Knights look to surprise in deep 3A-5

ROSBORO — Led by a stellar senior class, including allstate quarterback Keenan Owens, Centerpoint had the most successful football season in school history last year.

The Knights finished 9-4, ousting Clinton and Bald Knob in the Class 3A playoffs before falling to eventual runner-up Charleston in the quarterfinals.

Despite graduating 16 seniors, coach Cary Rogers believes this year’s squad can produce a similar run if it can survive a brutal conference schedule that includes reigning Class 3A champion Prescott and semifinalist Glen Rose.

“We think we’re still headed up; we lost some good football players, but I’m hoping people are underestimating what’s coming back,” Rogers said. “Our showcase pieces last year were seniors, but you could be right below them and still be pretty good. The kids that are coming back can play; it’s not like the cupboard is bare.”

Junior Owen Bright takes over for the departed Owens under center. Bright passed for 462 yards and four touchdowns in limited action last season, including 171 yards and a touchdown against Clinton.

“We’re not starting from scratch; he started Week 10 against Bismarck and in the playoffs, and he had good games in both,” said Rogers. “His passing skills are a little behind Keenan right now, but his running skills are ahead. He’s a big, strong kid and the big thing is he’s got confidence in himself; he knows he can do it. We lost a good one, but Owen is going to be just fine.”

Junior Blake Crawford rushed for 583 yards and six touchdowns last season. Senior Drew Fowler will also get carries, but Crawford provides the most breakaway speed.

“We think our running game will be even better this year,” Rogers said. “We’ll run some two-back sets, but Blake Crawford is definitely the biggest home-run threat we’ve ever had. We’ve had some good running backs, but we haven’t had kids turn the corner and go 50 or 60 yards. He’s got the potential to do that when he touches the ball, and that’s huge.”

Lance Chambers will be missed at receiver, but the Knights compensate with depth and speed. Junior Michael Bright hauled in 19 passes for 220 yards, with senior Austin Browning and Brian Cook also in the mix.

Senior tight end Eric Valdez earned all-conference honors last season with 39 catches for

554 yards.

“The one thing we’re missing is length, but the wideouts we’re going to put out there are faster than what we’re used to,” said Rogers. “We’re going to send out shorter receivers, but they can run. The receiving corps is going to look a little different physically, but they’re going to perform. We’re much quicker than we were and still have really good hands.”

Seniors Joe Lopez (5-7, 250) at left tackle and James Sanchez (5-8, 220) at center are the lone returning starters on the offensive line.

Junior Jonah Carey (60, 245) flanks Lopez at right tackle while junior Colton Horton (5-8, 170) and senior Keaton Smith (6-0, 190) project as guards. With so many new faces up front, Rogers knows it may take some time for the unit to mesh.

“I think it will (be a strength) eventually,” he said. “They may not have gotten as much playing time last year, but they’ve been at it for a while; it’s still juniors and seniors out there. They’re big, strong kids and we feel good about our line. We’re hoping that we won’t have to play anybody both ways, and that’s been huge for us. By conference time, the offensive line is going to be a strength.”

While Owens and Chambers proved a lethal combination offensively, defense led the Knights to new heights last season. Centerpoint surrendered just 17 points per game and had shutout wins over Horatio and Gurdon in conference.

“We had some scheme changes that fit our people a little better, but the biggest thing was experience and speed,” Rogers said. “It was the best defense we’ve ever had and it certainly made a difference for us.”

Seniors Oscar Flores and Lawson Gatlin return at defensive tackle, Flores earning all-conference honors last season with 35 tackles and three sacks. Cook and junior Kolten Carver provide speed at defensive end, but the search is under way for a starting noseguard.

“It’s kind of the only spot on defense where we’re still not sure who’s going to play there,” said Rogers. “Brian Cook is a little smaller at end, but he’s got a lot of speed. Kolten Carver is likely going to play the other one, and we can hardly block him in practice. His is all mindset; he can do whatever he wants to on the football field.”

Seniors Trace Jackson and Gibson Lybrand headline the linebacker unit. Jackson had 70 tackles and one sack last season while Lybrand finished with 65 tackles and three sacks.

“Trace Jackson started as a sophomore and a junior, and now he’s kind of stepped into a leadership role for the defense,” Rogers said. “We moved Gibson from defensive end to linebacker and he’s looked really good in practice. He’s one of our better defensive players, and we wanted to get him in the middle.”

Fowler and Michael Bright return at cornerback, joined by juniors Daniel Forsythe and Dylan Payte at safety. Senior Cannon Horn and Owen Bright hep give the team an athletic secondary with the speed to prevent big plays.

“That was big for us last year; safeties could run guys down and we gave up very few plays of more than 20 yards,” said Rogers. “We’ll miss Jett Tilley and Logan Taylor, but we’re going to be faster overall on defense.”

With Prescott defending the state title, Glen Rose returning 12 starters and Haskell Harmony Grove eyeing a deeper run in coach Paul Calley’s second season, the Knights get overlooked in 3A-5.

Rogers believes his team can thrive as an under-the-radar contender when the Knights open the season Sept. 1 against visiting Murfreesboro.

“I think teams are really discounting us, and a lot of that is attributed to last year’s senior class,” Rogers said. “They were the best class to come through here, but there is a lot here this year and our guys are starting to get used to winning. This year’s junior class had the same record in junior high that last year’s senior class did. We had two good years out of that class, and this class did the same thing they did.”