Last Playoff Appearance: 1999 (Lost, DI bi-district)
2001 Record: 3-7 overall (2-3 district)
Returning Letterman: 13
Offensive/Defensive Starters: 8/8
Key Game: Oct. 18 vs. Refugio
Offensive Backfield: The Bobcats have players
with varsity experience in the backfield, it’s just that most of them are in
new positions. At TB will be senior Kyle King and junior Adam Licerio, who were
both receivers last season. Three players are in a battle for the starting QB
spot, but Milkowart said Danny Garcia appears to be the favorite. Garcia took some
snaps last season, but played mostly receiver. Milkowart hasn’t decided on FB,
but has three players trying for the starting spot.
Receivers: Only senior Jared Lumpkins survived
the position switch that landed several teammates in the offensive backfield.
The Bobcats could also likely involve junior TE Travis Spence in some passing
situations.
Offensive Line: “It will be young in
some places, but if I had to find a strength this is it,” Milkowart said. “In
just eight or nine days we really threw a lot at them, but they’re doing a good
job of grasping the offense.” At 6-3 and 290 pounds, senior Kody Franke is the
foundation of the front line. A natural tackle because of his size, Milkowart
said Franke could also play center.
Defensive Line: Depth issues will force several Bobcats to play both ways,
especially Franke, a first-team all-district pick on defense. “That’s the
nature of the beast at a smaller school,” Milkowart said. “It depends on what
we’ve got, but we’ll probably mix and match size and quickness. We just don’t
want to get it jammed down our throats and see somebody walking into the end
zone.”
Linebackers: John Vasquez and J.R. Cranfill are back and fit into nicely into
Milkowart’s 4-3 defensive scheme. There are three-to-four players in line to
back them up, and one of those will likely secure the third starting spot.
Secondary: Mikowart said he knows teams in South Texas favor the run, but
he’s sure Bloomington’s pass coverage will be tested. To prevent the long play,
King and Garcia will have to remain solid in their return to the defensive
backfield.
Last Playoff Appearance: 2001 (Lost, DI regional
semis)
2001 Record: 7-5 overall (4-1 district)
Returning Letterman: 8
Offensive/Defensive Starters: 4/3
Key Game: Oct. 11 vs. Refugio
Offensive Backfield: Karnes City is switching
from a wishbone to a wing-T formation, but Warlick feels he has the personnel
to fit. Filling the departure of Jason Foley at TB is junior Ryan Zamora, a
“very physical runner who finishes his runs well,” Warlick said. Handling the
QB duties will be first-year starter Cody Hale, a call-up that led the JV to
consecutive 8-2 seasons. “He’s a good leader and intelligent enough to make
decisions, and that’s what we’re looking for,” Warlick said.
Receivers: With a new offense, the Badgers have
several prospects. There may not be many passing plays called in a run-oriented
scheme.
Offensive Line: Returning on the front
are two-year lettermen Cody Huwe (5-11, 250, sr.), a starter back at tackle,
and Mark Gamboa (6-0, 190, sr.), who will start at center. Warlick added that
the line is young, but very physical.
Defensive Line: Matthew Malik and David
Wozniak are the starting tackles and the two who the front will be built
around. Of course, Warlick said, depth is a factor, but we will try to limit
the number of players going both ways. “At certain times, though, some guys
will be out there all the time,” Warlick said.
Linebackers: Senior Carl Brysch (5-10, 225) is
the leader on defense as the strong-side LB. Sophomore Anthony Brysch earned a
starting spot as the weak-side LB during preseason workouts. “He was showing up
around the ball in all our drills,” Warlick said. “He’s doing things the way we
want them done.” Clay Weston, a second-team all-district LB as a sophomore last
season, could also see time on the defensive line.
Secondary: Zamora is set to anchor the
secondary from his spot at FS. The other positions, Warlick said, are open.
“Most people are going to be running, but we’ll ask our secondary guys to watch
the deep threat,” he said. Some nine-man fronts will also involve secondary
personnel.
