PANTHERS, BLUE JAYS AND YEGUAS HAVE HIGH EXPECTIONS FOR 2021 FOOTBALL SEASON

All three local 2A football teams are entertaining big hopes for a trip to the playoffs in 2021.

Burton, Snook and Somerville are among the teams that Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine expects to fight for post-season berths in the coming season.

In 2020, the Snook Blue Jays (7-5/5-1) were co-district champs, advancing three rounds into the playoffs.  The Burton Panthers (4-7/4-2) earned the final playoff berth on the last day of the season, but had to forfeit out due to COVID-19 concerns.  The Somerville Yeguas (2-6/2-4), missed out on the post-season by a hair, dropping the season finale to Burton with a playoff spot on the line.

The Panthers are returning the majority of a team that rallied from a slow start to qualify for the post season, winning four of their last five contests.

Coach Jason Hodde returns nine starters on offense and eight on defense.  Among those expected to lead the offense are returning quarterback Vincente Velize and running backs Jaydon Brown and Tyron Gilman.

The strength could be the offensive line, where five starters return, anchored by Waylon Hinze, who was All-District First Team, offense and defense.  Weston Hinze and Eric Flores will help boost a veteran defense that allowed just 16 points per game (9.3 per game in district).

The Panthers open the 2021 season at home, August 27^th at home to Holland.

The Snook Blue Jays are coming off their first district championship in 2020, with seven offensive starters returning from a squad that averaged over 32 points per game in district play.

Among the key returnees for the Blue Jays will be quarterback Garrett Lero, who threw for 1,446 yards and rushed for 890 yards.  He also accounted for 26 total touchdowns.

The offensive line will return all five starters, including first-team all-district selections, David Toler and Jonathan Quevedo.

Lineman Cody Noriega (1^st Team All-District) will lead a young defense that will look to replace seven graduated starters.  Returnees Jose Garcia and Cameron Conerway are expected to emerge as leaders in the defensive backfield.

The Blue Jays host Kashmere, Friday, September 27^th in their season opener.

2020 was possibly a turnaround season for the Somerville Yeguas.

While the team won just two games, three of their losses came down to the final play of the game with Coach Cal Neathrlin excited that the team is ready to take “the next step.”

The Yeguas came within one win of a trip to the post-season, generating excitement around the program that hadn’t been seen in many years.

Seven starters return on each side of the football, including explosive wide receiver Verkobe Woodberry and dual-threat quarterback Johnny Legg.  The two were also first team All-District selections on defense as well.

Running back Devin Green is expected to emerge behind a veteran offensive line, buoyed by: Jesus Espinoza, Cullen Sablatura and Cedric Hudgen.

Somerville opens its 2021 campaign on the road, September 27^th at Hull-Daisetta.

Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine is currently available across the state.

2021 DAVE CAMPBELL’S TEXAS FOOTBALL MAGAZINE
DISTRICT 13/2A DIVISION II PREDICTED FINISH:
1-SNOOK
2-GRANGER
3-BURTON
4-SOMERVILLE
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5-IOLA
6-MILANO
7-BARTLETT