GRIDIRON GLANCE ’21: Cross Plains Buffaloes

August 10, 2021 at 6:21 am Derrick Stuckly

CROSS PLAINS – Following an 8-3 playoff campaign in 2020, the Cross Plains Buffaloes will again be relying on their speed in their pursuit of a District 8-2A Division II championship in 2021.

Cross Plains sent its 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 relays to the state track meet in the spring, and all of those competitors are returning to the gridiron for the Buffaloes this fall.

“As far as our team strengths, we should be fast, fast, fast,” said Cross Plains 11th-year head coach Daniel Purvis, who is 59-50 in 10 seasons with the Buffaloes. “I think it’s going to be the fastest defense I’ve ever put on the field and one of the fastest teams I’ve ever had. We took three relays to the state track meet last year, it was all sophomores. It’s a really talented group for us, we’re excited about them.”

Among the key returnees for the Buffaloes – who bring back 11 of 18 lettermen from a year ago, including seven offensive and seven defensive starters – are QB Cason Allen (1,003 rushing yards, 409 passing yards; 80 tackles, 4 interceptions), OL/DL Riley Conlee (98 tackles, 21 for loss), RB/DB Noah Moses (230 rushing yards, 75 tackles), OL/DL Alex Parker, OL/DL Brennon Funderburk, WR/LB Ryan Hopkins (340 receiving yards), WR/DB Spade Koenig, WR/DB Ryan Reed (142 receiving yards, 5 interceptions), OL/DL Jody Collier (40 tackles), and RB/DB Asher Moses.

“Cason Allen is a going to be a four-year starter for me,” Purvis said. “He started as a freshman, was the district newcomer of the year and third-team all-state selection. He’s one of the best players I’ve had since I’ve been here. He’ll be a senior this year and we’re moving him to the quarterback spot. He played some quarterback last year and was a running back/quarterback for us. He’s a big leader for us and we’re real excited about him and the year he’s going to have. To have a leader like that kid in that little of a class, we’re really fortunate.”

Purvis added, “We’ve got a real little senior class, only four kids and only two of them have played football before. We’re still going to be very young and it’s not anything new, we knew this group was coming. We started about nine sophomores last year and they’re all juniors this year so I think that junior class, it’s a really talented class, probably the most talented since I’ve been here.”

While speed is the greatest strength for Cross Plains, the Buffaloes are not blessed with much size this season.

“It’s one of the little teams I’ve ever had,” Purvis said. “We’re struggling right now to fill out our offensive line and that part of our team. If we can fill those holes and get some kids step into those positions up front, I think we’ve got a chance to be really, really good this year.”

Cross Plains’ pre-district schedule features Menard, Goldthwaite, Haskell, De Leon, and Miles. As for the Buffaloes’ goals before the start of 8-2A Division II action, Purvis said, “We’ve got three really tough games in a row and we’re going to find out what we’re made of. We’re going to have to go to Goldthwaite, we have Haskell here and then we have to go to De Leon. Every one of those schools is a big 2A school so they’re over twice our size. They’ve got a lot more kids, they always have a lot of size and they’re well-coached programs. I felt like last year we had an 8-3 season and I felt like we learned a lot about ourselves in those three games. They’re going to test our mettle and find out what we’re made of and how good we can be. I feel like those games got us ready for those big games in district with Santo, Hico and Albany. That’s what we’re looking to again this year, to see where we are and find out how good we can be.”

Looking ahead to the 8-2A Division II district race, Albany is favored to repeat as champion with Santo picked second and Cross Plains third, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. The Buffaloes have made the playoffs each season since 2015.

“It’s going to be tough,” Purvis said. “Albany’s got one of the best groups he’s had since I’ve coached against him and this is my 10^th year to coach against him. He has a lot of talented, young kids coming back. Santo has everybody coming back, they were all juniors last year. Their seniors this year are like my juniors. Those two games are big for us. The Hico game, they have a new guy there, I don’t know much about him. I know he’s from Brock and I’m sure he runs a really good program. We’re going to keep an eye on them and how they develop throughout the season. Meridian, they’re kind of off my radar, they’re a little too far away from us and it’s hard to keep up with much coming out of their camp. But it’s going to be interesting to see. I think we have a really good district, we have some really good teams and hopefully we’re right in the mix of all that.”

As for what it will take for the Buffaloes to reach their potential in 2021, Purvis said, “Finding out the offensive line is going to be really big for us, finding those pieces up front. We lost a couple of good offensive linemen from last year’s senior group. We have three returning starters, but it’s going to be about figuring out that piece of pie. As your O-line and D-line goes, your team goes. If you have a good O-line and D-line you’re going to be pretty talented. I think we have the kids, we just have to find the right combination and how to work that out. If we can get where we can block, we’ve got the kids that can move the ball.”

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CROSS PLAINS BUFFALOES 2021 SCHEDULE

Aug. 27 at Menard

Sept. 3 at Goldthwaite

Sept. 10 Haskell

Sept. 17 at De Leon

Sept. 24 Miles (homecoming)

Oct. 1 OPEN

Oct. 8 Hico*

Oct. 15 at Santo*

Oct. 22 Meridian*

Oct. 29 OPEN