Area teams anxious to hit football fields this week
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Take a deep breath. Can you smell it?

Football is right around the corner and area coaches are anxiously awaiting the start of two-a-days, which are scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 6.

Area teams will report for practice Monday with start times varying for the different squads.

District 21-3A favorite Kirbyville will report for practice Monday, Aug. 6 at 8 a.m. with players in 10th through 12th grade reporting. All freshman players are expected to report at 1 p.m. on Monday.

The first four days of practice, teams are limited to just helmets and shorts. On Friday, Aug. 10, teams can practice in full pads.

"We will butt it up then," said Kirbyville Head Football Coach Jack Alvarez. "I am planning on having a little scrimmage at 10 a.m. that day and let them have off that afternoon to lick their wounds and tell everybody who they knocked around."

Kirbyville has been the early pick to win District 21- 3A mainly based on the 14 returning starters the Wildcats will place on the field.

The Wildcats were the surprise team of the district last year as they earned a playoff berth but were eliminated from the playoffs by Sweeny 35-28 to finish the season 8-4.

Among the stars returning for the Wildcats are offensive backfield mates quarterback Aaron Hazelwood and running back Pierce Rhodes.

Alvarez said he is ready for the start of the season.

"I am excited - we have some good kids here," Alvarez said. "We have some good players but we have a lot better kids than we have players. They are just good people - good to be around. I've missed them. We have had a real good summer."

Newton head football coach Curtis Barbay said he is looking forward to the start of football season. His Eagles are being touted, once again, as a team to beat in Class 2A.

"We ought to have a good group of kids coming back but you never know who is going to show up," Barbay said. "We have quite a few coming back that played last year but you never know how it's going to be."

Barbay admitted he has "high expectations" for this year's Eagles.

But with 12 returning starters coming back, the Eagles are stacked and loaded for the season ahead.

Newton's first round playoff opponent last year is another East Texas team getting ready for the start of the season Monday.

The Buna Cougars will begin their second season in Class 2A and head coach Bradley Morgan has his sights on another playoff berth this year.

Last year, the Cougars posted a 7-4 record but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Newton 42- 7.

"I thought we could have done better but that was the best record we have had in a long time," Morgan said.

Morgan said the transition to Class 2A bolstered the Cougars and the campus last year and the winning effect spilled over to this year's offseason workouts.

"We had a speed camp this summer and the kids worked out five days a week," Morgan said. "They put a lot of heart and effort into it this summer."

And while the start of the season is special, Morgan said it could also be a bit stressful as athletic directors finalize their final plans for the upcoming season.

"It's a nerve-racking time as you are trying to get coaches hired and people in the right places," Morgan said. "You are trying to get people lined up and fields marked - it can be kind of stressful. But at the same time it's exciting."

The Woodville Eagles will be rebuilding this year with new head football coach Steve Fentress, who came over from Corrigan-Camden. Last year, the Eagles posted a 4-6 overall record, 1-4 in District 23-2A play.

"We're looking pretty good so far," Fentress said. "We just need to stay healthy and hold on to the ball this year."

He admitted that he is ready for the football season to kickoff.

"I wish I could start it right now," Fentress said. "I am really looking forward to getting out on the field - day or night, it doesn't matter."