Rookie coach hoping for Jackets’
fifth title in 11 years
DISTRICT 8-4A
By
Troy Shockley
Reporter-News Staff Writer
August 24, 2003
One could make a strong case for dubbing
Stephenville the Class 4A ‘Team of the ’90s.’
Head coach Chad Morris hopes 2003 will be the first step toward
the domination of a new decade.
The Yellow Jackets, who have reached the playoffs each year
since 1989, claimed four state titles in the 1990s (1993-94 and
1998-99), and may be built for their first title of the new century
with nine returning all-district selections from 2002.
Morris, in his first year as head coach, said defense will
be the strongest piece of this year’s team, adding “The
defense should be as good as the defense in 1999.”
Leading the defense in 2003 will be senior Cody Payne. The
6-1, 205-pound linebacker earned a spot on both the all-district
and all-state teams in 2002.
All-district honorable mention defensive back Corey Kennyon,
first-team linebacker Michael Viotto, first-team defensive lineman
Robert Garcia and second-team defensive backs Eli Cruz and Cy
Williams will join Payne on defense.
In all, 15 lettermen will return for the Yellow Jackets, including
three offensive starters and seven starters on defense.
The offensive stars include Conner Elms, Marshall Doloff and
Cruz.
Elms, 6-2, 205 pounds, will make the move to quarterback this
season. The senior played at wide receiver in the previous campaign,
but will make the change to fill the hole made after the graduation
of star QB Kevin Kolb.
There will be several position changes for the 2003 season
that Morris has made, following the loss of 21 seniors.
Cruz will move from defensive back to running back; Doloff
will now be a lineman on the offense instead of defense as will
Caleb Hooper.
Morris is concerned about inexperience on the offensive line
and hopes that defensive experience and his skill position players
will be able to give the line time to gain its footing.
He said if the team “can grow through its tough non-district
schedule, remain healthy and give the offensive line time to gain
confidence, this team could be playing late in December.”
SCHEDULE
August
29 at Jacksonville 7:30 p.m.
September
5 Burleson 7:30 p.m.
12 Highland Park-x 7:30 p.m.
26 at Joshua* 7:30 p.m.
October
3 Brewer* 7:30 p.m.
10 at North Crowley* 7:30 p.m.
17 Brownwood* 7:30 p.m.
24 at Crowley* 7:30 p.m.
31 at Aledo* 7:30 p.m.
November
7 Granbury* 7:30 p.m.
* District Games
x game played at SMU
Stephenville Yellow Jackets
- School colors: blue and gold
- District: 8-4A
- Last year’s record: 10-2 (5-0, first place)
- Last playoff appearance: 2002
- Last district championship: 2002
- Head coach: Chad Morris
- Career record: 76-21
- Years at current school: first
- Assistant coaches: DC Kris Iske, OC Tommy Dunn, Joseph Gilespie,
Kreg Kimple, Hank Carter, Steven Reves, Kelly Gilbert, Sean Lonergan,
Yancy Cashell, Ramsey Wright
- Returning and/or probable starters: WR-QB Brent David, 6-1,
190, Jr.; QB Conner Elms, 6-2, 205, Sr.; WR-DB Kory Dowell, 6-1,
175, Sr.; FB Kellen Cervetto, 5-10, 190, Jr.; TE Corey Kenyon,
6-4, 225, Jr.; TB-DB Eli Cruz, 5-10, 195, Sr.; TB Dustin Riola,
5-10, 160, Jr.; LB Cody Payne, 6-1, 205, Sr.; FS-WR Jake Freels,
6-1, 195, Jr.; OLB Andrew Hansen, 5-10, 175, Sr.; DT-FB Austin
Christian, 5-10, 200, Jr.; OLB Eli Coston, 5-10, 170, Sr.; DE
Remington Oliver, 6-4, 225, Jr.; OLB Nick Brady, 6-1, 200, Jr.;
OLB Dustin Stephen, 5-8, 160, Sr.; OLB Michael Viotto, 5-11,
205, Jr.; DB-WR Cy Williams, 6-1, 185, Sr.; DB Ryan McLain, 5-9,
150, Sr.; LB George Murray, 5-10, 160, Sr.; OL Caleb Hooper,
6-1, 245, Jr.; OL Chris Harris, 5-10, 215, Sr.; OL-DL Marshall
Doloff, 6-1, 235, Sr.; OL Jim Bob Ramsey, 6-2, 225, Jr.; DL Ed
Davis, 5-9, 210, Jr.; OL Daniel Collier, 6-2, 225, Jr.; DL Nick
Arnold, 5-10, 200, Jr.; OL Michael Brackin, 6-0, 200, Sr.; WR
Jarrett Nash, 5-9, 155, Jr.; K Ben Bell, 5-11, 175, Jr.; WR Tyler
Lawson, 6-0, 160, Sr.; DE Eric McCoy, 6-1, 200, Jr.; DE Daniel
Lee, 6-3, 225, Sr.; DT Robert Garcia, 6-1, 225, Sr.; LB Zac Thompson,
6-5, 210, So.; DB Jubal Caldwell, 5-11, 165, Sr.; WR-DB Brent
Thieman, 5-7, 135, Sr.; FB Bud Burney, 5-8, 180, Sr.; OL David
Luna, 5-10, 240, Sr.; OL Robert Stroman, 6-0, 325, Jr.; WR Van
Collins, 6-0, 170, Jr.; OL Josh Clements, 6-3, 235, So.; OL-DL
Bobby Boggs, 5-10, 230, So.; OL Randy Jones, 6-1, 245, So.; OL-DE
Travis Dirk, 6-3, 230, So.; OL-DL John Dirk, 6-4, 245, Sr.
- Position changes: DL-OL Doloff; WR-QB Elms; DB-RB Cruz; DL-OL
Hooper
- Returning all-district players: QB Elms (honorable mention),
WR Dowell (first team), DB Kennyon (honorable mention), DB-RB
Cruz (second team), LB Viotto (first team), DB Williams (second
team), OL Doloff (second team), DL Garcia (first team), LB Payne
(first team)
- Returning All-Big Country players: none listed
- Returning all-state players: LB Payne (second team)
- Top new players: Oliver; Freels; Riola; Cervetto; Nash; Brady;
Hansen; Brackin; Hooper
- Transfers: OL-DE Travis Dirk, 6-3, 225, So., Oklahoma; John
Dirk, 6-4, 255, Sr., Oklahoma
- Team strengths: experience on defense, skill positions
- Team weaknesses: inexperience on offensive line
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