Lobos motivated by memories of miss
After falling just shy of a berth last fall, Langham Creek focused on reclaiming lost ground
Langham Creek’s luck left it last year.
After winning an undefeated district championship in 2014, the Lobos came up a little short in every tight game last season, leaving them just outside the playoffs, tied for fifth at 5-4 with Cypress Woods.
They finished 5-5 overall for the first time since Todd Thompson’s first two years at the helm.
“We lost all the close games, and … the three or four years before that, we won most of the close ones,” Thompson said. “The year before, when we went 9-0 in the district, we had several close games, and found a way to come out on top.
“Last year, four of those five games we lost were on the final drive.”
Thompson said they played well late in the year, with a three-game winning streak to end the season, but by then it was too late.
Now the Lobos are looking to leap back into the spotlight from the beginning.
“Our guys are excited to get back in and play,” Thompson said.
“The district is going to be extremely tough this year. It is probably going to be the best that it’s been in a long time. There are that many good teams. But we’ve got some good players coming back, and some younger guys who had good seasons last year, and they have a little bit of a chip on their shoulders, something to prove, after feeling like maybe we underperformed last season.”
Langham Creek must overcome several key losses due to graduation, most notably quarterback Paul Watson and wide receiver Quartney Davis (Texas A&M), but there are also several reasons to feel optimistic.
Standout running back Toneil Carter is back, and the defensive line could be the best Thompson’s had at Langham Creek.
Carter, a Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Super Team tailback, rushed for 1,216 yards and 18 touchdowns last season and will be leaned upon more heavily this season, particularly in the passing game.
“We’re going to have to give him the ball and make people tackle him a lot of times,” Thompson said.
“He’s got a lot of talent, and he’s committed to Georgia and I know he’s excited about that, but his senior year of high school is going to be a memory that stays with him forever, so we’re excited about … finding different ways to get him the football.”
The Lobos also will get the football more to Chase McCray, who’s converting from slot receiver to running back.
McCray’s brother is former Spring RB Alex McCray.
Toneil and McCray will run behind center Kenny Sheldon (6-2, 305), a Northwestern State pledge who also will snap the ball to a new quarterback, either Jacob Walls or Kacey Pryor, both seniors.
Thompson said he is waiting to see if one of them steps up before the opener.
“Both of them have strengths and weaknesses, and they support each other, so it’s a good competition right now,” Thompson said. “There’s not any controversy, and I feel good about both of them, really.”
Pryor started at inside receiver last season and Walls was the starting JV quarterback.
Thompson said he doesn’t plan on playing both all year, but also wouldn’t rule it out giving the varying strengths.
“Jacob is more of a dropback guy and throws well inside the pocket, and Kacey’s really mobile, so it’s going to be a difficult decision,” Thompson said.
The defensive line features Chidi Ogbonnaya (6-4½, 247), a UH pledge, Dondrick Collins (6-5, 250), who has 15 Division I offers, including Iowa State, Kansas, SFA and Houston Baptist, Robert Hill (6-0, 250), probably the strongest player in the program, and returning starter Isaac Salazar (6-2, 225) at end.
“We’re going to be young at linebacker, and so hopefully they can control the offensive line enough up front to free up our linebackers, and they’re able to make more plays, just because (the linebackers) are going to be pretty new and they’re going to need that D-line to keep people off of them,” Thompson said.
Langham Creek scrimmages Aug. 19 at Spring and opens Thursday, Aug. 25, with Klein Oak at Klein Memorial Stadium.
The Lobos are 1-3 in the series the last four years, but all four went down to the final play.
“It’s good,” Thompson said.
“It prepares you for all the things that are going to happen during the (district) season. You’re ahead, you’re behind, it’s close, you’re tied, it’s overtime – it’s everything in one game.”