The Klein Bearkats had an impressive 7-4 season in 2016, mainly because they did it with so much youth on the field. The quarterback, top running back and leading receiver all return after a year of making the playoffs.
The Bearkats opened 2016 with a pair of home wins over Benjamin Davis and College Park before falling to Fort Bend Marshall (32-31) in overtime on the road.
Marshall advanced three rounds deep in the playoffs. The Bearkats went 5-2 in District 15-6A, with their only setbacks to Klein Oak and Collins. Klein secured the second-place spot in district with a 24-17 win over Klein Forest.
Klein fell to Spring, 19-7, in the first round of the playoffs. But these Bearkats still have a lot of talent returning, meaning they have enough bite to drive farther in this fall’s postseason.
Key Losses
RB Malcolm Deary, WR Austin Trammell, DB Joseph Lara
Trammell had 378 receiving yards and a team-high nine touchdown catches.
Key Returners
QB Greyson Lembke, RB D’Anthony Sims, WR Colton Chelootz, DL Ian Bronson
Sims was the District 15-6A Newcomer of the Tear in 2016 season as a sophomore after rushing for 935 yards and 35 touchdowns. Lembke as a junior passed for 1,253 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed for six more touchdowns.
Chelootz was a unanimous first-team all-district selection, catching a team-high 41 passes for 622 yards and seven touchdowns.
Bronson (6-2, 260) was a unanimous pick as a first-team defensive lineman on the all-district team. Jackson Roberts and Ryan Labby return in the defensive secondary.
The Verdict
The Bearkats will need to replace most of its offensive line, but other than that, Klein will be loaded on offense. Every statistical leader returns, including running back D’Anthony Sims, who still has two years remaining.
A 7-4 record in 2016 was a good springboard for so many guys coming back. The Klein offense should once again be salty, and the defense has enough returning players to push the Bearkats even further into November this fall.
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