Pigskin Preview 2009 Issue

TAPPS Division 3 District 3
Expectations High Again For District 3 Frontrunners
Clint Yeatts - KLTV 7 News
You might call last season a year of failed expectations. Both Brook Hill and Dallas Lutheran were expecting bigger things in 2008. At Brook Hill last
fall, there was lots of talk of bringing home a state title. Lutheran had high hopes too. But in the end, both teams fell short and now both programs are
vowing not to let that happen again.
Last year’s district champ and runner up both return a stable full of talent. The only big change in the two schools is at the coaching position at BH.
Terry Pirtle moves from Pine Tree ISD to take over the Guard’s private school program.
But there is also something brewing with the several other teams in this district. Both Shelton and All Saints have some experienced players returning.
But mark October 30th on your calendar. That’s when BH and Lutheran meet in what may be the district championship showdown and maybe even a
preview of what could lie ahead in the playoffs.
Brook Hill Guard
This time last year, then Brook Hill coach Jim Klaczak
said anything less than a state championship would be
a disappointment for the Guard.
BH had a great year but fell short of a state title ending
their year at 9-2.
In 2009 the expectations will be the same, but a new
face will be leading the Guard.
After 22 years in the public school system, the last as
offensive coordinator at Pine Tree, Terry Pirtle takes
over the program at Brook Hill.
For BH fans, that will be one of the few new faces this
season. Pirtle inherits a team that has a lot of young
players returning with a year of experience under their
belt.
“We’ve lost some depth on the offensive and defensive
line,” says Pirtle, “but most of our skill kids are back. I
think you can count on the same expectations in the
most people’s minds…the expectations are to be a
contender.”
He certainly has a great start toward that in Jeremy
Chaepplle. The senior that moved to BH last year,
was an All-State performer on defense. “Jeremy is a
pure athlete,” says Pirtle, “He is already getting some
looks from Division One schools. He’ll be relied on to
make plays on offense and defense.”
Pirtle will be moving Chappelle from linebacker to
safety and on offense, expect the ball to be up in the
air headed his way more than last year.
Junior Tyler Baker will run the offense at QB again. He
Garland Christian
Swordsmen
Rebuilding a program from the ground up is not an
easy job, but that’s what landed in the lap of head
coach Paul Johnston when he arrived at Garland
Christian last summer.
In the two previous seasons, the Swordsmen had
gone a combined 1-20. So last years 3-7 season that
included a trip to the playoffs was something new for
the Swordsmen.
Heading into 2009 the program is still nowhere close
was a 2nd team All-State performer at the position as
well as All-State on defense. “We are going to throw
the ball more,” says Pirtle, “we’ll be in the spread a lot,
but I’m a real multiple formation guy, so you’ll see a lot
of different looks.”
While graduation robbed the line on both sides of the
ball, a couple of “big” guys are back including 6’5” 280
pound lineman Heath Dickey.
On defense, you’ll see a lot of the same faces. In fact,
Pirtle has told his guys a lot of folks will be going both
ways this fall including Chappelle, Baker and Dickey.
Sophomore Ross Lee, who was the leading tackler
last season, will also be expected to lead the Guard
Defense.
But first things first…Coach Pirtle says he wants to
begin his time at Brook Hill with a change of mentality
inside the Guard locker room. “Coming from public
schools for 22 years, there are some things I want to
change, like a sense of urgency in workouts. Having
kids understand what practice is and how it correlates
to Friday nights. Trying to get that public school
mentality…something more of an edge. The public
school mentality is pretty hard core which is what
makes football in Texas great.”
A mentality that just might be the key in helping the
Guard meet their fans’ expectations in 2009.
Players to Watch
Jeremy Chappell Senior WR/S 6’3” 200
Tyler Baker Junior QB/S 5/10” 175
Tallen Harris Junior OL/LB 5’10” 195
Jamel Bell Senior RB/OLB 6’1” 180
to where Johnston wants it to be.
His quarterback Arron Peterson and his back-up were
both seniors. And Johnston says he has no idea who
can fill the job.
His only all district player, WR Matt Winkelmeyer
graduated as well leaving the stable awfully empty
at Garland Christian. “We are extremely, extremely
young and extremely inexperienced,” says Johnston,
“I’ve got some kids that are out here for the very first
time.”
Garland’s football program may be the victim of
success in other areas. With winning traditions in
Heath Dickey Senior OL/DL 6’5” 280
Courtney Thomas Senior OL/DL 6’6” 290
Ross Lee Soph RB/LB 5’9” 170
J.B. Moss Soph WR/K/CB 5’10” 160
Jared Dickey Soph WR/OLB 6’3” 195
Matt Ruark Junior RB/LB 6’1” 180
Zach Cool Senior RB/CB 5’11” 170
Mascot:
Guard
Headmaster:
Rod Fletcher
Student Enrollment: 180
Head Coach: Terry Pirtle
Returning Offensive Starters: 5
Returning Defensive Starters: 5
Schedule
8/28 Hawkins @All Saints 7:30
9/4 Open
9/11 San Augustine Away 7:30
9/18 Dallas Spruce Home 7:30
9/25 Big Sandy Away 7:30
10/2 Acadian Prep Home 7:30
10/9 *Garland Christian Away 7:30
10/16 *All Saints Away 7:30
10/23 *Dallas Shelton Home 7:30
10/30 *Dallas Lutheran Away 7:30
11/6 *Coram Deo Home 7:30
*denotes district games
baseball and basketball Johnston has found it difficult
to get some athletes to come out for football.
Joel Ramirez is one of the few returning seniors. He
should make an impact on the offensive and defensive
line. He along with senior Brian Mogish and junior Ben
Trotter are part of only a handful of returning starters.