KARNES
CITY SCHEDULE
Aug.
30......... at Poteet........... 7:30
Sept.
6.......... at Natalia.......... 7:30
Sept.
13........ Three Rivers........... 7:30
Sept.
20........ at Stockdale...... 7:30
Sept.
27.........George West.......... 7:30
Oct.
11......... x-Refugio......... 7:30
Oct.
18......... x-at Kenedy......... 7:30
Oct.
25......... x-Bloomington. 7:30
Nov.
1.......... x-at Skidmore-Tynan..................... 7:30
Nov.
8.......... x-Yorktown..... 7:30
Kenedy Lions
Head Coach: Oscar Muniz
Career Record: 5-5
Years at School: 1st
Record at School: 0-0
Enrollment: 274
Last District Title: 1978
Last Playoff Appearance: 2001 (Lost, DII
bi-district)
2001 Record: 4-6 overall (3-2 district)
Returning Letterman: 16
Offensive/Defensive Starters: 3/6
Key Game: Oct. 18 vs. Karnes City
Offensive Backfield: Junior FB Mikey Espinoza
(5-11, 225) figures prominently into the Lions’ scheme, especially after
rushing for 850 yards last season. When Espinoza isn’t carrying the ball, he’s
blocking for TB Robert Spencer. Muniz said there are four players in line to
start at QB, namely seniors Marcus Cardona and Ladis Barrientez, but that it shouldn’t
be long before a decision is made. “It should be pretty clear after the first
scrimmage who is going to come out on top,” said Muniz, making the move from
Class A Agua Dulce. Muniz also said he doesn’t have a problem with a two-QB
system, but added that who ever is not playing the position will be
contributing somewhere. “If they have to move to guard to help the team, they
understand,” he said.
Receivers: Muniz said that at least two of the
would-be signal callers will likely end up on the other end of the pass. Among
the early list of targets is Ernie Cano and Barrientez, who Muniz said “will be
receiving out of the backfield if doesn’t QB.”
Offensive Line: Anchoring the front line
is senior G Kevin Gustafson, who at 6-foot-3 and 235 pounds gives Kenedy
much-needed size. Senior tackle Dane Retzloff, senior guard Jeffrey Hernandez
and junior TE Justin Carrasco help fill out the rest of the line, with senior Enoc
Velasquez set to provide support at any position.
Defensive Line: Muniz would like to
limit as much two-way play as he can, but said he might not have a choice
because of depth. If he has his way, Muniz said the Lions plan to have a
smaller defensive front, but quicker. That can only happen as long as his
players can stay healthy and don’t get worn out playing on both sides of the
ball.
Linebackers: The cornerstone of Kenedy’s defense
is Espinoza, who recorded 209 tackles last season. Other potential starting
backers are Barrientez, senior Tristan Richards and juniors Jeffrey and Stephen
Creswell.
Secondary: Sophomores Jason Baldera and Jason
Tam are set to patrol the defensive backfield, along with Cardona. Muniz said
his group of safeties and corners might have to stay on the field for offense,
defense and special teams, which is what has made conditioning such a big part
of preseason practices. “We preach it and work at it all the time,” Muniz said.
“We’re conditioning them hard right now. They understand that we have to run
and be in shape.”
SCHEDULE
Aug.30 at Geronimo Navarro 7:30
Sept.
7 Goliad 7:30
Sept.
14 Hallettsville Sac.Heart 7:30
Sept.
27 at Poth 7:30
Oct.
4 at West Oso 7:30
Oct.
11 x-Yorktown 7:30
Oct.
18 x-Karnes City 7:30
Oct.
25 x-at Skidmore-Tynan 7:30
Nov.
1 x-Refugio 7:30
Nov.
