Countdown to kickoff: Everman Bulldogs
By Brian Gosset
bgosset@star-telegram.com
District 8-5A

Last season: 8-4 (5-2 in District 8-4A)

Key players: QB Mike Boone (5-8, 175), RB Kierre Crossley (5-8, 170), WR Darrion Norris (6-0, 165), DE Charles Badger (5-9, 175), FS Leonard Peele (6-0, 165).

The big picture: Making the playoffs seems to come naturally for the Bulldogs, who have made 15 straight postseason appearances, a streak that began in 1999. Everman has won two state titles and had two other state semifinal appearances, coach Dale Keeling is looking to give the school another deep run. “We had a down year, even at 8-4, but we’re looking to get better and make a deeper run this season,” Keeling said. The Bulldogs defeated Fort Worth Southwest in the first round of the playoffs, but lost 31-28 to Wichita Falls. “We were young last season;
we’re just trying to get better and win more playoff games,” Keeling said. The Bulldogs have 16 returning starters, eight on each side of the ball. Leading the way is running back Kierre Crossley, who rushed for 1,500 yards in 2013. “We’re expecting greater things. He’s such a good running back and we have high hopes for him. He’s a great kid,” Keeling said.

Quotable: “All our players are important to us. They all play a big part of our team. We have eight starters returning on offense and defense, we have a great quarterback in Mike Boone, three fullbacks and a lot of experience ... so we have plenty of depth.” — coach Dale Keeling

“We’re real familiar with all the teams we’re playing this season. We know who Aledo is and what they do in football. It’s going to be a real competitive district this year.” — Keeling

Notable: Everman begins the season at Fort Worth Nolan Catholic and ends at Burleson. The Bulldogs play three straight at home from Sept. 5-26 (Southwest, Stephenville, Burleson Centennial), and goes to Aledo on Oct. 10, a matchup between schools with six state titles combined in the last 13 years (Everman 2001, 2002; Aledo 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013). New teams on the schedule are Aledo, Stephenville and Granbury.

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