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Pigskin Preview 2009 Issue

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Sulphur Springs<br />

Wildcats<br />

If the country did not know where Sulphur Springs,<br />

Texas was before 2008, last season most certainly put<br />

the city on the US football map.<br />

Led by a full arsenal of talent, the Wildcats won the<br />

Class 4A Division II state championship in 2008. It<br />

was the first state championship in football in Sulphur<br />

Springs school history.<br />

The Wildcats were 14-2 and the runner up in District<br />

13-4A behind state finalist Longview.<br />

“Anything happens in the playoffs, that’s what I really<br />

learned last season,” Coach Greg Owens said. “We<br />

happened to get better as the year progressed. Every<br />

ballgame we got more and more explosive and were<br />

difficult to defend.”<br />

At the helm of the championship team were star<br />

quarterback Tyrik Rollison, defensive end Colton<br />

Nash and running back Ryan Young. Rollison will<br />

play college ball at Auburn University this fall, with<br />

Nash playing for the Arkansas Razorbacks and Young<br />

suiting up for Air Force.<br />

Coach Greg Owens knows that type of talent on one<br />

roster is rare and said those caliber of players cannot<br />

be replaced.<br />

“We’ve got some big shoes to fill,” Owens said.<br />

“Tyrik, Ryan and Colton, Those guys were big time<br />

playmakers, those kids brought such leadership to the<br />

team.”<br />

However Owens’ loss is cushioned by the return of 12<br />

starters in <strong>2009</strong>.<br />

“I’m excited about the crew we have coming back.<br />

They are athletic but need some experience as far as<br />

playing on Friday nights.”<br />

Filling the role of quarterback this season will be<br />

Colton Lee. The 6’4” senior was a backup the last two<br />

seasons.<br />

“He doesn’t have a whole lot of Friday night experience,<br />

District 13-4A<br />

got the he’s got the ability and he’s a great athlete that<br />

can run,” Owens explained. “He’s just going to have to<br />

learn to read defenses and put the ball where it needs<br />

to go.”<br />

Owens has several Division I recruits on his roster.<br />

Senior Bryant Jackson verbally committed to play<br />

defensive back at the University of Texas. Bryant had<br />

100 tackles and five interceptions for Sulphur Springs<br />

in 2008 and also plays at wide receiver.<br />

“He’s a 6’4” kid that can run and gives you that height<br />

to go out and cover receivers,” Owens said. “He’s very<br />

athletic. He went to regionals in the long and triple<br />

jump. We will play him on both sides of the ball. He’s<br />

every explosive on offense.”<br />

Receiver Shane McQueen is back for what the<br />

Wildcats hope to be another standout season. In 2008<br />

on 47 receptions, McQueen had 15 touchdowns and<br />

972 receiving yards. On defense, linebacker Tyler<br />

Higginbotham returns after racking up 133 sacks and<br />

a total of 180 tackles in 2008.<br />

Last year’s air attack was a major threat to opponents.<br />

Owens said their game will be more varied this<br />

season.<br />

“We were pass heavy last year mostly because of the<br />

athletes we had out on the field. Next year most of the<br />

linemen are back and we are going, so we are going to<br />

lean on them. We’re going to do whatever is working<br />

at the time.”<br />

On the offensive line, Beau Carpenter is heavily<br />

recruited by schools including Texas Tech, Oklahoma<br />

State, Kansas, Missouri, and the SEC has jumped in<br />

with Vanderbilt in pursuit.<br />

Also helping to anchor the line is Mason Y’Barbo<br />

who has had offers from Northwestern Louisiana and<br />

Houston.<br />

”These two guys will definitely be our leadership and<br />

give us protection while also giving us the ability to<br />

open up holes.”<br />

“It’s going to be a good year for us,” Owens said. “Our<br />

kids have to step up and rise to the challenge, the<br />

district has not changed.”<br />

Players To Watch<br />

Bryant Jackson Senior DB/WR 6’4” 180<br />

Shane McQueen Senior WR 5’10” 165<br />

Mason Y’Barbo Senior OL 6’2” 300<br />

Beau Carpenter Senior OL 6’6” 240<br />

Kedrick Dial Senior DE 6’5” 220<br />

Tyler Higginbotham Senior LB 6’0” 210<br />

Colby Suggs Senior OL 6’0” 240<br />

Triston Crook Senior DB 5’10” 160<br />

Sharard Timmons Junior DB/WR 6’2” 170<br />

Mascot:<br />

Wildcats<br />

Student Enrollment: 1082<br />

Superintendent: Patsy Bolton<br />

Head Coach: Greg Owens (5th Year)<br />

Returning Offensive Starters 6<br />

