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| Preview Guide 2007 |
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By Christopher Lyke
Texas HS Football Chief Editor
The 8-2A race in 2006 was as expected, a two team battle at the top between Blanco and Comfort. Both teams showed they are worthy of competing in a a very good Region I after moving in from Region IV in the previous realignment. Now after losing Luke Roberts and Josh Bates to graduation the Comfort Bobcats will be looking to fill the void and continue last season's success. And aside from Comfort losing its two top stars, half of the district will be under new coaching regimes. One of those teams was a playoff team from last season. Can Comfort maintain its top flight status in the district or will Blanco, with return of a majority of its stars, grab the spotlight? And can Sonora maintain a stay in the playoff picture or make a run at a district title with a brand new head coach?
Editorial Paragraph... colleges take note:
In this district, there are two Division I potential athletes that are highly under looked and under appreciated. They are Ross McCormick of Blanco and Michael Jenkins of Sonora. Both McCormick and Jenkins are athletes that are very gifted athletes and two of best defensive players in the region. These two have done everything they can in the classroom, on the field and have done what they could to get their name out there. Two of the big disadvantages these two face is location and the image that kids at the lower levels do not have what it takes. The person operating this site went to great lengths a few months ago to assist another athlete in this very district in the recruiting process. In the opinion of this author, for the kids in this district and everywhere else at the lower levels, to not get looked at or taken seriously is an absolute shame. One thing that needs to be done is to see that these kids get a chance and get a serious look equal to those at the upper levels.
The district favorite in 2007 are the Blanco Panthers. With plenty of depth and experience, the Panthers should be a team that should very well find itself making a deep playoff run. The return of WR/LB Ross McCormick should give the Panthers plenty of leadership and motivation to grab the top spot. Offensively, look for quarterback Jared Newby and rusher Anthony Vela to have very big years. And expect the offensive line, led by Henry Greathouse and Art Shade, to be at the top of their game and thirsty for revenge on Comfort. Defensively, where McCormick is more highly regarded, the Panthers will need to challenge hemselves to greater lengths and make sure they can avoid the high shootouts. If they control the tempo and lkeep the opposition out of the red zone, look for a more successful season than what this squad had last year.
Second and third should come between Comfort and Sonora. Sonora, despite a new head coach coming in to take the reigns, should see the benefits of having the deepest returning roster. Plus, they will also have a coach in Sean Leamon, who is very familiar with the district as he came over from rival Junction. Offensively the Broncos will be strongest in the trenches. Aaron Gaylan, Zadrian McGee and Edward Garcia are among the workhorses up front. These guys up front will be largely responsible for giving juniors Ricardo Rodriguez and Jordan McGuffin the space and protection they need to gain the yardage necessary. If this offense can be consistent and stay on the field, then with the help of an improved defense, Sonora may find itself in the middle a district title chase. Speaking of that defense, two key player to watch are DE Michael Jenkins and LB Riley Sanchez. And like that of Blanco, it will be mightly important for this defense to avoid the shootouts.
Comfort and head coach Lee Wiginton has the daunting task of replacing stud quarterback Luke Roberts. Taking over Roberts' spot in the QB1 spot will be Travis Chrisman, who was an all-district wide receiver last season and served as Roberts' primary back up. Chrisman will be relying on tailback J. Frank Derby, wideout Vance Lich and linemen Gabe Lozano and Corey Cook too help maintain the high octane that this squad had used last season. Defensively, the Bobcats may be a little stronger than they were last season. LB Travis Saur, who is the best player on the Bobcat defense, will be counting on a somewhat inexperienced front line to hold down the fort. The bottom line for Comfort is on offense. If the offense can rtepeat a similar task as to what they accomplished last season, they will be a tough group to knock off the ladder.
