Brownsboro looks to build on success from head coach Lance Connot’s first season

Published 3:01 pm Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Winning had been hard to come by for the Brownsboro Bears since 2011.

After John Settle departed following leading the Bears to a winning record in five out of six years and playoff appearances in that span after the 2010 season, the Bears missed the playoffs in four straight seasons and made the postseason just three times (2015, 2017, 2018) from 2011-20. Brownsboro didn’t have a winning record in that span, though.

Before the 2021 season, Brownsboro turned to a coach that had done a lot of winning in his career — Lance Connot.

Connot had a losing record just twice in his 10 years as a head coach before he arrived at Brownsboro, and that was in his first two seasons at Rivercrest. Connot has displayed the ability to turn programs around. Before he got to Detroit, the program had 11 consecutive losing campaigns. Detroit went 7-4 in Connot’s first season, 9-2 in his second and 6-6 in his third. Then he arrived at Rivercrest in 2014, also taking over a program that was in a losing skid and had never posted a double-digit win campaign. After 2-8 and 4-7 seasons in 2014 and 2015, Rivercrest got rolling under Connot, going 10-1, 12-1, 7-3, 11-2 and 7-4 in his last five seasons.

Brownsboro still didn’t have a winning record in 2021, but the early signs were there for the Bears, who went 5-6 and advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2018.

“The big thing is just believing,” Connot said. “Last year, we achieved something those kids weren’t sure they could achieve. Now, we’re really starting to see the big picture and understand how good we can be. It’s all about building confidence and seeing the big picture of what they can achieve and what’s possible for them.”

Brownsboro started the 2021 season 1-4 and then reeled off four straight wins over Brook Hill, Mexia, Bullard and Canton. The Bears lost to undefeated Van in the regular season finale before falling to Pittsburg in the bi-district round of the playoffs.

The Bears had three games last season where they scored at least 40 points.

“We expect big things,” Connot said. “We’ve got a lot of starters back on both sides of the ball. Obviously we expect to score a lot of points, but we expect to be much improved defensively. We think we’ve done a lot of things this spring to play to our kids’ strengths, and we’re really excited to see how it’s going to translate to the field.”

Junior Gekyle Baker (51 catches, 1,061 yards, 12 touchdowns), who has offers from Oklahoma State and UTSA, is back for the Bears at receiver. Also returning is quarterback Jaxyn Rogers (2,941 passing yards, 21 touchdowns).

“We’ve got guys from last year still, and we’re just keeping the momentum from last year on to this year,” Rogers said. “I know my guys are going to make plays, and my line is going to block for me to give it to the playmakers. As long as we have good teamwork and good work ethic at practice, we will be fine.”

Junior Tanner Ackerman (114 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries) is among the returners on defense.

Brownsboro will open the 2022 season Aug. 26 on the road against rival Athens.

Aug. 26: at Athens

Sept. 2: Fairfield

Sept. 9: at Mabank

Sept. 16: Spring Hill

Sept. 23: *at Van

Sept. 30: *Carthage

Oct. 7: *at Bullard

Oct. 21: *Canton

Oct. 28: *at Rusk

Nov. 4: *Center

*District 8-4A Division II games

All games are at 7:30 p.m.