8 x-at Bloomington 7:30
Refugio Bobcats
Head Coach: Rick Keese
Career Record: 11-2
Years at School: 2nd
Record at School: 11-2
Enrollment: 228
Last District Title: 2001
Last Playoff Appearance: 2001 (Lost, DII regional
final)
2001 Record: 11-2 overall, 5-0 district
Returning Letterman: 15
Offensive/Defensive Starters: 5/5
Key Game: Oct. 11 at Karnes City
Offensive Backfield: The Bobcats will miss
multi-purpose threat Ray King, the district’s MVP after catching 22 passes for
456 yards and rushing for 870. Back for the Bobcats, however, is first-team
all-district QB Jarvis Edwards (5-9, 182, sr.), who passed for 896 yards and
rushed for 450 in the regular season to lead the area in total offense among
Class 2A players. Edwards also passed for 16 TDs and ran for five in nine
games. Defensive regular Bo Crutchfield (5-11, 182, jr.) is now the FB in front
of TB Alex Garza (5-9, 176, sr.), who was injured most of last season.
Refugio’s multiple-back slot formations, which include HBs Preston Henry (5-9,
130, sr.) and T.R. Repka 5-9, 179, sr.), make the offense that much more
elusive.
Receivers: With King gone, Keese said he is
willing to take what he can get from Refugio’s passing game. “We don’t have the
guy (King) we had last year, but we have guys that can catch,” he said. Those
players are Darnell Wills (5-10, 163, sr.) and Ryan Harvey (5-11, 163, sr.).
“We probably don’t have the breakaway speed, but we can catch and get six,
maybe 10 yards. We’re not looking to make the big play.”
Offensive Line: Keese has three starting
interior linemen back with which to build the front wall. Sam DuBose (6-3, 233,
sr.), last season’s center, is making the move to tight end, while G Teddy
Bellows (6-0, 210, jr.) and T Colten Claybrook (6-2, 256, sr.) beef up the
middle. The shuffling might continue during the pre-district schedule until
Keese finds the right personnel.
Defensive Line: DuBose and Claybrook
take up the two DE positions in the Bobcats’ split-6 scheme. The two tackle
spots currently belong to Winston Brown (5-8, 243, jr.) and Andrew Brown (6-1,
230, jr.). Depending on substitutions, Keese said the defensive front should
have speed to react to running plays.
Linebackers: Bellows remains at one backer spot.
At least one of the other three belongs to Crutchfield, who is moving from the
secondary after recording five interceptions last year.
Secondary: On defense, Edwards’ speed will be
utilized at safety. DBs Garza, Harvey and Repka figure into Keese’s plan for
the defense. “We’re not as big, but a little bit faster than we were last
year,” he said. “That’s what we’re looking for, for people that can run.”
Last Playoff Appearance: 2000 (Lost, DII
bi-district)
2001 Record: 5-5 overall, 2-3 district
Returning Letterman: 14
Offensive/Defensive Starters: 7-7
Key Game: Oct. 25 vs. Kenedy
Offensive Backfield: Of the seven starters
back on offense, one is a 1,000-yard rusher. First-team all-district pick Tyler
Wallek (6-0, 190, sr.) returns to his post at TB, from which he also scored 14
TDs. The QB job could go to either sophomore Blake Stautzenberger or senior
Clayton Linney. Hesseltine said Stautzenberger took some repetitions last
season and understands the offense better. Linney didn’t play football, but has
the height advantage over Stautzenberger.
Receivers: When the Bobcats do throw, they have
two targets in TEs Justin Schubert and Will Dale. Wallek was the team’s leading
receiver out of the backfield last season.
Offensive Line: Hesseltine had plenty to
say about the front line. “That’s our biggest strength,” he said. “We return
everybody except for one, and the kids we have back are strong and know what
they’re doing. They were big last year, but young. All of them have played a
year of varsity and are more prepared.” Providing the blocking are Ts Humberto
Torres (6-5, 350, jr.) and Jesse Perales (6-0, 260, sr.), G Bruno Torres (5-10,
250, jr.) and C Nathan Castaneda (5-8, 240, sr.).
Defensive Line: S-T might have seven or
eight players going both ways, making depth an obvious problem. Though on the
front line Hesseltine said there are about five or six players battling for
positions. “We’ll probably rotate more on defense until we establish our
starters,” he said.
