Pigskin Preview 2009 Issue

VAN VANDALS
Head coach Brady Pennington is not used to not
winning. “The last seasons have been tough,” said
Pennington. After a three season absence from the
post-season, the Vandals rammed their way to a district
title in 2008, and three rounds deep into the playoffs.
“We had missed the playoffs the previous 3 seasons,
so to get back and do well, that really lit a spark under
our kids.”
That spark will remain lit. The Vandals will run out 6
starters on offense and 7 on defense that are back from
the 11-2 squad in 2008.
“We lost three starting lineman, and that will hurt, but we
bring back two that were just great for us, with Devon
(Pickard) and Nick (McLean) their experience will help
us a ton.”
Pickard and McLean will help anchor a line that will
protect all-everything quarterback Tyler Sharpe. Sharpe
was a mainstay behind center, throwing for nearly
2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns; all that, in a run-based
system. “Tyler makes this offense go, with him, we have
gotten away a bit from the run-based attack that Van is
used to and with him, we can do whatever we want.”
Sharpe isn’t alone on offense. The Vandals will see
running backs Chase Rabe and Michael Terry back to
the squad. The two rushed for over 1,500 combined
yards last year in spot duties.2009 may offer something
a bit different to Van fans, the run-based Vandals, are
going to open it up. “Trust me, we are not abandoning
the run, it is just now with Tyler playing the way he is,
District 14-3A District 14-3A
we can open it up more, but when we need to, we will
go smash mouth.”
Sharpe will have no shortage of targets, along with
wide receiver Joey McMinn, tight end Jacoby Alexander
are sure to put up big numbers when the Vandals put
it in the air. “We can score, no doubt about that,” said
Pennington.
They can also stop the score; the Vandals see seven
starters run back on defense, which include Alexander
and McMinn, combine that with the return of cornerback
Tye Hughes and defensive linemen Ryan Wigley and
Chris Leiser, the Vandals are primed for another big
year.
Just don’t tell Pennington that his team, are the district
favorites.
“We have been picked first before and missed the
playoffs, and we have been picked towards the bottom
and made the playoffs, so the pre-season rankings are
irrelevant.”
Players to Watch
Tyler Sharpe Senior QB
Chase Rabe Senior RB/LB
Michael Terry Junior RB/FS
Joey McMInn Senior WR/OLB
Jacoby Alexander Senior TE/DT
Tye Hughes Senior WR/DB
Seth Potter Senior WR/DB
Addison Neal Senior TE/DB
Matthew Broadbent Senior LB/FB
Ryan Wigley Senior DT
Devon Pickard Senior C
Tori Parsons Junior WR/DB
Chris Leiser Senior OL/DL
Mascot:
Vandals
Student Enrollment: 692
Superintendent: Joddie Witte
Head Coach: Brady Pennington
Returning Offensive Starters 6
Returning Defensive Starters 7
Schedule
8/27 Grand Saline Home 7:30
9/4 Rusk Home 7:30
9/11 Palestine Away 7:30
9/18 Mabank Away 7:30
9/25 Spring Hill Home 7:30
10/2 OPEN
10/9 *Kemp Away 7:30
10/16 *Mineola Home 7:30
10/23 *Wills Point Away 7:30
10/30 *Canton Home 7:30
11/6 *Eustace Away 7:30
*district games
WILLS POINT TIGERS
Year one for Kevin Garvin and the Tigers was not easy,
nor did it produce the type of success the program
wanted. A 1-9 record left Wills Point in last and
wondering where to start for 2009.
“It was tough last year, we struggled the whole season,
but we expected there would be growing pains, and
now that we are through them, we can focus on
improving,” said Garvin.
But brighter days will are on the way on Hwy 64, the
Tigers are primed for an improvement, and possibly a
playoff run. Wills Point will return half of their starters
on offense and defense, giving Garvin the nucleus to
start with.
Quarterback Trent Jurica will return to man the show
behind center, giving the Tigers experience in the
backfield.
“We have some guys that can catch the ball, and
with Trent getting a full ten games last year as a
sophomore, it can only improve the way our offense
moves the ball.”
Kemp head coach Greg Anderson said about the
Tigers, “They (Wills Point) had chances last season,
they played a lot of teams tough and they will be ready
to go next year. They will not be a team that is easily
handled.”
Behind Jurica, Cyle Henderson will line up at running
back, and Jurica will have all sorts of weapons on the
edge, as the Tigers return a plethora of wide receivers
able to produce, including Steven Cunigan, Junior
Hamilton and Marquis Burch, along with tight-end Alex
Anderson.
Defensively, the focus will turn to the big boys up
front. Both Joseph Gray and Chris Ross are returning
starters on both the offensive and defensive lines, and
should give the Tigers stability between the tackles.
The Tigers, by their own account, struggled mightily
in the first year of Garvin’s reign, but a nice 16-14 in
the season finale against Mineola gave the Tigers
momentum and confidence to build on in 2009.
It was not all the long ago that Wills Point was a
mainstay in the post-season, reaching the playoffs in
seven straight seasons. Will this year be the return to
the success of the past It won’t be easy. The Tigers
open with Athens and Lindale, two teams that beat the
Tigers by a combined 85-0.
“It will not be easy, but now that we are getting the
system in place, I expect us to be right there when it is
all said and done.”
Players to Watch
Steven Cunigan Senior WR/DB
Chris Ross Senior OL/DL
Cyle Henderson Senior RB/LB
Marquis Burch Senior WR/DB
Joseph Gray Senior OL/LB
Trent Jurica Junior QB
Junior Hamilton Junior WR/DB
Alex Anderson Senior TE/LB
Mascot:
Tigers
Student Enrollment: 780
Superintendent: Joe Oliver
Head Coach: Kevin Garvin
Returning Offensive Starters 6
Returning Defensive Starters 5
Schedule
8/28 Athens Home 7:30
9/4 LIndale Away 7:30
9/11 Farmersville Away 7:30
9/18 Brownsboro Home 7:30
9/25 OPEN
10/2 Kaufman Away 7:30
10/9 *Canton Home 7:30
10/16 *Kemp Away 7:30
10/23 *Van Home 7:30
10/30 *Eustace Home 7:30
11/6 *Mineola Away 7:30
*district games
14 3-A Pre-Season
Coaches’ Poll
1. Van
2. Canton
3. Eustace
4. Wills Point
5. Mineola
6. Kemp
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(903) 531-5678
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