By Moses Leos III
Lehman High head football coach Todd Raymond wasn’t shy in motivating players to up the ante in Friday’s first full spring scrimmage.
With a feel rivaling that of summer drills, Raymond and his staff worked to introduce a young Lobo squad to the intensity of varsity football.
“What it comes down to it, football is still a physical game,” Raymond said. “You have to push people around. If you can’t do that, it doesn’t matter what you got.”
Spring 2015 brings a vast amount of change on offense for Lehman.
Raymond said the steepest challenge, and the team’s focus, would be replacing six senior offensive linemen. Lehman will only return two linemen with varsity experience.
“That’s the thing we are focusing on,” Raymond said. “Without that, nothing else matters.”
The Lobos must replace the playmaking ability of quarterback Jeremy Schilhab.
Three potential candidates have stepped forward to fill his shoes. Raymond said junior Tyler Henderson moved from tight end to quarterback during the spring season.
Two students who moved into the Lehman district will join Henderson. It includes Jacob Zamora, who transferred from Hays to Lehman High during the offseason.
While Zamora is practicing, Raymond said the school has “not gone through the whole process” of determining his eligibility for the 2015 season.
Finding the right fit at quarterback in a timely fashion is his goal.
“It’s a battle between those three kids, to see who can figure it out the quickest,” Raymond said.
It’s on defense where the Lobos have stability. Newcomers such as Tristan Hernandez are assisting returning players such as linebacker Kacey Santos.
Building up a youthful secondary is the focus. Raymond said a defensive staff that’s been in place for a year would help build physicality.
For Raymond, finding and developing depth is the next step as spring ball progresses.
“It’s just the beginning and it’s like trying to reteach everything,” Raymond said. “But the kids had a great week last week. They enjoy being out there. It’s fun to be out here and practicing again.”
