The Pilot Point Bearcats football program had a resurgent season last year led by an outstanding ground attack and enters this season with even higher hopes for their offense.
The Bearcats’ running game was spearheaded by fullback Caden David and running back Josh Chumley, who combined to rush for over 2,000 yards and over 20 rushing touchdowns.
“They both fed off of each other,” Tyler Lawson, Pilot Point offensive coordinator and running backs coach, said. “We had a great one-two punch with Chumley running downhill and then all of a sudden, we’re out the back door with Caden. … They had a heck of a season and when you have a guy at fullback that does what Caden does, and then you have a guy at running back that runs like Chumley does, that's pretty special.”
As a junior, David racked up over 900 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground and credited his performance to the guidance he received from his coaches.
“The coaching staff was huge,” he said. “They taught me techniques and that small things can add up to big things, so that helped me focus on the small things like hand placement and footwork, and those added up to the bigger things.”
David also starred on defense last season, where he tallied 94 tackles, including 25 tackles for loss and seven sacks at defensive end.
As every down player for the Bearcats, David said it was the coaches and his teammates that gave him the motivation to play hard on every snap.
“Coach Lawson pushed me on the offensive side of the ball, and then Coach Worrell [drove] me on the defensive side of the ball, so I always had people that kept me going,” he said. “Hearing them say, ‘You can do another down. You're fine, just keep pushing.' That was huge for me and helped me put up the numbers that I did, and, on top of that, I had my teammates helping push me mentally, … so it was great having people around to help me find and push my limits.”
As he enters his final season on the gridiron for the Bearcats, David said he’s looking forward to he and his teammates continuing to help each other and the program grow.
“If we just keep pushing each other on the field and off the field, staying out of trouble and staying in the weight room, it’ll be huge,” he said. “A lot of guys skip weights or reps in practice, thinking it’s easier, but it’s not going to be any easier on the field if you do, so we just have to continue pushing each other and stay in a football mentality and stay ready to play.”
The second part of the Bearcats’ backfield duo, Chumley piled up over 1,300 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns en route to becoming the first Bearcat to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season since 2020.
Chumley gave credit for his stellar sophomore season to Pilot Point’s coaching staff and his teammates.
“I felt good, but a big part of that was the coaching staff and my [offensive] line,” he said. “Our line really improved throughout the season, and we came a long way as a team. Our coaching staff was there every step of the way, and I really appreciate them for the work they've done.”
Chumley added that his goal for this season is to break the 2,000-yard mark.
Chumley played exclusively on offense last season but will have an expanded role for the Bearcats as he heads into his junior year.
“I've been practicing at linebacker,” he said. “I really enjoy it, playing on both sides of the ball, and Coach Worrell has been there, pushing me, and he's a really good teacher. Now I just have to follow my keys.”
Lawson said the duo have been working hard during the offseason and are looking better than ever as the team prepares for the season to kick off.
“They got stronger, and they got faster,” he said. “… They showed up all summer long, and coming into this season, they just have a different look. We're going to build off of what we did last year, and we can do a lot more things now offensively, and they're starting to see and trust that, so the future is bright for those two.”
