KTJ
08-24-2004, 11:44 AM
Class 3A football countdown: No. 1 Gainesville
Championship repeat may depend on Purvey having another great season
10:32 PM CDT on Monday, August 23, 2004
By MATT JACOB / The Dallas Morning News
From his team's first meeting of the season, Gainesville coach Jeff Cordell has stressed one imperative: Do not dwell on the past. More than anything, he wants his players to forget about last season's run to the Class 3A Division I title and 15-0 record.
It's a new year, Cordell reminds his team, one in which everyone in Texas starts from scratch. And he's quick to add that includes Gainesville – no matter what prognosticators and the town's football faithful are saying.
High Schools
"The scuttlebutt is all about how Gainesville is supposed to win it all again," Cordell said, "but it's not something we want to get caught up in. Even though there are faces on this team that won a state title last year, the team as a whole has a totally different makeup."
Gainesville lost 22 lettermen from last season and returns only five starters. Cordell still believes this team has the right mixture of athleticism and experience to make another title run.
Headlining the list of returnees is senior running back Terrius Purvey, who rushed for 2,004 yards, tacked on another 108 yards receiving and had 33 touchdowns last season.
The expectations are high for Purvey, the featured runner in Gainesville's spread offense, to duplicate his efforts of 2003. He hopes to be an example for his teammates to emulate.
"Everyone really looks up at me, and they're going to follow me whatever I do," Purvey said.
Defensively, two starters return from a unit that allowed 190.3 yards and 8.9 points per game. Junior linebacker Jeremy Franklin has 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash and made a team-leading 125 tackles in 2003. Lineman Clint Stoffels will benefit from the playing time he saw last season, and defensive back Jerome Hewitt is strong in the secondary.
What remains an unknown is how Travis Sutton will take to being Gainesville's starting quarterback. Sutton was a third-string player last season. But Cordell said the offensive line is one of the best Gainesville has had in his five years with the team and should provide adequate protection.
E-mail mjacob@dallasnews.com
FAST FACTS
Nickname: Leopards
District: 6-3A
Coach: Jeff Cordell
Last season: 15-0, 6-0 in district; won Class 3A Division I state title, defeating Burnet, 35-24
THE SKINNY
STRENGTH
Speed: Quickness at every position will catch opponents off guard.
WEAKNESS
Experience: 22 lettermen graduated, and only five starters return.
BIGGEST GAME
vs. Forney, Sept. 17: Rematch of last season's state quarterfinal won by Gainesville, 24-21.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gainesville's state title and 15-0 record came in Jeff Cordell's first season as a head coach.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Terrius Purvey, 6-1, 185, Sr.: Accounted for 37 percent of team's yardage in '03.
LB Jeremy Franklin, 6-1, 190, Jr.: One of two returning starters on defense.
DL Clint Stoffels, 6-0, 225, Jr.: Speedy player will make rushing a tough task.
RB/DB Jerome Hewitt, 5-7, 150, Sr.: Athleticism will be critical on both sides of ball.
OL/DL Jeramey Hinkle, 6-2, 245, Jr.: Size, speed (5.1) make for good combination.
STATISTICS
Points per game: 40.1
Rush yards per game: 243.3
Pass yards per game: 137.3
Points allowed per game: 8.9
Rush yards allowed per game: 112.7
Pass yards allowed per game: 77.6
RETURNING LEADERS
RUSHING
Name Att. Yds. TDs
Terrius Purvey 220 2,004 32
PASSING
Name C-A-I Yds. TD
Travis Sutton 5-9-0 45 0
RECEIVING
Name No. Yds. TD
Terrius Purvey 9 108 1
TACKLES INTS.
Name No. Name No.
