Breckenridge Texan

Despite slow start to season, Buckaroos excited to start district play

Despite slow start to season, Buckaroos excited to start district play
October 10
12:44 2019

The Breckenridge Buckaroos varsity football team had a slow start through the first five games of 2019 and are still searching for their first win of the season. However, they can basically wipe away their 0-5 start as they prepare for district play on Friday because from here on out, the games will start to count toward a potential playoff run.

The team had a Friday night off between the final pre-district game against the Dublin Lions and this week’s home game against the Jim Ned High School Indians. Even though the first half of the season did not go as planned, Buckaroo head coach Casey Hubble was happy to see the bye week, as well as the progress the team made over the last week.

“Going into the bye week, we were a lot disappointed,” Hubble said. “Our kids have shown up and have done a lot of the things that they are supposed to do, but we have just failed to put it all together and play great football. Unfortunately, we are at where we are at.”

The Breckenridge Buckaroos practice Wednesday afternoon, preparing for their first district game of the season on Friday. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The coach said the team worked hard during the bye week. “The message going into the bye week was focusing on us and really trying to make sure we are doing what it takes to win,” he  said. “We grinded them pretty hard during the bye week. We shortened the practice up a little bit by practicing Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday instead of Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. But we were able to amp things up a little bit and felt like we got a lot of more quality reps in.

“The message this week is everyone is 0-0. I believe in this team. That has been my message to them at the end of last week,” Hubble continued. “I believe in the kids and love them. I see the potential, and I do not believe we have hit close to what they can do. I believe we are going to turn it around. I am just excited about the opportunity to get into district and have a new season.”

The Buckaroos have had to battle through some injuries so far this season, which has left two players out for the season. However, Hubble is eager to get a few of the players back who have been battling ankle injuries.

“We will have a couple guys back this week as far as some of the guys with ankle injuries. I don’t know that they will be 100 percent,” Hubble said. “We lost two to knee injuries (Kooper Shook and Justin Bell). Those two guys are done (for the season), and we are going to have to move on and replace that void.”

After four of the five teams in non-district were predominately run based teams, the Bucks will flip that as four of the next five will be predominately spread teams with Wall being the exception. Hubble said that repetition of coverages and perfecting the coverages will be key throughout district play.

“Defensively, I think we can shut down a one-back type team. We will have to get better at our coverages because we haven’t practiced them much because we saw so many wing-t teams,” Hubble said. “I think our kids can play and played a lot of 7 on 7. They know what to do. It’s just getting the reps until it’s something that you can do all the time. We are just going to have to get better each week. If we can do that, we will be in the hunt.”

On the offensive side of the ball, do not expect any dramatic changes to the offensive scheme. “We are going to keep doing what we are doing. We are not changing,” Hubble said. “We are just going to fine tune it. When we see a different (defensive) front, we may change it up with a few little wrinkles and kind of see where that goes. We are going to run the same offense since we started and try to put wrinkles in it with the way some guys line up.

“It’s just going to come down to execution,” Hubble continued. “It’s blocking, picking up blitzes, and it’s throwing and catching. There at the end of pre-district, we didn’t do a very good job of blocking. We feel like we have been better at taking care of the football but still not good enough. Throughout district, I am hoping we can improve on that.”

District 3-3A By the Numbers

The Bucks head into District 3-3A Division I play in last place when compared to the remainder of the district. But, they have had, arguably, the toughest pre-district schedule with their  opponents sitting at a combined 16-10 overall record.

Early High School ranks second in the district in this category with opponents having a combined record of 14-12, while Wall and Jim Ned follow with opponent records of 13-14 and 11-14, respectively. Eastland has an overall combined opponent record of 9-18, and Clyde rounds out the district with an 8-18 opponent record.

Within District 3-3A, Eastland, Jim Ned and Wall all have a 5-0 record heading into district, while Clyde is 4-1 and Early is 3-2.

Offensively, Eastland has the highest scoring average at 46 points per game. Jim Ned follows suit with 45.2 points per game, while Clyde is averaging 41.6 per game, Wall is averaging 32 points per game, and Early is averaging 31.8 points per game. Breckenridge averages 19 points per game.

Defensively, Clyde tops the district, allowing just 4.2 points per game, while Wall and Jim Ned follow at 6.8 and 8.4 points per game, respectively. Eastland allowed 17.2 points per game in the first half of the season, and Early allowed 24.6 points per game. Breckenridge allowed 32 points per game.

According to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine that was published in late June, Wall is the favorite to win the district, followed by Eastland and Jim Ned. Breckenridge is projected as the fourth-place team, and Clyde and Early were predicted to miss the playoffs in 2019.

Wall, with a predominately run-based offense, is led by Chase Rios who has rushed for 503 yards on 59 attempts and four touchdowns. Quarterback Mason Fuchs is also one to watch after rushing for 287 yards on 45 attempts and seven touchdowns.

Eastland is led statistically by quarterback Behren Morton who has completed 73 of 112 attempts for 1,265 yards and 13 touchdowns. Morton has also rushed for 53 yards on 19 attempts and had three rushing touchdowns through five games. Running back Brandon Fielding is also a threat on the ground with 559 yards rushing on 55 attempts and 10 rushing touchdowns.

Jim Ned is led by quarterback Dylan Martin who has completed 53 of 74 pass attempts for 850 yards and nine touchdowns. Xavier Wishert leads Jim Ned in rushing yards with 349 yards on 42 attempts and three touchdowns.

Bo Baker leads the Clyde Bulldogs in rushing yards with 706 yards on 69 attempts and eight touchdowns, while quarterback Dylan Neumann has completed 40 of 74 attempts for 689 yards and eight touchdowns.

Early heads into district play lead by quarterback Bren Grooms who has completed 57 of 90 pass attempts for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns. Tre Beam leads Early’s rushing attack with 329 yards on 45 attempts and four touchdowns.

Breckenridge is led by quarterback Owen Woodward in both passing and rushing yards. Woodward has completed 46 of 99 passing attempts for 534 yards and four touchdowns. He has rushed for 634 yards on 100 attempts and has had five touchdowns so far in 2019.

The Buckaroos’ District 3-3A opener is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, against the Jim Ned Indians at Buckaroo Stadium.

The rest of this season’s schedule includes:

  • Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m., Eastland High School, in Maverick Stadium
  • Oct. 25, 7:30 p.m., Early High School, in Buckaroo Stadium (Homecoming)
  • Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., Wall High School, in Buckaroo Stadium (Senior Night)
  • Nov. 8, 7:30 p.m., Clyde High School, in Bulldog Stadium

To see all of the Breckenridge Texan stories from this football season, click here.

Buckaroo Head Coach Casey Hubble talks to the team during practice on Wednesday afternoon. The Buckaroos will take on the Jim Ned Indians on Friday. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Story by Brant Thurmond/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge coach Casey Hubble keeps an eye on the team during practice on Wednesday. The team will open district play at home on Friday, Oct. 11, against the Jim Ned High School Indians. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Support The Breckenridge Texan

Archives

Title of the document Sign up for our
e-newsletter
Click Here
Verified by MonsterInsights