After struggling to a 1-8 record last year in his first season as the head coach at Breckenridge, Casey Pearce expects this year’s team “should respond to the expectations and show growth.” The Buckaroos return 19 lettermen and seven starters on both offense and defense.
Pearce, a Breckenridge graduate who came back to his alma mater to coach last year, believes that 6-3 junior FB/DE Jerry Lawson has the “length and quick twitch” to play at the next level. Lawson is the team’s top returning rusher and also led the Buckaroos with five sacks a year ago. Lawson had 10 carries for 56 yards rushing in a 42-0 win over San Angelo Texas Leadership Charter Academy to salvage a victory in the final game last season.
Breckenridge, which went 1-4 in District 3-3A Division I in 2020, is still a very young team, however. The Buckaroos must find a new quarterback, although Pearce said junior QB/DB Chase Lehr is “untested but capable.”
Lehr’s favorite target will undoubtedly be WR/LB Zeke Castillo (15-200 receiving). WR/DB Julian Eutimio and WR/DB Tyler Valdez should see considerable playing time as well.
RB/DB Anson Rodgers (52 tackles, 4 TFLs, 5 PBU, 1 sack) is the leader on defense.
Anchoring the offensive and defensive line will be OL/DL Issak Eutimio and OL/DL Jose Duran along with OL Chad Wilcox. Pearce says both Eutimio and Duran are not only strong and explosive but also run well. Their ability to control things up front may be a key to the Buckaroos’ season.
“Our team must learn what it takes to finish,” said Pearce as he tries to rebuild the Buckaroos’ tradition.
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