GRIDIRON GLANCE: May Tigers

August 19, 2020 at 7:59 am Derrick Stuckly

MAY – During the 2013 and 2014 football seasons, the May Tigers shocked the six-man world by making runs to the state championship game. In 2020, if the No. 7 Tigers finally make their return to Arlington, it will come as no surprise.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” said May head coach Craig Steele, who has compiled a 131-54 record heading into his 17^th season in charge of the Tiger program. “It’s exciting, but I’d rather be picked No. 67 and sneak up on people. We don’t have that option this year and we probably shouldn’t. We have nine seniors returning so the kids are excited. They understand the weight of expectations and they’re working hard to hopefully fulfill them.”

May returns five starters on each side of the ball from a 10-2 squad a year ago. Among the key returnees are Rory Bustamante – the preseason offensive player of the year in District 13-A Division I, according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine – along with Isidro Salinas, Chris Flenniken and Blake Harrell.

“Rory Bustamante, Isidro Salinas and Chris Flenniken, those kids are three-year starters and are seniors,” Steele said. “Blake Harrell is a three-year starter as a junior and we have a couple of kids that didn’t play last year that are seniors in Korbin Bass and Hayden King. They’re going to add a lot to this team. Then we have some young guys that are ready if we have the room for them at the varsity level.”

Along with the experience the roster possesses, size is another strength for May, as well as depth.

“We’re going to be real big at most positions, and we have some smart football players with brute strength,” Steele said. “And for once injuries are not going to be the end of the world for us. We have depth in places we haven’t had depth in a long time. We don’t want anyone to get hurt, but I’m more concerned with the kids keeping their feet on the ground this year.”

The Tigers’ pre-district slate should prepare them for a potentially deep postseason run, according to Steele.

“It’s a tough schedule,” Steele said. “We’ve got Sterling City which is ranked No. 4, Knox City is always good, Blum is the defending state champ and they’re on it, and we also scrimmage Jonesboro who is No. 2, so there’s a lot of tests on that schedule. I just want to see us get better every week. We don’t have to win every game in the non-district, that’d be awesome if we did. We just want to make sure by the time we get to district we’re where we want to be so that we’re in a position to make the playoffs and make a run.”

May’s district foes remain the same from the last two seasons — Gorman, Lingleville and Santa Anna — with the exception of Baird, which is playing its first UIL six-man season after dropping down from the 11-man ranks.

“Baird won the independent state championship last year, but we really don’t know anything about them,” Steele said. “We saw them in basketball and that’s it. To me it’s exciting, I’m ready to play new people, that’s what’s exciting about our non-district schedule, playing some people we haven’t played before, so it’s an exciting time even though we’re flying a little blind on some of the teams.”

Regarding the keys for May this year in its quest for a possible state championship, Steele pointed to the Tigers keeping their focus, especially early in the season.

“This group has had their eye on this, as seniors, for three years,” Steele said. “I’m just worried about them getting complacent. We just have to make sure we keep our thumb on them as far as working hard and earning everything we get and then staying humble if the accolades come. Starting out ranked No. 7 is something I’m concerned about.”

MAY TIGERS

VARSITY FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Aug. 28 at Bryson

Sept. 4 Sterling City

Sept. 11 at Knox City

Sept. 18 Evant

Sept. 25 at Blum

Oct. 2 at Newcastle

Oct. 9 at Gorman*

Oct. 16 Santa Anna*

Oct. 23 at Baird*

Nov. 30 OPEN