Junction, which lost most of their skill position players and a coach to rival Sonora, and Mason, which is also going through a coaching change, will be two teams that should be very hungry to prove to the rest of the district that they will be in the mix. If any of the top three favorites fall asleep on either the Eagles or Punchers, it could prove to be very costly in a very competitive race for the district championship. |
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400 |
1-9 |
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Team Radio |
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Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
RB |
Prennis Williams |
5'9 |
150 |
--- |
Jr |
LB |
Luke Sammons |
5'9 |
155 |
--- |
Sr |
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338 |
10-2 |
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Team Radio |
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Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
QB |
Travis Chrisman |
6'3 |
218 |
--- |
Sr |
RB |
J. Frank Derby |
5'10 |
185 |
--- |
So |
WR |
Vance Lich |
5'8 |
165 |
--- |
Sr |
OL/K |
Gabe Lozano |
6'0 |
255 |
--- |
Sr |
OL |
Corey Cook |
6'3 |
276 |
--- |
Sr |
DE |
Sid Moreno |
5'11 |
195 |
--- |
Sr |
LB |
Daniel Rechenthig |
5'11 |
174 |
--- |
Jr |
LB |
Travis Saur |
5'10 |
185 |
--- |
Sr |
DB |
James Meredith |
5'2 |
125 |
--- |
Sr |
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317 |
10-2 |
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Team Radio |
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Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
QB |
Jared Newby |
5'6 |
155 |
--- |
Sr |
RB |
George Velez |
5'9 |
155 |
--- |
Sr |
WR/LB |
Ross McCormick |
6'2 |
215 |
4.8 |
Sr |
OL |
Art Shade |
6'3 |
230 |
--- |
Sr |
OL |
Henry Greathouse |
6'1 |
270 |
--- |
So |
FB/DL |
Anthony Vela |
6'2 |
255 |
--- |
Jr |
CB |
Justin Warner |
5'8 |
169 |
--- |
Sr |
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300 |
8-3 |
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Team Radio |
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Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
QB |
Victor Vaquera |
5'8 |
165 |
--- |
Sr |
RB |
Ricardo Rodriguez |
5'9 |
165 |
--- |
Jr |
FB |
Jordan McGuffin |
5'10 |
200 |
--- |
Jr |
OL |
Hunter Frey |
6'2 |
195 |
--- |
Sr |
OL |
Edward Garcia |
5'10 |
210 |
--- |
Sr |
OL |
Aaron Gaylan |
5'9 |
240 |
--- |
Sr |
OL |
Zadrian McGee |
5'8 |
230 |
--- |
Sr |
DE |
Michael Jenkins |
6'5 |
200 |
4.7 |
Sr |
LB |
Riley Sanchez |
5'8 |
170 |
--- |
Sr |
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214 |
6-4 |
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Team Radio |
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Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
TE/DE |
Bill Allen |
5'10 |
200 |
--- |
Sr |
OL/DL |
Carl Whitworth |
6'7 |
240 |
--- |
Sr |
OL |
Ivan Ponce |
5'6 |
200 |
--- |
Sr |
DT |
Phillip Stapp |
6'3 |
220 |
--- |
Sr |
TE/DE |
Joe Wood |
5'10 |
200 |
--- |
Jr |
RB/LB |
Dustin Stapp |
5'10 |
190 |
--- |
Jr |
CB |
Cassady Thomas |
5'10 |
150 |
--- |
Sr |
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198 |
5-5 |
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Team Radio |
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Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
QB |
Bryce Estes |
6'0 |
200 |
--- |
Sr |
RB |
Adam Timms |
5'10 |
160 |
--- |
Jr |
OL/DL/P |
Charlie Ramon |
5'10 |
245 |
--- |
Sr |
DB |
Stephen Marquez |
5'10 |
145 |
--- |
Sr |
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| Blanco Panthers |
Panther Stadium
7th & Lazy Creek Lane
Blanco, TX 78606 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 800 (est.)
Directions To Stadium |
| Brady Bulldogs |
Bulldog Stadium
1000 Wall St,
Brady, TX 76825 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 1,500 (est.)
Directions To Stadium |
| Comfort Bobcats |
Comfort High Stadium
143 US Hwy 87
Comfort, TX 78013 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 1,500 (est.)
Directions To Stadium |
| Junction Eagles |
Eagle Stadium
South 20th St & E Redbud St.
Junction, TX 76849 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 1,470 (approx.)
Directions To Stadium |
| Mason Punchers |
R. Clinton Schulze Stadium
Meyers St.
Mason, TX 76856 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 2,000 (est.)
Directions To Stadium |
| Sonora Broncos |
Bronco Stadium
Stadium Dr.
Sonora, TX 76950 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 5,000 (est.)
Directions To Stadium |
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Preview Guide Line Up |
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| Projected Finish |
1 |
Blanco |
2 |
Sonora |
3 |
Comfort |
4 |
Mason |
5 |
Junction |
6 |
Brady |
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| Pre-Season Awards |
District Darkhorse |
Sonora |
District MVP |
Ross McCormick
Blanco |
Offensive MVP |
Anthony Vela
Blanco |
Defensive MVP
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Michael Jenkins
Sonora |
Diamond In The Rough |
Gabe Lozano
Comfort |
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| 2006 Records |
| Brady |
1-9 |
| Comfort |
10-2 |
| Blanco |
10-2 |
| Sonora |
8-3 |
| Junction |
6-4 |
| Mason |
5-5 |
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| Recruiting Key |
THSF Top 200 Player |
Top 2008 Prospect |
Top 2009 Prospect |
Top 2010 Prospect |
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| Preview Sponsor |
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