Tyler Legacy hosting spring football game on Thursday
Published 3:41 pm Wednesday, May 8, 2024
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After four weeks of practices, the spring will conclude for the Tyler Legacy Red Raiders with the spring football game at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Red Raider Field.
“We’re a really young football team at some key spots,” Legacy head football coach Beau Trahan said. “We really challenged the team this year to grow. We really challenged them to be a more physical football team. We grinded on them for four weeks. You’re seeing the tiredness at the end of these four weeks, which is good. They’re learning how to fight through adversity, fighting through a little uncomfortableness, and in turn, we’ve got better as a football team. We’ve had some guys really step up on both sides of the ball.
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“I just want to see them compete. I want to see the defense get off the field. I want to see the offense moving the ball a little bit. I just want to see them have fun. My main thing, and this is every coach in the state of Texas, I want to get out of this thing healthy.”
Thursday will give fans a chance to watch Red Raider quarterbacks — sophomore Von Lane and junior Zach Davis. Lane received varsity experience in district play and in the postseason as a freshman. Davis was 126 of 198 for 2,347 yards and 27 touchdowns in leading Grace Community to a 9-2 record as a sophomore.
“They’re competing,” Trahan said. “It’s a healthy competition. They’re coaching each other up. I can’t say right now that one is separating from the other. They both can really play. They’re both starters in my mind. We will see where this thing shakes out.”
At running back, Trahan said it has been a good spring for Micah Pierson, Corey Ransom, Jace Love and Rodney Burnley.
Trahan said the offensive line, which returns all five starters, has had a strong spring.
“The O-line is playing really well together,” Trahan said. “There’s a lot of experience right there, and they’re taking the next step. I think they’re the foundation of our football team. And then we’ve got some young guys behind them that we’re building some really quality depth.”
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JP Rainer, DaCarryon Hollie, Takaiden Brown, Malachi Allen, Za’Bryan Hood and Micah Igaya have all had a solid spring at receiver, Trahan said.
Defensively, Nathaniel Kirksey is back after recording 167 tackles and earning all-state honors this past season at linebacker.
Simeon Garner is back at defensive line after suffering an injury in the 2023 season opener.
Other defensive standouts in the spring have been Zion Alexander, Ethan Brown, Jaishawn Lee, Christian Jones, Jaydan Walton, Ke’Braylon Jackson, Bauer Sivley and Paul Ratliff.
“We have a lot of youth and a lot of first-time starters,” Trahan said. “We’re taking our bumps right now, but this is what you do spring ball for. This is what you can correct on. We can watch this tape through the summer, freshen up some things and then we’ve got to go out there and fight in this tough district and tough schedule we have and try to find some wins.”
Legacy will open the 2024 football season Aug. 29 at Texas High in Texarkana.