachable
• Team weaknesses: young, inexperienced

Westbrook Wildcats

• School colors: blue and white
• Last year’s record: 5-5 (3-2, third place)
• Last playoff appearance: 2001
• Last district championship: 1997
• Head coach: Andrew Hannon
• Career record: 20-11
• Years at current school: fourth
• Assistant coaches: DC-L Marcelino Chavez
• Returning and/or probable starters: WR-FS Logan Anselmi, Jr.; C-DE Joseph Barboza, So.; FB-LB Trey Chavez, So.; FB-FS Jose Diaz, Fr.; TE-LB Craig Ginkinger, So.; TE-DE Trevor Grout, So.; RB-LB Josiah Hannon, So.; TE-DE Jordan Johnson, Jr.; QB-FS Jared Matlock, Jr.; C-DE Devin Minear, Fr.; C-DE Chris Molina, Jr.; OG-LB Cory Morton, So.; OG-DE Joe Ponce, So.; TE-DE Levi Trimble, So.; QB-LB Jordan Truelove, So.; TE-DE Logan Truelove, 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: none listed
• Team weaknesses: none listed

Projected Finish

Six-Man Dist. 8
1. Highland
2. Ira
3. Loraine
4. Westbrook
5. Trent
6. Hermleigh