Week 1 Scrimmage Outlook

For the first time since two-a-days began, teams across the state will get to face an opponent other than themselves with the first scrimmage of the year this Friday and Saturday. Below is a breakdown of week one scrimmages from the 10-3A, Central Texas, and around the region.

Lorena @ Cameron Yoe - Friday

This will be a good early test for both squads. Lorena, after capturing a district championship a season ago, is now ranked inside of the top 15 of some 4A DII polls, and is expected to win another championship this year out of 9-4A. The Leopards are still under the leadership of Ray Biles, which has been the head coach since the 1992 season. If there is one thing you can take away from the intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, it’s that the Yoemen should have nice depth this season. You always want to have a strong senior class, which the Yoemen have, but there is plenty of talent coming up through the system that will provide quality depth on the varsity squad.

Giddings @ Rockdale - Friday

Though it is only a scrimmage, Giddings is probably the top opponent the Tigers have on the schedule up until district 10-3A rolls around. The Buffaloes should be considered a contender out of strong 4A DII region III, coming in ranked ninth in the state by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. Rockdale will have plenty of team speed on the the field in 2016. This will be a good game for Rockdale to showcase how much they have grown in a year with 15 starters returning.

Rogers @ Troy - Friday

There are big changes in Rogers. Kent Walker, the brother of former Eagles coach Jeff Walker, is now taking over the program. Walker has a defensive background and should have that side of the ball playing better in 2016. Offensively, the big question is what will be ran - and that will be the spread, not the slot-t. Troy has been consistent in their play over the past several years. Though this is only a scrimmage, this is a rivalry, so we should see some hard-hitting action.

Teague @ Robinson - Saturday

There are not that many Saturday scrimmages this year, but this is an intriguing one. Teague has arguably been the second best team out of region III the past two seasons behind the Yoemen. The Lions lost some big boys on the lines from last year, so we will need to see what this team has up front on both sides of the ball. Robinson was down last season, going just 1-9 and missing out of the playoffs. With multiple offensive weapons coming back, points should still come in bunches out of the up-tempo spread.

Marlin Vs. Jarrell - Saturday

If there is a team that has the most to prove heading into district play, it would be the Jarrell Cougars. Jarrell has had a fairly good amount of success lately, going 11-1 in 2015 with an area round finish. However, the Cougars probably have the lightest non-district schedule, with three 3A DII teams and one 2A DI team that may not be at the caliber of most in 10-3A. Marlin has taken major hits to their enrollment the past several years, but Coach Huitt and his staff have kept things stable with a modest 6-6 record and area round finish in 2015.