Rotan coach Dale Means is hoping that the experience his young team gained last year will pay dividends this season. “We had 15 players last year and only three were seniors,” he explained. “We had 12 freshmen and sophomores.” The Yellowhammers went 6-2 last year but were 0-2 in District 7-1A Division I (six-man). “The key is to stay healthy,” Means added. “We’ve got a ... Read More
Football
Roby Football
Matt Tarbutton takes over as the new head football coach at Roby. He formerly served as the head coach at San Jacinto Christian Academy in Amarillo. Tarbutton inherits a squad that returns four starters on both offense and defense. The Lions were 5-5 overall and 1-2 in District 7-1A Division I (six-man) a year ago. “We will be better as team even though we graduated a ... Read More
Ranger football preview
Ranger High School is making the transition from 11-man football to six-man football this fall. The Bulldogs will play an independent outlaw schedule, meaning they won’t be playing in a University Interscholastic League district since this is the second year of the biennial UIL realignment and reclassification. First-year Ranger head coach Eric Sanchez said his team will be ... Read More
Merkel Football
Will Kates was hired in April as the new head football coach at Merkel. He comes to Merkel from Fort Worth Paschal where he was the offensive coordinator. It is Kates’ first head coaching position. Interestingly, his hiring makes him the third Kates brother to be a head coach in Texas high school football. Matt Kates is currently the head coach at Class 4A LaGrange, while a ... Read More
Hawley Bearcats
Hawley went 10-3 last year and won the District 3-2A Division I title with a 5-0 mark, but coach Mitch Ables believes his Bearcats will be even stronger this fall. Hawley returns seven starters on offense and eight on defense. The Bearcats’ strength will be its skill positions, led by wide receiver/defensive back Kason O’Shields and running back/linebacker Austin Cumpton, ... Read More