Coaches pull out hairs looking for silver linings in a season like Fort Bend Austin’s 3-7 campaign in 2016. But from the outside looking in, the shining hope for 2017 is the return of the battery that handles the ball on every single play.
The Bulldogs started juniors at center, quarterback and running back last year. They won the season opener against Alief Hastings before dropping four straight games, including the district opener to Hightower and then another to Kempner.
Austin then crushed Clements, 41-2, to bring the District 20-6A record to 1-2, but losses to Travis and Ridge Point took the Bulldogs out of playoff contention.
The Bulldogs won their final road game at Dulles and fell to playoff-bound Bush in the season finale.
Key Losses
OLB Darryl Layton, DE Moses Johnson, WR/DB Darius Milton
Layton and Johnson were first-team all-district on defense. Layton’s two sacks led the Bulldogs and he had 40 tackles. Johnson had 50 tackles. Milton led the team in receiving with 37 catches for 572 yards and six touchdowns, and he added a team-high three interceptions and caused one fumble on defense.
Key Returners
QB Chris Rivers, RB Gerad Miller, C Marcos Ruiz
Rivers passed for 1,324 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior and ran for another 343 yards with team highs in carries (88) and touchdowns (7).
Miller averaged 7.4 yards per carry and led the team in rushing with 372 yards despite playing only six games last year.
Ruiz was named to the all-district second-team last year as a junior.
The Verdict
The best thing about the Bulldogs in 2017, on paper, is the fact that Rivers is back to direct the offense and Miller will be the other featured player in the backfield.
Austin High averaged 25 points a game in 2016, and having so much experience returning on offense, including center Marcos Ruiz, will be important as the Bulldogs replace several players on defense.
The Bulldogs will have enough talent to win enough games to earn a spot into the 6A playoffs, a place they haven’t been since the 2013 team made it and went two rounds deep.
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Great article on Fort Bend Austin….Can we get an update article and coverage on the upcoming 17/18 season. I think this is a sleeper team, with some big time talent. Thank you.