Scoop27
08-28-2015, 12:53 PM
By EVAN DUNBAR evan.dunbar@thefacts.com | 0 comments
In his second season at the helm, Sweeny coach Joseph Olguin has plenty to be excited about when it comes to his Bulldogs.
But before aspirations of a district title can be realized, Olguin’s team needs to get past a tough Van Vleck Leopard squad that will compete for a district crown of its own in 13-3A Division II.
The teams will face off at 7:30 p.m. today at Burl McKinney stadium.
The Bulldogs and Leopards met in Olguin’s first game as head coach, with the Bulldogs taking a 32-12 victory. Despite the loss, Van Vleck went on to finish the season 9-4 and was a regional semifinalist.
Running back Elery Alexander returns for the Leopards, and he will have an experienced offensive line in front of him that includes Trent Frost, Joel Wamget and Zach Green. All three linemen earned all-district honors last year.
“They got some skill kids and they got some speed that we have to get a handle of and that we have to deal with,” Olguin said. “We went and watched them play Hitchcock (in a scrimmage) and that’s all I’ve seen of them. But they’re good.”
The biggest loss for the Bulldogs is starting quarterback Cody Erikson, who left the team to focus on baseball his senior year. With his departure, it seemed signal-caller duties would fall to Evan Green — but then a new face jumped into the mix.
Enter Angleton/Columbia transfer Kalen Williams, a two-way player for the Roughnecks a year ago who has turned the starting QB job into a battle.
“(Williams) has brought competition to the quarterback spot,” Olguin said. “We lost Cody to baseball and we respect his decision and stand by him 100 percent. We took a step back after that and now Kalen is giving Evan Green some competition.”
Olguin said he has not named a starter yet, and that the decision will be made at game-time Friday.
Who ever takes over under center will have an outstanding target to throw to in wide receiver Clayton Gilbert (6-foot, 170 pounds). He was the District 12-4A II newcomer of the year and the Brazoria county newcomer of the year last season.
“He is our most consistent wide receiver,” Olguin said. “He will have to lead us on the offensive side of the ball.”
On defense, senior Max McCleary (5-foot-10, 165) will lead the squad at middle linebacker.
“He’s our quarterback defensively and we need him to pick it up and play well,” Olguin said.
But more than anything in their first game, Olguin wants to see some consistency from his team in all three phases of the game.
“I’ve been preaching that we have to worry about what we’re doing,” Olguin said. We can’t just play one or two phases, we have to play all three. We have to put together a complete game.
“Last year one of the biggest things that hurt us was consistency,” he continued. “We have got to put some drives together and some defensive stops together and be consistent on both sides of the ball.”
This is the 21st matchup between the schools. Sweeny holds the edge in the series, 12-7-1, and has won the last six. Sweeny is 39-24-4 all-time in season openers.
In his second season at the helm, Sweeny coach Joseph Olguin has plenty to be excited about when it comes to his Bulldogs.
But before aspirations of a district title can be realized, Olguin’s team needs to get past a tough Van Vleck Leopard squad that will compete for a district crown of its own in 13-3A Division II.
The teams will face off at 7:30 p.m. today at Burl McKinney stadium.
The Bulldogs and Leopards met in Olguin’s first game as head coach, with the Bulldogs taking a 32-12 victory. Despite the loss, Van Vleck went on to finish the season 9-4 and was a regional semifinalist.
Running back Elery Alexander returns for the Leopards, and he will have an experienced offensive line in front of him that includes Trent Frost, Joel Wamget and Zach Green. All three linemen earned all-district honors last year.
“They got some skill kids and they got some speed that we have to get a handle of and that we have to deal with,” Olguin said. “We went and watched them play Hitchcock (in a scrimmage) and that’s all I’ve seen of them. But they’re good.”
The biggest loss for the Bulldogs is starting quarterback Cody Erikson, who left the team to focus on baseball his senior year. With his departure, it seemed signal-caller duties would fall to Evan Green — but then a new face jumped into the mix.
Enter Angleton/Columbia transfer Kalen Williams, a two-way player for the Roughnecks a year ago who has turned the starting QB job into a battle.
“(Williams) has brought competition to the quarterback spot,” Olguin said. “We lost Cody to baseball and we respect his decision and stand by him 100 percent. We took a step back after that and now Kalen is giving Evan Green some competition.”
Olguin said he has not named a starter yet, and that the decision will be made at game-time Friday.
Who ever takes over under center will have an outstanding target to throw to in wide receiver Clayton Gilbert (6-foot, 170 pounds). He was the District 12-4A II newcomer of the year and the Brazoria county newcomer of the year last season.
“He is our most consistent wide receiver,” Olguin said. “He will have to lead us on the offensive side of the ball.”
On defense, senior Max McCleary (5-foot-10, 165) will lead the squad at middle linebacker.
“He’s our quarterback defensively and we need him to pick it up and play well,” Olguin said.
But more than anything in their first game, Olguin wants to see some consistency from his team in all three phases of the game.
“I’ve been preaching that we have to worry about what we’re doing,” Olguin said. We can’t just play one or two phases, we have to play all three. We have to put together a complete game.
“Last year one of the biggest things that hurt us was consistency,” he continued. “We have got to put some drives together and some defensive stops together and be consistent on both sides of the ball.”
This is the 21st matchup between the schools. Sweeny holds the edge in the series, 12-7-1, and has won the last six. Sweeny is 39-24-4 all-time in season openers.