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Eagles hope for a change in fortune
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| Senior running back Quincy Davison, a district champion in the 400 meters, will provide a burst of speed out of the backfield. |
By STEPHEN WHITFIELD
A quick look at the history of the Atascocita High School football team is not pleasant.
The Eagles’ first season of varsity play saw them win one game. Last year, they followed that up with a 3-7 mark. Atascocita was one of the proverbial whipping boys of its district, an easy win, a breather for the better teams.
This season, the Eagles look to put those days to an end.
Atascocita may not be the most talented team in District 19-5A. In fact, they are closer to the bottom in that department than they are to the top. But the Eagles feel they are stronger for having gone through two tough seasons and now they are confident they can hang with any other team in the district.
“I think that hardship that we faced our first two years really molded us into what we are now,” senior offensive tackle Kenny Cook said. “If we can survive that, we can survive anything this upcoming season.”
The Eagles return 14 starters from last year’s team, many of them expected to contribute at multiple positions. One such player, senior Xzaviar Jackson, will make up part of a talented wide receiving corps that includes All-District first teamer Quinton Parks. Jackson, who will also see playing time at quarterback, said it is unwise to underestimate the Eagles’ potential this year.
“I know everybody thinks we’re the little guys here going into the season,” Jackson said. “We’re going to have to show them.”
But still, Atascocita head coach Dean Colbert said one of his main goals is to simply progress and build toward a more fruitful future.
“Obviously, the goal at the end is to be one of the four playoff teams in our district, but more than anything it’s to be extremely competitive in each and every game,” Colbert said.
Expect Atascocita to come out of its pre-district schedule with at least three victories. Alief Hastings may provide a close game, but the Eagles match up very well against Channelview, Oak Ridge and Alief Hastings.
The real challenge for Atascocita this year comes from its own district. Three of the other six teams in District 19-5A – Humble, Kingwood and Aldine Eisenhower – have a lot of size and power and could pose serious problems for Atascocita.
Senior tailback Quincy Davison said that even though he is nervous to face the other teams in the district, he thinks the Eagles should hold their own against them.
“When I looked at it, I was shaking a little,” Davison said. “But, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do and go up against the best of the best. If we play together as a team like we know how, we should hold up.”
If the Eagles beat the other three Aldine teams – Aldine, MacArthur and Nimitz – they might have an outside shot at an elusive playoff berth. But Colbert said his team will have to be very physical in order for that to happen.
“I know every coach in that district preaches great defense and emphasizes aggressive play, so that’s going to be a challenge day in and day out,” Colbert said. “Humble’s a physical team, Kingwood’s a physical team, the Aldine schools are all physical. If we’re going to compete, we’re going to have to be physical.”
ATASCOCITA FOOTBALL 2008 SCHEDULE
Saturday, Aug. 30: Hastings, Turner Stadium, 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5: Channelview, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 12: Oak Ridge, Woodforest Bank Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19: South Houston, Pasadena Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26: MacArthur*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3: Humble*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11: Nimitz*, Thorne Stadium, 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17: Aldine*, Thorne Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 31: Eisenhower*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8: Kingwood*, Turner Stadium, 6 p.m.
Home games in bold
* denotes district game
ATASCOCITA FOOTBALL 2007 RESULTS
Week 0 at Crosby L 21-35
Week 1 Bye
Week 2 at Spring Woods W 20-17
Week 3 vs. Willis W 32-12
Week 4 at Beaumont West Brook L 6-44
Week 5 vs. P.A. Memorial L 18-50
Week 6 Humble L 0-28
Week 7 vs. Channelview L 13-14
Week 8 at Baytown Sterling W 34-14
Week 9 vs. Kingwood L 10-33
Week 10 vs. Baytown Lee L 7-44
The Eagles’ first season of varsity play saw them win one game. Last year, they followed that up with a 3-7 mark. Atascocita was one of the proverbial whipping boys of its district, an easy win, a breather for the better teams.
This season, the Eagles look to put those days to an end.
Atascocita may not be the most talented team in District 19-5A. In fact, they are closer to the bottom in that department than they are to the top. But the Eagles feel they are stronger for having gone through two tough seasons and now they are confident they can hang with any other team in the district.
“I think that hardship that we faced our first two years really molded us into what we are now,” senior offensive tackle Kenny Cook said. “If we can survive that, we can survive anything this upcoming season.”
The Eagles return 14 starters from last year’s team, many of them expected to contribute at multiple positions. One such player, senior Xzaviar Jackson, will make up part of a talented wide receiving corps that includes All-District first teamer Quinton Parks. Jackson, who will also see playing time at quarterback, said it is unwise to underestimate the Eagles’ potential this year.
“I know everybody thinks we’re the little guys here going into the season,” Jackson said. “We’re going to have to show them.”
But still, Atascocita head coach Dean Colbert said one of his main goals is to simply progress and build toward a more fruitful future.
“Obviously, the goal at the end is to be one of the four playoff teams in our district, but more than anything it’s to be extremely competitive in each and every game,” Colbert said.
Expect Atascocita to come out of its pre-district schedule with at least three victories. Alief Hastings may provide a close game, but the Eagles match up very well against Channelview, Oak Ridge and Alief Hastings.
The real challenge for Atascocita this year comes from its own district. Three of the other six teams in District 19-5A – Humble, Kingwood and Aldine Eisenhower – have a lot of size and power and could pose serious problems for Atascocita.
Senior tailback Quincy Davison said that even though he is nervous to face the other teams in the district, he thinks the Eagles should hold their own against them.
“When I looked at it, I was shaking a little,” Davison said. “But, we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do and go up against the best of the best. If we play together as a team like we know how, we should hold up.”
If the Eagles beat the other three Aldine teams – Aldine, MacArthur and Nimitz – they might have an outside shot at an elusive playoff berth. But Colbert said his team will have to be very physical in order for that to happen.
“I know every coach in that district preaches great defense and emphasizes aggressive play, so that’s going to be a challenge day in and day out,” Colbert said. “Humble’s a physical team, Kingwood’s a physical team, the Aldine schools are all physical. If we’re going to compete, we’re going to have to be physical.”
ATASCOCITA FOOTBALL 2008 SCHEDULE
Saturday, Aug. 30: Hastings, Turner Stadium, 6 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 5: Channelview, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 12: Oak Ridge, Woodforest Bank Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19: South Houston, Pasadena Memorial Stadium, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 26: MacArthur*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 3: Humble*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 11: Nimitz*, Thorne Stadium, 6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 17: Aldine*, Thorne Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 31: Eisenhower*, Turner Stadium, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 8: Kingwood*, Turner Stadium, 6 p.m.
Home games in bold
* denotes district game
ATASCOCITA FOOTBALL 2007 RESULTS
Week 0 at Crosby L 21-35
Week 1 Bye
Week 2 at Spring Woods W 20-17
Week 3 vs. Willis W 32-12
Week 4 at Beaumont West Brook L 6-44
Week 5 vs. P.A. Memorial L 18-50
Week 6 Humble L 0-28
Week 7 vs. Channelview L 13-14
Week 8 at Baytown Sterling W 34-14
Week 9 vs. Kingwood L 10-33
Week 10 vs. Baytown Lee L 7-44
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