By Kyle Owens
Published: Aug. 16, 2024 at 2:25 PM CDT|Updated: 4 hours ago
LOVELADY, Texas (KTRE) - The Lovelady Lions won a district championship last year, and this year they join a new district, with new opponents.
Coach Will Kirchhoff was proud of his team’s effort last season after posting a 13-1 record.
“Lovelady doing what Lovelady does best,” said Kirchhoff. “Which is the kids being resilient and tough young men.”
Kirchhoff recognizes the new district, but also realizes that it starts with the Lions.
“We’re going to control what we can and make sure we’re the best Lovelady Lions we can be,” Kirchhoff said. “We’re all about controlling what we can.”
All the athletic programs around Lovelady are on an upward trajectory, which makes Kirchhoff excited for this season.
“Winning is contagious,” said Kirchhoff. “We’re very excited to see what the future holds.”
Lovelady will open the season on the road against the Elkhart Elks on Aug. 30.
The Grapeland Sandies are also new members to this district. The Sandies finished 2-8 last season, including a 1-5 district record.
Coach Jordan Wood and the Sandies didn’t expect to have the season they had a year ago.
“We got beat up early in the year and stayed beat up,” said Wood. “We expected to be a lot better and much more improved.”
Grapeland reached the state 7on7 tournament this summer, and Wood loves how the team competed.
“It was great for them as far as competing,” Wood said. “When you put on pads it’s different.”
Wood has high praise for the new district his team was dropped into.
“I love it,” said Wood. “Our district is one of the best in small 2A.”
Wood is excited for this new season, but also doesn’t want to set any limits on his players.
“We don’t know what to expect, but we’re extremely excited,” Wood said. “I can’t tell what our expectations are because I’m not going to limit these guys.”
Grapeland begins their season on the road in Cayuga on Aug. 30.
The Mount Enterprise Wildcats finished 5-5 last season and had a trip to the first round of the playoffs. The Wildcats return 10 starters on both sides of the ball.
Coach Scott Ponder believes the kids worked hard last season and are prepared for this year.
“We were proud of the effort we had. Kids worked hard,” said Ponder. “We think we laid the foundation for what we want to do this season.”
Ponder, like the other coaches, has high praise for the district and the teams added into it.
“I think it’s going to be arguably, maybe the best district in 2A Division II,” Ponder said.
This season, Ponder believes execution will be the key to success.
“We want maturity,” said Ponder. “We want to execute everything we do better.”
Mount Enterprise opens their season at home against Price Carlisle on Aug. 30.
The Tenaha Tigers won this district a year ago with a perfect 5-0 record. This year, Coach Marlon Byrdsong and the Tigers have new motivation.
“It didn’t end the way we wanted it to end,” said Byrdsong. “The team that knocked us out ended up in our district.”
Byrdsong takes over for Terry Ward, who had been the coach in Tenaha for 27 years. Byrdsong says the transition to him as head coach has been smooth.
“The tradition here is always rich,” Byrdsong said. “Overall the kids know who I am, so that wasn’t a big transition.”
Byrdsong knows that his Tigers will have to be prepared for battle every Friday night.
“I feel like we have one of the toughest, if not the toughest, district in the state,” said Byrdsong. “Every Friday night we’re going to have to bring our best game.”
The goal for the Tigers is the same this year as it was last year, and Byrdsong wants to take the Tigers even further this season.
“We want to be district champions,” Byrdsong said. “The ultimate goal is to compete for a state championship.”
Tenaha begins their season on the road against Elysian Fields on Aug. 30.
The Overton Mustangs had one regular season loss last season and it was to the Tenaha Tigers. The Mustangs finished 10-2 with a trip to the area round. Coach Scotty Laymance is back for his second year at the helm in Overton. The Mustangs return seven starters on offense and defense. QB/DB Bryce Still returns after throwing for 3,200 yards and 38 touchdowns, plus rushing for 456 yards and nine touchdowns. WR/DB Jayden Edwards is back after tallying 75 catches for 1,346 yards and 19 touchdowns a year ago.
Overton will kick off their season at home against Alba-Golden on Aug. 30.
The Cushing Bearkats finished 4-6 last season with a 1-4 district record. Coach Josh Moore and the Bearkats return six starters on offense and five starters on defense. QB/DB Eli Dawson is back after rushing for over 700 yards and seven touchdowns and passing for nearly 700 yards and 13 touchdowns. Gavin Crumpton, who has been a three-year starter, will return after rushing for 712 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
The Bearkats will open their season on the road against Colmesneil on Aug. 30.
The Alto Yellowjackets went winless a year ago, but with nine starters returning on both sides of the ball, excitement is high in Alto. Coach Brock Grigsby will be looking for his stars to step up this year. ATH Zack Battle had 343 yards rushing and five touchdowns on offense, while totaling 108 tackles defensively. WR Tim Bond caught 34 passes for 677 yards and four touchdowns. DL J.J. Rollins also had 43 tackles and four sacks just a year ago.
Alto begins their season on the road at Groveton on Aug. 30.
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