Tuloso-Midway's David Ainsworth made tackles last year, but is competing for a
starting offensive spot at quarterback or runnig back this season.
Buddy Griffin hasn't seen much success in two seasons as head
football coach at Tuloso-Midway High School.
The two wins his first year didn't help in his rebuilding of the
struggling program, and subsequently resulted in the Warriors winning just one
game in 2001.
Despite the lack of victories, Griffin expects things to change in
2002.
"I've been telling everyone that the third time is usually the charm,"
Griffin said. "We had a great spring training. We're excited about the kids' attitude
and the belief they have in football now."
Which is tough to do after the kind of season Tuloso-Midway endured
last year.
The Warriors averaged just 9.9 points and 206.4 total yards per game,
both second worst among Class 4A teams in the area. The defense, meanwhile, routinely
gave up nearly 30 points and 300 total yards to opponents.
Despite all the setbacks and disappointments, senior Levi DeLeon
said this season is different.
"We've straightened out everything that was wrong," DeLeon said.
"More people are dedicated now. This is the strongest that I've ever seen program,
and the most confident I've ever felt."
Griffin said familiarity has helped the players believe in themselves
and the player next to them. The next step is managing the difficulties of a program
under pressure.
"The biggest challenge for us is how to handle adversity when it
hits," Griffin said. "That's the problem when a program hasn't won in a while.
When I say win, I mean win in the playoffs."
Alice coach Jim Clark said that's not out of the realm of possibility.
"I think the biggest factor for those kids is having to play the
Calallens, G-Ps and R-Fs and feeling like they're not getting any better," Clark
said. "Kingsville got over the hump because they've gone out and beaten these
people. They've beaten us, and I think the same thing can happen at T-M."
Something new that Griffin has done this season is create a two-platoon
system, which he said had generated enthusiasm among the Warriors. Already small
in numbers, Griffin said the players aren't worried about running out of energy
by having to play both ways.
Returning offense
Tuloso-Midway returns almost half of its starting offense from last
season, spread out between the backfield and line.
Back at running back is Javier Moralez, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound senior
who Griffin said returns with a little more speed after a season on the track
team. Moralez had 99 carries for 518 yards last season, numbers that are likely
to go up.
The Warriors went through three different quarterbacks last season,
two of which, senior David Ainsworth and junior Juan Marcos Banales, are back.
Ainsworth might take a role as a running back, making Banales the frontrunner
for the starting quarterback job.
Anchoring the offensive line is DeLeon, a three-year starter and
second-team all-district pick last season, with fellow seniors Paul Mostella and
Paul Ramos providing additional support.
Defensive boost
The defense is Tuloso-Midway's bright spot. Griffin returns eight
starters from that unit, most notably Kody Chandler, back for his third year as
a starter at linebacker.
"Kody is a coach on the field," Griffin said of Chandler, who finished
with 110 tackles last season. "He's the leader and he directs us. There's a lot
of kids taking those leadership roles, and that's what has been very encouraging."
Joining Chandler on the defense are linebacker Eddie Flores and tackle
William Crabtree. Chandler and Flores were second-team all-district selections
last year.
Griffin knows things won't be any easier now that Gregory-Portland
and Rockport-Fulton are back in the district. In order to succeed, Griffin said
the Warriors must keep all distractions out of their minds.
"This is a tough district, the premier district in South Texas,"
Griffin said. "We have to concentrate on the Warriors and take care of ourselves.
We have to overcome adversity when it hits - because it's going to hit - and build
from that."
