GRIDIRON GLANCE ‘23: Blanket Tigers

August 15, 2023 at 6:30 am Derrick Stuckly

BLANKET – With five consecutive postseason trips to their credit, the Blanket Tigers are looking to extend their string of playoff appearances and claim their first district championship under second-year head coach Michael Cherry.

The Tigers return three starters on each side of the ball from an 8-3 playoff squad a year ago, however, Blanket is projected to place third – on the outside of the postseason picture looking in – in District 15-A Division II, behind Sidney and Zephyr, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine.

“We have similar expectations and the goal is always a district championship,” Cherry said of the team’s 2023 objectives. “We’re going to have to have some young guys step up in roles. We lost a lot of seniors that we’ll have to replace. Some of these freshmen are going to be put in spots they’re not quite comfortable with yet, but they’ve done a good job, they’ve worked hard, they’ve learned a lot already so I’m excited to see how they progress throughout the year.”

Among the returnees for the Tigers are running back/defensive end Kannon Kensing, back/defensive end Mason Beck, back/safety Cameron Aultman, center/defensive end Isaac Smith, guard/kicker Adam McLaughlin, quarterback/safety Gage Jones, and nose guard Mason Tomme.

“Kannon and Mason, you couldn’t get those guys out of the weight room this summer,” Cherry said. “Our two seniors are Adam McLaughlin on the O-line and Gage Jones is our quarterback. Cameron Aultman is our two-back. We’ve got plenty of dudes, we’re just thin and we’re going to be relying on some young guys to step into some roles.”

Cherry feels the Tigers’ greatest strength is team speed, while getting the younger roster additions meaningful reps is the main concern.

“We’ve got some speed, and we’re smart, but the young guys are going to have to mature,” Cherry said. “I feel like our backfield is going to be pretty tough this year, but we’ll be starting from freshmen on the O-line.”

Blanket kicks off the season with games against Rising Star, Bryson, Eden, Santa Anna, Moran and Evant. The Tigers defeated all but Rising Star in pre-district action a year ago.

“We’re going to need to see a lot of growth from those young guys, good leadership from the seniors and being supportive of the young guys as they’re learning,” Cherry said of the preseason goals. “We’ve really stayed on the young guys trying to get them to progress.”

The District 15-A Division II slate features a trip to Mullin, a home date against Mullin, the short drive to Sidney and the regular season finale at home against Zephyr.

“It’s going to be tough,” Cherry said of the district race. “Zephyr will be tough, Sidney will be tough, I heard Gustine is looking good, and Mullin has a few out. We can’t take anyone for granted and we have to be ready to roll every game. But Sidney and Zephyr are definitely the teams to beat right now.”

As for what it will take for the Tigers to return to the playoffs and possibly emerge as district champions, Cherry said, “Health and the young guys stepping into those roles and being confident in those roles. They’re in survival mode right now so they’re not very confident, but some of them will be fine, They just have to grow their mentality, get more confident and trust themselves. Some of that comes with the older guys trusting in them, too.”

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BLANKET TIGERS 2023 VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 25 – Rising Star, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 1 – Bryson, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 8 – at Eden, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 15 – at Santa Anna, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 23 – at Moran, 5 p.m.

Sept. 29 – Evant#, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 6 – OPEN

Oct. 12 – at Gustine*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 20 – Mullin*, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 27 – at Sidney*, 7:30 p.m.