Austin Bowie only lost two games in 2016 – to Austin Westlake and The Woodlands. I think anyone who follows Texas high school football can call those losses understandable at least. The Woodlands made the state finals, and Westlake is always in contention in the deep playoff runs.
The rest of their games were won in fairly non-dramatic fashion, placing them solidly in the middle ground of great teams. They were also one award away from sweeping the district’s MVP awards. We can comfortably state that the Bulldogs had an above average 2016, so where will they be in 2017?
Key Losses
RB Dalynn Threadgill, QB Wade Smith, OLB Hayden Howren, MLB Ashton Rogers, OLB Shea Reuter, C Kyle Ohlen
The biggest parts of Bowie hit by graduation will be the linebacking corps and the offensive line. Also graduating will be district MVP Dalynn Threadgill and solid quarterback Wade Smith. Hayden Howren, Ashton Rogers, and Shea Reuter will be sorely missed from that good defense.
Key Returners
WR Aizayah Santiago, DE M’Elijah Wesley, WR Elijah Higgins, DB Pierce Withers, DT Cooper Laake
There’s a lot to be excited about for Bowie’s 2017 season, and the big reasons start with the young defensive line. Cooper Laake and M’Elijah Wesley will return for their junior seasons, and with playoff experience under their belts, they could be very formidable. The heir apparent at quarterback will have an absolute plethora of riches to throw to at wide receiver. The defensive backs will have lots of talent as well.
The Verdict
Austin Bowie will enter the season underrated, but likely won’t be for long. If this team can reload at offensive line and linebacker, then they’ll be an incredibly dangerous team to the mainstays of the area, like Austin Westlake and Lake Travis.
I really like what Bowie returns. They have the infrastructure of a great team, they just need to reload in one or two places. This team has the chance to go very far, the only question is how far.
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