Pigskin Preview 2009 Issue

District 19-2A
Reid Kerr - KLTV News
Lots Of Experience Should Make District Race Tight
District 19-2A was a dog fight last season, going down to the final week before the playoff spots were all handed out. In 2009, the 19-2A coaches
expect more of the same and then some.
“Oh, it’ll be very similar,” Elkhart coach Tim Lewis said. “A lot of the All-District players last season were juniors. They’re only going to get better.”
“This district will be as good as or better than last year,” Garrison coach Craten Phillips said. “There’s a lot of returning talent in this district. Other than
a few standout skill position players who graduated, there are a lot of familiar faces to try and stop again.”
After their second straight deep playoff appearance, the Arp Tigers are picked by the district coaches to take the district title with Troup and Frankston
taking the other two playoff spots.
Arp Tigers
The Arp Tigers went 11-1 in 2008, advancing to the 2A
Division I state quarterfinals. After a 2007 trip to the
regional finals, the Tigers have established a tradition
to uphold.
“I think it’s something the kids have come to expect,”
Arp head coach Dale Irwin said. “You don’t want to do
worse than the class that came before you.”
The Tigers return eight starters from last year’s team
including running back Lavocheya Cooper. Cooper
ran for 1700 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior
and also had six special teams touchdowns returning
punts and kicks.
“He can do it all,” Irwin said. “He’s our tailback, punt
and kick returner, slot receiver, whatever we need.
He’s a great kid to coach; he doesn’t care how many
times he carries the ball. He’s a tremendous young
man.”
Cooper’s backfield mate is fullback Michael Wade,
a hardnosed blocker who also scored twelve
touchdowns last year. At quarterback, the Tigers will
Elkhart Elks
The Elks put their winless 2007 season behind them
last year going 3-7 in their first year under head coach
Tim Lewis.
“We feel pretty good about it,” Lewis said. “We kind of
got the program going in the direction we wanted, the
kids have gotten used to us and vice versa. The kids
responded well and got some wins.”
The Elks are strong on offense with nine starters
coming back for 2009, including four returning offensive
linemen.
“We’re pretty solid up front,” Lewis said. “We’ve got
(seniors) Josh Homann and Jacob Miller on the left
side, and Austin Huggins and Brian Hill back too.”
Elkhart will also return tight end John Richbourg, and
Dustin Tarver and Brandon White in the backfield.
“The kids in the backfield have got some experience,”
Lewis said, “we’re looking forward to that. We feel pretty
good about our offense this year.”
have to replace Will Allen. Sophomore Kyle Copeland
will get the call to take the snaps. “There’s a lot to live
up to at quarterback, we’ll look really hard at him.”
Copeland’s favorite target may be returning senior
Clint Copeland, who tallied 700 yards and eight scores
last season.
Both sides of the line will be strengths for the Tigers,
with Dusty Taliaferro and Jamie Warren manning the
trenches.
On defense, six starters return including Cooper who
was all-state as a defensive back.
Players to Watch
Lavocheya Cooper Senior RB/FS
Michael Wade Senior RB/LB
Clint Copeland Senior WR/DB
Kyle Copeland Soph QB
Mascot:
Tigers
Enrollment: 290
Elkhart’s defense is also experienced with seven
starters returning. Homann, Miller, and Richbourg will
all be back up front for the Elks, and Ken Reeves and
Reed Hampton will start at the corners.
Players to Watch
Josh Homann Senior OL
Jacob Miller Senior OL
Reed Hampton Senio CB
Mascot:
Elks
Enrollment: 355
Superintendent: Mike Moon
Head Coach: Tim Lewis
Returning Offensive Starters 9
Returning Defensive Starters 7
Superintendent:
Head Coach:
Toney Lowery
Dale Irwin
Returning Offensive Starters 8
Returning Defensive Starters 6
Schedule
8/28 Paul Pewitt Home 7:30
9/4 San Augustine Home 7:30
9/11 Alto Home 7:30
9/18 Westwood Away 7:30
9/25 Tatum Home 7:30
10/2 Open
10/9 Garrison* Home 7:30
10/16 Troup* Away 7:30
10/23 Frankston* Home 7:30
10/30 Elkhart* Home 7:30
11/6 West Rusk* Home 7:30
*district games
Schedule
8/28 Malakoff Away 7:30
9/4 Huntington Away 7:30
9/11 Buffalo Home 7:30
9/18 Grapeland Home 7:30
9/25 Centerville Away 7:30
10/2 Open
10/9 West Rusk* Home 7:30
10/16 Garrison* Away 7:30
10/23 Troup* Home 7:30
10/30 Arp* Away 7:30
11/6 Frankston* Home 7:30
*district games
60
61