Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 225, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 9, 2009 Page: 6 of 16
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...
■
PORTS
Page A6 ■ Sunday, August 9, 2009
Sweetwater Reporter
New era begins at Sweetwater
• Slaughter has high hopes for Mustangs
BY RON HOWELL
Sports Editor
When it comes to re-
building high school foot-
ball programs, few coaches
can match Craig Slaughter’s
record of success.
At his previous jobs in
Hearne and Clyde, what he
did bordered on magical.
Hearne, which won a total
of 24 games in the 11 years
prior to Slaughter’s arrival,
matched that total in just
four seasons (2002-05) un-
der Slaughter, including the
school's first playoff win in
44 years his last season.
At Clyde, Slaughter had a
23-12 record the past three
years after the Bulldogs got
just 27 wins the previous
nine. Clyde was 3-for-3 in
making the playoffs and
reached the third round in
2008, when it was 11-2 and
won its first outright district
championship in 53 years.
Slaughter, who was hired
to replace Kent Jackson as
Sweetwater's head coach in
February, now faces a dif-
ferent challenge: keeping a
tradition-rich football pro-
gram at or near the top.
In the past quarter-century,
Sweetwater has missed the
playoffs just three times in-
cluding iast year’s unit that
surprised many outside ob-
servers by going 10-3 and
advancing to the Division 11
regional semifinals.
But at first glance, it ap-
pears Slaughter just might
have another rebuilding job
on his hands.
The Mustangs lost most
of their skill players and
return just two offensive
starters. The picture is a lit-
tle brighter on the defensive
side, with six players back.
For the second straight
year, Sweetwater is picked
by Texas Football magazine
to finish fifth among the
six teams in District 2-3A,
Ken Norman
Bo Bugarin
Cole Rhoades
B.J. Walker
Brady Holcomb
A.J. McCoy
ahead of only Breckenridge
and behind Wylie, Graham,
Brownwood and Snyder.
But Slaughter has defied
the oddsmakers his entire
coaching career. He noted
that six of his previous sev-
en teams finished higher
than Texas Football pre-
dicted them to.
“It’s motivation for us,"
he said. “When I say our
goal is to win district, I
know it’s a big challenge.
But I think we're pretty tal-
ented. I know what we can
do. In the coaching world,
we are definitely not under
the radar.
“It just depends on how
many good plays we make.”
Center Cole Rhoades and
tackle Jarvis McCann are
the two returning offensive
starters and Rhoades (200)
started at guard this past
season. McCann (255) and
Brady Holcomb (190) will
likely be the team’s starting
tackles with Max Zetzman
Zach Wetsel
(180), Ranee Stone (165)
and Jordan Houston (260)
all competing for the two
guard spots. Clint Jay (175)
will be at tight end, along
with Connor Stafford (185)
and Larry Daniel (175). The
wide receiver candidates —
Sweetwater will be throwing
more this year — include
Ken Norman (185), Kris
Mayes (160), Jake Lawrence
(160), Jason Vause (160)
and Bo Bugarin (170).
The team’s running backs
will be B.J. Walker (210)
and A.J. McCoy (160), with
Sam Nemir (165) and Eric
Medina (155) at fullback.
McCoy earned second team
all-district honors after
rushing for 304 yards on
just 47 carries and scoring
four touchdowns in 2008,
while Rhoades was named
to the first team as a line-
man. Walker, McCann and
Norman (at running back)
earned honorable mention.
Three players — Mayes,
Jason Vause
Lawrence and Vause — are
competing to be the start-
ing quarterback. “They all
do things that make them
special," said Slaughter,
who plans to air it out more
while still favoring the run.
Norman, named the dis-
trict's preseason defensive
MVP bv Texas Football, is
the starting free safety and
Mayes, Lawrence, Vause,
McCoy, Zach Wetsel (150)
and Cameron Fox (150)
will also play in the second-
ary. Bugarin, Walker and
Zetzman will be at outside
linebacker with Nemir in
the middle of the 4-3 setup.
The two tackle spots will
be manned by Rhoades,
McCann and Houston with
Holcomb, Daniel, Jay and
Cody Hazard (170) at end.
Rhoades, Walker and Jay
started on the defensive
line last year and Walker
received first team all-
district honors, while Jay
earned honorable mention.
Jarvis McCann
Bugarin was a first team
all-district linebacker and
Norman was a first-team
all-district defensive back
and McCov made the sec-
ond team, while Vause re-
ceived honorable mention.
Also, Wetsel made the sec-
ond team as a utility player.
Holcomb returns as the
starting deep snapper on
kicks, where he won first
team all-district honors in
'08. Rhoades is expected to
handle placekicking duties
this year, while Vause will
be the team’s punter. Vause,
McCoy and Norman will
also return kicks this year.
“I love the makeup of the
team,” Slaughter said. “Th‘:
kids are all on the same page
and are coming together. It
was a little different at first
when I came, but the great
thing is that the adjustment
(to his system) happened
in February and March. It's
amazing how quickly that
takes care of itself."
Clint Jay
Craig
Slaughter’s
record
HEARNE
2002:7-4
2003:4-6
2004:6-4
2005: 7-5
TOTAL: 24-19
CLYDE
2006: 5-6
2007: 7-4
2008:11-2
TOTAL: 23-12
OVERALL: 47-31
“This is a high profile job,
but believe me, a coach’s
worst critic is himself. I had
the same high expectations
when I took the job at Clyde,
and this feels very similar.
“I'd like to win the district
and then win as many gold
balls as you can.”
