Alba-Golden

District 6-2A Division I

OUR PICKS

1. COOPER

2. WOLFE CITY

3. HONEY GROVE

4. BOGATA RIVERCREST

5. ALBA-GOLDEN

6. COMO-PICKTON

7. CELESTE

COOPER BULLDOGS

Coach: Rod Castorena (4th year, 19-11)

All-time: 531-451-38

Stadium: Fred Wilkerson Field at Bulldog Stadium, 1007 FM 1528, Cooper, 75432

2020 result: 8-2 (6-0 District, first), area finalist

Returning lettermen/starters: 12/13 (6 offensive, 7 defensive)

Lettermen lost: 10

Offense: Flex Bone

Defense: 4-4

Notable Players: QB/FS Colin Ingram (6-1, 170, Jr.) … Slot/OLB Markel Smith (Soph.) … LB/WR Noah Ramos (5-8, 160, Sr.) … RB/OLB Matthew Langley (5-10, 175, Sr.) … LB/WR Landon Houchines (5-9, 155, Sr.) … C/DE Jacob Jones (5-8, 160, Sr.) … OL/DT Zane Thompson (5-9, 170, Jr.) … DT/OL Zach Helms (5-7, 170, Jr.) … Slot/OLB Keywine Denson (5-8, 165, Soph.) … CB/WR Wyatt Allen (5-11, 160, Sr.) … DE Alfred Wilkerson (6-3, 190, Soph.) … OL/DT Rafael Ramirez (5-10, 240, Sr.) … OL/DT Ross Moody (6-7, 275, Soph.) …

2021 Outlook: After advancing to the second round of the playoffs, the Bulldogs are looking for more this season. They defeated Trenton (32-12) in bi-district before falling to Bosqueville (44-12) in area. … Cooper lost three key players to graduation — RB/LB Chase Morales, QB Jaxson McGuire (Ambrose University) and slot receiver Jayden Limbaugh. … “We have developed a great culture in our program,” Castorena said. “Our kids have been having the best offseason since our staff took over.”

WOLFE CITY WOLVES

Coach: Darren Anderson (6th year, 38-18; 64-38 overall)

All-time: 440-449-31

Stadium: Don Howard Stadium, W. Hanna Street at Mason Street, Wolfe City, 75496

2020 result: 5-5 (3-3 District, fourth), bi-district

Returning lettermen/starters: 13/13 (7 offensive, 6 defensive)

Lettermen lost: 9

Notable Players: RB Ben Cagle (5-7, 160) … LB Yunior Burciago (5-10, 185, Soph.) … QB Tony Jones (5-10, 160) … OL Andy Medina (6-0, 230) … OL Jasper Northcutt (6-3, 250) … OL Randen Martin (6-2, 260) … OL Canyon Cooksy (6-0, 260) … OL Devonte McGarity (6-0, 270, Jr.) … WR Josh Colvert (5-0, 160, Jr.)

2021 Outlook: The Wolves tied for third in district, but were seeded fourth in the playoffs, falling to Lindsay (48-6) in bi-district. … With Jones, Cagle and Colvert returning look for Wolfe City to score points this season and battle for the district title.

HONEY GROVE WARRIORS

Coach: Glen Schuelke (4th year, 21-12; 115-86, overall)

All-time: 564-427-40

Stadium: Warrior Field, 17th Street at Maple Street, Honey Grove, 75446

2020 result: 4-6 (2-4 District, tied for fifth)

Returning lettermen/starters: 14/12 (6 offensive, 6 defensive)

Lettermen lost: 7

Notable Players: RB/LB Peter Krahan (5-11, 180) … DL Mason Woodard (6-4, 310) … OL Jaden Wilson (6-2, 240) … RB Anthanie Whitman (6-0, 170) … WR/DB Jonas Butler (5-9, 150) … OL Bryson Barley (6-0, 250) …

2021 Outlook: The Warriors missed out on the playoffs after tying for the district championship in 2019. Now, with experience returning they expect to return to the playoffs. … Honey Grove opens its season on Aug. 28 at Tenaha. It is a 2 p.m. scheduled start.

BOGATA RIVERCREST REBELS

Coach: Ty Huie (1st year)

All-time: 240-313-12

Stadium: Rivercrest Rebel Stadium, 4126 Hwy. 271 South, Bogata, 75417

2020 result: 7-4 (5-1 District, second), area finalist

Returning lettermen/starters: 14/11 (6 offensive, 5 defensive)

Lettermen lost: 10

Offense: Spread

Defense: 4-2-5

Notable Players: WR Kirk Killian … LB Ethan Taylor

2021 Outlook: The Rebels’ stadium is nicknamed “The Swamp.” … Rivercrest will miss OL Cole Carson, who is at Arkansas. … After six straight playoff appearances the Rebels have a new coach in Ty Huie and a very inexperience team. … Rivercrest’s first two games are on the road with De Kalb (Aug. 27) and Detroit (Sept. 3). … The home opener is Sept. 10 vs. Harleton.

