Welcome to the Johnson Jaguars football team, where change is the only constant. Coming off a successful 10-2 season that ended in the area round of the 6A Texas high school playoffs, the team faced a major shakeup in the offseason as starting quarterback Ty Hawkins decided to play his senior season at IMG Academy in Florida.
With Hawkins gone, the Jaguars are left with a wide open competition to find their next signal-caller. Head coach Theodore “TP” Miller revealed that the team currently has 14 quarterbacks vying for the starting spot, ranging from freshmen to seniors. Despite the uncertainty, the team is confident in their ability to find a capable replacement.
Senior wide receiver Ethan Day expressed his optimism, saying, “Having a new guy at quarterback we gotta adapt and he’s gotta learn the playbook but I mean I feel really good about our young quarterbacks ready to step up for this big role so I’m just very excited for the season.”
Senior left tackle Austin Sekula echoed that sentiment, noting the team’s resilience in the face of adversity. “When stuff happened, you know, we had a QB leave, no one was down. We had Zeke and Elvis (Estrada) step in almost immediately, and you know, practice kept moving. We adapted, and I feel very confident about where we are now,” Sekula said.
Despite the challenges, the Jaguars boast a roster laden with experience, with 65% of the varsity squad comprised of seniors. This wealth of senior leadership has instilled a sense of determination in the team, as they look to build on last year’s success.
“We had a taste of success last year, and now I think everyone wants it again and wants to go further than last year,” Sekula added.
Looking ahead, the Jaguars have their sights set on a deep playoff run, with senior wide receiver Ethan Day setting his sights on a state championship game at AT&T Stadium in December. The team’s hunger for success is palpable, as they prepare to showcase their talent to the world.
As practices intensify and competition for starting positions heats up, Coach Miller emphasizes the importance of pushing each other to be better. “Every day they’re competing for a position… guys are really elevated their plane,” Miller remarked.
With the season opener against Judson on August 30 looming, the Jaguars are gearing up for a challenging campaign ahead. Stay tuned for more updates and highlights on the Big Game Coverage page as the team embarks on their quest for glory.
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