Bio Bilaye-Benibo, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior tailback, ran for 789 yards on
94 carries a year ago.
For 17 straight years, the Calallen Wildcats have known what
it's like to end their season with a loss in the state high school football playoffs.
Some of those losses have come in the first round, others just two
weeks away from the state championship game.
None, however, have caused the Wildcats as much grief as last season's
14-10 loss to Alamo Heights in the Class 4A Division II area playoffs, despite
a 320-133 advantage in total yards.
"People weren't happy. Even my wife wasn't happy," said Phil Danaher,
in his 19th year as head coach. "The only friend I had was my dog. I told my wife
it's not fair just to have one friend, so she went out and bought me another dog.
It left a real bad taste."
What better way to cleanse the pallet than by reflecting on a history
that includes a state record 14 consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins and
50 consecutive district victories.
Danaher makes sure to reinforce the importance of that tradition
constantly.
"I don't want it out of their minds," Danaher said. "I want them
to realize that those guys who have played before them, the sweat and blood and
tears that they shed to build that tradition, it's their responsibility to uphold
it. This is their opportunity, it's their time to step up, and I don't want them
to forget it."
Senior defensive lineman Brent Hoskins doesn't need reminding.
"Every day you think about not wanting to be the team that had a
losing season," Hoskins said. "There hasn't been one since coach has been here,
and that's 18 years. That's before I was born. I always think about all the records
and how many we can still get. There's a lot of pressure playing here."
Focused on 2002
This season, the pressure is on the offense, which returns just three
starters, including quarterback Jordan Chambless (6-1, 190, jr.) and tailback
Bio Bilaye-Benibo (5-11, 180, sr.). Chambless, who also started in the secondary
last season, rushed for 394 yards and passed for 311, while Bilaye-Benibo finished
with 789 yards on 94 carries.
Danaher said Chambless seems to have a lot more confidence, demonstrated
by better technique and better decision making. Bilaye-Benibo reported a week
late to preseason workouts after spending the summer running track.
Fullback Matt Bode, who rushed for 1,379 yards in the regular season,
was one of the biggest graduation casualties. Picking up the slack for the bruising
runner will be senior Ryan Kelly (6-0, 185) and junior Weldon Dietze (5-6, 152).
Depth gives the Wildcats a number of combinations to use in the backfield.
Senior Dan Dennis (5-8, 170) and sophomore Ryan Arnold are set to back up Bilaye-Benibo.
With Tyler Downing expected to see time at quarterback, Chambless could enter
the rotation at either backfield position.
The big concern is with the offensive line, from which no starters
return.
"Fortunately, we've got the best line coach in South Texas, possibly
in the state," Danaher said of first assistant Jim Cliburn. "He puts the line
together and nurtures them from when they're freshman."
Though inexperienced, Danaher said this year Calallen's offensive
line features something the team has been without for several seasons - size.
Seniors Bear Myers (6-1, 278) and Kellen Becker (6-3, 234) are the
projected tackles, while seniors Justin Chapman (6-0, 205) and Clint Hirschfield
(6-0, 215) are expected to play at guard. Anchoring the line at center is senior
Gary Fortner (6-2, 190).
"I know people say we don't rebuild, we reload," Danaher said. "We
are having to reload, and when you do that you're reloading with untested shells."
Defense ready
The situation is different on the defense, where the Wildcats return
three of five linemen and the two cornerbacks.
Hoskins (6-3, 235), a three-year starter, returns to the line, as
does senior Tyler Dodds (6-1, 210) and Myers, who will have to play both ways.
Dennis and Kelly are the two back in the secondary. Depending on how much time
Chambless spends at quarterback, his place in the secondary is uncertain.
A huge void was left at linebacker by the graduation of 31-4A Defensive
MVP Doug Thomas and first-team all-district pick Seth Nitschmann, who is now at
Texas Tech. Now at linebacker are John Kirk (6-0, 200, jr.), Josh Garcia (5-11,
205, jr.) and Michael Martinez (5-9, 200, soph.).
Still the favorite
Regardless of how many starters are back, the district's coaches
agree that Calallen is the favorite to repeat as champion.
"Calallen will win because those kids have been together longer and
played a season more than everybody else," Robstown coach Claude Bassett said.
While some coaches, such as Bassett, dread the re-introduction of
Gregory-Portland and Rockport-Fulton into the district, Danaher welcomes the addition.
"It was big relief because we had a tough time finding games," Danaher
said. "If I had to find two more games, I don't know who we would have ended up
playing. Georgetown had already told us they didn't want to play, (San Antonio)
Clark said they weren't and New Braunfels Canyon wasn't going to play."
What's most important is who is still playing at the end of the regular
season. Despite an anticipated challenge from G-P, Danaher expects to be back
in the playoffs.
"It's good to have our arch rival back," Danaher said of the Wildcats
from Portland. "Now it makes it that much more than a ballgame. There's a good
possibility that when we play each other we could both be undefeated, at least
in district. We hope to be."
