Warriors on path to build on 2022 season

August 14

11:59 2023

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***Legendary high school football coach Gary Rushing speaks to the CCS Warriors players during a three-team scrimmage Friday on the CCS campus.***

By DAVID MAY / Special to Mineral Wells Area News

The Community Christian School Warriors are coming off an outstanding 2022 campaign that saw them finish 10-2 overall while claiming a Texas Christian Athletic Fellowship District 1 title with a 4-1 mark in private school sixman league action.

CCS won its first-round playoff game in exciting fashion over Harvest Christian Academy before their season ended in the second round against Heritage Christian Academy.

The Warriors enter the 2023 season with hopes of replicating and improving on last season. But it won’t be easy. A lot of players from last year’s senior-laden team are gone. This year’s team returns two starters.

Head Coach Gary Rushing knows his younger Warriors have their work cut out for them. But he believes he has the players to step in and begin filling some of last year’s big shoes.

“Jace Daniel Little and Braden Maness will help on both sides of the ball,” Rushing said. “Hayden Yelverton and Price (Horton) will look to have a big year on both sides of the ball. This year’s team will be a very inexperienced team. At this time, we are not experienced enough to make a deep run but hopefully that will change as the season goes along.”

***Jace Daniel Little is a new addition to the CCS football roster this season after moving in from Albany, where he played 11-man football. Little is playing running back, spread back and linebacker.***

The Warriors are replacing a lot of offensive firepower. Gone is Connor Snead, who last year threw for 2,344 yards (213.1 ypg) and 41 TDs in 11 games. He added 238 rushing yards with six TDs on the ground.

Last year’s top receiving targets are also gone – Chandler Snead (twin brother of Connor)had 41 receptions for 949 yards with 16 touchdowns; Garen Terry hauled in 31 catches for 603 yards and 15 scores; and Brenden Lowe added 20 receptions for 465 yards six TDs. The team threw for 2,556 yards and 46 touchdowns on the season with Snead throwing just five interceptions.

CCS last year piled up 1,892 yards on the ground with 39 touchdowns. Their leading rushers from that team – Terry (371 yards/9 TDs), Brenden Hennech (364 yards/6 TDs) and Canton Wise (317 yards/4 TDs) – are gone.

Those seniors were also big contributors on defense for a team that on average outscored its opponents 50-33, a 17-ppg differential.

Returning starters Horton and Yelverton are among those Coach Rushing is looking to step up and fill bigger roles. They each saw lots of action on both sides of the ball last year.

Now a senior receiver and cornerback, the speedy Horton last year recorded six catches for 93 yards (15.5 ypc) with one touchdown. He added another 101 yards on kickoff returns. On defense he was credited with 29 tackles (18 solo) and five interceptions.

A freshman last year, Yelverton ran the ball 10 times for 57 yards, finding the end zone once, to go with seven catches for 165 yards and three TD receptions. On defense Yelverton had two interceptions and five fumble recoveries in 2022.

Hayden Yelverton is one of two returning starters for the Community Christian School Warriors. He along with Price Horton will be looked at to provide leadership and stability for a young Warriors squad.

The team is also excited about Little, who moved in from Albany where he played 11-man football. Little is seeing action at linebacker, running back and spread back for the Warriors.

Coach Rushing is interested in seeing how his defense progresses through camp, scrimmages and into the start of the season.

“We will have to improve on defense with only two starters coming back,” said the coach. “We will really have to have some people step up on defense.”

Rushing said the team will rely on its offense, especially early in the year, and hope the defense gels and improves each week.

“I’m really excited about the possibility of our offense,” Rushing said. “I am really excited about our offense and how many points we can score.”

Coach Rushing is entering his second season as the Warriors’ head coach. He has nearly 50 years’ experience coaching football that included stints as offensive coordinator at Springtown High School and head football coach at Azle High School and Azle Christian School. He is nearing his 200thwin as a head coach. He was a part of 130 wins as OC at Springtown.

TEAM: Community Christian Warriors

DISTRICT: TCAF District 1 (sixman)

2022 RECORD (Overall/District): 10-2/4-1

DISTRICT FINISH: First

HEAD COACH: Gary Rushing