Jefferson Bulldogs - No Lack of Talent

Michael Jordan once said, “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” If that is true, the Jefferson Bulldogs should win a fair share of games in 2009. We will see if they have what it takes to win a championship.

When the Jefferson Bulldogs begin the 2009 football season, it could be with one of the most talented 2A rosters in the state. At least four Jefferson players have garnered significant attention from Division I scouts. Running back, Destin Mosley, has already verbally committed to play at Kansas State. Defensive end, Clarence Lee, has committed to play for the University of Houston Cougars. Trevor Murphy, a standout on the offensive and defensive lines, has offers from Lousiana Tech, UTEP and Stephen F. Austin, with others to follow. Meanwhile, cornerback, Devin Figures, is being recruited by schools like TCU and Texas A&M.

Throw in other talented players like cornerback Damon Gray, defensive end Chris Anthony and safety Dallas Moore and you have a 2A team with more talent than most 3A teams in the state. The amount of talent on this year’s team has Bulldog fans remembering the days of their 1986 3A state championship team.

Head coach Scott Hale’s Bulldogs return 16 starters and 28 lettermen from 2008’s playoff team. Seven starters are back on offense, including 4 of 5 offensive linemen and the aforementioned Mosley. Coach Hale and the Bulldog’s coaching staff will have to replace all-district quarterback Marcus McDonald who has graduated. But, the continuity on the offensive line and the presence of Mosley in the backfield should allow Jefferson an opportunity to ease their starting quarterback into his new role.

On defense, nine starters are back including Lee, Murphy and Figures. Lee at 6’4” 215 pounds and Murphy at 6’3” 275 pounds will anchor a very solid defensive line. Someone will have to step up to fill the void left at cornerback by the departure of McDonald, a two-way standout in 2008. After being named second team all-district as a sophomore, Damon Gray will hold down one cornerback position. Figures and Moore will form a very solid safety tandem. And, Mosley, Jefferson’s primary offensive weapon, will find his way onto the field on the defensive side of the ball as well.

The Bulldogs will be tested early. The nondistrict schedule provides three 3A opponents, Pittsburg, Tatum and North Lamar. Jefferson will also have to face one of the better 2A teams in East Texas when they face the Paul Pewitt Brahmas in the third week of the season.

Pittsburg took a close game over Jefferson in last year’s season opener, 7-6. Pittsburg should be even better this year and figures to challenge for a district championship in 16-3A.

Tatum is coming off a disappointing 5-6 season in its first year back in 3A. Jefferson beat Tatum 26-0 in the second game of the 2008 season, but later had to forfeit the game because of an ineligible player. Tatum is a fine program with state championships in 3A and 2A during this decade. This game should be very interesting.

The game against the Paul Pewitt Brahmas will be a measuring stick for both teams. Both the Brahmas and the Bulldogs see themselves as state championship contenders. This game will go a long way in bringing the 2A hierarchy into focus. In 2008, the Brahmas went into W.F. Lockett Stadium in Jefferson and got the victory, 30-19. If Jefferson is going to avenge last year’s loss, they will have to do it at Brahma Stadium.

The following week, the Bulldogs will travel to San Augustine to face another 2008 playoff team. The San Augustine Wolves will be looking for revenge after suffering a 15-7 loss at the hands of the Bulldogs last year. San Augustine was 4-1 at home in 2008 and will try to defend home field against the Bulldogs this September.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Bulldogs when they return home to face the North Lamar Panthers in the final nondistrict game for both teams. North Lamar beat Jefferson 36-24 in 2008 and made the playoffs out of District 10-3A.

Coach Hale hopes that the tough nondistrict schedule will prepare the Bulldogs for district. Regardless of Jefferson’s record entering district play, the Bulldogs will have their sights set on a district championship. Standing in their way will be the reigning Division II-2A State Champion Daingerfield Tigers.

The Daingerfield Tigers, with several division I prospects of their own, will travel to Jefferson to face the Bulldogs on October 23rd. The game will be one of the most highly anticipated games of 2009 for both teams and will likely decide the district championship. Jefferson will have a little extra motivation when they face off against Daingerfield. The Tigers knocked the Bulldogs out of the playoffs in 2007 and beat them 32-14 last year in district play. Jefferson will have home field advantage playing in front of what is sure to be a raucous pack of Bulldog fans.