Johnston says winning some district games and
making it to the playoffs was a positive way to end
2008. He hopes some of that winning attitude can
carry over when the Swordsmen hit the field come
August.
cont.
Garland Christian
Players to Watch
Brian Mogish Senior DL 5’4” 120
Joel Ramirz Senior OL/DL 6’1” 205
Ben Trotter Junior LB/RB 6’1” 185
Mascot:
Swordsmen
Student enrollment 125
Administrator: Linda Glassel
TAPPS Division 3 District 3
All Saints Trojans
All Saints Coach Mark Ackerman knew 2008 would
not be easy. With only 24 players out for football and
injuries early on, the season was a real challenge.
The Trojans finished the 2008 season at 3-7 playing
mostly freshman and seniors but this spring things are
looking up for this young football program.
38 players came out for spring ball, the most ever for
an All Saints season. And there would have been
more except the AS baseball team was out winning a
baseball state title during spring drills. While the senior
class is still pretty small, Coach Ackerman is excited
about his group of underclassmen.
“We will have a JV team for the first time. We are going
to try and keep our younger kids on the JV. Maybe
one or two will play up. We’ve got the chance now to
keep and build a real solid JV team.”
With more numbers comes more opportunity. In the
past, Coach Ackerman has had to create a quarterback.
This year sophomore Benjamin Taylor came out for
spring ball and coach thinks he has found a QB he can
build a program around. “Benjamin is a really good
athlete,” says Coach Ackerman, “this gives us a place
to start building for the next couple of years.”
Dallas Shelton
Chargers
The Chargers ended 2008 third in district. Coach
Phillip Carroll thinks a few less mental errors and
things would have been much different. “We were just
outplayed by Brook Hill,” says Carroll, “we made a lot
of mistakes against Lutheran. That has got to be our
priority this year, cutting down on mental errors.”
The Chargers did grab the third playoff spot but lost in
the first round to Carrolton Christian.
Shelton only loses four seniors off that team including
All-State punter Kevin Hardy and Quarterback Brent
Olsen.
While QB is still undecided for 2009, Coach Carroll
has some experience in other areas to work with this
season.
All-District linebacker Dylan Maxwell will be the key and
provide some senior leadership. He was captain as a
junior and should be key in the Chargers’ success.
Head Coach:
Paul Johnston
Returning Offensive Starters: 4
Returning Defensive Starters: 3
Schedule
8/28 Richardson Canyon Creek Home 7:30
9/4 Frisco Legacy Away 7:30
9/11 Colleyville Covenant Away 7:30
9/18 Carrolton Christian Home 7:30
There are only four seniors out for football but they
will be expected to help encourage their younger
teammates. Senior Harrison Jenkins will be a key
player on the offensive and defensive lines, while senior
Jay Harden will play a big role in the secondary.
They’ll be helping guys like sophomore linebacker
Hale Buckley navigate varsity football.
While the numbers are certainly encouraging, Coach
Ackerman is quick to point out the Trojans still have a
lot of work to do. “We want to win. We are not setting
state championship goals just yet but we know we can
win. We want to be the first AS team to win more than
4 games. And we want to be the first to make the
playoffs. These are goals I think we can achieve in
2009,” says Ackerman.
Players to Watch
Harrison Jenkins Senior OL/DE 6’3” 185
Brian Allen Junior OL/DE 5’11” 205
Jay Hardin Senior WR/DB 5’10” 160
Hale Buckley Soph RB/LB 5’10” 160
Mascot:
Headmaster:
Trojan
Art Burke
Expectations are pretty high this summer around the
Charger locker room. If they can stay healthy and cut
down the mistakes they may just do more than take
that third playoff spot come November.
Players to Watch
Dylan Maxwell Senior FB/LB 6’2” 220
Alyn Jackson Senior RB/LB 6’2” 220
James Mitchell Senior OL/DL 5’10” 220
Mark Gallemore Senior OL/DL 5’10” 230
Mascot
Charger
Head of School Susanne Stell
HS enrollment 200
Head Coach
Phillip Carroll
Returning Offensive Starters 7
Returning Defensive Starters 9
9/25 Open
10/2 McKinney Christian Home 7:30
10/9 *Brook Hill Home 7:30
10/16 *Dallas Shelton Away 7:30
10/23 *Dallas Lutheran Home 7:30
10/30 *Coram Deo Academy Away 7:30
11/6 *Tyler All Saints Away 7:30
*district games
HS Enrollment 195
Head Coach
Mark Ackerman
Returning Offensive Starters 6
Returning Defensive Starters 7
Schedule
8/29 Buffalo Home 2:00
9/4 Open
9/11 Timpson Away 7:30
9/18 Prince of Peace Away 7:30
9/25 Ft Worth Temple Home 7:30
10/2 Fruitvale Home 7:30
10/9 *Dallas Lutheran Away 7:30
10/16 *Brook Hill Home 7:30
10/23 *Coram Deo Away 7:30
10/30 *Dallas Shelton Home 7:30
11/6 *Garland Christian Home 7:30
*district games
Schedule
8/28 Arlington Oakridge Away 7:30
9/4 Richardson Canyon Creek Away 7:30
9/11 John Paul II Away 7:30
9/18 Ft Calvary Christian Away 7:30
9/25 Irving the Highlands Home 7:30
10/2 Open
10/9 *Coram Deo Home 7:30
10/16 *Garland Christian Home 7:30
1023 *Brook Hill Away 7:30
10/30 *All Saints Away 7:30
11/6 *Dallas Lutheran Home 7:30
*district games
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