Ad Astra Radio is previewing our area high school football teams based on county. Today, we will preview Stafford County.
Previous previews:
Macksville Mustangs
Coach: Morgan Grippin, second season (3-6)
Classification: Eight-player Division 2
District: 6
2023: 3-6
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: State champions, 2007
Top returning players: Kendall Grippin, sr.; Hector Gomez, sr.; Gavin Rose, jr.; James Granger, sr.; Orion Guevara, sr.; Ariel Marquez, jr.; Shain Granger, jr.
Key game: Sept. 27 at Stafford. How about a nice county matchup to get district play started? Victoria is the clear favorite, but the rest of the district is wide open. The winner here gets inside track for a home playoff game.
Outlook: Macksville was young last year and suffered a lot of injuries, as only six of the 23 rostered players made it through all nine games. With seven starters back, the Mustangs appear to be on the upswing. Grippin accounted for more than 1,000 yards of offense, while Gomez scored 12 touchdowns. This should be a bounce-back season for the Mustangs. They’ll have depth, experience and speed.
St. John Tigers
Coach: Scott Krehbiel, first season
Classification: EIght-player Division 2
District: 6
2023: 3-6
Postseason: Lost to Minneola 58-6
Best postseason finish: Quarterfinals 1983
Top returning players: Aden Adame, sr., OL/DL; Braxton Alpers, jr., QB/DB; Juan Ibarra, jr., WR/DB; Julio Lozano, jr., OL/DL; Daniel Portillo, jr., OL/DL; Jace Reyes, jr., RB/DB
Key game: Sept. 27 vs. Hodgeman County. A great test for a rising St. John team to open district play. Get a win here, and St. John could be well on its way to hosting a playoff game.
Outlook: St. John matched its most wins since 2012 with three last year, and the Tigers also made the playoffs. With six starters back, the Tigers have a great chance of a winning season and hosting a playoff game. The Tigers will have some size on both lines, although they have some talent to replace at skill positions. This could be a breakout season for St. John, and also consider this – only one returning starter – Adame – is a senior.
Stafford Trojans
Coach: Jeff Chambers, first season
Classification: Eight-player Division 2
District: 6
2023: 2-7
Postseason: Did not qualify
Best postseason finish: Round of 16 1975, 1989, 1990, 2013, 2014, 2018
Top returning players: Cody Knoche, sr., WR/DB; Dylan Brazek, jr., FB/RB; Jacob Simmons, jr., QB/DB; Landon Baird, sr., WR/DB; Tuff Pope, so., WR/DB; Samuel Lowther, sr. utility/PK
Key game: Sept. 27 vs. Macksville. It’s going to be a fun year in Stafford County, with all three teams in the same district. And they’ll all have significant playoff implications.
Outlook: Stafford was one of the youngest teams around last year. Six starters are back and just two are seniors. Stafford isn’t the biggest team around, but there is some athleticism to counter that. The line will be extraordinarily young, with only two seniors among eight linemen on the rosters. The rest underclassmen. The leadership is strong and there is a sense of something special is brewing in Stafford. It’s an open district outside Victoria.