The Kempner Cougars had a good season in 2016, beating the teams they should beat while falling to some heavyweights. This fall could be even better.
After going unscathed through non-district, Kempner went 4-3 in District 20-3A, falling by seven points each to Travis and Bush, and then getting rolled by Ridge Point. But hey, Ridge Point went 11-0 before its only loss last year.
The Cougars faced Katy Taylor in the bi-district round and made a valiant effort, but the Mustangs won a 60-42 shootout. Kempner eneded the season at 7-4.
Senior running back Billy Reagins Jr. had the legs that churned the Cougars offense in 2016, and Kempner had some underclassmen on a defense that helped navigate the road to the playoffs.
Key Losses
RB Billy Reagins Jr., DE Camron Peterson, OG Dalton Perez, WR Jake Landry
Reagins was the 20-6A Offensive MVP after running for 17 touchdowns and more than 1,600 yards. Landry had 500 yards receiving with seven touchdowns and Perez was an all-district lineman.
Peterson was a large clog on the defensive line who was also first-team all-district.
Key Returners
LB Jacob Mangum-Farrar, CB Jordan Oliver, ATH Joel Adams, OG Dylon Molina
Adams, who was second on the team in rushing with 562 yards and nine touchdowns and second on the team in scoring, was the District 20-6A All-Purpose Player of the Year.
Oliver and Mangun-Farrar were both named to the first-team all-district squad as juniors, and Molina helped pave the way for a 2,300 rushing yards by the Cougars in 2016. Kendall Jones also returns on that impressive offensive line.
The Verdict
It’s always hard to replace a talent like Reagins in the backfield, but the Cougars return a talented offensive line and a talented player in Adams.
The Kempner defense will be fairly salty with the return of all-district players Oliver, Mangum-Farrar and safety Blake Berry.
The non-district schedule will have Mayde Creek, Nimitz and Hastings, and the Cougars travel to Ridge Point to start district. If Kempner can win back-to-back games against Bush and Hightower, then the Cougars can challenge for a district title in the season-finale against Travis.
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