LAGRANGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
Like many teams around the area, the La Grange Leopard Football Team is getting ready for the start of another season. For Head Coach Kyle Cooper, this will be his fourth season at the helm of the Leopards.
Due to realignment, La Grange will be looking at almost a completely different district than what they have had over the last few years.
The only team that they are still paired with is Bellville. Rounding out the district are Brazosport (who is dropping down from 4A Division I), Hitchock, Katy Harmony (who is only in its fourth season of varsity football), and La Marque.
According to Dave Campbell's Texas Football, La Grange is projected to finish fourth in the district. Bellville is first, followed by La Marque in second, and Hitchcock in third. Meanwhile, Brazosport is predicted to finish fifth, and Katy Harmony to finish sixth.
Last season, the Leopards finished fourth in the district, which at the time included powerhouses Bellville, Madisonville, and Sealy. They were 5-6 overall and 2-3 in district play. They lost to La Vega in the Bi-District round.
On the plus side for this year is that Coach Cooper has a team returning that is battle tested, and possesses a plethora of experience. La Grange has nine starters returning on each side of the ball.
The Leopards will be counting on QB Eli Gillum (Sr.) to lead the team's spread offense again this season. Gillum, as a junior last season, completed 102 of 187 passes for 1,388 yards, and 14 touchdowns to just six interceptions. He was also the leading rusher with 137 carries for 1,106 yards and 12 touchdowns.
ATH Dillon Johnson (Sr.) returns as a dual threat, who can be used rushing the ball or catching passes from Gillum. Last season, Johnson carried the ball 108 times for 756 yards, and 13 touchdowns. He also had 24 receptions for 366 yards, and two more touchdowns.
LB Cason Conrad (Sr.) is expected to be one of the leaders on defense. Conrad is coming off of a year where he posted 67 tackles, six tackles for loss, a sack, and two interceptions.
In addition to Conrad, La Grange returns S Trey Broussard (Jr.) and LB Chris Supak (Sr.), who had 62 tackles each.
Other juniors to keep an eye on according to DCTF include; WR/S Howard Holmes, LB/K Gio Luna, and DT Darius Johnson.
The Leopards will start with a pair of scrimmages. They will travel to El Campo on Friday, August 14, at 7pm and then host Franklin on Thursday, August 20, at 6:30pm.
La Grange opens the season at home against the Navasota Rattlers on Friday, August 28, at 7pm. That evening will also be Student Body Night at the Stadium.