Talented junior class to drive Mustangs in '16

2016-17 Hughes Springs Mustangs
2016-17 Hughes Springs Mustangs

HUGHES SPRINGS, Texas-After injuries riddled the second half of a promising season for Hughes Springs, the Mustangs will reload with a strong junior class that gained valuable experience.

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AP

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout runs to the dugout against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Thursday, June 27, 2013. The (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The Mustangs have 63 players in their high school program-ninth through 12th grades-and just seven seniors on this year's roster. "All of our juniors got lot of playing time as sophomores," veteran athletic director and head coach Chris Edwards said. "We are in a bit of a rebuilding mode. There's a lot of learning, and the kids have responded. This group will do whatever you ask of them; they want to be successful. It's my job to put them in a position to be successful." Hughes Springs will feature a new look on offense, while they will be going back to its traditional defensive formation. "We feel like we're athletic as a team, and we've switched our offense to fit our young men," Edwards said. "We've gone to the power-spread; we're still run-heavy, Auburn-style offense. We spent a lot of time on it in the spring. "We switched for a 3-4 defense last year because we didn't feel like we had the athletes to run a 4-3, but we've got three returning linebackers-two juniors and a senior-with a lot of experience. So we're going back to the 4-3." Quarterback Alex Bruce (5-10, 175) saw limited playing time as a sophomore last season, but started the playoff game because of illness.

"Alex Bruce has been very pleasant for us," Edwards said. "He's not been making rookie mistakes. He hasn't made bad reads or thrown the ball poorly, and he's done a good job of leading us and hustling. He's not really a vocal leader; he's just a workhorse."

The Mustangs also had experience in guards Hunter Brabham (6-2, 210) and Zachary Pilgrim (5-10, 195).

"Our two guards are our hardest workers; they're the tone-setters for everyone else," Edwards said. "They play inside linebacker on the other side, and they flat-out get after it on both sides of the ball."

Harrison Reagan (5-10, 175) takes over at center, and Colton Tigert (6-3, 285) at tackle.

"Colton has been a pleasant surprise," the coach said. "He's a senior who hasn't played much, but showed up everyday to work out, went to several football camps and has really developed his interest. He looks like a 40-year-old man over at right tackle."

The running back duties will be by committee until someone emerges as the starter.

Senior Tony Kemp (5-10, 180), junior Bo McEntire (5-9, 165) and sophomore Bryce Johnson are sharing the running-back role early.

In the spread, Dedrick Hill (5-7, 160) and Tra Craver (6-0, 170) are the main targets for Bruce, and Craver is expected to start on defense as well.










QUICK FACTS

SCHOOL: Hughes Springs 2015 RECORD: 6-5 HEAD COACH: Chris Edwards YEARS AT SCHOOL: 19th COACHING STAFF: Stephen Barnes, OC; Brandon Green, OL; Cory Pate, WR; Jeremy Griffin, SEC; Aaron Nation, def. line; Phillip Neill, JH; Connor Loyd, JH; Chris Castle, JH. LETTERMEN LOST/BACK: 15/12 STARTERS BACK: 0 offense, 4 defense PLAYERS TO WATCH: Alex Bruce, QB; Hunter Brabham, OL/LB; Zachary Pilgrim, OL/LB; Tony Kemp, RB/DE; Clark Black, LB; Sean Stark, OL/DE; Bo McEntire, RB; Harrison Reagan, OL; Dedrick Hill, WR/RB, Colton Tigert, OL TOP NEWCOMERS: Tra Craver, WR/DB; Ty Menefee, WR/DB; Dylan Dunn, DT
"Hill is our go-to guy," Edwards said. "Craver can go get it, and we're trying to not have many guys go full-time both ways. Our secondary is also our receiving corps, so we try to rest these guys a little bit."

Defensively, the Mustangs will be featuring new faces up front.

"We're going to have to develop the defensive line," Edwards said. "At tackle, we've been rotating about eight guys, trying to find two of them. Our secondary is athletic. Our linebackers are returners for the most part; we feel good about those guys. In the first week (of fall camp) we were ahead of where I thought we might be: we installed almost all of our defense and most of the offense.

Clark Black (5-9, 180) is the senior linebacker, joining Brabham and Pilgrim.

"Sean Stark (6-1, 190) is one of those overachieving kids who works hard and gives it his all," Edwards said. "He's starting at defensive end for us; he's aggressive. That mentality bleeds over into the other kids. Clark Black is the quiet assassin; he is the senior leader."

Ty Menafee (5-9, 160) is working at receiver and in the secondary. Sophomore Dylan Dunn (5-11, 255) could help on the defensive line.

The Mustangs make the jump to District 8-3A, Div. I this season and will compete with New Boston, Redwater, Jefferson, Gladewater Sabine and state-ranked White Oak.

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