Coach Wade Griffin and the Brewer Bears feel like they are just scratching the surface. Heading into Coach Griffin’s 4th year in 2017, the Bears are primed to come out of hibernation and hunt down their opponents. The Bears will have one fastest teams west of I-35W going into 2017 football season. Brewer finished 2015 and 2016 with 1st round playoff appearances only to come up short in the bi-district round.
Here are five things to watch in this year’s spring game:
1. How will Brewer’s new look offense come together?
The past two seasons, the Bears offense has been a pistol-run heavy system. Brewer returns 1,000 yard RB Curtis Taylor (5’9, 180) (4.4)(2nd team all-district) and RB Christian Calton (5’11, 170) (4.4). Both RBs have elite speed and are a threat to get in the end zone anytime they touch the ball. RB Justin Davis (6’0, 166) (4.4) is another weapon who has the ability to be newcomer of the year in district 6-5A. Taylor and Calton both made it to the Regional Finals Track meet in the 100m and 4x100m. Carlton ran a (10.5) and Taylor ran a (10.7) in the 100M dash this year.
Both backs have speed the to make defenses take notice. Calton is a home run threat as a kickoff return specialist. In the Bears opening game against Georgetown, in a game played on the campus of Baylor University, Calton had kickoff returns of 93, 95 yards with one for a TD. Calton finished the game with over 200 all-purpose yards.
2. Who will be the Bears’ Signal caller?
Carson Ingram (5’10, 180) got valuable experience in 2016 as a Sophomore. Ingram is a rugged runner who isn’t afraid to take on defensive backs in the open field. As a passer, Ingram can keep the defense honest by getting the ball out of his hands quickly. Junior QB Adam Duncan will compete with Ingram and could raise a few eyebrows in District 6-5A. Duncan is 6’4 and is a good passer with a strong arm.
3. How will the Brewer Defense stop the spread offenses in a wide open district 6-5A?
The Bears Defense lost defensive coordinator Mike Dunn who is now the Head Coach/Athletic Director at Delk City, OK High School. The Bears defense shouldn’t skip a beat. Coach Griffin has experience as a Defensive Coordinator at previous stops in Elgin and Georgetown before heading to Brewer.
The Bears defense is loaded with experience and playmakers. Brewer’s defensive unit will be lead by brothers Marcel Paige (DE) (6’1, 210) (1st Team All District) and Laurent Swanson (FS/CB) (6’0, 190) (2nd Team All District). With Branson Dail (LB)(6’0 210) (2nd Team All-District), Preston Hampton-Kelley (FS) (6’2, 180) and Jeshaun Patton (CB) (5’10 160), the Bear defense will be a blitzing and aggressive defensive team. Paige will have experience alongside him on the D-Line in Keyvon White (6’0, 220) and Luis Hernandez(6’0 285). If Hernandez can stay healthy, he could make some noise.
4. Can the Bears shake up District 6-5A?
The Brewer Bears share District 6-5A with 5-A Divison II Champion Aledo as well as Justin Northwest and Saginaw Boswell. In 2016, the Bears made a 1st round appearance as a 4th place team. Aledo, Boswell, and Northwest each made deep playoff runs in 2016. With Taylor, Ingram, Calton and big wideouts Jahrad Taylor (6’3, 170) and Jaden Cartwright (6’3 170) on the outside, spreading to ball around is a must. With most of the District 6-5A offenses running spread heavy packages, Paige, Dail, Swanson, and company will need to be on top of their game. Brewer’s defense played well at home posting a 3-2 record, but when the Bears went on the road they came up short by going 1-5.
5. Brewer Bear Tradition
When I spoke with Coach Griffin last week at the Bears morning practice, he spoke of the Bears as a team buying into a winning tradition. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, the old Bear Cave located in White Settlement was a tough place to play. Under Head Coach Ben Davis, who coached stars Ben Fay (Texas Tech/Navy), Matt Davis (Texas) and LB/RB Spencer Taylor, the Bears established a winning tradition. Coach Griffin has instilled a will to compete, execute, and a play with your hair on fire mentality. Coach Griffin’s 2017 Bears are looking restore the roar of the Brewer Bear Nation. If Coach Griffin has his way, the Bears will be on the hunt to devour teams in District 6-5A.
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