Smaller district doesn’t pave easy road for Bangs
By Mark Wilson
Reporter-News Staff Writer

BANGS — The district scenery has changed considerably for the Bangs Dragons and second-year head coach Bo Robinson.

Realignment took Bangs out of the eight-team District 25-2A setup, and moved the Dragons into the six-team District 9-2A. Winters and Coleman also made the same switch, and will join Hawley, Jim Ned and Cisco in the new group.

A year ago, the Dragons finished 5-5 overall and 2-5 — good for sixth place — in the highly competitive District 25-2A lineup.

Robinson is particularly pleased that the smaller district gives his team two more weeks of non-district play to prepare for the district wars. But with teams like district favorite Winters involved, the new alignment may not be any easier.

“We’re excited about the new season,’’ Robinson said. “We’ve been pretty young the past two years. Maybe some of them have grown up. It will be exciting playing new people. This district may be tougher. The thing I like about it is it’s not an eight-team district. That gives you two extra weeks to prepare.’’

Overall team quickness should be an asset for the Dragons, although a lack of depth could be a concern in some areas.

Bangs scored 22.8 points a game last season overall, and 17.1 per outing in district play. The Dragons allowed 20.7 a game on defense for the year, and 22.2 a game in district.

Toby Conner, a 6-3, 205-pound senior who gained 1,200 yards rushing and scored 14 touchdowns a year ago, was a first-team all-district selection.

Also on offense, senior Ryan Knickerbocker returns at quarterback, Ramiro Huerta is back at tight end and 240-pound junior Matthew Stephens returns. Both Huerta and Stephens earned second-team all-district honors last season.

On defense, first-team all-district nose guard Will Ross returns, along with Huerta at linebacker (second-team all-district) and defensive back Eric Stephens.

Other returning starters include senior end Josh Wood, 230-pound junior offensive lineman Tell Stephens, sophomore offensive linemen Marcus Draper and Cody Wilkins, and sophomore back Bean Wood.

Schedule

September

1 at Merkel 7:30
8 at Eldorado 7:30
15 Hamlin 7:30
22 Clyde 7:30
6 at Stamford 7:30

October

13 Coleman* 7:30
20 at Winters* 7:30
27 Hawley* 7:30

November

3 Cisco* 7:30
10 at Jim Ned* 7:30

*District Games

-- School colors: Green and white
-- District: 9-2A
-- Last year’s record: 5-5 (2-5, tied for fifth in District 25-2A)
-- Head coach: Bo Robinson
-- Head coaching record: 5-5
-- Years at school: 1
-- Record at school: 5-5
-- Assistant coaches: Wendell Robinson, Bobby Anderson, Mike Cofresi, Greg Gillis, Blake Sandford, Eddie Pettit
-- Last playoff appearance: 1997
-- Last district championship: 1997
-- Returning starters: Toby Conner, 200, Sr., RB; Ryan Knickerbocker, 170, Sr., QB; Josh Wood, 180, Sr., E; Mathew Stephens, 240, Jr., OL; Tell Stevens, 230, Jr., OL; Eric Stephens, 150, Jr., B; Marcus Draper, 210, Soph., OL; Cody Wilkins, 200, Soph., OL; Beau Wood, 170, Soph., B.
-- Returning all-district players: Conner, RB (first team); Will Ross, NG (first team); Ramiro Huerta, TE-LB (second team); Mathew Stephens, OL (second team).
-- Returning all-Big Country players: None listed
-- Returning all-state players: None listed
-- Top new players: None listed
-- Transfers: None listed
-- Team strengths: Quickness
-- Team weaknesses: Lack of depth
-- Position changes: None listed

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