Baird went 5-6 and made the Class 1A Division I playoffs last year in the Bears’ first season as a UIL six-man team and their first season under coach Derek Schlieve. Baird played an outlaw schedule (not in an UIL district) in its first six-man football season in 2019 after switching from 11-man football.
Junior running back/linebacker Cedar Cauble is a do-everything performer for the Bears. He is the team leader in almost every statistical category. The returning all-region selection had 189 carries for 1,737 yards rushing at running back. But he also completed 6 of 17 passes for 81 yards and a touchdown and caught 27 passes for 519 yards. If that wasn’t enough, Cauble was also the team leader on defense, recording a team-high 125 tackles and five sacks.
Charles Smith, who led the Bears with three interceptions on defense last year, is expected to move to the offensive side of the ball and play quarterback this fall.
Having a kicker in six-man football can be critical, and the Bears return their kicker in sophomore Francisco Sanchez, who made 29 extra-point kicks a year ago.
Baird returns four starters on both offense and defense, and Coach Schlieve said the Bears will benefit from this year being their second in a new system. A lack of depth is Schlieve’s biggest concern, however.
Other key returnees for Baird include DE Ryker Voigts, TE/LB Hunter Rogers, RB/CB Kaleb Ray, RB/LB Dakota Kichens and WR/S Kollin Davis.
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