Winters Blizzards ready to battle with young roster in 2022
To call the Winters Blizzards a young football team would be an understatement.
Winters will head into the 2022 season with only three seniors on its roster, so the Blizzards will be relying on underclassmen to grow up quickly on the field this fall.
Head coach Matt McCarty said numerous sophomores saw the field last season, and his team will return seven starters on both sides of the ball.
"By the end there, we had a couple freshmen starting as well on defense, so at least we have some experience," McCarty said. "It's not what you want, but it's the hand you're dealt sometimes, and you've got to roll with it."
Senior Aidan Leamon, who was named first-team all-district last year at linebacker (and second-team at running back), is expected to be a leader for Winters on offense and defense.
"He's kind of the guy that makes us go right now," McCarty said. "He plays hard and with a lot of heart. He's about 6-2 or 6-3 and 180 pounds, and in 2A football you don't get a whole lot of those. At least in Winters we don't."
Junior Chris Martinez returns as the team's quarterback after starting five of the team's nine games last season.
"Our starter last year got hurt in our last nondistrict game, so Chris started all the way through district," McCarty said. "He's about 5-4 and 130 pounds, but he's very fast and can throw the ball well, and he's a smart kid."
The Blizzards will be led up front by Zander Hadlock, who will be the only senior on an otherwise all-junior offensive line.
Winters struggled to a 2-7 record last year, which included a 1-4 mark in District 4-2A Division I.
The Blizzards are again picked to finish second-to-last in their district by Texas Football magazine, ahead of Colorado City.
While Winters shares a district with a couple of juggernauts -- No. 5 Hawley and No. 10 Cisco -- the other two playoff spots could be up for grabs as none of the other five teams had a winning record last year.
Olney (6-6) did win a playoff game, however, and is picked third, while Stamford (3-7) is projected fourth and Anson (4-7) fifth.
"It's definitely tough at the top with Hawley and Cisco, but we've played Cisco the last two years and Hawley the last six years, so it's nothing new for us," McCarty said. "Overall, it's top to bottom a tough district, but I know our kids are ready for the challenge. We're not going to back down or be scared by any of those teams."
Winters opens its season Aug. 26 at home against Cross Plains.
Winters Blizzards
District: 4-2A Division I
Head coach: Matt McCarty (28-46; all at Winters)
Last year’s record: 2-7, 1-4 district
Last district title/playoff appearance: 2014/2020
Enrollment: 167
Stadium: Blizzard Stadium
Returning lettermen: 14
Returning off./def. starters: 7/7
Base offense: Spread
Base defense: 4-3
Team strength: Returning experience
Team weakness: Depth
Players to watch
RB/LB Aidan Leamon, QB/DB Chris Martinez, RB/DB Alejandro Garcia, WR/LB Aidan Bryant, OL/DL Zander Hadlock, OL/DL Jacob Perez, OL/DL Ishmael Sanchez, OL/LB Moises Gomez, WR/DB Elijah Kelly, OL/DL Payton Cortez, WR/DB Isaac Sanchez, WR/DB Nick Cruz
2022 schedule
Date Opponent
Aug. 26 Cross Plains
Sept. 2 at Eldorado
Sept. 9 at San Angelo TLCA
Sept. 16 Miles
Sept. 23 at Stamford*
Sept. 30 Cisco*
Oct. 7 at Anson*
Oct. 14 Hawley*
Oct. 21 at Colorado City*
Nov. 4 Olney*
*District game
2021 results
Anson L 6-24
Crane L 13-27
Hawley L 0-49
Hico W 48-7
Cisco L 6-54
San Saba L 12-44
Goldthwaite L 13-49
De Leon W 55-21
Coleman L 0-42
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Winters Blizzards to battle with young roster in 2022 football season
