There was a very clear hierarchy in this district a year ago as both Klondike and Loop won all of their district contests by mercy rule.
However, the gap that existed last year could be less of a factor this year. Southland returns all but one starter, Wilson has the majority of its production back from last season, and Welch Dawson has a new head coach with senior leaders eager to establish a sturdy foundation.
Here’s what to watch for in District 4-1A Division II.
Lamesa Klondike Cougars
Head Coach: Dalton DeGraffenreid (7th Season)
Last Season: 8-4; 4-0 in district (Lost to Whitharral in area round)
Klondike Key Players and Storylines
The Cougars haven’t lost a district game the past three seasons. Last year, they also advanced to the area round for the third year in a row, a streak that includes a state semifinal run in 2021.
Head coach Dalton DeGraffenreid said the expectations will be just as high for the Cougars this year.
Klondike will be boosted by the return of five starters on each side of the ball. Those returners bring not only plenty of experience but good speed as well.
Offensively, the backfield will be the biggest strength for Klondike with the return of both last year’s district Offensive MVP Creed Warren (1,897 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns) and its Offensive Newcomer of the Year Jared Quintanilla (1,243 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns).
Quarterback Kolby Pepper (338 passing yards and five touchdowns) and center Truett Thixton (237 receiving yards and four touchdowns) are also back after earning first team all-district honors a year ago.
With those weapons as well as Warren’s and Quintanilla’s ability to throw the football, it’s hard to find much of a discernible weakness on the Cougar offense.
The defense is just as talented with three first all-district players returning in linebackers Warren and Trixton as well as Quintanilla at his safety position.
Heading into 2023, there is no question about the star power that is on Klondike’s roster.
DeGraffenreid is a bit concerned about the depth beneath the Cougars’ starters, but he is hopeful that another district title and a deep playoff run are in the offing for Klondike in 2023.
Loop Longhorns
Head Coach: Bear Chesley (6th Season)
Last Season: 6-3; 3-1 in district (Lost to Balmorhea in bi-district)
Loop Key Players and Storylines
Loop returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2019 a year ago. And with four players back on offense and three returning on defense, head coach Bear Chesley is expecting his team to be back in the postseason again this season.
The Longhorns have quite the backfield tandem with the return of junior running back Brandon Vasquez and senior quarterback Dwayne Wieler. Junior Alberto Pinon should also pitch in at running back.
Guard Albert Gutierrez played a key role paving the way for those backs a year ago, earning first team all-district honors up front. He’ll also be a key playmaker on defense from his linebacker position. He is Loop’s lone returning first team all-district player on that side of the ball.
Vasquez will also be a key contributor from his safety position, while Pinon earned all-district as a utility player last season.
As Chesley heads into his sixth season at Loop, he said the consistency of having the same coaches and scheme has really helped the Loop program grow.
And although they may be undersized, the underdog role seems to be something Loop relishes. After all, the Longhorns are one of the smallest schools in the state with just 32 high school students.
Despite that small school size, Loop continues to achieve on the football field and has even found enough students to have a band on Friday nights. Look for the Longhorns to battle again this fall as they look for consecutive playoff berths for the first time since 2012-13.
Southland Eagles
Head Coach: Dusty Grantham (5th Season)
Last Season: 5-4; 2-2 in district
Southland Key Players and Storylines
After nine-straight district losses, including four forfeits to end the 2020 season, Southland returned to the win column in district play last October with a 51-6 thumping of Wilson.
However, last season was a story of the Eagles beating who they should beat and not being able to keep up with the teams above them. They were 45’d by both Klondike and Loop.
This season, head coach Dusty Grantham said the goal is for his team to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Experience will play a key role if that is to be the case with five starters back on offense and all six returning on defense.
The Eagles will be strong out of the backfield with the return of running backs Rey Flores and sophomore Caleb Sanchez, who were both all-district honorees a year ago. Bryson Nelson also returns to lead the Eagles at quarterback.
Senior DeAngelo Humphries can help out on the trenches offensively, but he’s even more of a threat to opposing offensive lines as he earned first team all-district from his defensive end position a year ago. Behind him, look for Sanchez and Flores to lead the linebacking corps again this season.
Grantham is concerned about the lack of depth his team could have behind their returning starters. But if Southland can stay healthy and improve week in and week out, Grantham believes the Eagles will give themselves an opportunity to snatch a playoff berth down the stretch this fall.
Wilson Mustangs
Head Coach: Ricardo Mata (1st Season)
Last Season: 2-8; 1-3 in district
Wilson Key Players and Storylines
Wilson took its lumps a year ago, but the Mustangs return most of their team from last season.
It has no shortage of offensive weapons this season with the return of its three leading rushers in junior Elijah Ruelas (758 rushing yards and seven touchdowns), junior AJ Zaragoza (323 rushing yards and three touchdowns), and sophomore Mario Castaneda (287 yards and two touchdowns). Daniel Vasquez (152 passing yards and a touchdown) is back to quarterback the offense.
With all that returning talent, the Mustangs will be aiming to make some progress after being shut out in five games last season.
On the other side of the ball, Zaragoza (58 tackles), a linebacker, and Vasquez (45 tackles), a cornerback, were Wilson’s two leading tacklers last season. Senior corner Xavier Hernandez (41 tackles and five TFLs) is also back, while Castaneda (20 tackles and four TFLs) had a promising freshman season from his defensive end position.
Wilson is now five years removed from its 2018 district title, which was also its last playoff berth. It may not happen overnight but Wilson has the pieces in place to make some progress on the field in the next couple years with its current crop of players coming through the program.
Welch Dawson Dragons
Head Coach: Jay Bingham (1st Season)
Last Season: 1-9; 0-4 in district
Dawson Key Players and Storylines
Numbers have been a problem at Dawson in recent years. The Dragons haven’t been able to compete a full varsity season since 2017.
Jay Bingham comes over from Ropes to take over the program. He said the Dragons are still short on players but he’s hopeful they could have around 10 players this year.
His first priority in taking over the program is making sure the Dragons still have enough numbers to compete in district play this season.
One big asset the Dragons do have this season is senior leadership. The Dragons have four key seniors that are poised to play a big role on the field this fall.
Offensively, Dylan Gary, Ethan Martinez, and Malachi Hilario will all be options in the Dragon ground game. Look for Jason Rodriguez to anchor the team up front.
On the other side of the ball, Dawson will rely on Rodriguez and Gary in the trenches at defensive end. Behind them, Martinez, a linebacker, and Hilario, a cornerback, are the players Bingham is expecting to lead the backend of the defense.
Historically, Bingham noted that the Dragons have a rich tradition in sports. He’s hoping to rebuild the Dawson football program one step at a time starting with the talented senior class that will lead the Dragons this fall.
