Roscoe's jump to 2A made easy because of talent

By BILL HART / Senior Staff Writer

The move from Class A to 2A wasn't a big jump for the Roscoe Plowboys this past football season. There was a reason - talent.

Roscoe, which was 14-2 in 1995 and state runner-up in Class A, posted a 9-2 record this past season and won the District 8-2A title before being eliminated by state champion Iraan, 14-3, in the area round.

The Plowboys placed five players on the Reporter-News' Class 2A all-Big Country football team, including running back-kicker Andy Howard, who is the offensive player of the year.

Stamford lasted the longest in the playoffs, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Iraan, 14-13. The Bulldogs landed three players on the team, including defensive player of the year Paul McClendon. Veteran Stamford coach Jerry Taylor was selected the coach of the year.

Howard, also a standout defensive back, rushed 208 times for 1,264 yards and 22 touchdowns, caught 10 passes for 130 yards, and threw a touchdown pass. He also returned a kickoff for a touchdown, kicked 33 of 34 extra points and seven of 10 field goals and has been an all-state kicker for two years. Two of his missed field goals came against Iraan, both from more than 50 yards.

McClendon, also a good wide receiver, had 10 interceptions, seven coming in District 7-2A play. He had three in one game. He was also in on 59 tackles and returned kicks. He also was the all-district punter.

Stamford was 2-3 before district started, but all of the teams that beat the Bulldogs made the playoffs. Taylor then led Stamford to the district crown and eight straight victories before the loss to Iraan, which fumbled into the end zone in the waning minutes of the game and receovered it for the winning touchdown. Stamford was picked to finish third in the pre-season.

Plowboys joining Howard on the team were offensive lineman Shane Tomlin, quarterback Beau Barnes, defensive lineman Jake Freeman and linebacker Heath Ince.

Stamford was also represented by offensive lineman Josh Gilbreath and running back Josh Murphree.

Rounding out the offensive unit are ends Demitirce Tucker of Bangs and Dennis Conner of Winters, linemen Ryan Seward of Goldthwaite, Brian Hodnett of Hamlin and Matt Stapp of Albany, punter Will Trammell of Haskell, running back Jeff Farmer of Albany and wide receiver Julius Reed of Cisco.

Others on the defensive unit are lineman Michael Denson of Jim Ned, Kevin Meador of Bangs and Michael Rodriguez of Haskell, linebackers Shawn Murk of Cisco and Dan Ruff of Albany and backs Justin Huckabee of Dublin, John Hernandez of De Leon, J.T. Auldridge of Goldthwaite, Brandon Lester of Jim Ned and Josh Gleaton of Early and kicker Dwayne Dacus of Jim Ned.

Auldridge made the team last year at offensive end, while Dacus, Hernandez and Ruff are also repeat selections. Howard was on the 1995 Class A team.

Murphree rushed for 1,248 yards on 161 carries and scored 15 touchdowns, while Farmer gained 1,395 yards and scored 12 touchdowns. Barnes rushed for 71 times for 356 yards and 12 touchdowns and completed 60 of 136 passes for 1,009 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also was the all-district punter.