2A Disvision II, District 8 Preview

LINDEN-KILDARE TIGERS
Enrollment: 261 (2)
2009 Record: 8-5 2A D2 Regional Semifinalist
The Coach: Jerry Bennett
The Players: Kenneth Harrison (Sr., QB), Xavious Allen (Sr., WR/LB), Cody Belyeu (Sr., WR/LB), Quan Warren (Sr., WR/DB), Eduardo Castrita (Sr., OL/DL), Daquan Bell (Sr., OL/DL), Garrett Countryman (Sr., OL/DL), Kedrick Craver (Sr., WR/S), Sanwon Bennett (Sr., RB/DL), Carranza Easter (Sr., RB/LB), Rashoderick Linwood (Jr., WR/DB)
The Word: Veteran coach Jerry Bennett has the Tigers going in the right direction. L-K’s eight wins were the most since 2003. The Tigers improved as the season progressed. After dropping their first two games, L-K won eight out of their next ten games before losing to Newton in the third round of the playoffs. Even better news for the Tigers is that they will return 18 lettermen in 2010 including several key starters. One of those key starters is quarterback Kenneth Harrison. The 5’11” Harrison passed for better than 1300 yards and collected nearly 1000 yards rushing in 2009. Harrison should have plenty of targets to throw to in Xavious Allen, Quan Warren and Rashoderick Linwood. Allen has descent size at 6’1” and 205 pounds. Meanwhile, junior Linwood may be the most versatile athlete on the team. As just a sophomore, Linwood rushed for more than 700 yards, totaled more than 300 yards receiving, intercepted three passes, recovered five fumbles and led the Tigers in scoring. Expect the multi-talented Linwood to play an even bigger role for L-K in 2010. The offensive line should be in good shape as well with the return of Eduardo Castrita and Daquan Bell. Castrita (6’2” 270) and Bell (5’11” 285) will give the Tigers some good size up front. On the defensive side of the ball, leading tackler Cody Belyeu returns to head up the linebacking corps. He will be joined at linebacker by fellow seniors Carranza Easter and Xavious Allen. Allen tallied four interceptions last season. Coach Bennett has to feel good about his secondary, which will feature speedster Quan Warren at cornerback and Linwood at safety. Warren is a ball hawk who recovered three fumbles and intercepted three passes last season. The defensive line should be led by seniors Sanwon Bennett and Garrett Countryman. Expect Castrita to see time on the defensive line as well. Expectations are high for the Tigers in 2010 after advancing to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1997. With so much talent returning and a veteran coach at the helm, L-K appears primed to make a deep run in the playoffs. They should be considered one of the favorites in region 2.
HUGHES SPRINGS MUSTANGS
Enrollment: 291 (1)
2009 Record: 4-5
The Coach: Chris Edwards
The Players: Brent Giddens (Sr., FB/LB), Anthony Hatten (Sr., WR/FS), Shaquille Ransom (Sr., RB/DB), Jantzen Foster (Sr., G/LB), Garrett Nelson (Sr., OL), Shyne Bright (Sr., T), Demarcus Hopkins (Sr., TE/DE), Kody Young (Sr., DT), Ty Brown (Sr., DE), Davuntae Hatten (Jr., QB), Cody Murphy (Jr., RB/LB), Ryan Russell (Jr., T)
The Word: The Mustangs’ four wins in 2009 were the fewest by a Hughes Springs team since 1996. But, the Mustangs have reason to be optimistic about 2010 with 11 starters returning and some help from a junior varsity squad that went 7-2 on the season. Coach Chris Edwards will welcome back most of his skill position players to operate the Mustangs’ newly installed “Slot T” offense. Quarterback Davuntae Hatten rushed for 658 yards and passed for 450 yards as a sophomore, and figures to be even better in his second year at the helm. Hatten will be joined in the offensive backfield by a trio of talented runningbacks. Brent Giddens, Cody Murphy, and Shaquille Ransom combined to rush for more than 2300 yards in 2009. Fullback Giddens rushed for 1008 yards as a junior and is the catalyst for the Mustangs’ run-oriented offense. Meanwhile, halfback Cody Murphy ran for 642 yards as a sophomore and figures to be an even bigger part of the offense in 2010. Jantzen Foster, Ryan Russell, Garrett Nelson, Shyne Bright, and Dustin Campbell will form the offensive line for Coach Edwards. Seniors Bubba Jones and Demarcus Hopkins will man the tight end positions. After an up-and-down season in 2009, the Mustangs will look to be more consistent on the defensive side of the ball this season. Murphy, Giddens and Foster will form the linebacking unit. Giddens tallied 96 tackles a season ago. Cade Avant and Kody Young will solidify the interior of the defensive line, while Hopkins and Ty Brown will man the defensive end positions. Hopkins used his speed to rack up six sacks in 2009. Senior Michael Phillips will join Ransom at the cornerback positions, while Hatten and Nick Mcguire will form a solid safety tandem. With a year of experience running the new offense and some solid skill players returning, Hughes Springs has a chance to compete for a playoff spot in their new district.