Linebackers: Wallek and Schubert are set to
handle the play inside. Also a first-team all-district pick on defense, Tyler
finished with 127 tackles last season. If he’s not calling the plays,
Stautzenberger will definitely have a starting spot on defense at OLB after
starting five games as a freshman. Junior Bacilio Gutierrez also returns to his
starting position as the other OLB.
Secondary: Several members of S-T’s state
qualifying 1,600-meter relay team are in line to patrol the defensive
backfield. Javier Elizalde will play one corner and senior Rene Gutierrez the
other, with junior Troy Lussier backing up at CB. If Linney isn’t the QB, he’ll
be at FS.
SCHEDULE
Aug.
30 at Nixon-Smiley 7:30
Sept.
6 Woodsboro 7:30
Sept.
13 at Taft 7:30
Sept.
27
Riviera 7:30
Oct.
4 at Banquete 7:30
Oct.
11 x-Bloomington 7:30
Oct.
18 x-at Yorktown 7:30
Oct.
25 x-Kenedy 7:30
Nov.
1 x-Karnes City 7:30
Nov.
8 x-at Refugio 7:30
Yorktown Wildcats
Head Coach: Rusty Buzzard
Career Record: 7-23
Years at School: 3rd
Record at School: 2-18
Enrollment: 213
Last District Title: 1983
Last Playoff Appearance: 2000 (Lost, DII
bi-district)
2001 Record: 0-9 overall, 0-5 district
Returning Letterman: 20
Offensive/Defensive Starters: 8/8
Key Game: Oct. 11 at Kenedy
Offensive Backfield: Buzzard said the
Wildcats are young, but experienced. Yorktown graduated only two seniors, “so
everybody coming back played varsity last year,” he said. Junior James Campbell
(5-11, 160), who started as freshman, had knee surgery last season, but is still
penciled as the starting TB. Another junior, Matt Naranjo (5-6, 140), should
expect to share the backfield with Campbell. One of the few seniors on the team
is QB Shane Cruz (5-10, 160), who is back after starting all nine games last
season.
Receivers: Even with a wing-T formation,
Buzzard said he’d like to balance the offense between the running and passing
game. “We’re going to feature a little more throwing this year. We’ll try to
spread it out and take advantage,” he said. TEs Mitchell Merks (5-10, 170, jr.)
and Derrick Hernandez (5-10, 155, jr.) are all capable of hauling in passes.
Offensive Line: The Wildcats have a
chance to be as strong up front since Buzzard’s arrival, he said. No linemen
were lost to graduation, and they all have experience and some size, beginning
with T Jerry Saunders (6-3, 280, sr.). Dominic White (5-10, 250, jr.) is down
as the other starting tackle.
Defensive Line: Buzzard expects to have
some two-way players, including Ts Saunders and White. DEs Ward Neimeier (5-11,
180, jr.) and Eric Salles (5-11, 170, sr.) are also likely to start on the
offensive line, but give the defensive front the chance to be quicker than it
has ever been.
Linebackers: Like every other position,
Yorktown’s LB crew is just as young. Buzzard said he knows junior J.R. Stone
will be on the field, as well as sophomore Tyler Strieber (5-10, 240), junior
Danny Garcia and Campbell.
Secondary: Cruz, “our hardest-hitting defensive
player,” Buzzard said, is back, as is fellow senior Valerio Mungia (5-11, 170).
Players who see time at WR could also factor split time in the secondary.
SCHEDULE
Aug.
30 Runge 7:30
Sept.
6 Pettus 7:30
Sept.
13 at Agua Dulce 7:30
Sept.
20 at Louise 7:30
Sept.
27 Tidehaven 7:30
Oct.
11 x-at Kenedy 7:30
Oct.
18 x-Skidmore-Tynan 7:30
Oct.
25 x-at Refugio 7:30
Nov.
1 x-Bloomington 7:30
Nov.
8 x-at Karnes City 7:30
