Trojans trying for another state title

The last time the Windthorst Trojans took the field they were hoisting a state championship trophy above their heads at AT&T Stadium last December.

Several of those key pieces are gone from that title run but Windthorst Head Coach Chris Tackett remains optimistic about what the Trojans have coming back.

“I think we’re going to be okay. I don’t see us having a big drop off from last year. We were super good last year with lots of talent and a great locker room and all that and I think we have enough left over both talent-wise and leadership-wise to put a competitive team out there.”

Perhaps the biggest boon this offseason for Tackett was keeping his veteran coaching staff entirely intact

“Everybody talks the same language. We’re able to talk things out amongst ourselves as a refresher. The kids have heard it. They don’t have to learn anything new. They know what we’re trying to do.”

The strength of this Windthorst team comes on both lines of scrimmage with three players returning on both the offensive and defensive line. Seniors Eddie Llamas, Jayden Friddle and Adrian Larios are back after bulldozing the way to the state championship while seniors Colby Wolf and Josey Tobias along with junior Thomas McCann stepping up to fill the shoes of those that graduated.

“We’ve got three returning starters on the offensive line. Colby and Thomas have been filling in there and have done a great job thus far. Josey can work every spot on the line. He’s the next guy to fill in. He’s bought into everything. It’s his senior year and he’ll get to play a lot after spot playing last year. It’s a really tight group. They help with protection on a new quarterback and blocking schemes with a new running back and receivers. We can go as far as they can take us.”

That o-line will be tasked with keeping junior quarterback Logan Cope upright in the pocket. He saw lots of action in mopup duty last season, going 14-of-17 through the air for 94 yards and two scores.

“It seems like we’ve had good returning quarterbacks for a while,” Tackett said. “Logan got a lot of reps in practice and in games last year. It’s not going to be his first time under the lights. I’ve got no issues with him coming in and running the show.”

Tackett said his biggest message to his new signal caller is to play within himself.

“He doesn’t have to win every game for us. He’s got people around him that are going to help. I’d rely on that for a while.”

Another duo with big shoes to fill is Cope’s backfield mates in senior Haven Vieth and junior Clay Hoff. They try to step into the void Ethan Belcher left after becoming the first 2,000 yard rusher in Windthorst history.

“It’s Haven and Clay splitting carries right now at the running back position,” Tackett highlighted. “They’re both different styles of runners but they both have a little bit of power and speed. They know the concepts. If they can take care of the ball and pick up first downs, they’ll be okay.”

“Clay came back from physical therapy in the spring. He took rehab serious and is on a mission to prove he belongs out there. I think he belongs out there. When you get something taken away from you like that, you don’t appreciate what you had until you can’t do it any more. He had to sit and watch and I imagine it killed him. I think he’s out to prove something.”

On the outside, Brayden Berend looks to build on the success he found late in the season as the sophomore moves into the No. 1 target role.

“He’s still catching the ball great,” Tackett said. “He’s not a freshman anymore. He’s got a whole lot more experience than a lot of other freshman in the state. He’ll be a big target on the edge and a good target for Logan.”

Defensively, Windthorst should be improved with another year under DC Juan Cavazos.

“I think the overall speed of our defense will be our strength,” Tackett said. “They really look like they’re flying around. We tweaked a few things from last year to fit our new personnel.”

Up front should be the same group of offensive lineman causing mayhem on the defensive side of the ball.

“You take those offensive linemen and flip them over on defense. They’re hard to move. They react quick. They’re good tacklers. They ought to be able to create some havoc.”

At the linebacker position, Vieth, Hoff and senior Hunter Herndon are expected to fill up gaps and create some stops for the defense.

In the secondary, Tackett expects seniors Zane Hackley, and Landon McLemore along with junior Gage Lindley and Berend to turn Windthorst into a no-fly zone on Friday nights.

“We’re probably a little bit deeper than we’ve ever been in the secondary. That creates good battles and good competition back there. It allows some people to get some reps. We’re pretty confident with all of them covering.”

While the state title run was certainly a blessing for Windthorst last season, Tackett highlighted how it helps the underclassmen to stay hungry for another run in 2021.

“Last year’s underclassmen saw what it takes, commitment-wise. I think they’re bought into it too. We rely on them to teach the underclassmen all the time and try to not have that drop-off. We try to keep that rolling. X’s and O’s are part of it, but the relationships those kids build amongst each other is a big part of it too. They get on each other but it’s not in a mean way. Just like the seniors last year would get on somebody but it was because they were trying to get better. They don’t have a next year. These seniors are the same way. It’s nice to see kids have each others backs and truly care for each other.”