MASON, TX — The Mason Punchers are a football coach's dream.
They head into the 2024 season with experience and talent all over the field — and the star of the team is their offensive line.
Mason's line features five seniors, all of whom were named first-team all-district last season.
Punchers head coach Michael McLeod said the line is the foundation of Mason's offense, and it doesn't get much sturdier than this group.
"Across the board, from tackle to tackle, those guys have a lot of experience. They've played a lot of football games together," McLeod said. "They're smart guys, they're experienced guys, and they play really well together, so we're real excited about them."
Mason's five linemen — Rylan Todd, Chantz Reed, John Preston Parrish, Walker Ince and Cannon Rabon — are a big reason why the Punchers went 11-1 last year, and why they enter this season ranked No. 9 in the state in Class 2A Division I.
Mason has three other returning starters on offense, including first-team all-district tight end Matthew Norman, who is a big part of the Punchers' blocking front.
Then there's running back Sutton Silerio, who rushed for 1,118 yards and 17 touchdowns last year while sharing the backfield with all-state back Ryne Todd.
Silerio, a three-time medalist at the state track meet, will now be the Punchers' feature back with all of that blocking in front of him .
"He's an exciting running back who's capable of an explosive play at any point in the game," McLeod said. "He's an extremely talented kid, and I expect big things for him this coming season."
In addition to all of their other returners, Mason even brings back quarterback Carlton Schmidt, who took over as the team's signal caller midway through last year and never let the job go.
Schmidt was pressed into action in a Week 6 game against Wall, and he led the Punchers to an impressive win over a team that reached the state quarterfinals in 3A D-II.
"He finished out the season as the starter, and he got a lot of great experience under his belt," McLeod said. "He worked hard this summer and spent a lot of time in the weight room and training. He has command of that offense. And those guys in the huddle, everybody looks to him and trusts him to be the guy to steer the ship."
Mason Punchers defeated the Wall Hawks 14-7 on Sept. 29, 2023
McLeod said Mason is blessed with a rare amount of speed. Four offensive players — Silerio, Schmidt, fullback Clancy Osbourn and wide receiver Hunter Bradley — were the four legs on a silver medal-winning 4x200-meter relay at the state track meet last spring.
All of that speed gives offensive coordinator Scott Edwards the ability to open up the playbook this fall, McLeod said.
"It'll still be the Wing T mentality, but we may branch out a little bit more and not just be a solid Wing T," McLeod said. "We've got a lot of speed on the field, and we might try to open it up and space things out here and there, and use some of those weapons and speed we haven't always had."
With all of the excitement surrounding the offense, it's easy to overlook what Mason has long been known for — a rock-solid defense.
Last year, the Punchers allowed an average of 14.3 points per game, and they return eight starters from that unit.
Wall Hawks in Tied Slugfest at Mason Punchers at Half
Mason's defense will be led by Silerio and Osbourn, who were both all-state linebackers last year.
"They're probably two of the most talented inside linebackers that I've coached, and I've coached some good ones in my time here," said McLeod, who has been a part of Mason's coaching staff for 14 years.
"The biggest question mark for us is losing Ryne Todd, who was a three-year starter at safety. There's a void there, but a couple of guys have shown signs they'll be able to fill that role."
Mason will host Wall, the No. 9-ranked team in 3A Division II, to open the season Friday, Aug. 30. Other games against ranked teams in nondistrict play include a home game Sept. 13 against Coleman (No. 18 in 2A D-I) and Sept. 20 at Junction (No. 20 in 2A D-II).
Mason also has a Top 25 team in its district, newcomer Holland, which is ranked No. 23 after a 12-1 season last year. The Punchers also won't want to overlook Johnson City, which nearly upset Mason in a 28-27 thriller last year.
Mason hasn't lost a district game since 2010.
Expectations are sky high for the Punchers, but McLeod doesn't want his players to pay too much attention to all the hype.
"I think it's real easy to get caught up in that stuff. But the more pressure there is, the simpler we keep it," McLeod said.
Mason Punchers
2024 schedule
- Aug. 30 Wall
- Sept. 6 at Brady
- Septt. 13 Coleman
- Sept. 20 at Junction
- Sept. 27 at Christoval
- Oct. 4 Open
- Oct. 11 Thorndale*
- Oct. 18 at Harper*
- Oct. 25 Holland*
- Nov. 1 Johnson City*
- Nov. 8 at San Saba*
*District 14-2A Division I game
2023 results
- Coleman W 29-20
- Brady W 41-7
- Ozona W 35-20
- Christoval W 49-7
- Ballinger W 69-0
- Wall W 14-7
- Johnson City W 28-27
- Junction W 53-13
- Stockdale W 40-21
- Harper W 61-6
- Thrall W 28-7
- Ganado L 12-37
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