Football Preview 2009 - Wise County Messenger

FootballPreview2009Wise CountyMessengerThursday, Aug. 27page 3Offense will be key to Alvord’s fight for the playoffsLast year’s record:6-4, 2-3 in districtReturning lettermen: 16Offensive starters: 5Defensive starters: 5y TRAVIS MEASLEYThe Alvord Bulldogstarted fall practice with arand new coach, albeit aamiliar face, and lingeringuestions about the possiilityof getting back to thelass 2A state playoffs afterissing them in 2008 withdisappointing district reordof 2-3. After the disrictand former head coachike Chaney split waysarlier this summer, theead job was turned over toefensive coordinator Doneweber.“I think the transition haseen going really well thusar,” Deweber said. “All thether coaches (except one)ere able to stay on and weidn’t change too much anyf the terminology. The kidseem to have respondeduite well thus far.”Coach Deweber wants tomaintain most of the structurethat brought the Bulldogssuccess in the past byrunning the football outAlvord varsity football teamPlayer Position Weight Class2 Trevor Hartfield QB/DB 175 Sr5 L.J. Phillips Rec/DB 145 Sr7 Tyler Choat Rec/DB 160 Sr8 Jesse Browne FB/LB 160 Soph9 Austin Bowen Rec/DB 160 Jr10 Bryan Weaver Rec/DB 140 Jr11 Colton Redman RB/DB 165 Jr13 Ethan Gardiner Rec/DB 165 Sr16 Stephen Talamantes TE/LB 170 Jr17 Luis Maldonado QB/DB 145 Jr22 Jeremy Browne Rec/DB 170 Sr23 T.J. Houston RB/LB 185 Jr24 Tanner Bowen Rec/LB 170 Sr29 Dustin Piercy TE/DL 165 Jr32 Dylan Barclay FB/LB 185 Sr38 Cody Harrison RB/DB 165 Jr50 Luke Haak OL/LB 190 Sr51 Colby Burdine OL/DL 185 Sr54 Clay Hopkins OL/LB 165 Jr56 Hunter Sereika C/DL 160 Jr59 Dalton King OL/DL 200 Jr62 Trevor Chandler OL/DL 190 Jr64 Dustin Stachowiak OL/DL 200 Sr68 Grant Biediger OL/LB 165 Sr70 Cory Rogers OL/DL 220 Sr74 Justin McMann OL/DL 200 Sr76 Elijah Gardiner OL/DL 200 Sr77 Colton Archa OL/DL 220 Sr79 Taylor Foster OL/DL 180 JrCoaches: Don Deweber, Ron Holson, Lane Wilson,Quinten Berend, Mike Virden, Larry Hicksof the I-formation. Fansmight see a little more ofthe spread offense, however,as the coaching staff triesto better utilize offensiveweapons, centered aroundsenior quarterback andreturning starter TrevorHartfield.In his third year on varsityand his second year asstarting quarterback, Hartfield(6-1, 185 pounds) isin position to have anothergreat season and push theBulldogs to a playoff berth.Hartfield has the ability tobeat teams with his armand his legs, and in his seniorseason, he should havethe football intelligence tomake some stellar plays forAlvord.“Trevor is a good playerand is going to have to carrythe load for us offensively,”Deweber said. “He knowsthe offense and has pickedup the subtle changes reallywell. We are looking for himto have a breakout year.”Hartfield showcased hisarm during two-a-days, andopposing defenses could seemuch more aerial ball movementfrom the Bulldogs thisseason than in previousyears.Last year, the Bulldogsrelied on senior workhorseShane Watkins to carry theload for the offense, andWatkins produced gameafter game until sustainingan injury. This year, theBulldogs will have somenew faces in the backfield,and Deweber hopes that afew young tailbacks can fillin the hole left by Watkins.Colton Redman will carrymost of the load for the Bulldogsat running back. Atonly 165 pounds, the juniorwon’t be the bruising backthat Watkins was, but hewill be able to use his speedto be productive. Coacheshave also noticed the timehe spent in the weight roomthis summer, and Redmanhas looked very solid in fallpractice.Cody Harrison, a juniorvarsity standout for Alvordlast year, is returning fromoffseason ACL surgery andwill be a good secondarytailback to give Redman abreak. Dylan Barclay willContinued on page 5