STERLING CITY, TX — Kelan Luker isn’t certain what the future holds as he heads into his first year as head coach of the Sterling City football team.
Will the Eagles return to the six-man game in next year’s realignment, or will they continue on in 11-man?
Sterling City has performed admirably since moving up to 11-man in 2022 with three straight playoff appearances and one playoff trophy.
The Eagles were state powers in six-man, including a state title in 2020.
In anticipation of perhaps dropping back down, Sterling City’s junior high is playing six-man football for the second consecutive season.
Meanwhile, the high school team’s sole focus is on 11-man.
“As long as we’re 11-man, I’m going to approach it as an 11-man coach,” Luker said. “We are playing six-man in junior high, so it’s difficult switching from one to the other, especially not having six-man experience coaching. But we’ve got some coaches with a lot of knowledge in six-man, so it’s been fun learning together on both of them.”
Luker played six-man football growing up as the son of Alan Luker, who coached Panther Creek to six-man state titles in 1992 and ‘93.
He moved to Stephenville in eighth grade and led the Yellowjackets to the 1998 state title his senior year.
Luker was named Dave Campbell’s Texas Football “Quarterback of the Decade” for the 1990s. He threw for 4,697 yards and 49 touchdowns while leading Stephenville’s offense to a national single-season record with 8,664 yards.
He went on to play at SMU and Tarleton State.
Luker said Sterling City will run a spread offense, but he’s not sure yet who will be the quarterback. Sophomore Kash Morgan and junior Sheldon Coxey have been vying for the job.
Sterling City returns nine starters on both sides of the ball, but Luker said coaches have been looking at players at different positions, and some minor injuries have left some uncertainty as to who the team’s playmakers will be at running back and receiver.
He said he’ll know more after the team’s final scrimmage Friday.
Luker said the Eagles will have strong offensive and defensive lines, led by seniors Slate Clark (6-1, 217), Aaven Helms (6-3, 225) and Anson Parrish (6-6, 221).
“We have a lot of good players on the line, and I think that’s the heart and soul of our team,” Luker said.
Sterling City defensive coordinator Josh Marler brings some continuity on that side of the ball.
“He knows the kids really well, and they’ve been running his system for a while. So that’s probably our strength right now, our defense,” Luker said.
Sterling City went 4-7 last year with a 2-3 mark in District 4-2A Division II to earn the fourth and final playoff spot.
The Eagles will open this year Friday, Aug. 29, at Odessa Compass Academy. District play begins Oct. 10 at home against Van Horn.
Sterling City Eagles
2025 schedule
Aug. 29 at Odessa Compass
Sept. 5 Miles
Sept. 12 at Winters
Sept. 19 at Christoval
Sept. 26 Cross Plains
Oct. 3 OPEN
Oct. 10 Van Horn*
Oct. 17 Eldorado*
Oct. 24 at Wink*
Oct. 31 McCamey*
Nov. 7 at Iraan*
*District 4-2A Division II game
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