Seeing Red: Wimberley defense propeling unbeaten team into state football playoffs

WIMBERLEY — When star quarterback Cash McCollum and several other Wimberley players moved away from the Hill Country town during the summer, a few of the younger players in the football program couldn’t help but look around at the new faces in key places and express a little concern.

But some of the Texans’ veterans knew better, said head coach Doug Warren. They’d point out the field house’s crowded trophy case, which is packed with plenty of district-championship hardware. Or they’d cite the sign at the entrance to Texan Stadium, which lists the program’s two state championships in 2005 and 2011.

“When that (the departure of McCollum and the other players) happened, the kids told me that some of the guys were not sure if we would win a lot of games or whatever,” Warren said before a team practice earlier this week. “One of the kids said, ‘Yeah we will, because winners win.’

“When they told me that, that stuck with me. These kids are winners. They believe in the program, they believe in what the coaches tell them, and they think that they’re the best team out there every game. When you think that you’re the best team out there — and not just think it but believe it — that goes a long way toward winning football games.”

That belief has certainly been strengthened this season. The Texans just completed the fifth undefeated regular seasons in school history, and they’ll begin the playoffs as one of the favorites in Class 4A Division II’s Region IV. Ranked No. 6 in the state, Wimberley opens the postseason Thursday against San Antonio YMLA.

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Cody Stoever, a sturdy 5-foot-10, 185-pound sophomore, stepped into the starting role behind center and accounted for over 2,000 yards of offense and 30 total touchdowns. But the foundation for Wimberley’s success remains its famed “Code Red” defense, a moniker that reflects both a primary color in the Texans’ uniform as well as an approach that’s, well, unhealthy to opposing offenses.

Anchored by savvy safety Lane Patek as well as a pair of rangy, physical outside linebackers in Jack Riser and Kason Pritchard, the Texans have given up just 13.5 points a game this season and 13.3 points over the past three seasons. The Texans favor speed over size, and their complex, aggressive defense rarely gives opposing offenses the same look.

“We may not look like the biggest and baddest defense, but we go hard,” said Riser, who has 77 tackles and seven passes defended. “We’re always flying to the ball.”

That aggressive nature exemplifies the Code Red nickname, which arrived in Wimberley 20 years ago when former head coach Weldon Nelms came in from Glen Rose with a young, hungry staff that included Warren.

“Code Red means that you’re going to go out there and be the most physical team on the field,” said Patek, who excels in run support with 63 tackles and has four interceptions. “You’re not going to be outhit, and you’re never going to let up.”

By applying constant pressure from a variety of angles, the Code Red defense is designed to create “chaos,” said Warren.

“Defense around here, these kids take a lot of pride in that,” Warren said. “If you look at it over the years, the Code Red defense is what’s carried this team. It’s what we hang our hat on, and the kids take a lot of pride in carrying on that tradition.

“We’re not going to let a quarterback sit back there and not have pressure. They’re too good these days. A high school quarterback today will pick you apart. We want to make them uncomfortable.”

Nothing makes a team visiting Texans Stadium more uncomfortable than a third-and-long, when a wailing siren rings across the stands and the “Code Red” slogan starts pulsating on the stadium scoreboard.

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“That gets me pumped up,” Patek said. “It gets my mind focused on what I have to do. I hear that, I’m freakin’ ready to rock ❜n’ roll.”

That attitude helped Wimberley navigate a grueling nondistrict schedule that included wins over playoff teams in a higher division such as Canyon Lake, Fredericksburg and Lampasas as well as a signature victory over defending Class 3A DI state champion Brock.

“Three or four games in, I thought this team could be special,” Warren said. “And it’s not because of talent, because we’ve had more talented teams here. It’s because of the way they have come together as a team and love each other. That’s what sets this team apart from some of the other teams we’ve had. They love playing for each other, they love being out there on the field, they love coming to work every day. It’s made this season really fun.”

Triple threat

Wimberley joins Westlake and Regents as Austin-area teams that enter the 2022 playoffs with a perfect record. All three share certain characteristics, including multiple state titles.

Regents

Year started 11-man football: 2004

Number of unbeaten regular seasons: 5

Number of state titles: 3

Westlake

Year started 11-man football: 1969

Number of unbeaten regular seasons: 14

Number of state titles: 4

Wimberley

Year started 11-man football: 1988

Number of unbeaten regular seasons: 5

Number of state titles: 2

UIL playoff schedule

Thursday

Class 6A Division I

Cedar Ridge (5-5) at Westlake (10-0), 7:30 p.m.

Class 6A Division II

Weiss (5-5) at De Soto (8-2), 7 p.m.

Class 4A Division I

Boerne (10-0) vs. Taylor (5-5), 7 p.m., Mustang Stadium, Marble Falls

Class 4A Division II

Bandera (8-2) vs. Lago Vista (7-3), 7 p.m., Comal Pieper HS

Madisonville (6-4) vs. La Grange (5-5), 7 p.m., Cougar Field, College Station

Jarrell (4-6) vs. Devine (9-1), 7:30 p.m., Canyon Lake HS

Waco Connally (8-2) vs. Giddings (3-7), 7:30 p.m., Green Stadium, Bryan

Wimberley (10-0) vs. San Antonio YMLA (3-7), 7:30 p.m., Alamo Stadium, San Antonio

Class 3A Division I

Blanco (6-4) vs. Poteet (6-4), 7 p.m., Heroes Stadium, San Antonio

Jourdanton (9-1) vs. Luling (6-4), 7 p.m., Jourdanton HS

Class 2A Division I

Thorndale (8-2) vs. Johnson City LBJ (7-3), 7 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Hutto

Friday

Class 6A Division I

Lake Travis (5-4) at Round Rock (9-1), 7 p.m.

Class 6A Division II

Bowie (7-2) at Vandegrift (9-1), 7 p.m.

Manor (7-3) at Dripping Springs (9-1), 7:30 p.m.

Class 5A Division I

Cedar Park (4-6) at Smithson Valley (9-1), 7 p.m.

Georgetown (8-2) at New Braunfels Canyon (9-1), 7:30 p.m.

Class 5A Division II

San Antonio Burbank (7-3) vs. Lockhart (7-3), 7 p.m., Alamo Stadium, San Antonio

San Antonio Highlands (5-5) at Liberty Hill (9-1), 7 p.m.

LBJ (8-2) vs. Elgin (7-3), 7:30 p.m., Nelson Field

McCallum (7-3) vs. Waco University (5-5), 7:30 p.m., House Park

Northeast (4-5-1) at Belton (8-2), 7:30 p.m.

Rouse (5-5) vs. Crockett (6-4), 7:30 p.m., Bible Stadium

Class 4A Division I

Somerset (8-2) vs. Lampasas (6-4), 7 p.m., Alamodome, San Antonio

Class 4A Division II

Smithville (4-6) vs. Gatesville (7-3), 7:30 p.m., Memorial Stadium, Hutto

Class 2A Division II

Granger (8-2) vs. Somerville (4-6), 7 p.m., Rockdale HS

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Wimberley defense propelling unbeaten team into state football playoffs