 |
| District 16-4A Preview |
|
|
By Christopher Lyke
Texas HS Football Chief Editor
With Waco High and Copperas Cove entering the 4A scene in 2006, the expectations and goals within the district certainly has become more than a highlighted section on the playbook. In the district there are not two, not three, not four, but five teams that are good enough to see playoff action and much more the next two seasons. The questions out there includes, just how good will the Bulldogs of Copperas Cove be with the drop to 4A and can Waco High make a significant enough turnaround to the dominance that one fan seemingly hypes out time and time again on every Texas football message board? That is just a pair of the many unanswered questions surrounding the district.
Copperas Cove is the heavy favorite in the district after dropping down from 5A following a season where they not only finished with a 13-1 record, they came within two games of a state championship appearance. And although they lost quite a bit of talent from last year's squad including Donald Buckram and Tim Atcheson, plenty of talent remains. For starters, on the defensive side the Bulldogs do have one of the top defensive backs in the state. Joseph Leary, who recorded 135 tackles last season, returns as a key leader and big time playmaker. Up front, Cove has two very solid college prospects with Craig Wood and Steven Welch. Both Wood and Welch have the size, speed and skill to be very dominant. If Leary, Wood and Welch are anywhere close to the level they played to last season, the Bulldogs should be even better defensively this season.
On the offensive side of the ball, look for Rashad Hawk and Jarrod Millsap to have a big year. The question about who will be replacing Brent Garner will be the hot button topic in Bulldogs camp. Two worthy and very good candidates include last year's back up Robert Griffin and tight end Logan Brock. Griffin for the time being has been inked in as the starter at quarterback. Brock is expected to start the season as the team's primary tight end.
Just as Copperas Cove fell from the 5A ranks, the Waco Lions do as well. Like the Copperas Cove Bulldogs, Johnny Tusa and the Waco Lions will be hoping the drop to 4A equates into success on the scoreboard and in the win/loss column of standings charts. The 2005 Waco Lions were not your average 2-8 team as a very young squad stepped in looking to learn how to compete at a very high level. Last season, five of the last six games the Lions played in were decided by eight points or fewer including the triple-overtime loss to, ironically, Copperas Cove. With a lot more experience and the lessons of closing games out, the 2006 version of the Waco Lions should be vastly improved and ready to win.
Looking at the Lions as a team in 2006, starting on the offensive side under Johnny Tusa's I Formation, the return of Jarred Salubi at running back and Brian Dugas at fullback will be the key to success. And on top of Dugas and Salubi, quarterback Brian Smith also returns. Smith will have a golden opportunity to show his ability to make decisions can translate into success. On top of the dual rushing threat of the Lions, there are a pair of talented receivers that are just waiting to make plenty of noise. Back on the outskirts of the offense are Ben Meadows and Ronald Horne.
Defensively, the Lions will be looking for some big improvements and in a major way. The Lions have what could be one of the top recruits in the state with Victor Johnson at defensive back. Johnson, a junior, racked up 126 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown last season. If Johnson is anywhere as productive as he was last season, the sky's the limit to what this Waco defense will be able to accomplish. But Victor Johnson won't be able to do it alone. Up front, look for Darrence Richardson and Antonio Johnson to become big playmakers with speed and the ability to shut down the opposing running game.
Brownwood, Hewitt-Waco Midway and Killeen all have the potential to make a big push in district play and have a deep run through the playoffs. As some are already doing this year with the addition of Cove and Waco, the trio are being wrote off the map and labeled as non-threats. With Brownwood's tradition and history over the years, to write them off would be catastrophic. Hewitt-Waco Midway has enjoyed very good success in recent years and even went two rounds deep last season. And Killeen has made itself into a sleeper the last few years as well. There is no question that the middle of the pack in this district can practically play with just about anyone. The big questions for the three of them will be whether one of them can knock off the big two and which of the three will make their return to the playoffs.
Brownwood's scheduling the previous two seasons may just be the recipe to helping the Lions get through the tough and rigorous schedule this season. Even with new faces and new names coming in and out of the door, the focus has remained the same. One of the top players in Brownwood this season should be LB/TE Johnse Howard. Howard, who recorded 90+ tackles last season, should end up being the top defensive player in the district before its said and done but he will have plenty of help to go with. In the linebacker core with Howard will be Michael Perry and Chase Holmes. Kendrick Roberson, who is also a key receiver on offense, will be looking to man the defensive backfields.
And speaking of offense for the Brownwood Lions, the top rushers includes Michael Perry and Thomas Beck. If the Lion offense is effective, the big reason will be because of the solid talent up front, which includes Blair Crooks and Thomas Graves. WIth their speed, skill and experience, the Lions should be rather effective with the running game and a young quarterback taking over the helm.
Hewitt-Waco Midway went two round deep last season and returns one of the state's top kickers, an experienced quarterback and depth along the offensive lines. In a nutshell, if the Panther find themselves in a close game they will have a key player that they can count on with kicker Justin Shaughnessy. And the players responsible getting Shaughnessy within striking distance includes quarterback Jared Ray, offensive linemen Lane Caruthers and Brandon Judd. Ray, is a quarterback that threw over just over 1,600 yards on 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions in the 2005 season. If the Panthers are going to get back into the playoffs, all cylinders must be as effective as they were last season, including the defensive unit which includes LB Temba Chieza. Chieza, is expected to be the key leader and playmaker on the defensive side of the ball.