Regardless of whether Jefferson is able to overcome Daingerfield, the Bulldogs will almost certainly seize one of District 17-2A’s three playoff spots. With the highest enrollment in the district, Jefferson would then compete in the Division I-2A playoffs. Their playoff road should be very similar to the 2008 playoffs. White Oak is the odds on favorite to win District 18-2A. If Jefferson and White Oak both make the playoffs as expected, it will set up a rematch of last year’s first round thriller. Jefferson beat the Roughnecks 39-35 on Marcus McDonald’s 88 yard touchdown pass to Destin Mosley with just over a minute left in the game.

If Jefferson makes it to the second round, they will likely face a rematch with the Arp Tigers. The Bulldogs and the Tigers faced off in the second round of the playoffs last year with the Tigers winning 21-7 on the strength of three Will Allen touchdown passes and 235 yards rushing by Lavocheya Cooper. The Bulldogs had opportunities but failed to turn four Arp turnovers into points. The Bulldogs also failed to score on two trips inside the red zone. With 21 lettermen returning from last year’s 11-1 playoff squad, Arp will be near the top of the AP poll again in 2009. And, the winner of the second round matchup will have a very good chance of representing Region III in the state championship game.

The Jefferson Bulldogs have a roster full of talented athletes. And, with a schedule filled with quality opponents, the Bulldogs have a chance to shine a spotlight on Jerry Bennett Field at W.F. Lockett Stadium. Come this fall Bulldog fans, whether sharing a beer at Auntie Skinner’s or sharing a plate of nachos at Don Juan’s, will be talking about their talented football team and wondering if they can recreate the magic of Jerry Bennett’s 1986 state championship team.

Time will tell.

Projected Offensive Starters
QB – Trent Smith
TB – Destin Mosley
FB – ?
WR – Clarence Lee
WR – D. J. McDonald
TE – Chris Anthony
OL – Willie McCoy
OL – Austin Youngblood
OL – Trevor Murphy
OL – ?
OL – Kyle Swanson

Projected Defensive Starters
DE – Clarence Lee
DL – Trevor Murphy
DL – Kennan Marshall
DL - Dennis Wilson
DE – Chris Anthony
LB – Kevin Harris
LB – Trent Smith
CB – Damon Gray
CB – Destin Mosley
FS - Devin Figures
SS - Dallas Moore

2009 Football Schedule
August 28 Pittsburg (Home)
September 4 Tatum (Home)
September 11 Paul Pewitt (Away)
September 18 San Augustine (Away)
September 25 Open
October 2 North Lamar (Home)
October 9 Ore City (Home)*
October 16 Queen City (Away)*
October 23 Daingerfield (Home)*
October 30 Linden-Kildare (Away)*
November 6 Hughes Springs (Home)*
*District

Prediction (8-2) (4-1)*

Daingerfield vs. Celina: Round 3

One of the most highly anticipated games of the 2009 Texas high school football season will be round three of the fledgling rivalry between the Daingerfield Tigers and the Celina Bobcats. Daingerfield will play host to Celina in the third week of the season and football fans from the Metroplex to the Piney Woods of East Texas will focus their attention on Daingerfield’s Tiger Stadium.

The first two meetings between these two teams certainly produced some fireworks. In 2002, Daingerfield and Celina met for the first time in the history of their programs in the area round of the 3A-division two playoffs. At the time, Celina was riding a state-record 68 game winning streak. The Bobcats, under the direction of legendary coach G.A. Moore, had won consecutive state titles in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

In one of the most exciting playoff games in the history of either school, Daingerfield ended Celina’s state-record winning streak with a 21-20 victory at Williams Stadium in Garland. Daingerfield’s all-state safety, Martelius Epps, blocked a PAT on the final play of the game to preserve the victory for the Tigers.

Fast forward to September 13, 2008 and the first regular season meeting between the Tigers and the Bobcats. Since their initial meeting six years earlier, Celina had added two more state championship trophies to the trophy case, winning state titles in 2005 and 2007. The game, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 14, 2008 in Royce City, was intended to be a neutral site matchup. Due to concerns over Hurricane Ike, the game was moved to a Friday night game in Celina. Celina’s last loss at home was nearly a decade earlier in 1998 to rival Pilot Point.

