One disappointing quarter kept the Langham Creek Lobos from advancing to the 6A regionals last year. Leading by four points heading into the fourth quarter against Katy Cinco Ranch in the Area Round, Cinco Ranch went on a 12-0 run to win the game, 29-21, and eventually go all the way to the 6A state semifinals.
Langham Creek doesn’t like losing, and maybe a game like this showed just how good they were, and how good they can be moving forward.
The Lobos went 8-4 in 2016, including a 6-3 mark in the stacked District 17-6A. They began the season with three wins, and eventually another solid season.
Langham Creek outscored its opponents by an average of 1o points a game in 2016, a year that ended a one-year playoff drought.
Key Losses
RB Toneil Carter, OL Kenneth Sheldon, LB David Eggleton, DB Jordan Murray
Carter ran for 1,100 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 100 yards a game, and Sheldon was a unanimous pick on the 17-6A first-team all-district squad.
Eggleton led the team with 84 tackles while Murray had 41 tackles and three interceptions.
Key Returners
OL Owen Okonsky, LB Corien Azema, QB Chris Herron
Okonsky (6-3, 250) was a unanimous selection on the 17-6A all-district first-team, helping pave the way for an offense that racked up 450 yards a game, including 229 on the ground.
Herron will return for a junior season after playing sparingly at quarterback. He passed for 72 yards a game and tossed eight touchdowns while playing behind two seniors. He also rushed for 479 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore.
Azema was second on the team with 50 solo tackles (66 total) and had a team-high 11 tackles for a loss last year as a sophomore. He also caused three fumbles and was tied for the team lead with four interceptions.
Verdict
The future looks bright for the Lobos with a wealth of talent and experience returning from a team that went toe-to-toe with a state semifinalist.
Langham Creek will rely on a solid offensive game that’s almost perfectly balanced between the run and the pass.
Azema should take over as the leader on defense from his linebacker position, and he has two years to do great things with the Lobos.
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