Returning Defensive Starters 6<br />

Schedule<br />

8/28 Paris Away 7:30<br />

9/4 Whitehouse Home 7:30<br />

9/11 Wichita Falls Rider Away 7:30<br />

9/18 Mesquite Poteet @Memorial 7:30<br />

9/25 Pine Tree* Home 7:30<br />

10/2 Longview* Away 7:30<br />

10/9 Texas High* Home 7:30<br />

10/16 OPEN<br />

10/23 Mount Pleasant* Away 7:30<br />

10/30 Marshall* Home 7:30<br />

11/6 Hallsville* Away 7:30<br />

*district games<br />

Texas High Tigers<br />

Schedule<br />

8/28 John Tyler Home 7:30<br />

9/4 Lake Hamilton Home 7:30<br />

Pine Tree Pirates<br />

It’s a new era at Pine Tree as Huey Chancellor takes<br />

over as head coach. Chancellor will have to deal with<br />

maybe the top district in the state of Texas.<br />

The Pirates hope to improve on a two win season and<br />

last place finish in district. Pine Tree was low on wins,<br />

but is not low on talent in <strong>2009</strong>.<br />

Senior Tyler Kids is the Pirates version of ‘slash.’ Kids<br />

played a key role on offense, defense and special<br />

teams in 2008.<br />

Pine Tree has good size on the offensive line that<br />

should help them against a physical schedule.<br />

“We hope to bring a new energy and some excitement<br />

to Pine Tree.”<br />

Players to Watch<br />

Tyler Kids Senior DB 6’1’’/185<br />

Steven Hawkins Senior DL 6’0’’ 240<br />

Niko Welch Senior OL 6’2’’ 240<br />

District 13-4A<br />

9/11 Arkansas High Away 8:00<br />

9/18 OPEN<br />

9/25 Longview* Home 7:30<br />

10/2 OPEN<br />

10/9 Sulphur Springs* Away 7:30<br />

Breynon Henderson Senior LB 6’0’’ 195<br />

Justin Hopkins Junior OL 6’0’’ 270<br />

Mascot:<br />

Pirates<br />

Student Enrollment: 1420<br />

Superintendent: Lynn Whitaker<br />

Head Coach: Huey Chancellor<br />

Returning Offensive Starters 4<br />

Returning Defensive Starters 6<br />

Schedule<br />

8/28 Pleasant Grove Away 7:30<br />

9/4 Paris Home 7:30<br />

9/11 Lindale Home 7:30<br />

9/18 Paris North Lamar Away 7:30<br />

9/25 Sulphur Springs* Away 7:30<br />

10/2 Mount Pleasant* Home 7:30<br />

10/9 Marshall* Away 7:30<br />

10/16 Mount Pleasant* Home 7:30<br />

10/23 Marshall* Away 7:30<br />

10/30 Hallsville* Home 7:30<br />

11/6 Pine Tree* Away 7:30<br />

*district games<br />

10/16 Hallsville* Home 7:30<br />

10/23 OPEN<br />

10/29 Longview* Home 7:30<br />

11/6 Texas High* Home 7:30<br />

*district games<br />

13 4-A Pre-Season<br />

Coaches’ Poll<br />

1. Longview<br />

2. Texas High<br />

3. Sulphur Springs<br />

4. Marshall<br />

5. Hallsville<br />

6. Mount Pleasant<br />

7. Pine Tree<br />

TriniTy MoTher Frances healTh and FiTness cenTer<br />

New Name<br />

for Us<br />

Texas High Tigers<br />

The Texas High Tigers always seem to be a<br />

playoff contender. In <strong>2009</strong>, the Tigers hope to be a<br />

championship contender. Only nine starters return<br />

from last year’s nine win team, but they’re important<br />

starters. With quarterback Nathan Sorenson leading<br />

the offense, the Tigers should be explosive on<br />

offense.<br />

“I think so,” Coach Barry Norton said. “Having two<br />

years under his (Nathan) belt. This year he was on<br />

a state championship relay team and state baseball<br />

team. That experience is going to help him. I really<br />

expect a lot from him. He gives us a chance to win<br />

every time.”<br />

Sorenson, who has committed to Oklahoma State,<br />

accounted for 25 touchdowns as a junior. The Tigers<br />

could be the district’s best chance at stopping the<br />

Longview Lobos.<br />

“You’d be foolish not to pick Longview as the favorite,”<br />

Norton said. “Sometimes the favorite doesn’t win.<br />

We’re not going to hand them the trophy.”<br />

Norton adds that the team hopes to make it past the<br />

second round of playoffs for the first time since 2006.<br />

“We had a lot of injuries last year,” he said. “If<br />

we stay healthy this year, we can compete for a<br />

championship.”<br />

Players To Watch<br />

Nathan Sorenson Senior QB 6’3” 210<br />

Montrae Williams Senior WR/DB 6’0” 180<br />

Cody Sutton Junior RB 5’9” 160<br />

Telvin Wilson Senior RB/LB 5’9” 188<br />

Eric Stewart Senior OL 5’9” 248<br />

Marlon Cooks Senior DT 6’0” 2778<br />

Tarrell Beasley Senior WR/DB 6’0” 175<br />

Mascot:<br />

Tigers<br />

Student Enrollment: 1,800<br />

Superintendent: James Henry Russell<br />

Head Coach: Barry Norton (11th Year)<br />

Returning Starters on Offense: 5<br />

Returning Starters on Defense: 4<br />

cont.<br />

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25

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