1971Coogs
08-25-2013, 08:15 AM
Galveston County Daily News
Posted: Sunday, August 25, 2013 12:15 am
By John DeLapp
LA MARQUE — District 24-3A may be small, but it is mighty.
Last year, the five-team district saw three squads go deep into the playoffs, with La Marque and Stafford reaching the regional semifinals and Columbia making it to the area round.
This season, La Marque looks to once again be the front-runner, thanks largely to its 12 returning starters and sizable depth, which gives Coach Mike Jackson the luxury of having players who don’t have to pull double duty on offense and defense.
Stafford finished third in 2012 and has a good chance to move up a notch this season.
Leading the way for the Spartans will be running back Adrian Seales, who is the real deal. Last season he rushed for 1,958 yards and caught passes for another 67 on his way to scoring 22 touchdowns. This year he looks to do more damage.
At Columbia, which placed second last season, the Roughnecks were hit pretty hard by graduation and only bring back two starters on each side of the ball, but there are some impact players who likely will push the Roughnecks back into the playoffs.
Defensive end Dennis Moody had 75 tackles last year and his size and speed (6-2, 210, 4.8) gives him the quickness to chase down runners and the bulk to bring them down.
Likewise, quarterback Jarius Kesee is another player to watch for the Roughnecks. He was a first-team all-district selection at wide receiver last year but has made the move under center this season. If he excels at the new position, look for Columbia to make serious noise down the stretch.
Houston KIPP Sunnyside has an eye-popping 22 starters back. Unfortunately, the Senators went 1-9 last season with oh-fer in District 24-3A.
Sweeny is a team with familiar faces in different places.
Dorland Fields served as quarterback last year in the pistol formation and accounted for eight touchdowns on the ground and six more through the air. This season, however, he will just line up at running back.
Jeoffrey Montalvo showed good hands at tight end, but is sliding over to tackle this time around.
Sweeny does have some bright spots, however. Running back Crayg Smith gained 1,318 yards last season in a solid effort, while free safety Sterling Reed picked off three passes.
Fast Facts
.Houston KIPP Sunnyside
Last Year’s Record: 1-9, 0-4
Home Field: KIPP AIM Foundation Field, 10711 Kipp Way, Houston
Enrollment: 520
Offensive returners: Eleven
Defensive returners: Eleven
Key Returners: RB Crayg Smith, WR Lawrence Mallet, FS Sterling Reed
Stafford
Last Year’s Record: 6-6, 2-2
Home Field: Spartan Stadium, 1625 Staffordhire Road, Stafford
Enrollment: 946
Offensive returners: Four
Defensive returners: Six
Key Returners: RB Adrian Seales, RB Bryan Imarezor, DL Taylor Givens
Sweeny
Last Year’s Record: 3-7, 1-3
Home Field: Bulldog Stadium, 1310 N. Elm St., Sweeny
Enrollment: 593
Offensive returners: Four
Defensive returners: Three
Key Returners: RB Dorland Fields, OL Jeoffrey Montalvo, LB Phillip Higgins
Columbia
Last Year’s Record: 8-4, 3-1
Home Field: Griggs Field, Roughneck Drive, West Columbia
Enrollment: 817
Offensive returners: Two
Defensive returners: Two
Key Returners: QB Jarius Kesee, WR Brandon Harris, DE Dennis Moody
La Marque
Last Year’s Record: 11-2, 4-0
Home Field: Etheredge Stadium, Magnolia Drive and Howell Avenue, La Marque
Enrollment: 741
Offensive returners: Eight
Defensive returners: Four
Key Returners: QB LaDarrian Ellis-Jones, WR Demetrius James
Posted: Sunday, August 25, 2013 12:15 am
By John DeLapp
LA MARQUE — District 24-3A may be small, but it is mighty.
Last year, the five-team district saw three squads go deep into the playoffs, with La Marque and Stafford reaching the regional semifinals and Columbia making it to the area round.
This season, La Marque looks to once again be the front-runner, thanks largely to its 12 returning starters and sizable depth, which gives Coach Mike Jackson the luxury of having players who don’t have to pull double duty on offense and defense.
Stafford finished third in 2012 and has a good chance to move up a notch this season.
Leading the way for the Spartans will be running back Adrian Seales, who is the real deal. Last season he rushed for 1,958 yards and caught passes for another 67 on his way to scoring 22 touchdowns. This year he looks to do more damage.
At Columbia, which placed second last season, the Roughnecks were hit pretty hard by graduation and only bring back two starters on each side of the ball, but there are some impact players who likely will push the Roughnecks back into the playoffs.
Defensive end Dennis Moody had 75 tackles last year and his size and speed (6-2, 210, 4.8) gives him the quickness to chase down runners and the bulk to bring them down.
Likewise, quarterback Jarius Kesee is another player to watch for the Roughnecks. He was a first-team all-district selection at wide receiver last year but has made the move under center this season. If he excels at the new position, look for Columbia to make serious noise down the stretch.
Houston KIPP Sunnyside has an eye-popping 22 starters back. Unfortunately, the Senators went 1-9 last season with oh-fer in District 24-3A.
Sweeny is a team with familiar faces in different places.
Dorland Fields served as quarterback last year in the pistol formation and accounted for eight touchdowns on the ground and six more through the air. This season, however, he will just line up at running back.
Jeoffrey Montalvo showed good hands at tight end, but is sliding over to tackle this time around.
Sweeny does have some bright spots, however. Running back Crayg Smith gained 1,318 yards last season in a solid effort, while free safety Sterling Reed picked off three passes.
Fast Facts
.Houston KIPP Sunnyside
Last Year’s Record: 1-9, 0-4
Home Field: KIPP AIM Foundation Field, 10711 Kipp Way, Houston
Enrollment: 520
Offensive returners: Eleven
Defensive returners: Eleven
Key Returners: RB Crayg Smith, WR Lawrence Mallet, FS Sterling Reed
Stafford
Last Year’s Record: 6-6, 2-2
Home Field: Spartan Stadium, 1625 Staffordhire Road, Stafford
Enrollment: 946
Offensive returners: Four
Defensive returners: Six
Key Returners: RB Adrian Seales, RB Bryan Imarezor, DL Taylor Givens
Sweeny
Last Year’s Record: 3-7, 1-3
Home Field: Bulldog Stadium, 1310 N. Elm St., Sweeny
Enrollment: 593
Offensive returners: Four
Defensive returners: Three
Key Returners: RB Dorland Fields, OL Jeoffrey Montalvo, LB Phillip Higgins
Columbia
Last Year’s Record: 8-4, 3-1
Home Field: Griggs Field, Roughneck Drive, West Columbia
Enrollment: 817
Offensive returners: Two
Defensive returners: Two
Key Returners: QB Jarius Kesee, WR Brandon Harris, DE Dennis Moody
La Marque
Last Year’s Record: 11-2, 4-0
Home Field: Etheredge Stadium, Magnolia Drive and Howell Avenue, La Marque
Enrollment: 741
Offensive returners: Eight
Defensive returners: Four
Key Returners: QB LaDarrian Ellis-Jones, WR Demetrius James