SOMERVILLE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
The Somerville Yeguas enter the 2026 football season with a new district, but the goal remains the same, making the playoffs for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
Head Coach Luke Klingler enters his second season at the helm of the Yeguas.
He was the offensive coordinator two seasons ago when the team went 11-2 and made it three rounds deep into the playoffs. Last year, Somerville finished 6-5 overall and 2-3 in district. They lost to Junction in the Bi-District Round.
With the UIL Realignment in February, the Yeguas are in District 13-2A Division II along with Bartlett, Bremond, Burton, Chilton, Holland, Milano, and Snook.
According to Dave Campbell's Texas Football, Bremond is #1 in their preseason poll for Class 2A Division II, and predicted to finish first. Chilton is ranked #9 in state, and predicted to finish second in district. Burton is ranked #20 in state, and predicted to finish third.
Somerville is projected at fourth in district. Rounding out the preseason projected standings are Holland at #5, Bartlett at #6, Milano at #7, and Snook at #8.
According to DCTF, the Yeguas return six starters on offense and seven starters on defense. Andrew Espinoza (Sr.) returns as the starting quarterback. Last year as a junior, he completed 123 of 213 passes (58%) for 1,693 yards, 18 touchdowns to just seven interceptions.
Somerville also returns their leading receiver Jayden Young. Last year, as a sophomore, he caught 51 passes for 684 yards, and six touchdowns. Jaille Deere could be a candidate for the #2 receiver slot after catching 11 passes for 185 yards, and two touchdowns.
The difficult part will be finding a new starting runningback after JaKeith Daniels had such an incredible year last season with 1,273 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. DCTF lists players to watch in that area as Luke Moses, Bradley Bryant, and Manuel Lucio.
On defense, Martin Espinoza, the reigning district defensive lineman of the year, returns to lead the Orange and Black Attack. Espinoza is coming off a year where he had 69 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and seven sacks.
Also returning is DL Aiden Parker, who missed all of last season due to a knee injury.
LB Greg Fowler (59 tackles), and DB Kaleb Leang (45 tackles) will also be back on defense as well.
DCTF lists Ol/DL Sabin Vazquez and OL Angel Garcia-Vega as the top juniors and WR/DB Isaiah Cloud as the top sophomore.
Other prospects include WR/DL Tanner Moore and DB Axel Noyola.
Somerville will be scrimmaging Leon this Friday at 7pm at Yegua Stadium (The Rock). They will then head to McGregor next Friday, August 21, for a scrimmage 5:30pm.
The Yeguas open the season at home against Normangee on Friday, August 28, at 7:30pm.