by JASON GORDON
Despite the fact the Hays High football team returns 12 starters from a team that finished second in District 27-4A a season ago, Texas Football Magazine predicts the Rebels will only finish fourth in 2011.
Although that would be good enough to earn the Rebels a playoff spot, it’s not where Hays players and coaches expect the team to finish.
Texas Football Magazine predicts defending champion Smithson Valley will finish first, Alamo Heights will finish second and Canyon will finish third.
“I think they picked us fourth last year too,” said Hays receiver Mason Cervenka. “It motivates us a lot because we know we can do better than fourth. That’s mediocrity and we’re striving for perfection this year. Our goal is to play for the district title in our last game of the season.”
Hays slot receiver and return specialist Michael Romero agreed.
“It definitely makes us want to work harder during two-a-days this summer,” Romero said. “It also makes us want to beat the teams ranked ahead of us.”
Hays quarterback Caleb Kimbro said no matter what the magazine says Hays will be motivated.
“It gives us some extra motivation,” Kimbro said. “But you can’t look into that stuff too much. We expect to do very well this season.”
Hays will return six full time starters on offense – Kimbro, Cervenka, Romero, wide receiver Granger Studdard, tight end/running back Charlie Johnson and offensive lineman Josh Pessina.
The Rebels will also have the luxury of moving multi-talented junior Taven Mayberry from the defensive side of the ball to starting slot receiver and fellow junior Jaxson Schaubhut, a part-time starter last season, will be a full-time running back this year in new head coach Blake Feldt’s spread offense.
Feldt’s son Boone, a senior who was an All-State performer at Pilot Point High School last year, will take over the Rebels’ starting center spot.
“I really like the way we looked on offense in the offseason,” Feldt said. “We have a chance to be a very explosive team. Kimbro will be one of the fastest quarterbacks in the state and his arm strength is really good, Romero is the kind of player I don’t see how anyone can tackle in open space, and Mayberry has a chance to be one of the best players in the district as well.”
Feldt is also excited about his two tall receivers Cervenka and Studdard and his possession receiver Trevor Ragsdale.
“Cervenka and Studdard are two big, fast guys who can best you deep and underneath,” Feldt said. “Trevor is a possession-type guy who runs good routes and fits in really well with the kind of offense we run. It’s going to be a fun group to watch.”
Defensively, Hays will return six starters, including linebackers Mark Oldham, and Nate Paez, nose guard Kyle Williams, and defensive backs Dalton Johnson, JT Sivils, and Taylor Hough.
“I’ve been on the offensive side of the ball coaching most of my career, but I’m definitely one who believes you win championships with defense,” Feldt said. “It’s hard to win ballgames outscoring people every week. You win by not turning the ball over and getting big stops on defense. I think we have the kind of players on defense that are going to be able to move around a lot and apply a lot of pressure with their speed, which is exactly what I’m looking for.”
Feldt said he’s not too worried his team was picked to finish in the middle of the District 27-4A pack.
“If we were picked first or fourth it doesn’t matter,” he said. “You take things like that with a grain of salt. I think we have a chance to win the district championship and our goal is to win the district championship. I think we have that kind of team.”
