Shelby County Football kickoff preview

High school football regular season kicks off tonight with a matchup between number two ranked Timpson and number four ranked Beckville. Center, Joaquin, Shelbyville, and Tenaha take on their first opponents Friday night.

Center

Last year, the Center Roughriders competed at a high level. Their 8-4 season ended in the area round of 4A Division II playoffs. Aubrey was able to hold onto a narrow margin for a 43-41 overtime win over the Riders.

Coach Meeks and the Roughriders will be looking to build on the success of the previous season. Center’s high-powered offense should maintain their ability to score early and often considering that they will return to the field with eight of last year’s starters. Center’s defense will be in more of a rebuild as they return with only three of last year’s first string.

Quarterback Emonte “Cash” Cross is one to keep an eye on. Last season he tallied 2,187 yards passing with 30 passing touchdowns. He also scrambled for 586 yards and seven touchdowns. Running back Kaden Dixon is another player set for a big year. His stats from last year include 2,250 yards and 33 rushing touchdowns.

Center kicks the regular season off with a matchup against the Tatum Eagles. Last year’s contest between these two ended in a 44-42 overtime victory for the Riders.

Joaquin

The Joaquin Rams return to the gridiron for what appears to be a rebuilding year after nine starters on offense and eight on defense graduated. Players will need to step up to fill a few of the leadership roles left vacant by last year’s seniors.

Luckily for the Rams, among those returning players are some difference makers. Gauge Jordan will hold down the quarterback position, while Jericho Newman will look to make an impact at the running back position.

Despite the toll graduation took, it is never wise to count the Rams out. Coach Wade Lawson and staff always field a competitive group of young men willing to tough it out in the trenches. Many early speculators expect to see the Rams give Timpson a run for the district title once again.

Last year the Rams’ season ended with nine wins and only three losses. This year kicks off with a matchup between Joaquin and Arp. Last year the Rams breezed past the Tigers with a final score of 48-14.

Shelbyville

Coach Jerrad Wallace and the Shelbyville Dragons return to the field with the goal of improving upon last year’s 6-5 record. Shelbyville entered the playoffs as the number four seed from 2A District II Division I last year. Unfortunately, the Dragons’ playoff run was short-lived as Centerville took a 51-13 win in round one.

Quarterback DJ Barnes is a threat in both the ground game and the passing attack. Last year, he accumulated 1,885 yards passing with 23 touchdowns and 823 yards on the ground with seven touchdowns. Shelbyville’s offense will hinge upon the play of Barnes and wide receiver standout Dylan Parker (38 catches, 583 yards, six touchdowns). The Dragons will need to fill the void at running back after freshman standout Benny Smith transferred to Carthage. On the defensive side of things, Wyatt Frick will look to make an impact at linebacker. Frick tallied 71 tackles last season.

Shelbyville begins their season with a matchup against the Alto Yellowjackets. The Dragons defeated Alto in a shootout last year with the final score resting at 4844. Tenaha

The Tenaha Tigers will no doubt be looking to make a bigger splash this year after falling in the first round of 2A Division II playoffs to the Deweyville Pirates last season. The Tigers’ season ended just below .500 with a final record of 5-6.

Tenaha will have the advantage of experience when the time comes to step beneath the Friday night lights. Eight starters return to the Tiger offense, while nine return to the defense. Ja’Tyrian Moore will be vital to the offensive efforts of the Tigers. Running back Jordan Reese will also play a pivotal role in the Tenaha game plan. Defensively, linebacker DJ Cooks will look to pick up where he left off from last season. His 106 tackles earned him MVP honors in the 2022 campaign.

The Tigers begin the year with a matchup against yet another Tiger team, West Sabine. The Tigers of Tenaha were able to take a 50-38 win at home over West Sabine last year.

The winning traditions of Tenaha run deep, so expect them to push hard to rise above the mediocre results of last season.

Timpson

The Timpson Bears enter the 2023 season looking to overcome the pressure of expectations. High expectations are nothing new to the Bears, and they have competed each of the past three seasons with grace and a willingness to rise to the challenge. Preseason polls have Timpson ranked as the No. 2 team in 2A Division I just behind last year’s runner-up, Refugio. Timpson faced Refugio last season in the semifinals and fell short 24-21. The semifinals have been the end of the road for the Bears in each of the past three seasons.

Coach Therwhanger and company have their eye set on securing Timpson’s first football state championship. Timpson was a complete football team last season and that will not change this year. Nine Bears return to starting positions on offense and 10 starters will make their way back to the defense.

This year marks a crucial moment in the bid for a state championship. 2A phenom Terry Bussey has entered his senior season and will undoubtedly have his eye set on the top prize for his hometown. Last year Bussey earned the honor of Mr. Texas Football making him the first junior to receive the honor since Allen standout Kyler Murray. Bussey’s stats from last year include 2,177 yards passing, 26 touchdowns through the air, 2,596 yards rushing, and 46 touchdowns in the ground game. Bussey’s cousin and favorite target also returns for his senior season as well. Howard is a Division I prospect in his own right. Last year, Howard pulled in 64 passes for 1,047 yards and 14 touchdowns. Tackling machine Tyler Lane will return to lead the Bears’ defensive efforts. Last season Lane tallied an incredible 180 tackles, four sacks, and 15 tackles for a loss.

Timpson will enter the 2023 season facing off against yet another Texas 2A powerhouse. The Beckville Bearcats currently rest two spots below the Bears at No. 4 in the preseason polls. Fans will be treated to high-level play in week one, and with rumors swirling that Bussey may sit to ensure a proper recovery from a surgery that took place late last school year, things could get very interesting in this Thursday night showdown.