Excerpt from 2011 KBTX/Taco Bell Friday Football Fever High School Football Preview Magazine to be available at Brazos Valley area Taco Bells beginning August 24th.
BRYAN -- Old coaches and experts say it all starts up front, and if the saying is true the Eagles could be in business this season. St. Joseph returns all five starters on the line, including big seniors Spencer Gray and Chris Frieda.
The question mark will be at quarterback, where the Eagles have to replace graduating senior Landon Evans. Tate Brightwell and Nicky Damon have a little bit of experience under center, but Brightwell looks to be the man at running back after nearly rushing for 1,000 yards a season ago and earning second-team all-state honors.
The same group of offensive linemen will anchor the Eagle 4-2-5 defense. Gray, Frieda, and Marc Vogelsang make up three-fourths of the line, while junior Jay Foster is the leading returning tackler and should be a force at linebacker. Sophomores Ben Rios and Nicky Damon return at cornerback, as does Tres Todd at safety. Rios should also be a factor on special teams after taking two kickoffs back for touchdowns a year ago.
St. Joseph should contend for a playoff spot once again out of TAPPS Division III District 3. Austin Regents will be the favorite after making a run all the way to the state title game, where they fell to state champ Bullard Brook Hill, but Giddings State only won one game a year ago and Texas School for the Deaf is coming off a three win season. It all adds up to the Eagles having a good chance at punching their fifth straight ticket to the playoffs.
