The Tioga Bulldogs football team took the crown in Region II District 6 of 2A Division I high school football and reached the third round of the playoffs, and their ability to win at the line of scrimmage was a big driving force.
The Bulldogs' front five faced adversity early last season, but the group recovered and helped clear the way to one of the most successful seasons in program history.
“Going into last year, we were scheduled to have four seniors on our offensive line, and in the first game the injury bug hit us, and next thing you know we had two freshmen starting,” Cole Wills, Tioga offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, said. “They had growing pains as a unit, but you could see them getting better and better every week, and they eventually helped lead us to a district championship. The experience was huge for those younger guys as far as their growth as football players and men, and it was huge for us because we knew they would start again for us.”
Last season, the Bulldogs' O-line helped Tioga field one of the most dangerous offenses in the area, tallying over 5,000 yards of total offense and 58 total touchdowns on the year.
The Bulldogs will look for their front five to lead the way again as a new crop of starters at the skill positions find their footing.
One of those leaders is senior offensive tackle Cooper Fisher, who was named a player to watch by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.
Fisher said the experience he gained from being thrust into a leadership role last season has already paid dividends for the younger members of the position group.
“Last season was really when it felt like the coaches started to let me run a little bit more on my own, but obviously, I was kind of nervous about it, because I didn't start last year,” he said. “My first thought was, ‘What kind of fire am I walking into?’ It was a humbling experience, but it also led me to be a better leader for my teammates because with me being the only starter that wasn’t injured to start the year that forced me to step into a role where instead of me watching and learning, I was the one being asked questions that I would’ve normally asked, and this year we have a lot of high expectations for ourselves.”
Sophomore center Bryson Bradley credited their growth as a unit to the example set by last year’s group of upperclassmen.
“If it wasn't for them and their mentoring, even when they were hurt, helping us out and making sure we didn't skip on reps, it would have definitely been harder,” he said. “We were just freshmen. We didn't know what we were doing and had no clue how serious we should have been. We were just having fun, and they helped us really lock in.”
With a year of varsity experience under their belt, sophomore guard Jesus Enriquez said the Bulldogs' front five have a better grasp of how to continue winning in the trenches.
“We’re getting better, but so is everybody else, but at the end of the day it comes down to having good technique and remembering what you were taught,” he said. “If we do that, we’re more than likely going to win our reps against whoever we’re going against in a game.”
After being thrown into the fire at the start of last season, Wills said the Bulldogs’ offensive line should be even better this season.
“Watching the work they put in during the offseason and the jumps that they’ve made, especially from that first game against Ponder last year to what they grew into the rest of the season, and what they've grown into over the spring and summer, I'm expecting big things,” he said. “We've set the standard, and they know what the standard is. Now it’s time for them to raise the bar.”