SHS coaching staff
HEAD COACH (also QBs, safeties coach)
Craig Slaughter — previouslv at Clyde
ASSISTANT COACH/DEE. COORDINATOR
(also linebackers coach)
Clint Easley — previously at Clyde
OFF. COORDINATOR (also receivers coach)
Jarrett Vickers — previouslv at Clyde
OFFENSIVE I.INFf COACH
Bobliv Williams — previously at Clyde
RUNNING BACKS COACH (also JV coach)
Patrick Villa — returning coach
DEF. TACKLES COACH (also JV coach)
Jarrod Gee — returning coach
DEFENSIVE ENDS COACH
Jake Freeman — first year
TIGHT ENDS COACH (also freshman coach)
A1 Hunt — returning coach
DEF. BAC KS COACH (also freshman coach)
David Mayes — returning coach
JUNIOR HIGH COACHES: Chance Evans
(coordinator - first year), Thomas Hines
(returning coach), Dan Huskcrson (returning
coach), Kelly Tobin (previously at Clyde)
Varsity
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DATE
Aug. 15
Aug. 21
Aug. 28
Sept. 4
Sept. 11
Sept. 18
Sept. 25
Oct. 2
Oct. 9
Oct. 16
Oct. 23
Oct. 30
Nov. 6
DATE
Aug. 15
Aug. 21
Sept. 3
Sept. 10
Sept. 17
Sept. 24
Oct. 1
Oct. 8
Oct. 15
Oct. 22
Oct. 29
Nov. 5
OPPONENT
SITE
TIME
Mid. Christian (S)
Sweetwater
10 a.m.
Vernon (S)
Vernon
7:00
B’burnett (SB Classic)
Sweetwater
7:30
Seminole
Seminole
7:30
Monahans (HC)
Sweetwater
7:30
Clyde
Clyde
7:30
Big Spring
Big Spring
7:30
Open
—
—
Breckenridge (D)
Sweetwater
7:30
Graham (D)
Graham
7:30
Snyder(D)
Sweetwater
7:30
Brownwood (D)
Sweetwater
7:30
Wylie (I))
Wylie
7:30
Junior varsity
OPPONENT
SITE
TIME
Mid. Christian (S)
Sweetwater
9 a.m.
Vernon (S)
Vernon
6:00
Seminole
Sweetwater
7:00
Monahans
Monahans
7:00
Clyde
Sweetwater
7:00
Big Spring
Sweetwater
7:00
Eighth grade
Red and White
DATE
OPPONENT
SITE
Sept. 10
Monahans
Monahans
Sept. 10
Monahans
Monahans
Sept. 17
Clyde
Clyde
Sept. 17
Clyde
Clyde
Sept. 24
Big Spring
Sweetwater
Sept. 24
Big Spring
Sweetwater
Sept. 29
Wylie
Wylie
Sept. 29
Wylie
Wylie
Oct. 6
Breckenridge
Sweetwater
Oct. 6
Breckenridge
Sweetwater
Oct. 13
Graham
Graham
Oct. 13
Graham
Graham
Oct. 20
Snyder
Sweetwater
Oct. 20
Snyder
Sweetwater
Oct. 27
Brownwood
Sweetwater
Oct. 27
Brownwood
Sweetwater
Nov. 3
Wylie
Wylie
Nov. 3
Wylie
Wylie
TIME
4:00
5:30
6:30
7:45
4:00
5:30
5:00
6:30
5:00
6:30
5:00
6:30
5:00
6:30
5:00
6:30
5:00
6:30
Open
Breckenridge
Graham
Snyder
Brownwood
Wylie
Seventh grade
Red and White
Breckenridge
Sweetwater
Snyder
Brownwood
Sweetwater
Freshmen
Sept
Sept
Sept
Sept
Oct
Oct
Oct
Oct. 22
Oct. 29
Nov. 5
3
. 10
• 17
• 24
1
8
15
OPPONENT
Eastland (S)
Vernon (S)
Seminole
Monahans
Clyde
Big Spring
Clyde
Breckenridge
Graham
Snyder
Brownwood
Wylie
SITE
Eastland
Vernon
Sweetwater
Sweetwater
Clyde
Big Spring
TBA
Breckenridge
Sweetwater
Snyder
Brownwood
Sweetwater
7:00
7:00
7:00
7:00
7:00
TIME
TBA
6:00
5:00
7:00
5:00
7:00
TBA
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:00
5:00
OATE
OPPONENT
sin
TIME
Sept. 10
Monahans
Sweetwater
4:00
Sept. 10
Monahans
Sweetwater
5:30
Sept. 17
Clyde
Clyde
4:00
Sept. 17
Clyde
Clyde
5:15
Sept. 24
Big Spring
Big Spring
4:00
Sept. 24
Big Spring
Big Spring
5:30
Sept. 29
Wylie
Sweetwater
5:00
Sept. 29
Wylie
Sweetwater
6:30
Oct. 6
Breckenridge
Breckenridge
5:00
Oct. 6
Breckenridge
Breckenridge
6:30
Oct. 13
Graham
Sweetwater
5:00
Oct. 13
Graham
Sweetwater
6:30
Oct. 20
Snyder
Snyder
5:00
Oct. 20
Snyder
Snyder
6:30
Oct. 27
Brownwood
Brownwood
5:00
Oct. 27
Brownwood
Brownwood
6:30
Nov. 3
Wylie
Sweetwater
5:00
Nov. 3
Wylie
Sweetwater
6:30
S—Scrimmage D—District game
HC—Homecoming
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Rodriguez, Tatiana. Sweetwater Reporter (Sweetwater, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 225, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 9, 2009, newspaper, August 9, 2009; Sweetwater, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth561841/m1/6/?q=%22%22~1&rotate=90: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Sweetwater/Nolan County City-County Library.