2011 schedule - MediaSpan

THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011
FOOTBALL 2011
AMERICAN PRESS
15
SAM
HOUSTON
Sam Houston steps up in class
New coach
takes team
to Class 5A
RACHEL WHITTAKER
AMERICAN PRESS
Sam Houston will have a
new look in several different
ways this season, beginning
with the team moving up to
Class 5A.
Challenges abound for the
District
3-5A
Broncos this year
with only two
returning starters
on offense and two
BRAD PUCKETT / AMERICAN PRESS
Sam Houston has several key departures to overcome in its first season in Class 5A. Pictured with first-year head
coach Vaughn Eggleston are, clockwise from top left, Tanner Stewart, Jacob Decker, Evan Campbell and Eric
Peterson.
on defense. New head coach
Vaughn Eggleston, the
Broncos’ offensive line coach
from 2006-10, said his team is
“a work in progress” after the
departure of several key players,
including quarterback/
defensive back/punter Evan
Powell, last season’s leading
tackler Justin Chesson and
running back Osha Jackson.
“It’s no secret our district
will be tough,” said
Eggleston, who was also on
the coaching staff at Sam
Houston from 1984-85. “These
teams are constantly in the
mix for playoff runs. We have
a ways to go as far as being
able to compete in our district.”
Junior Matt Mixon will be
under center for the Broncos
this season. The 5-foot-11, 175-
pound quarterback will have
a tall task ahead of him to
replace the versatile Powell,
who passed for 1,403 yards in
2010, No. 2 among area Class
4A schools. He also rushed for
443 yards and 15 touchdowns.
At safety, Powell also led
the Broncos with three interceptions,
one returned for a
touchdown.
“Powell was a force everywhere
on the field,” Eggleston
said. “He will certainly be
missed. For [Mixon], everything
will make more sense
when he starts competing.
He’ll need to work on managing
the offense and correcting
formation miscues.”
Jackson transferred to
Washington-Marion after
rushing for 1,443 yards and 19
touchdowns, averaging 7.6
yards per carry.
The incoming starter at
tailback will be junior Tyrell
Jones, who recorded 135 rushing
yards last season.
“Tyrell is our guy,”
Eggleston said. “He was certainly
ready as a sophomore.”
Mixon will have one veteran
starter back on the offensive
line in senior right tackle
Jacob Decker (6-4, 275) and a
returning tight end/wide
receiver Tanner Stewart.
Stewart finished last season
with 18 catches for 234 yards
and two touchdowns, second
behind Donovan Landry on
the Sam Houston squad.
Eggleston said Decker and
Stewart’s presence is great
See BRONCOS, Page 17