By Mike Craven
Temple High School returned to the state football discussion in 2014, and the Wildcats are poised to make another run this season.
Mike Spradlin’s team went 13-2 last year, losing to Aledo in an exciting state championship contest. The turnaround started in 2013, however, and it came in a loss.
“We went 1-9 the season before I arrived. For us to make a splash right away in 2013 was big for the program. I could see our team wanted to win and was buying into what we were teaching, but that loss to Cedar Hill in the bi-district round of the playoffs in 2013 is when we really started to click,” Spradlin told me this spring.
“Cedar Hill went on to win the state title, and we were right there with them. I think right then our guys started to realize we could play with anyone in the state.”
Temple should repeat as district champions in 2015, even while replacing former quarterback Chad President. Manor and Hutto will have something to say about that, but the Wildcats return wide receiver Davion Curtis to help ease the rebuilding process under new quarterback Cole Martin, who started one game for Temple in 2014 when President was out with injury.
Spradlin has embraced the spread offense, thanks in large part to his time coaching with Art Briles at Houston. Temple will score enough points to compete while the defense is one of the best in Class 5A.
Linebacker Quinton Smith was a star in the title loss to Aledo, and his recruiting profile has grown since that game. Defensive lineman TaQuon Graham is also a rising talent.
Making a return trip to a state title game is never an easy task, especially when replacing an FBS talent at quarterback. All the pieces, including a loaded offensive line, are there for Spradlin and Temple, however.
And the loss to Aledo last season, like the loss to Cedar Hill in 2013, may just propel the Wildcats to a state title.
Mike Craven is Co-Editor at TexasHSFootball.com. Follow him on Twitter @CravenMike for more news and information.