HARLETON WILDCATS
Enrollment: 215 (6)
2009 Record: 7-4 2A Div. 2 Bi-District Finalist
The Coach: Dennis Alexander
The Players: Billy Smith (Sr., QB/S), Tyler Lyons (Sr., OL/DL), Travis Nichols (Sr., OL/DL), Gauge Volmer (Sr., OL/DL), Levi Johnson (Jr., TE/DE), Jabe Martin (Jr., WR)
The Word: The Wildcats are 63-20 since Dennis Alexander took over the reins in 2002 and have made the playoffs each of the last seven years. Averaging eight wins a season is all the more impressive when you consider Harleton has consistently been the smallest school in their district. Harleton’s defense was once again rock solid in 2009, allowing only 12 points a contest. But, the offense had trouble scoring points at times. The Wildcats lost many of their skill position players to graduation, and will need to find new play makers. One such play maker may be senior Billy Smith, who could take over the quarterback role for the Wildcats. Smith may find a couple good receiving targets in junior tight end Levi Johnson and junior receiver Jabe Martin. Senior center Tyler Lyons will be joined by Travis Nichols and Gauge Volmer to form the offensive line. Lyons, Nichols and Volmer will also likely start on the defensive line along with Johnson at defensive end. Smith will lead the secondary from his safety position. The Wildcats appear to have several holes to fill due to graduation. But, don’t count Harleton out of the playoff hunt. D.A. has turned the Wildcats into a consistent winning program.
ELYSIAN FIELDS YELLOWJACKETS
Enrollment: 251.5 (3)
2009 Record: 5-5
The Coach: Vacant
The Players: Alex Macklin (Sr., WR/DB), Stanley Roquemore (Sr., WR/DE), Ty Lawless (Sr., OL/DL), Luis Deleon (Sr., OL/DL), Jeremy Wiggington (Sr., OL/DL), William Hicks (Sr., OL/DL), Matt McMillion (Sr., OL/DL), Isaiah Golden (So., TE/DE), Christian Smith (So., WR/DB)
The Word: The Yellowjackets are 11-8 since going to the state finals in 2007. After winning their first three contests in 2009, Elysian Fields dropped five of their next six games and fell out of playoff contention. One bright spot for the Yellowjackets in 2009, was the emergence of tight end and defensive end Isaiah Golden. Golden was the district offensive newcomer of the year as a freshman. Golden has the size and ability to dominate at the 2A level. Joining Golden on offense should be Christian Smith who seems primed to take over at the quarterback position. Alex Macklin will provide a solid option at receiver. And, Stanley Roquemore will likely shoulder most of the running duties. Ty Lawless, Jeremy Wiggington, Tyler Hicks, and Matt McMillion all figure to contribute on the offensive line which should feature some good size and depth. The Yellowjackets surrendered nearly 21 points a game in 2009 and will need to improve on that number if Elysian Fields wants to increase its win total from a year ago. Stanley Roquemore will line up at linebacker and Isaiah Golden will likely line up at the defensive end spot for the Yellowjackets. And, Macklin and Smith will provide the defensive secondary with much needed play makers. Making the playoffs is not out of the question for the Yellowjackets, but with only three playoff spots available, it won’t be easy.
