wildstangs
08-11-2003, 01:12 AM
Another Mustang stampede?
When you have a high school football program as successful as Sweetwater's, expectations are always high.
It's no different entering the 2003 season, even though the Mustangs lost several key play-ers from a team that was 10-4 and advanced to the state quar-terfinals for the first time since the 1997 campaign.
Only three starters are retur-ning on offense, but the picture is much rosier on the defensive side as seven players with start-ing experience are back.
Sweetwater -- which is ranked No. 14 in the state in Class 3A by Texas Football magazine -- will also count on the services of several players who spent last season on a JV squad that was undefeated for the second straight year.
The varsity teams at Sweet-water have a pretty good winning tradition going, too. Since 1984, the Mustangs have been to the playoffs 16 times and have won or shared the district title in 12 seasons, including last year when they were the co-champions with Snyder.
Most of that success came as a Class 4A school, but Sweetwa-ter is now 3-for-3 in making it to the playoffs in Class 3A.
The 2002 team was the first of the three to still be playing in December, however, and head coach Kent Jackson said his current players are eager to duplicate that feat.
"We got a taste of what De-cember ball was like last year, and we liked it," said Jackson, who has a 19-7 record in his first two seasons here. "We want to get back to that level."
To do that, Sweetwater must survive the same brutal sched-ule it had in 2002. It starts with five non-district games against teams who made the playoffs -- Vernon, Graham, Greenwood, Andrews and Wylie.
And Jackson expects another tough battle in District 3-3A. Sweetwater plays Snyder, La-mesa and Merkel at home this season, but also faces long trips to Denver City and Seminole.
"Everybody believes they've got a legitimate shot," Jackson said. "I think it will be extreme-ly competitive.
"The thing about preseason (non-district games) is to come out of it as healthy as we can. We know we've got to play four quarters every game."
Sweetwater started out 3-3 a year ago, with the three losses coming by a total of just 18 points, before catching fire and winning seven straight games to reach the quarterfinals.
"There's no doubt (the tough non-district schedule) made us better last year," Jackson said. "We need to take it a week at a time and look to improve.
"Our kids know that every night they've got quality folks to play. It's critical for us to make the most of our time. We're one of those programs, too."
Offense
Center Bryson Oliver (180) is the only returning full-time starter on the line. Another returning starter is 6-foot-5 tight end Giles Montgomery (235), who earned second team all-district honors. Montgome-ry will share time at with Steven Reed (205), while Daniel Mc-Gee (170) will battle Oliver for playing time.
Zach Gilbert (239) is listed as the starting right guard while on the left side, Ty Palmer (243) has the early nod over Garrett Clayton (230) and An-dres Serrano (175). At the tackles, Josh Camacho (274) is currently listed as the starter on the right side and Kevin Jones (175) gets the nod on the left side. Chris Smith (165) is also competing for the right tackle slot and Josh Garza (218) and Britt Powell (185) are competing with Jones at left tackle.
Reid Bishop (185) steps in for three-year starter Mychal Car-rillo at quarterback to lead the Mustangs' offense, with Jeremy Thompson (138) and Joel Baker (175) also getting time at the position.
When you have a high school football program as successful as Sweetwater's, expectations are always high.
It's no different entering the 2003 season, even though the Mustangs lost several key play-ers from a team that was 10-4 and advanced to the state quar-terfinals for the first time since the 1997 campaign.
Only three starters are retur-ning on offense, but the picture is much rosier on the defensive side as seven players with start-ing experience are back.
Sweetwater -- which is ranked No. 14 in the state in Class 3A by Texas Football magazine -- will also count on the services of several players who spent last season on a JV squad that was undefeated for the second straight year.
The varsity teams at Sweet-water have a pretty good winning tradition going, too. Since 1984, the Mustangs have been to the playoffs 16 times and have won or shared the district title in 12 seasons, including last year when they were the co-champions with Snyder.
Most of that success came as a Class 4A school, but Sweetwa-ter is now 3-for-3 in making it to the playoffs in Class 3A.
The 2002 team was the first of the three to still be playing in December, however, and head coach Kent Jackson said his current players are eager to duplicate that feat.
"We got a taste of what De-cember ball was like last year, and we liked it," said Jackson, who has a 19-7 record in his first two seasons here. "We want to get back to that level."
To do that, Sweetwater must survive the same brutal sched-ule it had in 2002. It starts with five non-district games against teams who made the playoffs -- Vernon, Graham, Greenwood, Andrews and Wylie.
And Jackson expects another tough battle in District 3-3A. Sweetwater plays Snyder, La-mesa and Merkel at home this season, but also faces long trips to Denver City and Seminole.
"Everybody believes they've got a legitimate shot," Jackson said. "I think it will be extreme-ly competitive.
"The thing about preseason (non-district games) is to come out of it as healthy as we can. We know we've got to play four quarters every game."
Sweetwater started out 3-3 a year ago, with the three losses coming by a total of just 18 points, before catching fire and winning seven straight games to reach the quarterfinals.
"There's no doubt (the tough non-district schedule) made us better last year," Jackson said. "We need to take it a week at a time and look to improve.
"Our kids know that every night they've got quality folks to play. It's critical for us to make the most of our time. We're one of those programs, too."
Offense
Center Bryson Oliver (180) is the only returning full-time starter on the line. Another returning starter is 6-foot-5 tight end Giles Montgomery (235), who earned second team all-district honors. Montgome-ry will share time at with Steven Reed (205), while Daniel Mc-Gee (170) will battle Oliver for playing time.
Zach Gilbert (239) is listed as the starting right guard while on the left side, Ty Palmer (243) has the early nod over Garrett Clayton (230) and An-dres Serrano (175). At the tackles, Josh Camacho (274) is currently listed as the starter on the right side and Kevin Jones (175) gets the nod on the left side. Chris Smith (165) is also competing for the right tackle slot and Josh Garza (218) and Britt Powell (185) are competing with Jones at left tackle.
Reid Bishop (185) steps in for three-year starter Mychal Car-rillo at quarterback to lead the Mustangs' offense, with Jeremy Thompson (138) and Joel Baker (175) also getting time at the position.