Vega football heads into new season with size, leadership paving the way
VEGA — There are two factors that stand out most when watching the Vega football team run through drills during an early August practice. Even under muggy gray skies, just 35 miles west of Amarillo, the Longhorns showed off their size and intensity.
Vega coach Jason Porton returns eight offensive and eight defensive starters from last season's team. That showed on the field with how fluid the team worked through practice. The strengths of the Longhorns this season will be their big bodies on both sides of the line, which should make for an intimidating presence Friday nights and the collective experience starting for the black and Vegas gold.
"We are excited," Porton said. "I feel like we have a great group coming back. The guys up front are excited to get going, and that always makes it exciting. We have a great senior class, and we are expecting big things from them."
The Longhorn offense will need to make up for the departure of star athlete Ryan Grawunder, who started at quarterback last season and accounted for 1,765 yards of total offense and 30 touchdowns.
The plan for Vega this season is to run a two-quarterback offense that highlights the skills of senior Joaquin Segovia and junior Casen Brorman.
Segovia has proven to be an explosive athlete after catching 22 passes for 410 yards and seven touchdowns last year while adding 700 yards and eight scores in the run game. The speedy athlete for the Longhorns will team up with the hard-charging junior running back Jose Silerio (550 yards, seven TDs) to form a dynamic one-two punch out of their run-heavy offense.
The Longhorns return four starting offensive linemen from their 2021 roster in senior guard Jacob Hernandez, senior guard Tanner teVelde, junior center Cole Blasingame and sophomore tackle Gatlin Green. Senior Luke Mason is expected to step into the other starting tackle spot.
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Porton expects big things out of the group and the way they fire off the ball quickly and physically should wear defenses down.
"You go as your line goes," Porton said. "I feel really good about what we've got. Obviously, we're not where we want to be yet, but we see the flashes of what we can be at times. We feel like if we can dictate the game up front then we're going to be in a pretty good situation in most games."
Vega's defensive front will be led by Green and teVelde, who combined for 73 tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks last season. The run-clogging Hernandez and Blasingame should also make an impact at the nose guard position.
Seniors Paxton Green and Brody Black will captain the Vega linebackers and both should be some of the most productive second-level players in the area. Green totaled 104 tackles and two sacks last season while Black pitched in 81 tackles and 3.5 sacks.
The Longhorn secondary includes playmakers Segovia (72 tackles, two INT) and Slade Fowler (63 tackles, 3.5 sacks).
"The experience that this defense has is key," Porton said. "They're a year stronger and they're a year more mature. We have six guys up front that can rotate and keep legs fresh. We're fired up about the potential on that side of the ball."
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After falling in the bi-district round of the Class 2A Division II bracket to regional finalist Wellington last fall and the departure of Grawunder, the Longhorns and 10th-year coach Porton are ready to begin the challenge of a new season.
"I feel like we didn't meet our expectations last year," Porton said. "We kind of have a bad taste in our mouths and the kids have come out working hard and done a great job. We set up our non-district schedule to where we're going to have to figure out how to get up every week. We're excited about the season and this is the best time of the year for me. It's football time in America."
VEGA LONGHORNS
Head coach: Jason Porton
2021 record: 7-4, 2-2 in district
Base offense: I
Base defense: 3-4
Last playoff appearance: 2021
Returning Lettermen: 22
Top returners: Joaquin Segovia, Paxton Green, Slade Fowler, Jacob Hernandez, Tanner teVelde, Jose Silerio, Cole Blasingame, Gatlin Green, Brody Black, Kylan Richardson, Lane Gibson, Braden Brorman
SCHEDULE
Aug. 26: vs. Bovina, 7 p.m.
Sep. 2: at Farwell, 7 p.m.
Sep. 9: at Panhandle, 7 p.m.
Sep. 16: vs. Stratford, 7 p.m.
Sep. 23: at New Deal, 7 p.m.
Sep. 30: vs. Olton, 7 p.m.
Oct. 7: at Boys Ranch, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 14: vs. Gruver, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 21: at Booker, 7 p.m.*
Oct. 28: OPEN
Nov. 4: vs. Sunray, 7 p.m.*
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Vega heads into new season with size, leadership paving the way
