Kickoff 2022: Coleman reloads for another deep playoff run out of District 5-2A DI
District 5-2A Division I Predictions
Coleman
Tolar
Hamilton
Goldthwaite
Bangs
De Leon
San Saba
Coleman reloads for another deep postseason run, and the Bluecats get out of a district – and region – from Cisco, as well as Region I powers Stratford and Hawley.
QB Jadin Jackson leads a talented offense that includes RB Ryland Gentry (870 yards, 13 TDs rushing) and WR Braxton Smith, who also is a preseason all-state pick by Texas Football magazine at linebacker. He was the Reporter-News’ Class 3A defensive player of the year.
Brent Bouldin is the magazine’s preseason district defensive MVP.
Bouldin and Gentry were both All-Big Country second team picks on defense. Jorge Salas, Garrett Smith and Navarro were all second-team All-BC selections on the offensive line, and Navarro also got a second team nod as a defensive lineman, so the Bluecats will be tough in the trenches.
The Bluecats outscored opponents 492-72 in going 11-1, and they outscored district foes 211-20, including a 31-7 win at home against Cisco.
Hawley beat Coleman 21-7 in the region semifinals en route to the state title game.
Tolar, which returns 21 players (eight offensive/7 defensive starters) from a 10-3 region semifinalist team will battle Coleman for the district title. QB Jackson LaCluyse leads a potent offense while Wyatt Jones does a little bit of everything for the Rattlers.
Hamilton returns 16 players (six offensive/eight defensive starters) from a 6-5 team, while Goldthwaite took a big hit at graduation, losing all but eight lettermen. The Eagles, however, have five returning starters on both sides of the ball.
Bangs has 17 players back (five offensive/six defensive starter) from a 1-8 team. The Dragons have a lot of size on the offensive and defensive line, and the drop from Class 3A Division II should greatly benefit them.
De Leon returns 14 lettermen (seven offensive/six defensive starter) from an 0-10 team. Like Bangs, the Bearcats have good size and strength on the offensive and defensive lines.
San Saba has five starters back on both sides of the ball and 15 returning lettermen overall from a 2-9 team.
Coleman should dominate this district. The Bluecats are ranked No. 9 in Texas Football’s preseason Class 2A Division I poll – three spots ahead of Tolar. The move to a different region poses different obstacles – Marlin is ranked No. 4 and Crawford No. 7.
Both hail from District 8-2A DI. Marlin, 11-4 last season, lost to Hawley 19-12 in the state semifinals a week after knocking off unbeaten Crawford 26-6.
Joey D. Richards covers Abilene high schools and colleges, Big Country schools and other local sports. Follow him on Twitter at ARN_Joey. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.
BANGS DRAGONS
Head coach: Kyle Maxfield (19-22 in four seasons at Bangs, 154-100 overall)
Last year’s record: 1-8, 1-4 in district
Last district title/playoff appearance: 2010/2020
Returning lettermen: 17
Returning off./def. starters: 5/6
Players to watch: Guy Powell, RB/DB, 5-9, 170, Sr.; David Herrera, OL/DL; Isaiah Serrato, OL/DL, Sr.; Nate Stoffer, WR/DB, Sr.; Keygan Pitts, RB/LB, Sr.; Skylar Minshew, QB/LB, 5-11, 158, So.; Noah Pin, OL/DL, Jr.; Kade Minshew, QB/DB, Jr.
2022 schedule
Aug. 26 - Early
Sept. 2 - Comanche
Sept. 9 at San Angelo Grape Creek,
Sept. 16 at Merkel
Sept. 23 at De Leon*
Oct. 7 - Goldthwaite*
Oct. 14 at San Saba*
Oct. 21 - Tolar*
Oct. 28 at Hamilton*
Nov. 4 - Coleman*
2021 results
Early L 48-12
Florence L 45-14
Hamilton L 62-21
Hawley L 54-0
Grape Creek L 17-14
Ingram Moore W 42-21
Sonora L 50-25
Ballinger L 46-3
Brady L 42-14
COLEMAN BLUECATS
Head coach: John Elder
Last year’s record: 11-1, 5-0 in district
Last district title/playoff appearance: 2021/2021
Returning lettermen: 15
Returning off./def. starters: 7/8
Players to watch: Jadin Jackson, QB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Ryland Gentry, RB/LB, 6-1, 205, Sr.; Braxton Smith, WR/DB, 5-8, 137, Sr.; Brent Bouldin, RB/LB, 5-11, 165, Jr.; Garrett Smith, 6-0, 215, OL, Sr.; David Navarro, OL/DL, 5-11, 210, Sr.; Jorge Salas, OL, 5-11, 225, Jr.
2022 schedule
Aug. 26 at Mason
Sept. 2 - Ballinger
Sept. 9 - Brady
Sept. 16 at Llano
Sept. 23 - Goldthwaite*
Sept. 30 at San Saba*
Oct. 7 - Tolar*
Oct. 14 - Hamilton*
Oct. 28 at De Leon*
Nov. 4 at Bangs*
*District
2021 results
Miles W 24-0
Anson W 33-6
Grape Creek W 49-0
Colorado City W 63-13
De Leon W 47-0
Goldthwaite W 42-6
Cisco W 31-7
San Saba W 49-7
Winters W 42-0
Anson W 62-12
Post W 43-0
Hawley L 21-7
DE LEON BEARCATS
Head coach: Jacob Marwitz (2nd year at De Leon)
Last year’s record: 0-10, 0-5 in district
Last district title/playoff appearance: 2017.2019
Returning lettermen: 14
Returning off./def. starters: 7/6
Players to watch: Justin Hornback, QB/DB, 5-10, Jr.; Joe Leal, OL/DL, 6-0, 275, Sr.; Kayden Salinas, WR/DB, 5-11, 160, Sr.; Logan Sherrard, OL, So.
2022 schedule
Aug. 26 - Junction
Sept. 2 at Cross Plains
Sept. 9 at Valley Mills
Sept. 16 - Hico
Sept. 23 - Bangs*
Oct. 7 - San Saba*
Oct. 14 at Tolar*
Oct. 21 - Hamilton*
Oct. 28 at Coleman*
*District
2021 results
Dublin L 43-7
Windthorst L 49-0
Millsap L 45-20
Cross Plains L 21-13
Seymour L 55-7
Coleman L 47-0
Cisco* L 69-0
San Saba L 45-14
Winters L 55-21
Goldthwaite L 61-12
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Coleman football team reloads for another deep playoff run
