SIMMS, Texas - Winning a district title will guarantee a team a spot in the playoffs.
"We are going to prepare to win the district just like we do every year," head coach Eddy May said. "Our district is as winnable as it has ever been so our kids are gonna work their tails off. We are gonna get ready to play, and I hope we get to play the whole season. If we play the whole season and the kids stay healthy, I think we will have a pretty good shot at making some noise in our district."
James Bowie's philosophy is "All In", and it means that there is no middle ground. The player either gives it his all or is not in it at all. May expects a total effort out of each player in order to improve and grow each day.
OFFENSE
The Pirates run a Slot-T offense, which focuses mainly on running the ball.
One of the leaders of the offense is senior Whitt Rogers. Rogers plays center and defensive tackle. Senior quarterback Garrett Brown is another leader for James Bowie. Senior running back Gabe Brantley has stepped up as a leader.
"Whitt is a vocal leader, he comes in to work each day and leads by example," May said. "Garrett will be there every day and work hard. Garrett controls the offense, he knows the offense and he has good foot work. He throws the ball really well and has come a long way since his sophomore year. Garrett has also gotten a little faster."
Senior running back Ethan Fields (5-8, 145) will see plenty carries along with Brantley. Ideally, each back will get an equal number of carries.
"If we can Gabe and Ethan both going, then that is what we are going to try to do," the JB head coach said. "Ethan is not a big kid, but he has good quickness. He is versatile, has good vision, hits the openings quick and is hard to tackle. I think he will have a big year for us.
"Gabe is a really good blocker. He is a tough kid and is hard-nosed. He has good vision, is probably a little faster than Ethan and has good quickness in the openings. With that running back duo blocking for each other, I think we'll have an opportunity to gain a lot of yards. We base our offense on the fact that everyone is blocking."
Sophomore Hansford Storey (6-3, 250) will get the start at right tackle. At tight end on the right side is Brandon Obenoskey (6-3, 265), a junior. Obenoskey started every game for James Bowie last season.
The rest of the offensive line is still up in the air. Players are competing for starting roles. Junior Slade Burnett is competing for receiver as well as sophomore Clayton Hadley.
"Slade could be one that we throw to a lot; he can catch it," May said. "Clayton is a tall, lanky kid who runs well. He has never played that position before, but we have working him hard. We may use him some out there. It depends on how much he progresses."
Coach May is still looking to fill the place kicker and punter positions.
DEFENSE
The Pirates run a 4-3 defense. Anchoring the offensive line are Rogers and Blade Green at tackle. At each defensive end is Obenoskey and Storey.
"Whitt (Rogers) is probably a better defensive lineman than offensive lineman," May said. "He gets off the ball quick, is tough to block and gets down the line of scrimmage quickly. I am expecting big things from our defensive ends. They could be the best that we've had at that position."
Handling the middle linebacker duties is John Savasana. Savasana is a sophomore but got a lot of experience at middle linebacker last season.
Burnett and Gavin Rhea will each start at outside linebacker. In the secondary, quarterback Brown starts at free safety, Brantley starts at strong safety while Fields and Billy Walker, a senior, will each start at cornerback. Freshman standout Logan McCullough will vie for playing time at cornerback as well.
"With our small numbers, some freshman may have to play," May said. "Logan is one freshman who has an opportunity to play. We'll have to see how he comes along. We have 25 players. I am not sure if it is because of the coronavirus, but we don't have a lot of players. They have worked their tails off. I didn't know what to expect at first, but now I think we can be pretty good."
Leaders on defense that have stepped forward have been Rogers, Brown and Brantley.
HOPING, VERSATILITY IS WHAT WE NEED
"I am hoping that we will get to play 10 games," May said. "If we were to have three players go out next week sick, then I am going to be turning to others and asking them to change position. It is possible that scenario could happen every week. Bigger schools can handle it because they have a lot more players; that's not us. We may have to move a lot of players around to try to get the best players into a position.
"It's going to be a different year. I know that we have injuries every year, but I haven't had to deal with sickness that lasts two or three weeks.