Dobie came up one game short of making the playoffs in 2016 despite its 3-7 overall record. It all came down to a late-season showdown at South Houston.
The Trojans won the game, 24-17, to grab fourth-place — and final playoff spot for District 22-6A. So instead, South Houston made the playoffs with a 3-7 record instead of Dobie going in at 4-6.
Dobie’s season began with three non-district losses in four games and two district losses before knocking off Sam Rayburn the second week of October. The Longhorns beat Pasadena before falling to district champion La Porte the final week of the season.
Dobie’s scoring averages were rather close as they averaged 23 points a game while allowing 25.
Key Losses
DB Ke’Montre Lowe-Ali, WR Breon Simmons, OL Chris Gutierrez
Simmons led the team with 475 receiving yards and four touchdown catches. Gutierrez was a big run blocker and we was all-district along with defensive leader Lowe-Ali.
Key Returners
RB Kris Morris, QB Jacob Sulak, SS Jacob Garcia
Morris had team-highs in rushing attempts (137), yards (736) and touchdowns (8). Sulak returns after leading the offense as a junior, and Garcia returns to lead the Longhorns secondary.
The Verdict
Dobie returns the one-two punch in the backfield with Sulak and Morris, and the other returning Longhorns will play with fire in their eyes after narrowly missing the playoffs.
The Longhorns start the 2017 season with three non-district teams that made the playoffs last year, and then four more 2016 playoff teams await in district. No easy feat by any means.
However, Dobie returns players at key skill positions while other teams lose talent, which could even the playing field and perhaps lead a path to the playoffs for the Longhorns this fall.
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