GRIDIRON GLANCE ’21: Blanket Tigers

August 16, 2021 at 7:00 am Derrick Stuckly

BLANKET – After back-to-back district championships, the Blanket Tigers in 2020 were knocked from the perch in District 15-A Division II. With new head coach Casey Mund taking over for the retired Tyler Tabor, the Tigers’ objective in 2021 is to reclaim their throne.

“I expect us to be in the hunt for a district title and our goal is to still be playing at Thanksgiving,” Mund said. “We had some seniors who graduated and the sophomores from last year are juniors this year and they got some playing time and I expect big things from them. We have three or four seniors that should contribute quite a bit this season also.”

Mund arrives in Blanket after stints at, “Star for one season, Eden for three, Veribest for three, then I was at Olfen for part of the year last year before I came over here,” the new coach said.

The Tigers return 11 of 15 lettermen, including three offensive and three defensive starters, from last year’s 7-4 playoff squad. Blanket is again favored to win District 15-A Division II, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, ahead of Brookesmith, Sidney, Rising Star and Panther Creek

Players to keep an eye on include DCTF district preseason defensive player of the year Brayden Day, a defensive lineman and running back, along with C/DL Hayden Rodriguez, QB/DB Carlos Morales and RB/DB Levi Vazquez.

“Brayden Day played a lot as a sophomore last year and he had some big games,” Mund said. “He’s going to be somebody we’re going to lean on pretty hard, he and Levi Vazquez. Carlos Morales is also going to be a running back in the backfield that gets a lot of touches, too. He’s going to be a bulkier back and the other two are going to be speed backs.”

Mund feels Blanket’s speed could prove to be the biggest difference in district games this season.

“I would say we’re pretty quick, pretty fast, and we do have a few kids with some size that can still move,” Mund said. “I moved Carlos from quarterback to running back so we have two youngsters we’re working in at quarterback. They’re going to have to get better real fast and they’re going to get thrown into the fire.”

The Tigers will tangle with Gorman, Gustine, Lingleville, Zephyr, Gholson and Evant prior to the start of league action.

“I just want to see us get better,” Mund said of the pre-district goals. “We want to be playing our best football when district rolls around. We know there’s going to be some learning curves especially with a new system coming in, but as long as we’re getting better each week we’ll be playing our best football when it matters.”

Regarding the District 15-A Division II race, Mund said, “I don’t know a whole lot, I know Brookesmith lost a few but still has some really good kids over there. I don’t know much about the other ones, but I’ve been watching some film. There’s going to be some competitive games, I don’t think there’s anything you can circle and pass off as a win for sure. We’re going to have to play good football all district.”

The keys to Blanket regaining its status as district champs, according to Mund, is, “being aggressive offensively and defensively. We only have 12 kids but we have a bunch of young ones. Some of those juniors and seniors will be playing on both sides of the football. As long as they can be aggressive and stay in shape I think that’s going to be the biggest thing.”

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BLANKET TIGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 27 Gorman

Sept. 3 at Gustine

Sept. 10 Lingleville

Sept. 17 at Zephyr

Sept. 24 at Gholson

Oct. 1 Evant (homecoming)

Oct. 8 Rising Star*

Oct. 15 OPEN

Oct. 22 at Sidney*

Oct. 29 Brookesmith*