ALBA-GOLDEN PANTHERS

Coach: Drew Webster (3rd year, 4-15)

All-time: 103-272-2

Stadium: Alba-Golden Stadium, 1373 CR 2377, Alba, 75410

2020 result: 1-8 (0-6 District, seventh)

Returning lettermen/starters: 20/20 (10 offensive, 10 defensive)

Lettermen lost: 7

Offense: Multiple

Defense: 4-2-5

Notable Players: QB Blake Weissert (5-11, 185, Sr.) … FB Shawn Gaskill (5-11, 195, Sr.) … DT Michael Gaskill (5-11, 207, Sr.) … FS Nick Hallman (5-11, 175, Sr.) … DE Tyler Perez (5-11, 220, Jr.) … LG Eathan Thorn (5-10, 200, Sr.) … DE Jerry Skinner (6-4, 220, Jr.) … RB Glenn Hartley (5-8, 160, Jr.) … DE Landon Green (6-1, 205, Soph.) … MLB Ethan Salinas (Sr.) … LT Matt Brewer (Jr.) … WR Micah Smith (Sr.) … WR/CB Jack Patton (Sr.) … CB Thai Peterson (Sr.) … RB Donald McVay (Jr.) … C Eli Nivison (Jr.) … NG Erin Hubbard (Sr.) … OL/LB Doge Gaines (Sr.) …

2021 Outlook: The Panthers are looking for their first playoff appearance since tying for the district championship in 2015. … With 20 starters returning and Weissert (45 of 73 for 978 yards, 4 TDs) back at QB the Panthers look to end that postseason drought. Weissert has been on the varsity since he was a freshman. … Hartley rushed for 427 yards and four touchdowns. … Gaskill had 93 tackles last season with Skinner getting six sacks and Patton picking off three passes. … Webster said the Panthers will be stronger — “We will be improved with great leadership.” The strength of the team will be “Our physical approach and relentless effort.” … The Panthers’ season opener is Aug. 27 against Prairiland in Alba.

COMO-PICKTON EAGLES

Coach: Ronnie Green (3rd year, 8-11; 67-47 overall)

All-time: 206-339-4

Stadium: Ron Heflin Field, East on FM 11, Como, 75431

2020 result: 4-4 (3-3 District, tied for third), bi-district

Returning lettermen/starters: 13/7 (4 offensive, 3 defensive)

Lettermen lost: 12

Offense: Wing

Defense: 3-4

Notable Players: OL/DL Chris Ramirez (6-1, 260, Sr.) … OL/DL Jovany Tellez (6-3, 315, Sr.) … DB Avelardo Villa (5-11, 165, Sr.) … OL/DL Tucker Rutledge (6-1, 250, Sr.) … OL Klain Thomas (6-1, 240, Sr.) … QB/DB Kevin Hernandez (5-7, 140, Soph.) … DB Christian Gilbreath (5-10, 150, Jr.) … OL/DL Hayden Potts (6-0, 170, Jr.)

2021 Outlook: The Eagles have made the playoffs the last three seasons but are still in search of their first playoff win in school history. They lost to Alvord (35-22) last year in bi-district. C-P has made the postseason seven times since beginning a football program in 1966.

CELESTE BLUE DEVILS

Coach: Demetrius Rector (12th year, 47-67)

All-time: 432-496-26

Stadium: Blue Devil Stadium, E. Sweeny Street, Celeste, 75423

2020 result: 3-5 (2-4 District, tied for fifth)

Returning lettermen/starters: 12/15 (8 offensive, 7 defensive)

Lettermen lost: 7

Offense: Spread

Defense: 4-2-5

Notable Players: WR/DB Zakryn Jackson (5-9, 160, Sr.) … RB/LB Jawonte Stephens (5-10, 175, Sr.) … WR/DB Holden Lamm (6-0, 170, Sr.) … WR/LB Qua Stephens (5-9, 160, Jr.) … LB/OL Brody Pryor (5-10, 170, Sr.) … WR/LB Seth Buckley (5-8, 160, Sr.) … QB/LB Michael Connelly (5-9, 150, Jr.) … WR/DB Laneil Campbell (6-0, 175, Soph.) … OL/DL Julian Olivarez (6-0, 180, Soph.) 

2021 Outlook: After missing the playoffs the last two seasons, the Blue Devils are hoping to return to the way of their 11-2 team of 2018.