Bluff Dale was far and away the best team in this district last year. However, a changing of the guard could be in order this year.
The Bobcats return just one starter from last year’s history-making team. It has competition hot on its heels with one team returning all six starters and another boasting one of the most prolific sophomore duos in the state.
Here’s what to watch for in what should be a very interesting District 12-1A Division II.
Bluff Dale Bobcats
Head Coach: Gaeron Cooley (1st Season)
Last Season: 11-2; 3-0 in district (Lost to Oakwood in state quarterfinal)
Bluff Dale Key Players and Storylines
It’s an exciting time to be a Bluff Dale Bobcat. Last season, Bluff Dale made the playoffs for the first time in school history a year ago, its high school only opened in 2017, and made it all the way to the state quarterfinals.
This season, the Bobcats will have an entirely new look football team. Gaeron Cooley comes over from Claude to take over the program after Wade Johnson took a job on staff at Granbury. Making things even more challenging is the fact the Bobcats return just one starter from last season.
Luckily that one returning starter is pretty good. Sophomore Austin Saucedo will play quarterback for the Bobcats, but he really made his name on the defensive side of the ball. He was an all-state defensive end a year ago.
The Bobcats have a pretty good supporting cast to put around him defensively as well with fellow sophomore defensive ends Kaden Wentworth and Ben Stewart. Eli Cashion will be a key player in the middle of the field from his linebacker position.
Offensively, the question marks will revolve around who will be Bluff Dale’s main contributors at the skill positions. Stewart and Wentworth will both contribute up front. Cashion looks set to see some carries at fullback, but the Bobcats will need some more players to step up as the year progresses.
Cooley feels confident that the team has a sturdy foundation in place to build on. He said the culture is great and his players are hungry for more success after last season.
Things are set up even better for next season as Bluff Dale will have just one senior on this year’s roster. But don’t be fooled, Cooley and his staff are fully focused on what the Bobcats can achieve this season.
“There is a ton of pressure to perform on my staff and these kids. However, the kids won’t let it affect the product that we put on the field,” Cooley said. “We did our goal-setting last week and every player listed their goal for the season was to win district. So we are all on the same page. This may be the hungriest group of kids I have ever been around.”
Cranfills Gap Lions
Head Coach: Josh Raulston (1st Season)
Last Season: 5-5; 0-3 in district
Cranfills Gap Key Players and Storylines
Josh Raulston comes over from Eden to take over at Cranfills Gap. The Lions didn’t have the season they were hoping for a year ago.
Following their 2021 district title, they failed to win a single district game last fall.
Cranfills Gap graduated one of its main sources of offense last year, but it still has some playmakers back this year in running backs Blake Allen and Aden Flores. Allen was a second team all-district selection last year at running back.
In the trenches, look for Jonathan Rodriguez and Gabriel Falcon to anchor the Lions on either side of the ball.
Allen, a cornerback, was also a first team all-district selection defensively last year, while the Lions will rely on Flores to hold down the fort in the middle of the field from his linebacker position.
Raulston likes the size and speed his team has heading into this year, although he said his team’s endurance could use some work. That’s why he’s been preaching to his team that football is not just about physical attributes.
“We want to improve every week,” Raulston said. “We are practicing with a championship mentality and we will let that carry us as far as it can. Without that mentality we can’t accomplish anything.”
Iredell Dragons
Head Coach: Luis Guereca (12th Season)
Last Season: 5-6; 2-1 in district (Lost to Oglesby in bi-district)
Iredell Key Players and Storylines
Iredell has undergone quite the turnaround in recent years. In both 2019 and 2020, the Dragons had to forfeit games due to a lack of numbers.
But last year, Iredell bounced back, winning more games than they had in the previous three seasons combined. It was its first playoff berth since 2018.
Even more impressive, that renaissance was led by two freshmen last season. Sophomore running backs Jordan Gutierrez (1,441 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns) and Cole Heutzenroeder (1,223 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns) appear ready to lead this Dragon offense for the next three seasons.
Up front, they’ll be supported by another player who starred as an underclassman last season in junior tight end Deuce Paul.
On the other side of the ball, the Dragons should be strong in the trenches with Paul, fellow junior Walker Johnson and sophomore nose guard Chase Garland.
Behind them, Gutierrez will patrol the backside of the unit from his secondary position, while Heutzenroeder was a first team all-district utility player last year.
Iredell was ridiculously young last year and still made the playoffs. With players like Gutierrez and Heutzenroeder now having a year of varsity experience, the Dragons appear to be heading on an upward trajectory for the next couple of years.
Walnut Springs Hornets
Head Coach: Lonnie Flippen (4th Season)
Last Season: 4-6; 1-2 in district play
Walnut Springs Key Players
The injury bug stung Walnut Springs hard last season. After starting the year with 14 players, they were down to just eight by the time November rolled around.
However, a win over Cranfills Gap in district play gives the Hornets a foundation to build on. Head coach Lonnie Flippen said they should return all six starters as long as those injured last season are cleared to play by the season’s start.
The Hornets will boast a strong one-two punch in their backfield with spreadback Diego Muniz (626 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns) and fullback Jesse Lamb (616 rushing yards and eight touchdowns).
Quarterback Josue Ontiveros (1,109 passing yards and 17 touchdowns) and offensive end Brenden Shuemake (322 receiving yards and eight touchdowns) and spread center Santos Pina (201 receiving yards and three touchdowns) will help give the Hornets a two-dimensional attack.
Defensively, Muniz (38 tackles), Adrian Chavez (44 tackles), and Luis Fraire (24 tackles) will make up a strong secondary for the Hornets. Lamb (47 tackles) will be the player to watch in the middle of the field after leading the Hornets in tackles and earning first team all-district from his linebacker position.
Flippen said that Walnut Springs’ season will hinge on its health. If everyone from last season can return 100% this year, he believes Walnut Springs should have what it takes to compete for a playoff spot.
CLICK HERE to listen to the Texas HS Football Podcast, with Taylor Arenz