Daingerfield, now a 2A program, came into the game with a starting offensive backfield that had started a total of two varsity games. Celina came into the game as the defending 3A state champions. Daingerfield jumped out to an improbable 25-7 halftime lead on the strength of big plays by junior running back, KoKo Smith (64 yard touchdown run), sophomore quarterback, Tyler Boyd (40 yard run), and senior linebacker, Julius Hurndon (45 yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown).

As expected, Celina made a frantic comeback in the second half. Celina’s defense shut down Daingerfield’s explosive, but young, offense in the second half. Celina scored once in the third quarter on an Austin Carey 9 yard run to cut the Tigers’ lead to 25-14. Daingerfield answered with a B.J. Johnson field goal to make the score 28-14 after three quarters. Celina scored again in the fourth on a 1 yard run by all-state running back, Troy McCartney. The try for two failed, leaving the score 28-20. Celina had one last opportunity to tie the game late in the fourth. Following a turnover, Celina took over at midfield with just over 2 minutes to play. The Bobcats moved the ball to the Daingerfield 10 yard line with 29 seconds remaining. Celina quarterback, Cody Worrell took the snap and got off a pass under heavy pressure from the Tiger defense. The ball was underthrown and picked off by Daingerfield, all-state linebacker Julius Hurndon. Daingerfield had beaten Celina again, this time ending the Bobcats’ 45 game home winning streak.

Both teams finished the 2008 season in the state title games of their respective divisions. Daingerfield went on to beat Cisco 26-8 in the 2A-division two state championship game to capture its fourth state title. Celina, in what some Bobcat fans absurdly called a down year, went on to play Carthage in the 3A-division two state game. Celina fell short of capturing its record ninth state title, losing to Carthage 49-37.

So what does the third installment of this intriguing matchup hold in store for Tiger and Bobcat fans? Both teams will likely begin the year at or near the top of the AP poll in their respective divisions. Celina will likely begin the season ranked in the top five in 3A along with teams like Gilmer, Liberty Hill and district rival Prosper. Daingerfield could begin the season ranked number 1 in 2A. So, the early season matchup between these two tradition-rich programs with 12 state titles between them will no doubt garner great interest from football fans across the state.

Both teams lose some big-time players to graduation. Celina loses their tremendous backfield duo of Troy McCartney and Charley Waldrep. Celina also loses leading receiver, Austin Carey, and key offensive linemen, Andy Rose and Jordan Stout. But, Celina is Celina. They reload every year and put quality players on the field. 2009 will be no different. Quarterback Cody Worrell will be back to lead the offense with help from running backs Jose Romero and Jamarick Simmons. And, the Bobcat defense is in good hands with all-state linebacker Caleb Lavey returning along with linebacker mate Jay Perez.

Daingerfield will have to replace its entire offensive line. But the offense returns a number of talented skilled position players including quarterback, Tyler Boyd, running back, KoKo Smith and dynamic receiver Chris Jones. On defense, the Tigers only lose four starters but they are huge losses. 2A Defensive player of the year, Carl Moore, graduates, along with all-state linebacker mate Julius Hurndon. Also graduating are all-state nose tackle Zavian Gilstrap and two-year starter at cornerback, Bobby Attaway. The Tiger defense will return 7 starters including standout linebacker Josh Evans, defensive backs Scott Irvin and Joe Lafayette, and defensive ends Chris Robertson and Steve Edmond.

So, the stage seems to be set for another incredible game between these two teams. Celina will come into the game as the heavy favorite and with a little added incentive to beat the team that has ended two of Celina’s longest winning streaks. Daingerfield will come into the matchup as the defending 2A state champion and leading the all-time series 2-0. In the end, the game is just a non-district matchup between two teams that aren’t even in the same division. The game will have no bearing on either team’s chances of making the playoffs, much less their chances of winning another state championship. But, the game will carry significant bragging rights for the fans of the programs. And, an early season matchup between teams of this caliber can often instill confidence in the winning team that helps propel them to a great season.

So, bring on round 3 of Daingerfield vs. Celina. Is it football season yet?

By: Doug Reeder (a.k.a. franksnbeans)
Franksfootball.blogspot.com