ORE CITY REBELS
Enrollment: 228 (5)
2009 Record: 4-6
The Coach: Bobby Chadwick
The Players: Jonathan Harris (Sr., FB/LB), Alan Phillips (Sr., WR/CB), Raul Esquivel (Sr., OL/DL), Jordan Boyd (Sr., OL/DL), Dillon Ivory (Sr., OL/DL), Jaret Bozeman (Sr., FB/DL), Joey Henderson (Jr., RB/LB), Jonathan Ramsey (Jr., RB/DB), Dalton Hildreth (Jr., QB/DB), Kendrick Gilstrap (Jr., RB/LB)
The Word: The Rebels began the year going 4-1 in nondistrict, but lost all 5 district games and wound up 4-6. Ore City returns some key components on both sides of the ball in 2010, so improvement is possible. Fifteen lettermen return for the Rebels. Runningback Joey Henderson topped 1000 yards as a sophomore and could be even more dangerous in his junior season. But, Henderson is not alone. Seniors Jaret Bozeman, Jonathan Ramsey, and Jonathan Harris could all see significant carries for the Rebels. All-district offensive lineman Dillon Ivory is huge at 6’3” and 305 pounds. Ivory will be joined up front by Raul Esquivel as they try to pave the way for the Rebels’ offense. Defensively, the Rebels will be led by cornerback Alan Phillips who led the team in interceptions a year ago. Jonathan Harris and Kendrick Gilstrap will head up the linebacking unit along with Henderson. Jaret Bozeman and Jordan Boyd will likely start up front for the Rebels. Coach Bobby Chadwick is 9-11 in two years at Ore City. Chadwick’s nine wins in two years is one more than the total Ore City had in the five years prior to his arrival.
WASKOM WILDCATS
Enrollment: 235 (4)
2009 Record: 0-10
The Coach: Whitney Keeling
The Players: Aaron Jackson (Sr., WR/DB), Sam Foley (Sr., RB/LB), Jacolby Johnson (Sr., RB/DL), Daniel Hicks (Sr., OL/LB), Shelton Booth (Jr., QB/DB), Kylan Jackson (Jr., RB/LB), Wayne Lankford (Jr., TE/LB), Justin Gossett (Jr., RB/DB), Jason Spurlin (Jr., OL/DL)
The Word: The Wildcats suffered through an 0-10 season in 2009 and have won only 3 games the last three seasons. Coach Brian Lowe is gone after only one season as head coach and has been replaced by former Pleasant Grove assistant coach, Whitney Keeling. Coach Keeling’s first order of business will be to inject some life into a Wildcat offense that scored only 66 points all season. That may be a tough task given the fact that Waskom loses starting quarterback Zack Gillard and starting running back Wade Walter to graduation. Junior Shelton Booth may get the first shot at replacing Gillard under center. Whoever mans the quarterback position for the Wildcats will be smart to look for wide receiver Aaron Jackson. Jackson has good size and speed and, as a state qualifier in the high jump, he has the ability to go up and get the ball when it is thrown his direction. Kylan Jackson and Jacolby Johnson should see the bulk of the carries for the Wildcats. Expect Jason Spurlin (6’0” 225) to contribute on both the offensive and defensive lines. Those competing for playing time at the linebacker positions should be Sam Foley, Daniel Hicks, Kylan Jackson, Jacolby Johnson and Wayne Lankford. Defensive backs should include A. Jackson, who had six interceptions a year ago, and junior Justin Gossett. Waskom has a tough task ahead of them in 2010 moving up from 1A to 2A. Coach Keeling will have to hit the ground running if the Wildcats are to show improvement.