Jeremy Franklin 125 Jeremy Franklin 1
Jerome Hewitt
Dallas Morning News 3A Countdown
1.) Gainesville
2.) Kennedale
3.) Celina (2A)
4.) Quinlan Ford
5.) Pilot Point
6.) Italy (2A)
7.) Crandall
8.) Commerce
9.) Royse City
10.) Wilmer-Hutchins
Championship repeat may depend on Purvey having another great season
10:32 PM CDT on Monday, August 23, 2004
By MATT JACOB / The Dallas Morning News
From his team's first meeting of the season, Gainesville coach Jeff Cordell has stressed one imperative: Do not dwell on the past. More than anything, he wants his players to forget about last season's run to the Class 3A Division I title and 15-0 record.
It's a new year, Cordell reminds his team, one in which everyone in Texas starts from scratch. And he's quick to add that includes Gainesville – no matter what prognosticators and the town's football faithful are saying.
High Schools
"The scuttlebutt is all about how Gainesville is supposed to win it all again," Cordell said, "but it's not something we want to get caught up in. Even though there are faces on this team that won a state title last year, the team as a whole has a totally different makeup."
Gainesville lost 22 lettermen from last season and returns only five starters. Cordell still believes this team has the right mixture of athleticism and experience to make another title run.
Headlining the list of returnees is senior running back Terrius Purvey, who rushed for 2,004 yards, tacked on another 108 yards receiving and had 33 touchdowns last season.
The expectations are high for Purvey, the featured runner in Gainesville's spread offense, to duplicate his efforts of 2003. He hopes to be an example for his teammates to emulate.
"Everyone really looks up at me, and they're going to follow me whatever I do," Purvey said.
Defensively, two starters return from a unit that allowed 190.3 yards and 8.9 points per game. Junior linebacker Jeremy Franklin has 4.6-second speed in the 40-yard dash and made a team-leading 125 tackles in 2003. Lineman Clint Stoffels will benefit from the playing time he saw last season, and defensive back Jerome Hewitt is strong in the secondary.
What remains an unknown is how Travis Sutton will take to being Gainesville's starting quarterback. Sutton was a third-string player last season. But Cordell said the offensive line is one of the best Gainesville has had in his five years with the team and should provide adequate protection.
E-mail mjacob@dallasnews.com
FAST FACTS
Nickname: Leopards
District: 6-3A
Coach: Jeff Cordell
Last season: 15-0, 6-0 in district; won Class 3A Division I state title, defeating Burnet, 35-24
THE SKINNY
STRENGTH
Speed: Quickness at every position will catch opponents off guard.
WEAKNESS
Experience: 22 lettermen graduated, and only five starters return.
BIGGEST GAME
vs. Forney, Sept. 17: Rematch of last season's state quarterfinal won by Gainesville, 24-21.
DID YOU KNOW?
Gainesville's state title and 15-0 record came in Jeff Cordell's first season as a head coach.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
RB Terrius Purvey, 6-1, 185, Sr.: Accounted for 37 percent of team's yardage in '03.
LB Jeremy Franklin, 6-1, 190, Jr.: One of two returning starters on defense.
DL Clint Stoffels, 6-0, 225, Jr.: Speedy player will make rushing a tough task.
RB/DB Jerome Hewitt, 5-7, 150, Sr.: Athleticism will be critical on both sides of ball.
OL/DL Jeramey Hinkle, 6-2, 245, Jr.: Size, speed (5.1) make for good combination.
STATISTICS
Points per game: 40.1
Rush yards per game: 243.3
Pass yards per game: 137.3
Points allowed per game: 8.9
Rush yards allowed per game: 112.7
Pass yards allowed per game: 77.6
RETURNING LEADERS
RUSHING
Name Att. Yds. TDs
Terrius Purvey 220 2,004 32
PASSING
Name C-A-I Yds. TD
Travis Sutton 5-9-0 45 0
RECEIVING
Name No. Yds. TD
Terrius Purvey 9 108 1
TACKLES INTS.
Name No. Name No.
Jeremy Franklin 125 Jeremy Franklin 1
Jerome Hewitt
Dallas Morning News 3A Countdown
1.) Gainesville
2.) Kennedale
3.) Celina (2A)
4.) Quinlan Ford
5.) Pilot Point
6.) Italy (2A)
7.) Crandall
8.) Commerce
9.) Royse City
10.) Wilmer-Hutchins