It’s not controversial at all to say that one of the biggest shocks of the 2016 high school football season was Manvel’s one-point loss to Temple in the quarterfinals of last year’s playoffs. The Mavericks were torching everyone on their schedule, and seemed like a lock to at least make it to the state championship, if not win it. However, they played Temple, and the Wildcats’ punishing defense came out on top by a mere point.
To say that Trent Gordon, a three-star cornerback committed to Penn State, and the rest of the Mavericks are motivated is an understatement.
“Right now, since we didn’t reach our goal last year, we’re trying to take steps to do the little things more efficiently this year,” said Gordon. “We’re breaking down everything, from techniques to drills to plays, we’re going to start breaking everything down and actually processing it, and evaluating our opponents more effectively than we did last year.”
Any of Manvel’s opponents from last year would be hard-pressed to find areas where the Mavericks could improve. They return a huge chunk of their starters, and the young men stepping in to replace last year’s seniors are incredibly talented as well.
Manvel will be picked by many to take the title in the preseason, but the road ahead won’t be easy. In just the non-district games, the Mavericks will have to take on North Shore, Crosby, and Pearland. Manvel isn’t looking over anyone anymore though.
“Our mindset (going into those games) is kind of the same, if not better,” Gordon said. “We lost a few of them (seniors), but it really doesn’t make a difference in how we’re going to play next year. Our mindset is going to be better, we’re going to lock in and do what we need to do to get the job done.”
His senior season will be over in December or sooner, but that isn’t the end of football for Trent Gordon. He committed to Penn State in March, and hasn’t looked back since.
“Home is where the heart is, and that’s what I feel like Penn State is. The people there are wonderful, the alumni base is great, coaches, great, football team, great, even the track team I feel is pretty good if I decide to run track there. State College is one of the best places that I’ve been to in the United States, actually. Even on the spring tour I took, it was one of those places that kind of captivated me and made me want to stay.”
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