Lindale enters 2022 season with experience, confidence

Published 2:59 pm Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Trey Mazratian said he wants his senior season of high school football to be a 20-week experience.

“I plan on playing 20 weeks, 16 games, that’s the plan,” Lindale offensive lineman Mazratian said.

The Lindale Eagles have completed three weeks of practice, so that leaves 17 weeks remaining — 11 weeks of the regular season and six weeks of the postseason.

“We put in a lot of work in the offseason with the guys that we have,” Mazratian said. “We have some younger guys in some roles that don’t have a ton of varsity experience, but they’ve owned their role. And we’re really excited, especially for our defense that has eight guys coming back.

“I believe being very competitive and being very tough are the keys to our success. When you have a bye week the last week of the district season, that’s kind of a hard spot to have it, but having that break in between and knowing that you’re about to go play six games in the playoffs, so you’re really excited about that, so being really competitive and really tough can help us in those situations.”

Mazratian is a part of a veteran offensive line that features four-star junior Casey Poe, who has received multiple Division I offers, and Will Hutchens, who is committed to Sam Houston.

“I’m just ready to play,” Hutchens said. “It’s my last year playing high school football. It’s going to be fun, especially with the brotherhood we have and how close we are.

“We take pride in how we play. Not only that, but we have a young quarterback, Clint Thurman, who is going to be a dog this year. He’s going to do incredible. He was a leader from the beginning. He’s always vocal, and he loves relationships. He’s going to be awesome.”

On the defensive line, senior Christian King (44 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries) is returning as a third-year starter.

“It’s a weird feeling,” King said of becoming a veteran leader. I’ve definitely gotten some comments about it from the coaches trying to get me into that role and trying to help build me into that vocal guy, which is somebody that I never really was. I was always kind of an example guy who likes to work hard and show guys they can do everything I’m doing. But I’m growing into it, being more of a vocal guy that can help encourage guys.”

Returning in the secondary is senior Brett Maya

“I’m really excited,” Maya said. “Just with everything we’ve been doing in the offseason, just to be able to put it together and have an incredible season, I’m really excited for that.”

Lindale will open the season Friday at Kaufman.

Aug. 26: at Kaufman

Sept. 2: Pine Tree

Sept. 9: at Van

Sept. 16: Gilmer

Sept. 23: *Henderson

Sept. 30: *at Athens

Oct. 7: *Kilgore

Oct. 14: *at Chapel Hill

Oct. 21: *Palestine

Oct. 28: *at Jacksonville

*District 9-4A Division I Game

All games at 7:30 p.m.