The area teams conclude scrimmages and are ready to face their first opponent with the lights on and the clock running. In this preview, one team looks to return to a deep run and the other is looking to qualify for the first time in a while.
The Wortham Bulldogs finished the season last in District 11-2A Division II and watched the Mart Panthers claim the district title going away and cruised to a state title win over Gruver 76-33 last December. Second year head coach Chad Coker, returning nine players to the offensive side, looks to make his team bid for one of those playoff spots.
The Bulldogs have playing catch up over the last couple of seasons with young players trying to gain experience to be competitive and this year they have been working to be a team that can contend. They are a year older and a year stronger and should have some numbers coming off the junior high team that will add some freshman youth that are athletic with some upperclassman experience.
Brandon Coker returns for his senior season as quarterback and two-way starter along with Demarcus Bullard on both offensive and defensive lines. Riley Baker is small but is much tougher than his size and will add some spark to the defense and see some time in the Bulldog backfield. Lane McDaniel adds a deep and big play opportunity for the Bulldogs and Clayton Munster will play linebacker and head to the backfield as a blocking back for a young set of running backs.
Logan Hazel, Haden Chaney, Jake McClellan, Hunter Holt, and Will Boswell will see some time alternating on an offensive and defensive line that has depth for the first time in over four seasons. Michael Chasteen will play on both sides of the ball and handle the kicking duties. Chance Latham was a factor on defense last season and has already shown that capacity in a couple of scrimmages for the Bulldogs.
Wortham will open the season with the first of six home games this season when the Itasca Wampus Cats come behind the walls of historic Bulldog Stadium. They will be home the first three dates with games against Dallas First Baptist Academy and Bartlett.
They make their first road to Cayuga and then to Crossroads, which was a homecoming win for the Bulldogs last season.
The Bulldogs open the district season at home against the Frost Polar Bears and then head to Mart to take on the reigning state champions. The have home games with Meridian and Hubbard before concluding the regular season at Dawson.
The Oakwood Panthers advanced to the state semifinal and lost to eventual champion Strawn 51-6. The Panthers graduated some super talent from the team last season and should make an impact for a long run again this season.
Key’Undre Davis returns to the Panther backfield along with Jerimiah Sargent anchor the Panther attack.
Oakwood will begin the season in Bryan against Huntsville Alpha Omega before travelling to Aquilla to take on the Cougars. They take to the road to battle the Nazarene Christian Academy and then again on the road to Calvert. Their home opener is against Gilmer Union Hill and they finish the non-district portion of the schedule at Coolidge to take on the Yellowjackets.
The Panthers final sprint is the district games lineup and they should handle all three and claim the district title. The take to the road to battle the Chester Yellowjackets and then home to play the Apple Springs Eagles and the final district game at home against the Trojans of Trinindad.