Like that of Hewitt-Waco Midway, the Killeen Kangaroos will be relying on the assistance of a strong offensive line to carry them through the tough district schedule and into the playoffs. The top player on the line, Jonathan Rush, is part of a group of linemen that includes speed, experience, size and skill. They will be looking to make sure that the young Kangroo skill players find their way to better production this season. Three of the six skill players on offense will actually be juniors including quarterback Alijawon White, wide outs T.J. Hill and Levi Fuson. On the defensive side, look for a big year out of the defensive backs. Most notably DB Chris Saunders, James Biven and Jordan Smith. |
| Key Players & Team Information |
 |
1959.5 |
13-1 |
|
|
|
|
Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
DB |
Joseph Leary |
6'0 |
170 |
4.5 |
Sr |
WR |
Rashad Hawk |
6'3 |
175 |
4.4 |
Sr |
TE/QB |
Logan Brock |
6'3 |
210 |
4.7 |
Sr |
RB |
Jarrod Millsap |
5'11 |
165 |
4.4 |
Sr |
DL |
Steven Welch |
6'1 |
265 |
5.0 |
Jr |
DL |
Craig Wood |
6'4 |
250 |
5.0 |
Sr |
LB |
Tanner Brock |
6'2 |
180 |
4.9 |
So |
|
|
 |
1931.5 |
8-4 |
|
|
|
|
Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
OL |
Lane Caruthers |
6'3 |
290 |
5.3 |
Sr |
K |
Justin Shaughnessy |
6'2 |
175 |
4.8 |
Sr |
QB |
Jared Ray |
6'3 |
190 |
4.9 |
Sr |
LB |
Temba Chieza |
6'1 |
210 |
4.8 |
Sr |
|
|
 |
1826 |
2-8 |
|
|
|
|
Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
QB |
Brian Smith |
6'4 |
180 |
4.8 |
Sr |
RB |
Jarred Salubi |
5'10 |
190 |
4.5 |
Jr |
DE |
Antonio Johnson |
6'1 |
205 |
4.5 |
Sr |
DB |
Vic Johnson |
6'2 |
170 |
4.6 |
Jr |
WR |
Ronald Horne |
6'0 |
170 |
4.6 |
Sr |
DL |
Darrence Richardson |
6'0 |
255 |
5.1 |
Sr |
WR/P |
Ben Meadows |
6'0 |
170 |
4.7 |
Sr |
RB |
Brian Dugas |
5'8 |
190 |
4.7 |
Sr |
LB |
Reggie Young |
5'8 |
180 |
4.7 |
Sr |
OL |
Will Jones |
6'0 |
240 |
5.2 |
Sr |
|
|
 |
1803 |
5-5 |
|
|
|
|
Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
OL |
Jonathon Rush |
6'5 |
270 |
5.2 |
Sr |
OL |
Joseph Robinson |
6'1 |
235 |
5.0 |
Sr |
WR |
Anthony Ezell |
6'0 |
170 |
4.5 |
Sr |
DB |
James Biven |
6'0 |
175 |
4.5 |
Sr |
DB |
Jordan Smith |
5'11 |
170 |
4.6 |
Sr |
DB |
Christopher Saunders |
5'10 |
170 |
4.6 |
Sr |
DL |
Kentrail Davis |
6'0 |
295 |
5.2 |
Sr |
QB/LB |
Alijawon White |
6'1 |
180 |
4.8 |
Jr |
OL |
Rhontae Scales |
6'4 |
250 |
5.2 |
So |
OL |
Nicolas Summerfield |
6'0 |
235 |
5.3 |
So |
|
|
 |
1186.5 |
2-8 |
|
|
|
|
Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
OL |
Darryl Robinson |
6'2 |
280 |
5.3 |
Sr |
RB |
Nick Parker |
5'8 |
160 |
4.7 |
Sr |
RB |
Darren Ervin |
5'10 |
230 |
4.8 |
Sr |
DL |
Jazmine Warren |
5'10 |
205 |
4.8 |
Sr |
QB |
Jordan Richardson |
5'9 |
160 |
4.6 |
So |
|
|
 |
977.5 |
4-7 |
|
|
|
|
Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
LB/TE |
Johnse Howard |
6'3 |
195 |
4.5 |
Sr |
OL/DL |
Blair Crooks |
6'2 |
234 |
5.2 |
Sr |
OL |
Karlton Graves |
6'2 |
237 |
4.9 |
Sr |
RB/DB |
Thomas Beck |
5'10 |
173 |
4.5 |
Sr |
WR/DB |
Kendrick Roberson |
6'1 |
185 |
4.6 |
Sr |
RB/LB |
Michael Perry |
6'0 |
185 |
4.9 |
Jr |
LB/RB |
Chase Holmes |
5'10 |
187 |
4.9 |
Jr |
TE/LB |
Curry Dyess |
6'2 |
181 |
4.5 |
Sr |
DB |
Dusty Green |
6'1 |
182 |
4.5 |
Sr |
WR/DB/K |
Mason Ellis |
5'9 |
170 |
4.6 |
Sr |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Projected Finish |
1 |
Copperas Cove |
2 |
Waco High |
3 |
Brownwood |
4 |
Midway |
5 |
Killeen |
6 |
Waco University |
|
| Pre-Season Awards |
District Darkhorse |
Brownwood |
District MVP |
Joseph Leary
Copperas Cove |
Offensive MVP |
Jared Salubi
Waco High |
Defensive MVP |
Johnse Howard
Brownwood |
Diamond In The Rough |
Lane Caruthers
Hewitt-Waco Midway |
|
| 2005 Records |
| Copperas Cove |
13-1 |
| Midway |
8-4 |
| Waco High |
2-8 |
| Killeen |
5-5 |
| Waco University |
2-8 |
| Brownwood |
4-7 |
|
| Recruiting Key |
| THSF Top 200 Player |
| Top '07 Prospect |
| Top '08 Prospect |
| Top '09 Prospect |
|
|
