Venus snaps 25-game losing streak, Bulldogs having one of their best starts in years

Terry Spray is in his 13th season with Venus High School, three as its head football coach.

He remembers when the Bulldogs won district and a playoff game in 2014. He remembers when the Bulldogs came back in 2015 and played Celina in the first round at Pennington Field.

But the program has fallen on hard times since.

The Bulldogs haven’t been back to the playoffs and in two of the past four seasons, they have posted a 1-9 record. They were 0-9 in 2020 and 2-8 last season, but both wins came by forfeit.

However, there seems to be new life and enjoyment this fall in Venus, Texas where the Bulldogs are 2-3 entering their bye week.

Venus defeated Dallas Jefferson, 54-7, in Week 3 which snapped a 25-game losing streak. The Bulldogs hadn’t won an actual game since beating Dallas Pinkston 34-28 in September of 2019.

“When we got that first win of the season, it took a lot off our shoulders, the kids, community and coaches because it’s been a long time,” Spray said. “Getting it off our back you could see the smiles again and every game we’ve had success only builds our confidence.”

Then the Bulldogs beat Arlington Newman International, 41-15 in Week 5.

Venus is off to such a better start that both the 54 and 41 points scored in those two wins are more than the team scored in eight games last season (34).

“It feels great. We haven’t won in a long time in this program so getting some wins, you can see the attitude change with the people here,” said junior quarterback Fernando Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is among the area leaders in passing with 908 yards and eight touchdowns.

He averages over 15 yards per completion.

He said that this season, the players care more.

“When we started the season, people were wondering if this was going to be another 0-10 team, but after we got that first win, we said hey we can actually do this and we kicked it into another gear and working really hard,” Rodriguez said.

“The coaches have put in countless hours to create the best game plan for us.”

Venus has scored 157 points through five games and start district play next week against Glen Rose, the No. 1 ranked team in the Fort Worth-area among Class 4A, 3A and 2A schools.

Spray said if they can just hang with the Tigers, that’ll give even more confidence to this year’s group.

“If we sit there and give them a run for their money ... we hope to beat them, you always want to hope, but either way, we’ll gain a lot of confidence,” Spray said.

Another plus on the offense has come from junior running back Damarie Bell, who entering Week 6 ranks fourth in rushing yards among Fort Worth-area players.

Bell has rushed for 834 yards, which include two 300-yard rushing games in the past three weeks.

Bell rushed for 303 yards and four touchdowns against Jefferson.

Then he rushed for 340 and four scores against Newman International.

“This group has a lot more energy and we work as a team,” Bell said. “My teammates are blocking for me, the receivers, the o-line. I always thank my line for creating holes to read.”

In four games, Bell is averaging 209 yards rushing per contest and has 10 touchdowns.

Spray said the coaches saw his potential as a freshman.

“We saw a lot of ability in him then,” Spray said. “Then as a sophomore we kept telling him to work harder and harder and this year, he’s been so much better with his cuts, vision and acceleration. The kids call him Marshawn Lynch and I believe he has the ability to play at the next level.”

Junior Kaden Morel leads the receiving core with three touchdowns.

Senior Gavin Hawes has the most receiving yards with 236 followed by Morel with 226. Hawes and sophomore Brady Newman each have two touchdown catches.

Defensively, sophomore Xander Harisis has three of the team’s seven sacks. Sophomore Matthew Wheeler has a team-high 36 tackles followed by junior Julian Medina (29) and junior Aaron Gonzalez (26). The defense also has 15 takeaways with 10 interceptions and five fumble recoveries.

“Now we have more of a desire to win this year,” Bell said. “It feels amazing. We actually won our homecoming game, which we haven’t done in a while. So it’s a lot more fun, more energy and better atmosphere. People congratulate us at school. Everyone is happy.”

After Glen Rose, Venus will finish the season against Benbrook, Godley, Ferris and Hillsboro.

The Bulldogs hope to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

“I was a part of that district winning team that went to the playoffs in 2014. We won a bi-district title and then turned it around the next year and made the playoffs again,” Spray said. “But we haven’t been back since and I know what that feels like, but the kids haven’t experienced it. If we could get back to the playoffs, they’ll finally understand what I’ve talking to them about and how wonderful it was back in those days.”