Seminole football confident heading into second season under coach Greg Poynor

The first thing that comes to mind when coach Greg Poynor looks at his Seminole football team this year?

Confidence.

"It's making us play faster and look faster," Poynor said. "That's a big thing to me."

As the Indians prep for the upcoming season, the players are more confident not only in their abilities but also in Poynor's systems. A year after a second-place finish in district and a first-round exit, Seminole is eager to go beyond in its coach's second season.

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"The big difference is … we just know our kids so much better now," said Poynor, who has previous head-coaching stops at Roosevelt and Pampa. "We kind of know what their strengths are and the weaknesses. I think we have a better feel on where everybody needs to fit and where they need to be playing."

Perhaps the biggest change in 2021 was the installation of a true air raid offense. Blake Flowers averaged 42.6 pass attempts per game en route to 3,255 yards and 22 touchdowns. Poynor beamed when talking about his 6-foot-1, 185-pound quarterback, who is back for his senior season.

"I'll just be honest with you, Blake is one of the best football players I've ever coached. And I've coached some really good players," Poynor said. "I'm just telling you, he's got everything that you'd want a player to have. … Man, having him is a dream for a coach."

Along with "all the physical tools" such as a strong arm and accuracy, Poynor said, Flowers is an intelligent leader with character. Poynor added the senior is the team's hardest worker.

Flowers is one of six returning starters on offense. Poynor is expecting the unit to take a step forward, especially with all-district receivers Cuyler Cramer and Hector Contreras back in the fold. Seminole also has a couple of starters back on the offensive line, which Poynor said will be the team's biggest area of improvement.

Rikter Connally, who committed to SMU in early June, will be a two-way contributor in the trenches. The 6-6, 285-pounder joins four others as returning defensive starters. Connally will be on the interior of a defensive line Poynor is excited about.

"(Connally) really dedicated himself to the weight room," Poynor said. "And I think people will see a difference in him immediately. He looks different. He is going to be a force to be reckoned with. And I'll be honest, our whole D-line we feel like we've got a chance to be pretty good."

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All-district cornerback Rylan McCormick will be the veteran of an otherwise young secondary. Former safety Creed Carlisle is moving to inside linebacker, and Poynor complimented the junior's offseason.

Seminole came on at the end of last season, winning its final three district games to nab the No. 2 seed. The Indians' lone league loss was a 20-10 home setback to Estacado. Seminole finished 5-6 overall after a 31-0 loss to Snyder in bi-district.

Poynor has his sights set on much more in Year 2. So do prognosticators.

Dave Campbell's Texas Football predicts Seminole will win its district, which inserted first-year program Canyon West Plains for Estacado, which moved up to Class 4A Division I.

"Sometimes, I think, coaches don't want to talk about specific wins and stuff," Poynor said, "but winning the district championship is one of our goals. We want that to be a goal for us every year. We really felt like we let one slip away last year against Estacado. … Of course, we want to win some playoff games. We feel really confident about making the playoffs, but we want to make some noise once we get in the playoffs."

Seminole Indians

Head coach — Greg Poynor

2021 record — 5-6 overall, 3-1 in District 2-4A Division II

Base offense — Air raid

Base defense — 4-2-5

Returning lettermen — 29

Returning off./def. starters — 6/5

Top returners — Blake Flowers, Sr., QB; Rikter Connally, Sr., OL/DL; Cuyler Cramer, Sr., WR; Kevyn Guffey, Jr., OL; Hector Contreras, Sr., WR; Creed Carlisle, Jr., LB; Rylan McCormick, Sr., WR/DB

2022 schedule

* — denotes District 2-4A Division II game

Aug. 26 — at Lovington (N.M.), 7 p.m.

Sept. 2 — vs. Shallowater, 7 p.m.

Sept. 9 — at Clint Mountain View, 7 p.m.

Sept. 16 — vs. Andrews, 7 p.m.

Sept. 23 — at Pecos, 7 p.m.

Sept. 30 — vs. Big Spring, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7 — vs. Canyon West Plains*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14 — at Borger*, 7 p.m.

Oct. 28 — vs. Levelland*, 7 p.m.

Nov. 4 — at Perryton*, 7 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Seminole high school football confident under coach Greg Poynor