Football Preview 2009 - Wise County Messenger

9-2A District PreviewJacksboro TigersLast year’s record:6-5, 4-1 in districtReturning lettermen: 10Offensive starters: 2Defensive starters: 1The Tigers made the most of all oftheir veterans last year en route toupsetting Boyd and advancing to thestate playoffs.However, making the playoffs thisyear will require a lot of improvementfrom a lot of new faces as Jacksborolost 19 of its 22 starters. To makethings even more interesting, theteam has only 50 players to dividebetween varsity and JV teams.The only two starters back onoffense are likely the two best athleteson the team. Senior linemanTyler Batey (6-2, 275) is one of thebest in District 9-2A and will be theleader of a line that will be small andinexperienced.The good news for the Tigers isthat the offense will be guided byone of the area’s top quarterbacksin Kole Weldon (6-3, 220). The senioris the leading returning passerin the district as he threw for 1,277yards and seven touchdowns.Every other position on offenseis up for grabs. Likely to take overat running back for Logan Gunter isjunior Casey Pierce.The rest of the spread offense hasnot been decided as all the receivershave to be replaced with a thintalent pool.Defensively, the only returningstarter is linebacker Rowdy Thomas.The 5-11, 210-pound senior has 4.9speed and will be the featured playeron a young defense.Millsap BulldogsLast year’s record:5-5, 1-4 in districtReturning lettermen: 15Offensive starters: 7Defensive starters: 7The Bulldogs ended five years offrustration in 2008 by posting theirfirst winning season. They have plentyof reasons to expect to be evenbetter this year as seven startersare back on each side of the ball.The biggest difference last yearwas big improvement on offensewhere Trey Matthews starred atquarterback. Although he graduated,the Bulldogs feel like theywon’t miss a beat as Zeb Littlefieldis slated to take over under center.The sophomore has a good arm, andhe can run with the ball.The running back spot is in goodhands as junior Mat Callan (5-10,175) will be back in the saddle afterrunning for 590 yards and seventouchdowns last season. SeniorChris Hicks will move around on offenseas he lines up in the backfieldas well as at the receiver spot wherehe had 405 yards in the air a yearago.The Bulldogs will have to findmore receivers to complement thepassing game if they want to bein the playoff hunt in the final twoweeks of the season.The offensive line has two talentedplayers back in junior Kyle Gooch(6-2, 230) and Daymen Hinrichs (6-1, 225) but must find another tackleand a center to make things easierfor Littlefield and Callan.DHSProudly SupportsProudly SupportsAll l DecaturAthletic ProgramsWe Support Eachand Every One ofOur Wise CountyTeams!940-627-5343800 A Medical Ctr. Dr.in Decatur✔EASE✔VALUE✔SELECTION✔SERVICE115 S. Trinity, Decatur 940- 627-5987Public Fax 940-627-1004 OPEN 7:30-5:30 Monday-FridayOrder On-line: messengerofficesupply.comSchool SuppWHY STANDIN LINE JUSTTO PAY MORE?pplies“Just South of The Courthouse”