GRIDIRON GLANCE ’21: Coleman Bluecats

August 12, 2021 at 7:00 am Updated: August 13th, 2021 at 8:56 am Derrick Stuckly

COLEMAN – With seven offensive and eight defensive starters back from a 6-4 team a year ago, the Coleman Bluecats expect to compete for the District 4 championship in their second season in the Class 2A Division I ranks.

The Bluecats also return 18 of 30 lettermen for a team that qualified for the playoffs in 2020, but were not allowed to compete due to a COVID outbreak.

Those days are behind the Bluecats, however, whose focus is on what can be and not what could have been.

“I like what we’ve seen so far in practice,” said Coleman eighth-year head coach John Elder, who owns a 46-33 record with the Bluecats. “Usually you expect some mistakes and things from kids but we have a lot of returners so we’re picking up where we left off last year. We’ve got some help coming from some younger kids that will really impact the team. We’ve got decent numbers across the board and we’ve depth across most of the positions.”

Players to watch for the Bluecats include RB/LB Ryland Gentry (420 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 74 tackles), WR/DB Denver Hunter (9-80, TD receiving; 40 tackles, 1 INT), OL/DL Gus Allen (36 knockdowns, 24 pancake blocks), TE/LB Christian Espitia (45 tackles), OL/DL Jeryd Fain (23 knockdowns, 18 pancakes), OL/DL David Navarro (53 tackles, 5 sacks), WR/DB Braxton Smith (17-400, 6 TDs receiving), RB/LB Brent Bouldin, RB/LB R.J. Wright (43 tackles), ATH Cort McFadden, RB/DB Devinar Roberson, OL/DL Garrett Smith, LB Will Faries, FB/DL Dayden Hunter, OL/DL Jorge Salas, and QB/DB Jadin Jackson.

“Braxton Smith is a returning receiver for us and he was explosive last year,” Elder said. “Gus Allen and Jeryd Fain on our offensive line, Denver Hunter at a receiver, and Ryland Gentry as middle linebacker and running back are just a few guys to watch.”

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, Coleman is tabbed to finish third in the District 4 race behind Cisco and San Saba. The Bluecats are projected to finish ahead of Winters, Goldthwaite and De Leon.

“It’s going to be tough,” Elder said of the district race. “I’m not sure I could give you the 1, 2, 3, but I feel confident right now and pending injuries and anything that goes wrong, COVID or anything like that, I see us being one of those.”

Prior to the start of district action, Coleman will test its mettle against Miles, Anson, Brady, Grape Creek and Colorado City.

Elder said of his pre-district goals for the Bluecats, “The biggest keys for us will be keeping momentum on drives and finishing drives, along with staying consistent on our routine plays and being able to get some quick hitters on people. I just want to see some maturity, mature during the preseason. We want to be hitting on all cylinders by the team we get to the open week before district and go into district healthy and as a mature and experienced football team.”

***

COLEMAN BLUECATS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 27 Miles

Sept. 3 at Anson

Sept. 10 at Brady

Sept. 17 Grape Creek

Sept. 24 Colorado City (homecoming)

Oct. 1 OPEN

Oct. 8 at De Leon*

Oct. 15 at Goldthwaite*

Oct. 22 Cisco*

Oct. 29 at San Saba*