May and Jonesboro ruled this district a year ago. Besides their game against each other, all three of their other district victories were by mercy rule.
It’s all tall task for Evant, Lometa, and Santa Anna to try and close the gap on two of the premier six-man squads in 1A Division I. However, while Jonesboro has plenty of talent returning, May has a lot of production to replace from a year ago. Could that cause a shakeup in the district standings this season?
Here’s what to watch for in District 14-1A Division I.
Evant Elks
Head Coach: Brandon Young (2nd Season)
Last Season: 0-10; 0-4 in district
Evant Key Players and Storylines
Head coach Brandon Young’s first season didn’t go exactly to plan as the Elks lost all ten games, including nine by mercy rule.
This season, with just three starters returning on each side of the ball, he said he’ll have a young team with minimal experience.
Look for guard Hunter White to anchor the Elks in the trenches. He’ll provide a sturdy foundation for a backfield that has senior spread back Cason Ingram, junior quarterback Tanner Manville, and running back Cameron McGilvray, all key players in Young’s eyes.
Young said Evant must focus on the little things this fall. He believes that will help his team grow a little bit each day.
Expect Evant to take the field with a “full heart, clear eyes, can’t lose” mentality as the Elks look to embrace the role of the underdog in 2023.
Jonesboro Eagles
Head Coach: Eddie Gallegos (15th season)
Last Season: 11-2; 4-0 in district (Lost in State Quarterfinal to Irion County)
Jonesboro Key Players and Storylines
Jonesboro has a lot of pieces back from a team that went undefeated in district play for the fourth year in a row. Last year’s offensive MVP Caleb Christel graduated, but the Eagles return their five other offensive starters and also have three starters returning on defense.
Running backs Jacob Cisneros (560 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns) and Layden Nichols (497 rushing yards) are poised to step into the gap left by Christel in the backfield, while tight end Demarcus Acoff (543 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns) should continue to be Jonesboro’s biggest threat in the passing game.
The Eagles gave up just over 25 points per game on defense a year ago and will have leading tackler Garret Young (95 tackles) back at cornerback to anchor the unit. Meanwhile, at defensive end, Acoff will look to continue to make himself at home in opposing backfields after racking up 31 tackles for loss a year ago.
Jonesboro’s season came to an end in heartbreaking fashion a year ago as a missed extra point proved to be the difference in their 44-43 defeat to Irion County in the state quarterfinals.
However, for a team that has lost just four district games since Gallegos took over in 2009, the Eagles are prepared to bounce back with another strong year in 2023.
“Expectations are always high here, our kids realize that,” Gallegos said. “They know they have an opportunity to play deep into the playoffs, but we also know there is a lot of work in between now and then.”
Lometa Hornets
Head Coach: D.T. Torres (10th Season)
Last Season: 4-6; 2-2 in district
Lometa Key Players and Storylines
Lometa made the playoffs in both 2020 and 2021, but realignment did the Hornets no favor. The matchups against two of the top six-man programs in 1A Division I proved too much for the Hornets a year ago. They were 45’d by both May and Jonesboro.
However, this season, the Hornets do have some key underclassmen returning from last year’s squad.
Tin Juarez has graduated, but junior spreadback Jordan Livesay appears to be the next in line to take the keys to the Lometa offense. He was a second team all-district selection last year and threw for 224 yards and six touchdowns in Lometa’s season finale against Santa Anna. Junior tight end Colten Whitehead should help provide protection up front.
On the other side of the ball, Lometa has two promising players up front in linemen Lukas Smialus, a junior, and Stone Carr-Jones, a sophomore. Livesay will be Lometa’s last line of defense from his safety position.
Only three of Lometa’s all-district players from last season graduated. With plenty of young, key talent returning this year, it will be interesting to see whether last year’s experience will help them hang closer with the district’s top two teams this season.
May Tigers
Head Coach: Craig Steele (20th season)
Last Season: 8-2; 3-1 in district (Lost in bi-district to Irion County)
May Key Players and Storylines
Last year was the first time in six years that May failed to win its district title, Although realignment had a big role in that with fellow powerhouse Jonesboro joining the Tigers as a district bunkmate.
This season, May will have to contend with plenty of turnover if it wants to make its 11th straight playoff appearance. The Tigers have just three total starters coming back, one on offense and two on defense.
Braden Steele (482 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns; 865 passing yards and 11 touchdowns) should be the center piece for the Tigers this year. He earned first team all-district at both his spreadback and safety position last season.
Landon Cheatham is a player the Tigers are looking to take on a bigger role this season from his running back position (129 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 2022). He’s also a big threat on special teams after returning two kicks for touchdowns last season.
Meanwhile, alongside Steele on defense, junior Ben Harrell (72 tackles) should be another big player for the Tigers as he earned first team all-district as well last season.
The proven talent in May might be a little light heading into this season/ But with the Tigers have had under Craig Steele during his 20 years, expect the wheels to be turning at full speed by the time district play rolls around in October.
“Our younger kids are going to have to really step [up] because our expectations don’t change from year to year,” Steele said. “Expectations will be to make a run in the playoffs, and I think we’re capable of it if we can stay healthy and the younger kids develop like we expect.”
Santa Anna Mountaineers
Head Coach: Jose Luna (2nd Season)
Last Season: 4-6; 1-3 in district
Santa Anna Key Players and Storylines
Jose Luna will be leading a young Santa Anna team in 2023 as the Mountaineers return just three starters on each side of the ball.
Wide receiver Jacob Jimenez is Santa Anna’s most notable returnee. He was a first team all-district nomination after catching 27 passes for 635 yards and 15 touchdowns.
He’ll be a welcome presence for a Mountaineer offense that must replace its starting quarterback and running back from last season.
Defensively, the Mountaineers will boast sophomore linebacker Brandon Walker (44 tackles). He was one of just two freshmen to earn a District 14-1A Division I accolade in 2022.
A year ago, perennial contenders Jonesboro and May 45’d the Mountaineers in district play. However, Santa Anna was able to hang within a couple scores of a Lometa team that had been on the rise.
With tough district opposition looming, Luna hopes his team will use its six-game preseason slate to its advantage this fall.
“We will be looking to replace a lot of key pieces from last year,” Luna said. “We will be young in certain spots but are hoping to gain experience and be ready to compete in district play.”
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