GRIDIRON GLANCE ’24: Blanket Tigers

August 22, 2024 at 7:22 am Derrick Stuckly

BLANKET – Change is in the air at Blanket where first-year head coach Jalen Helms looks to guide the Tigers back to playoffs after missing out last season for the first time since 2017.

Helms, who served the last two years as an assistant at Blanket, takes over a Tigers program that finished 5-5 a year ago and in third place in the district race. Helms said being familiar with the players is a huge plus as he makes his debut as a head coach.

“It’s very beneficial,” Helms said. “They respect me, I respect them, we’ve known each other the past few years and that goes a long way.”

Helms added he will be making a few changes to what the Tigers have grown accustomed to the previous couple of seasons.

“We’ll look a little different, run more gun and spread type stuff,” Helms said. “We don’t have the natural big, bruiser type kids that we’ve had in the past so we have to spread it out a little bit to make it easier for us to use our speed to our advantage.”

Regarding a potential return to the postseason, the new 13-A Division II features the holdovers from District 15 a year ago, but two-time defending district champion Rising Star has been added to the fray.

“I feel like our district is one of the toughest district DII-wise in the state with Zephyr, Sidney and Rising Star all making the playoffs last year,” Helms said. “But I think we can be right in the mix with those guys.”

Blanket returns four offensive and five defensive starters from a year ago. Among the key returnees for Blanket are Kannon Kensing (1,283 rushing, 25 TDs / 35 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries), Cameron Aultman (610 rushing yards, 12 TDs / 44 tackles, 1 interception), Mason Beck (6-88, 3 TDs / 42 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one pick), and AC French (182 rushing yards, TD / 32 tackles).

“I would say coming back we have quite a few pretty key players,” Helms said. “We have one senior, lost some decent players, but we have a lot of juniors. We’re keeping some of our skill players which works better in the offense we’ll be running.”

Prior to the start of District 13 competition, the Tigers will attempt to hone their skills against Menard, Cranfills Gap, Evant, Santa Anna, Throckmorton, and Woodson.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football projects the Tigers to finish behind Sidney, Zephyr and Rising Star in the league race, and ahead of Gustine.

As for what it will take for Blanket to make a push for a playoff berth, Helms said, “We have to work together and know that even though everyone is expecting us to get fourth, any team can be beaten any given day. I really feel like if we work together, work hard and believe in the program we have as good a shot as anyone.”

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BLANKET TIGERS 2024 SCHEDULE

Aug. 30	Menard	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 6	at Cranfills Gap	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 13	Evant#	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20	at Santa Anna	7:30 p.m.
Sept. 27	Throckmorton	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4	at Woodson	7 p.m.
Oct. 11	at Gustine*	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 18	Rising Star*	7:30 p.m.
Oct. 25	at Zephyr*	7:30 p.m.
Nov. 1	OPEN
Nov. 8	Sidney*	7:30 p.m.