Throckmorton ran away with this district a year ago, winning every game by at least 45 points. The Greyhounds look set to be one of the top teams in Region III yet again this season.
However, the race for the second playoff spot in this district could be fierce. An experienced Woodson squad is looking to overtake Rule, while Paint Creek and Lueders-Avoca are both looking to move in the right direction following tough 2022 seasons.
Here’s what to watch for in District 7-1A Division I in 2023I.
Lueders-Avoca Raiders
Head Coach: Reese Wilson (1st Season)
Last Season: 3-7; 1-3 in district
Lueders-Avoca Key Players and Storylines
The 2022 season was a rough one for the Raiders as they had to forfeit two of their district games. However, they did rebound with a 58-46 victory over Paint Creek in the season finale.
Before last season, Lueders-Avoca had actually made five-straight playoff appearances, although 2018 was the only year they didn’t finish with a below .500 record.
This season, Reese Wilson comes in from Darrouzett as he looks to get the Raiders pointed back in the right direction.
Four starters returning on each side of the ball will certainly help that task.
Running back Zaebrion Mays will bring plenty of speed and elusiveness to the Raider offense, while Wilson also believes running back/linebacker Keith Knowles could be poised for a breakout year. His biggest concern offensively is the lack of depth across the board at the skill positions.
On the other side of the ball, Joel O’Con should lead the unit from the trenches. Also, look for Mays to be a playmaker from his safety position after earning all-district honors in 2022.
Wilson said his players have demonstrated the work ethic needed to succeed. That gives him hope this year can be a step forward from last season’s struggles, as long as a lack of numbers don’t wreak havoc again this season.
“Expectations are for us to grow and get better each week. It is a new coach with a new system,” Wilson said. “If we can stay healthy, we may be in the playoff hunt at the end of the year.”
Paint Creek Pirates
Head Coach: Shannon Waters (2nd season)
Last Season: 2-8; 0-4 in district
Paint Creek Key Players and Storylines
Shannon Waters had remarkable success at Benjamin, where he led the Mustangs to a 10-1 season in 2021.
Now, he enters his second year at his alma mater looking to secure Paint Creek’s first district win since 2006. (The Pirates didn’t field a team from 2018-2020 due to a lack of numbers).
The Pirates will be young in 2023 as just two starters return on each side of the ball. Running back/defensive back Andrew Nunez and running back/defensive lineman Ethan O’Donnell are the two main players who Waters expects to lead the Pirates this year.
Nunez made an impact in all three phases of the game a year ago, earning all-district honors for his play on the Pirates special teams.
Paint Creek often faces an uphill battle on the football field with its enrollment of just 27 students that makes it the fourth smallest school playing football in the state of Texas.
However, Waters said his players have been “working hard and are hungry for success” as they look to break through with some memorable victories this season.
Rule Bobcats
Head Coach: Caleb Barkowksy (2nd Season)
Last Season: 6-4; 3-1 in district (Lost to Newcastle in bi-district)
Rule Key Players and Storylines
Rule will be fielding a younger football team this season but that doesn’t mean expectations will be any lower.
Head Coach Caleb Barkowsky said his players have a chip on their shoulder and are eager to step up and follow the standard of postseason appearances last year’s graduating class left behind.
“We’ve got high goals for the upcoming season, and we want to be fighting for a district championship,” Barkowsky said. “We’ve got a long way to go and the competition in our district overall is trending up, but we’ve got a group that is eager to prove what they can do.”
Rule’s roster isn’t completely bereft of experience. The Bobcats still return three starters on each side of the ball.
Offensively, the Bobcats put up over 46 points a year ago, but they must replace four first team all-district honorees. Junior wide receiver Florencio Olivera is the most notable returner on that side of the ball after he earned first team all-district last season.
Fellow junior running back KyLeik Mason will be tasked with a much bigger role this year following the graduation of all-region spreadback Chris Pannell. Mason flashed his potential last season with a 217-yard, four-touchdown performance against Patton Springs in week two.
In the trenches, sophomore Waylynn Caldwell and senior Keegean Talley should anchor the Bobcats on either side of the ball.
Despite being young this year, Barkowsky said the Bobcats have good team chemistry and also boast a good amount of speed.
That team chemistry could be crucial as the Bobcats look to overcome the hurdle of inexperience and achieve their goal of making it back to the playoffs for the third-straight year.
Throckmorton Greyhounds
Head Coach: CJ Hantz (5th season)
Last Season: 9-4; 4-0 in district (Lost to Benjamin in state quarterfinals)
Throckmorton Key Players and Storylines
It was a memorable season for the Greyhounds a year ago as they made it back to the state quarterfinals for the first time since their 2014 state championship.
Expectations will be just as high in Greyhound Country this year, according to head coach CJ Hantz, as Throckmorton returns a senior-laden roster.
Three starters return on offense, including a strong one-two punch out of the backfield with running back Jacob Gaspar (2.306 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns) and fullback Hayden Makovy (809 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns). Gaspar earned second team all-state a year ago for his rushing efforts.
Up front, junior tight end Landyn Saucedo will be one of the key blockers up front for Throckmorton’s dynamic rushing attack. He was also honored on the all-state second team.
Defensively, the Greyhounds have just as much talent. Makovy (108 tackles), a second team all-state honoree, and Robert Whitehawk Jorgensen, an all-state honorable mention, will be the leaders of the unit from their linebacker positions.
Heading into this season, a senior heavy roster, which includes three returning all-state players, appears to be a recipe for success for Throckmorton.
Having Benjamin in the same region is never easy, but don’t be surprised if there’s a playoff showdown between the Greyhounds and Mustangs yet again this fall.
Woodson Cowboys
Head Coach: Caleb Hagle (3rd season)
Last Season: 3-7; 2-2 in district
Woodson Key Players and Storylines
Last year in district play, Woodson finished firmly in third place. The Cowboys blew out both Lueders-Avoca and Paint Creek but were 45’d by both Rule and Throckmorton.
The task for Woodson this year will be closing the gap on the top two teams in the district. Head Coach Caleb Hagle is hopeful his Cowboys will be able to do just that as every starter from a year ago returns.
“We were a very young team last season, but these boys played their tails off every game,” Hagle said. “I am excited to see how well they will improve from having to play when they were underclassmen.”
Woodson’s offense will need to improve from last season where it averaged just under 15 points per game. Running back Austin Priddy will be one of the offense’s main playmakers, while tight end Justin Singleton and center Tristan Nixon will pitch in up front.
Defensively, Sam Mills is poised for another big year from his safety position after earning first team all-district a year ago. Priddy is another sure tackler for the unit from his linebacker position.
Hagle knows what it is like to have success at Woodson. As a player, he was a part of the 2007 and 2008 Cowboy teams that made it to the state title game.
With so much experience returning this season, Hagle said it will be important for his team to continue to grow throughout the season. If they can do that, he believes a first playoff berth since 2019 and the first playoff victory since 2009 could be within reach.
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