Lehman running back Levi Medley has a chance to have a special season this fall. He and his Lobo teammates will try to prove Texas Football Magazine’s prediction of a last place finish in District 27-4A wrong this year. (Photo by Eric Guerrero)
by JASON GORDON
The Lehman High Lobos are confident this will be the last year Texas Football Magazine has a reason to pick them to finish last in district play.
The Lobos went winless in District 27-4A a season ago, but head coach Steve Davis said the fact the Lobos will be fielding a talented team this fall will have Lehman challenging for a playoff spot.
“I think that any time you see a prediction like that it has to motivate you as a competitor,” Davis said. “This will be the most talented team we’ve ever had here, but we know that winning on the football field is what matters and that’s what we have to do to earn respect.”
Lehman linebacker/receiver Matt Riojas said he wasn’t the only Lobo player that took note of the last place prediction by Texas Football Magazine.
“We all read it together,” Riojas said. “I was disappointed but we’re going to change that perception. We have to change it. There’s no doubt I think we have the talent to be the best varsity team ever at Lehman. We need to use what some people think about us as a motivating factor and turn that into wins in district play.”
Riojas said there will certainly be other factors that will determine whether Lehman indeed starts a winning trend on the football field this season.
“Staying disciplined is number one,” he said. “We need to continue what we’ve worked toward in the offseason and listen to our coaches. We’ve worked very hard to get to where we want to be and we expect that to continue this summer and fall.”
Lehman returns eight starters on offense – quarterback Matt Anguiano, running back Levi Medley, center Cruz Banda, offensive linemen Ethan Martin, Bobby Limon and Kenny Higgins, tight end Julio Besa and Riojas.
“Matt Anguiano has to be a leader at quarterback and he’s shown he’s capable of that with the things he’s done in the offseason,” Davis said. “Medley didn’t do a lot in the offseason last year but this year he’s really stepped it up as well. I think he’ll be in much better shape and with his speed and explosiveness he has a chance to break every rushing record we have at Lehman if he can stay healthy.”
Davis said the size of his offensive line would also be an asset in 2011.
“We’ll be bigger up front on offense than we’ve ever been,” he said. “That is something that’s a must in the district we play in.”
Defensively, Lehman returns five starters – safety Charles Williams, linebacker Mark Trevino, defensive back Cole Williams, cornerback Bradley Braxton and Riojas.
“I think our secondary will be much improved over last year,” Davis said. “We won’t be as susceptible to people throwing deep on us. Linebacker can be another strength of this team.”
Davis said one question mark heading into summer workouts would be the defensive line.
“We will have three new starters there and they really need to step up and prove they can play at this level,” he said. “When you face the teams we do in district that are capable of lining up and playing power football, you have to have a strong defensive line.”
Davis said once again it’s time Lehman proves it can win district football games.
“We have to win,” Davis said. “I’m proud of the staff we’ve built here and the way they’ve stuck with building our program, and I’m proud of the commitment our players have made. We had a great freshman class numbers-wise last year and we will again this year. It’s a great time to be at Lehman, and now the challenge is to perform consistently on Friday nights in the fall and start earning some wins. I’d be disappointed if we aren’t a playoff team this year.”
