BALLINGER, TX-- After a playoff season in which the Ballinger Bearcats started players with limited experience, 2018 brings a higher set of expectations as head coach Chuck Lipsey enters his second year.
“The kids are ready to go. We’re excited to be here,” Lipsey said. “They’re a year older and a year more experienced.”
The Bearcats move into District 4-3A DII, which features six playoff teams, including the Bearcats. The other seven teams to make up the eight-team district are Anson (5-6), Bangs (0-10), Cisco (9-3), Coleman (3-8), Grape Creek (1-10) and TLCA (3-7).
Thanks to the experienced gained last year and a tough preseason schedule, Lipsey and the Bearcats are optimistic about their potential this year.
“We’ve got a tough preseason and a tough district,” Lipsey said. “It helps that we had to play six or seven sophomores last year. We took our bumps and bruises early in the season. We didn’t have the record that we wanted, but we came on and played well late to make the playoffs. So, that kind of jump started us.”
Prior to opening district play with state power Cisco, Ballinger will scrimmage Eldorado and regional power Tuscola Jim Ned before squaring off with Brady, Reagan County and Colorado City in their non-district schedule. Three of those four teams in that stretch were picked by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine to win their district.
“We’ll be tested early,” Lipsey said. “But that’s what we need to help us later on down the road. Our goal is to have a chance to win the district championship and, for sure, make the playoffs.”
A great offseason with seven returning starters on both sides of the ball is sure to help the Bearcats start 2018 on the right foot, as well.
The Bearcats return key skill players in running back Cooper Bean, quarterback Edgar Nunez and Cody Harral, who can do a little bit of everything for the Bearcats. “I think we’re set when it comes to our skill kids on both sides of the ball,” Lipsey said.
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Harral, Nunez and Tyler Vaughn, who transferred from Brady, have each been getting reps at quarterback in practice and Lipsey welcomes preseason parity at the position.
“They’re doing good,” Lipsey said of the trio. “We’ve got three [quarterbacks] that could play for almost any school around here. That’s a good thing to have. At the same time, they’re all three good athletes. One of them is going to be playing quarterback and the other two are going to be playing somewhere else. Edgar did a great job last year coming in to finish the season off. Tyler moved here from Brady and started there as a freshman. Cody Harral didn’t play last year and he’s back this year. So, we’ve got three good quarterbacks and we’re going to do what’s best for the team.”
Prior to Ballinger, Lipsey spent two years at Brady and five at Bangs. Vaughn was young then, but Lipsey already knew him thanks to a relationship with his dad, who has coached under Lipsey.
“I saw him when he was a little kid,” Lipsey smiled. “I coached with his dad for five years. They were with me at Bangs and in Brady. I thought he was going to be a chunky lineman, but the older he’s gotten, he’s gotten trimmed up. He’s athletic and he’s football smart. It’s definitely a good addition to our football program.”
[[{"fid":"44507","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Ballinger's Tyler Vaughn throws a pass during practice. Vaughn transferred to Ballinger from Brady. Aug. 8, 2018 (LIVE! Photo/Sam Fowler)","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Ballinger's Tyler Vaughn throws a pass during practice. Vaughn transferred to Ballinger from Brady. Aug. 8, 2018 (LIVE! Photo/Sam Fowler)","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":false}},"attributes":{"alt":"Ballinger's Tyler Vaughn throws a pass during practice. Vaughn transferred to Ballinger from Brady. Aug. 8, 2018 (LIVE! Photo/Sam Fowler)","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]Above: Ballinger's Tyler Vaughn throws a pass during practice on Aug. 8, 2018. Vaughn transferred to Ballinger from Brady. (LIVE! Photo/Sam Fowler)
The move for Vaughn has been smooth and Lipsey says “he just jumped right in there and fit in. All the kids like him, so that’s a good thing. All three of the quarterbacks get along. They’re not jealous of one another.”
Last year, the Bearcats were minus-197 in scoring margin. Lipsey feels that’s because of how late his staff was brought in last year. This year promises to be better for the Bearcat defense.
“So far, they’ve been good,” Lipsey said on day three of practice. “We got in here late [last year] and, boy, it really looked rusty. We’re so much further ahead of where we were last year.”
Most of the Bearcat defense will “go both ways” and play offense and defense, according to Lipsey, which is not uncommon at the 3A level. However, Lipsey is excited about the depth they have on the defensive side of the ball this year, something the Bearcats did not have in 2017.
“We’re going to have to get some guys to step up and to spell them a little bit,” Lipsey said of his linebackers, which is the area Lipsey is most confident of on defense.
Lipsey’s second season opens with his former employer and, while he’s ready for the season to start and their locker room is “covered with ‘Beat Brady,’” Lipsey isn’t keen to stomp on his old job.
“It’s not going to be fun,” Lipsey said. “I kind of wish we weren’t playing them. That was a good place for me. I enjoyed the two years I was there. There’s good kids there, I like those kids.”
That game will take place in Brady on Friday, Aug. 31, at 7:30 p.m.
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