Rochester, Benjamin aim for playoff
berths
SIX-MAN DISTRICT 9
By
Brian Todd
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
If Rochester plans to climb up the District
9 Six-Man standings in 2003, increased team strength and the players’
familiarity with head coach Wayne Henderson’s system will
help the Steers compete.
Meanwhile, the Benjamin Mustangs are looking for a fresh start
under first-year head coach Danny Copeland.
Though picked near the bottom of the district, the Steers have
several key players with experience who could surprise their foes,
beginning at home Sept. 5 against Wilson.
Dewayne McGhee, a second-team all-district selection at running
back and defensive end, returns for his senior season after racking
up 981 yards rushing — averaging more than 10 yards per carry
— and 15 touchdowns on offense and 87 tackles with two interceptions
and two touchdowns on defense in 2002.
McGhee will join Ash Self in the backfield in 2003. Self threw
for 393 yards on 18 of 50 passing attempts in 2002.
He also totaled 71 tackles, four interceptions and a touchdown
on defense last year.
Henderson is hoping his eight returning lettermen — four
on each side of the ball — will use last year as a learning
experience and a stepping stone to improve upon 2002’s 2-8
record (2-3 in district for fourth place).
While the Steers hope familiarity breeds victories, the Mustangs
are looking for a fresh start under Copeland.
All three Benjamin wins in 2002 came in district play, earning
the Mustangs second place in 2002 (3-8 overall, 3-2 in district)
and a spot in the playoffs.
Three all-district players, including all-state honorable mention
defensive lineman Ricky Acevedo, return for the ‘Stangs.
Acevedo, a first-team all-district selection at spread back and
defensive line and a second-team pick at quarterback, should again
lead the team on both sides of the ball. He passed for 1,180 yards
in 2002.
Tyler Collins, a second-team all-district pick at offensive
end, and Matthew Cartwright, honorable mention all-district center,
are two of the seniors Copeland hopes will help provide the senior
leadership his depth-plagued team needs.
“With senior leadership in Acevedo, Collins, (wide receiver-defensive
end Anthony) Lamb and Propps, this team could make a serious run
at the top spot in the district,” Copeland said.
The Mustangs will return eight lettermen — three starters
on each side of the ball — when they open their season against
the Valley View junior varsity on Aug. 29.
Benjamin Mustangs
- School colors: purple and white
- District: 9-A
- Last year’s record: 3-8 (3-2, second place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2002
- Last district championship: 1978
- Head coach: Danny Copeland
- Career record: 0-0
- Years at current school: first
- Assistant coaches: none listed
- Returning and/or probable starters: QB-LB Ricky Acevedo,
6-0, 180, Sr.; Rec.-E Tyler Collins, 6-2, 180, Sr.; Rec.-LB Anthony
Lamb, 6-0, 190, Sr.; QB-S Chance Propps, 6-0, 170, Sr.; C-E Matthew
Cartwright, 6-3, 180, Jr.; QB-S Seth Kuehler, 6-0, 160, Jr.;
E-S Thomas Acevedo, 5-8, 150, So.; C-E Sean Wilson, 5-8, 170,
So.; LB Kyle Wilson, 5-8 150, Fr.
- Position changes: none listed
- Returning all-district players: SB-DL Acevedo (first team),
QB Acevedo (second team), OE Collins (second team), C Cartwright
(honorable mention)
- Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
- Returning all-state players: DL Acevedo (honorable mention)
- Top new players: RB Clower, 5-9, 160, Jr.; QB Kuehler, 6-0,
150, Jr.
- Transfers: none listed
- Team strengths: playoff experience
- Team weaknesses: numbers
Rochester Steers
- School colors: purple and gold
- District: 9-A
- Last year’s record: 2-8 (2-3, fourth place)
- Last playoff appearance: 1999
- Last district championship: 1998
- Head coach: Wayne Henderson
- Career record: 3-16
- Years at current school: third
- Assistant coaches: none listed
- Returning and/or probable starters: RB-DE Dewayne McGhee,
6-1, 185, Sr.; RB-LB Gilbert Saucedo, 5-6, 165, Sr.; QB-LB Ash
Self, 6-0, 190, Sr.; RB-DE Daniel Early, 6-0, 175, Sr.; E-NG
Andy Seballos, 5-9, 220, Sr.; E-NG Chris Taylor, 6-0, 190, Sr.;
C-NG Marcus Williams, 5-11, 260, Jr.; RB-LB Jeffrey Caldwell,
6-0, 135, Jr.; E-NG Michael Reyna, 5-9, 150, Jr.; E Jeffrey Rodriquez,
5-10, 210, So.; E-NG Chris Carrasco, 5-7, 245, So.; QB-LB Colton
Pittman, 5-7, 140, Fr.; C-NG Gerrardo Torres, 5-6, 190, Fr.;
E-NG Mark Reyna, 5-7, 135, Fr.
- Position changes: none listed
- Returning all-district players: DE McGhee (second team),
RB McGhee (second team), P McGhee (first team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
- Returning all-state players: none listed
- Top new players: RB-LB Caldwell, 6-0, 145, Jr.; LB Pittman,
5-4, 135, Fr.; RB Earl, 6-0, 150
- Transfers: none listed
- Team strengths: team under same system for two years, stronger,
key position players returning
- Team weaknesses: speed, numbers
Projected Finish
Six-Man Dist. 9
1. Chillicothe
1. Guthrie
3. Vernon Northside
4. Harrold
5. Rochester
6. Benjamin
|
