After a down year, Greyhounds are ready to race toward another title run
By DAVID MAY
Special to Mineral Wells Area News
The ups and downs that Texas six-man football teams often experience. One year you are undefeated state champs, the next year you are taking your lumps while developing younger players for next season.
The Strawn Greyhounds endured that kind of swing in 2022. The powerhouse District 8-1A Division II program went 15-0 in 2021 to win its fifth state title in six trips since 2003 – its third championship in five years. Graduation losses left the ‘Hounds with a less experienced team in 2022, resulting in a 4-6 mark overall, including a 1-3 district mark. There would be no post-season playoff action for the small southwest Palo Pinto County community where that is a minimum expectation.
It was a tough season in Title Town.
But it’s a new year, and expectations and hopes are on the rise again for the storied and well-documented program led by Head Coach Dewaine Lee.
This year’s squad returns five starters on offense and four on defense. Coach Lee and the team will be counting on several seniors including running back/linebacker Robert Freeman, fellow RB/LB Jesse Corona and offensive and defensive end Colby Morton, along with a host of other returning players. Listed at 6-1 and 220 pounds, Freeman is a load with 4.8 speed, complimented by Corona who boasts a 4.7.
The first four games will be revealing for this year’s Greyhounds squad. They travel to Jayton to face Crowell in the Aug. 25 season opener. Crowell is coming off a 3-7 season, 2-2 in district.
After hosting Dallas Lutheran – a team Strawn edged last season, 52-50, on their field — the Greyhounds will make the short 8.5-mile trek east to take on their rivals, the Gordon Longhorns, in what is annually one of the most-anticipated games in Texas six-man football.
That third-week matchup will be no easy task for the ‘Hounds. Last year, Gordon went 12-1, going undefeated in its first 12 games before losing in the third round of the playoffs. The visiting Division I Longhorns last season easily dispatched Strawn, 52-6. Gordon is ranked as high as No. 2 in the state in pre-season polls, and returns most of last year’s team. They are expected to make a strong post-season run in search of their first state championship since 1999.
That Sept. 8 game will be a big early-season measuring stick for the ‘Hounds.
After that, Strawn will look to turn around last season’s 52-50 loss to Gorman, and repeat big wins against Rotan and Ranger, sandwiched around a contest against Sidney. That sets up the ensuing three district games. The Sidney game begins a stretch of four-straight road contests, with a bye week before opening district action at Newcastle.
Newcastle easily handled Strawn last season, and is considered the favorite to repeat as district champs in 2023. The visiting ‘Hounds will have their hands full in this initial key district matchup.
Next will be a trip to Forestburg, which Strawn raced past last season before ending the regular season at home against Bowie Gold-Burg. The Bears handed visiting Strawn a tough 55-40 loss to deliver a season-ending blow to the ‘Hounds. Gold-Burg (4-7) advanced to the playoffs but was throttled by Throckmorton in the first round.
Strawn should finish no worse than second in district and return to post-season play. If the team can stay healthy and pile up some wins and confidence in non-district action, they could surprise Newcastle and upend pre-season predictions to claim another district title, and perhaps make another strong post-season run and appearance in the Division II sixman title game.
This team is hungry and Coach Lee is one of the top six-man coaches. He is known for having his team well-coached and well-prepared week in and week out. He will soon be ready to unleash the ‘Hounds and see how fast and how far they can run in 2023.
SCHEDULE
Aug. 25 – vs. Crowell at Jayton High School (6 p.m.)
Sept. 1 – Dallas Lutheran (7 p.m.)
Sept. 8 – at Gordon (7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 15 – Gorman (7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 22 – Rotan (7:30 p.m.)
Sept. 29 – at Sidney (7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 6 – at Ranger (7:30 p.m.)
Oct. 13 – Bye
Oct. 20 – at Newcastle (7:30 p.m.)*
Oct. 27 – at Forestburg (7:30 p.m.)*
Nov. 3 – Gold-Burg (7:30 p.m.)*
*Denotes district game
PLAYERS DEPARTED FROM 2022: Leo Delatorre, Justin Patton, Jett Golden, Payton Harris, Jose Estrada.
RETURNING PLAYERS: Michael Barcenas, Jesse Corona, Robert Freeman, Chris Hernandez, Trace Holt, Clay Humphrey, Braxton Kosh, Nic Lynn, Xavier Marroquin, Colby Morton, Kasion Nunez, Manuel Rivera, Danny Sifuentes, Jered Stiles, Aryn Stoker, Keaton Tunnell.
