Grace Community ready for first season under head coach Tim Russell

Published 3:57 pm Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Grace Community is a week away from the football season.

The Cougars will take the field under veteran East Texas coach Tim Russell, who when hired in January, was Grace’s fourth head football coach in a one-year span.

Russell had retired from Harmony High School after posting a 116-102 record in 20 seasons at Harmony and Pine Tree. After coming out of retirement, Russell said he’s ready to see what’s in store at Grace.

“I’m extremely excited,” Russell said. “When you take a new job or go to a new place, sometimes people say you need to build something, but it’s the seniors’ last year, so we’re building for right now. You jump right in there, and the guys have bought in and started working hard right away. I want this to be the best year Grace has ever had because it’s their senior season, it’s their last one.

“I have to give everything I can to make sure our coaching staff gives everything they can give because I know the guys have given all. We’re going to go out there and do our best, and I think we will have a great season.”

The Cougars went 2-9 last season, defeating Tenaha and Dallas Bishop Dunne in the regular season before falling to Fort Worth Southwest Christian in the playoffs.

“I’m really excited,” senior receiver and defensive back Will Bozeman said. “I mean, after last year, and things going all over the place, I like that this year we’ve got Coach Russell with us and got some people back and some new people. I’m excited to see the younger guys coming up and see what they can do.”

Bozeman played quarterback last season and threw for 774 yards and eight touchdowns.

Senior Reed Alexander plays quarterback, receiver and safety.

“I’m pumped for the new season,” Alexander said. “I’m excited to see all of our work we’ve put in the offseason start to pay off.”

Seniors Caleb Wilson and Kole Crawford play on both the offensive and defensive lines for the Cougars.

“I’m just ready to play, because everything we’ve done since the sixth grade has come up to this,” Crawford said. “We’ve worked really hard, and I think we’re going to win a lot.

“We just all need to do our job,” Wilson said. “I know the coaches will put us all in the right place, but I think if we do our job, we can all be very successful.”

Senior receiver and defensive back Caden Lynch had 95 tackles and four interceptions last season.

“I’m looking forward to playing with these guys, just grinding with everybody and getting through all the trials and tribulations throughout the season,” Lynch said. “I’m just really excited to get through this season with everybody.”

Grace will also have a new offensive coordinator as Mike Maddox, who was the Cougars’ head football coach from 2006-17 and was most recently the athletic director at Lindale ISD, takes over.

Grace hosts Winona in the season opener Aug. 26 on Orville Rogers Field at Clyde-Perkins Stadium.

TWITTER: @BrandonOSports

Aug. 26: Winona

Sept. 2: at Wills Point

Sept. 9: Brook Hill

Sept. 16: at Lone Oak

Sept. 23: Spring Hill

Oct. 7: *at Grapevine Faith Christian

Oct. 14: *at Flower Mound Coram Deo

Oct. 21: *at Frisco Legacy Christian

Oct. 28: *Dallas Bishop Dunne

Nov. 4: at Dallas Covenant 7 p.m.

All games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted

* TAPPS Division II District II Game