Mineral Wells Area News

By DAVID MAY / Special to Mineral Wells Area News

Texas sixman football can entail some pretty long bus rides. But Montana?

That is where the Strawn Greyhounds are headed this week to play Saturday in a showcase game in Billings, Mont., against Custer/Hysham/Melstone, a team that last season went undefeated until losing its last game in the state semifinals to finish 10-1.

Joining Strawn from Texas and making the 1,300-mile trip is Milford, which will play Highwood as part of the scheduled twin-bill on the campus of Rocky Mountain College.

Strawn will make a special trip of it, sightseeing along the way. The team is expected to arrive in Billings on Wednesday, where their hosts will show them around the area, including a planned trip to the Little Bighorn Battlefield, while introducing them to Montana culture in the Big Sky Country.

Once Saturday arrives, it will be all business for Head Coach Dewaine Lee and his team. Strawn wants to return to the level of play that has carried the team to five Class 1A state titles in six trips since 2003, with its last one coming just three years ago in 2021.

The Greyhounds have since been reloading and building to get back to a level of not just making the playoffs, but making a deep run and returning to Arlington to play in the season’s last game.

After missing the post-season in 2022, the Greyhounds last year finished second in district with a regular season record of 7-3. Strawn ousted Throckmorton in the first round of the playoffs before falling to a powerful Jayton squad to finish 8-4.

This year Strawn moves into a new Class 1A-Division II district, aligning with Throckmorton, Woodson and Moran. Two of the three district games will take place on Strawn’s home turf. While wins take place on the field and not on the Internet, Strawn is in very good position to finish atop the District 9 standings.

Although All-Everything Greyhound Robert Freeman has graduated, Strawn returns a lot of talent, including some very experienced and talents juniors and seniors, along with a mix of up-and-coming sophomores. Back are nine players from 2023, including three offensive starters and four defensive starters.

Speedy running back Michael Barcenas had a sensational 2023 campaign for the ‘Hounds. He is the top ball carrier in the district. Barcenas and quarterback Kaison Nunez, along with fullback Danny Sifuentes and center Alex Hughes will power the offensive attack. Look for sophomore running back Johnny Fraga to also make his mark on the season.

Strawn is always tough defensively, and this season the “MIS” wrecking crew should be even better led by Hughes on the line and David Yanez at linebacker. Barcenas (LB) and Nunez (DB) are also stellar players on the defensive side of the ball.

The X-Factor every year is Coach Lee. Few coaches get more out of their players with his fiery and respected style. You can never count Strawn out. They play with a chip on their shoulder and a cabinet full of trophies. Those things matter.

Strawn Schedule

08/31 at Custer/Hysham/Melstone – 2 PM

09/06 vs Knox City – 7:30 PM

09/13 vs Gordon – 7:30 PM

09/20 vs Bryson – 7:30 PM

09/27 @ Zephyr  – 7:30 PM

10/04 vs Ranger – 7:30 PM

10/25 vs Throckmorton* – 7:30 PM

11/01 @Moran*  – 7:30 PM

11/08 vs Woodson* – 7:30 PM

*Denotes district game