New Leadership
In a district full of veterans, New Boston, Sabine will feature new coaches
Two new coaches will be roaming the sidelines this fall in District 8-3A, Divison I. Craig Fant was hired at New Boston after being a coordinator at Atlanta, and Rex Sharp takes over the Gladewater Sabine post following a 2-9 campaign a year ago.
Jefferson and White Oak are expected to be the front-runners for the district title, with Redwater and Hughes Springs pushing for the other two playoff spots. Sabine was a playoff team a year ago, and New Boston has a new fastpaced offense under Fant.
HUGHES SPRINGS
The Mustangs look to turn around their recent fortunes with 19 lettermen returning.
Tailback/defensive back Tra Craver will be the big threat for the offense after missing the second half of last season with an injury. Other leaders for Hughes Springs include end/offensive lineman Hunter Brabham and linebacker/lineman Zach Pilgrim.
Jacobie Craver will help in the backfield, and Ty Menefee is the other wing back across from Jacobie. Team chemistry will be a key for the senior-heavy Mustangs.
NEW BOSTON
Fant has installed a fast-paced offense and changed some positions to develop the system quickly.
Kyler Murphy and Samuel Sanchez have transitioned to receivers, joining Deaundre Robinson. Jake Bobbitt is expected to take over the reins at QB, with Victor Sanchez the only senior linemen in fall camp.
Sophomore Jerrian Cole will take over at running back as the Lions aim to push for a playoff spot.
SABINE
Sharp takes over a Cardinal program that won just two games during district play after a winless predistrict but clinched the fourth and final playoff spot last fall.
Sabine brings back 17 of 30 lettermen, and the Cards will be a run-oriented offense, led by Glenn George and Eli Morris, who combined for 1,400 yards rushing last season.
JEFFERSON
The Bulldogs turned a 2-8 record in 2015 to 9-3 last fall in head coach Antwan Jimmerson’s second season, and Jefferson has the talent returning to make a deep run in the postseason.
The Bulldogs, who won the district title in 2016 with a 5-0 record, bring back 20 lettermen for 2017.
T.Q. Jackson leads the offensive returnees after covering almost 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns receiving.
WHITE OAK
The Roughnecks bring back just 12 lettermen from a 10-2 squad, but Heath Hood returns at quarterback and threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 32 scores while rushing for 657 yards and 13 more TDs.
Receivers Kason Kuienzle and Elijah Trest are the top two returning receivers for White Oak, and Trest is also a force on defense from his end position.
REDWATER
Redwater will rely on a talented junior class and large senior group to push for another playoff spot, and perhaps challenge for the district title. The Dragons return 14 lettermen and five offensive and six defensive starters for the 2017 campaign.
Peyton Davis returns at running back for his junior season after garnering 850 yards rushing a year ago, and quarterback Seth Lathrop started half the games for the Dragons in 2016. Fullback Austin Warlick is all back, with Lavoudrick Vaughn the top receiving target. Mason Roberts also is back at running back.
A core group of linemen on both sides of the ball will be a strength early on.