Bronte Looks to Ride Out of 11-Man Era on High Note

BRONTE, TX-- Come 2018, a new brand of football will be played in Bronte. The Bronte school board made the decision in March to move from 11-man football to six-man football. First year Head Coach Aaron Long takes the reigns of the Longhorns, looking to mark the end of an era with priceless memories.

"It's a success if these guys give it their all," Long said. "It doesn't matter if it's a win or a loss, that'll sort itself out. We want these kids to give it everything they've got."

Bronte took a massive hit from graduation a year ago, losing 11 players, most of which were two way starters. The Longhorns' offensive line took the brunt of that hit, returning just two starters from a year ago, both of which are seniors. "Those two are helping the young guys grow into the position," Long said. "Their senior leadership in invaluable."

Also returning to the Longhorns' offensive will be senior quarterback Tanner Bedford. But he'll be operating a new offense under Long's direction. "Having a quarterback back there who's calm and collected while learning a new offense is a big help," Long added.

The Longhorns are missing a few key features on their team, however: size and experience. While the Longhorns do return  seven starters, most of the players on this team of roughly 18 will play both ways this season for Bronte. The inexperience and undersized Longhorn squad will have to get creative if they want to make any headway in district 6-2A D2. "We have to find ways to spread the ball around to different guys," Long noted. "We may not have the size, but we have the speed to beat people."

Defensively, senior linebackers Cade Chumney and Jaxon Chantrill have stood out to Coach Long through the first two weeks of practice and Long feels those two will be difference makers for his team in 2017.

Despite the setting for something straight out of Hollywood, this will be a rough last year of 11-man football in Bronte. The Longhorns go 4-6 this season with a 1-3 district record. Bronte opens up the season at home against Roby on September 1 at 7:30 p.m.