WALL, TX — For a football program with a remarkable amount of stability the last quarter century, there sure is a lot of change in the air for the Wall Hawks in 2024.
For the first time in 17 years, there will be a new head coach on the sidelines after Houston Guy stepped down and defensive coordinator Craig Slaughter was promoted.
The Hawks are also switching to a spread offense, a significant move from the run-based offenses they've long been known for under Guy and Kevin Burns before him.
"It's definitely going to be different for sure," said Slaughter, who previously served as a head coach at Llano, Sweetwater, Clyde and Hearne. "They had tons of success with the flexbone that Coach Guy brought in, and that was his familiarity.
"But we have some really good weapons on the perimeter right now, and I think we'll be better suited to try and get some of those playmaker in space, and I think this will be a good way to help us do it."
The Wall Hawks are 2023 Area Champions
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
One thing that hasn't changed is the expectations after back-to-back appearances in the state quarterfinals. Wall enters the season ranked No. 9 in the state in 3A Division II.
The Hawks return 11 starters from last year's 11-3 team, but a notable absence will be that of two-year starting quarterback Gunnar Dillard, who has chosen to sit out his senior season to focus on baseball, the sport he has committed to play at the University of Oklahoma.
Junior Landon York, a 6-foot-2 pocket passer, appears to be the frontrunner to replace Dillard, though 5-8 senior athlete Caleb Braden could also be in the mix.
"Obviously, there's going to be some growing pains," Slaughter said. "We've been under center as primarily a running football team, and that's fixing to change, so there'll be some things we have to work through.
"One big advantage we have right now is, man, we have some serious weapons out there."
Briggs Jones, who qualified for the state track meet in three events last year, is moving to wide receiver after a first-team all-district season as a running back.
"He's just an incredible weapon for us," Slaughter said of Jones. "He didn't get a bunch of touches last year, but he's fixing to absolutely get a ton of work this year."
Other players expected to make an impact in the receiving corps are Kellan Oliver (273 yards, 4 TDs), Levi King and Reid Robertson.
Wall running back Hagyn Barber breaks for the end zone against Eastland in 2023.
Hagyn Barbee, who had 509 rushing yards and 7 TDs last year, is a contender to be the team's lead running back along with Thomas Leanos (190 yards, 3 TDs).
Wall returns two first-team all-district offensive linemen, Hudson Braden (6-1, 225) and Emmett Marlatt (6-2, 230), along with another returning starter, Boone Harris (5-7, 205).
The Hawks have some juniors ready to step up and help fill out the offensive line, including Reid Ballard (5-11, 210) and Baine Jenschke (6-2,225).
Defensively, Wall returns six starters from a unit that allowed nine points per game, led by defensive end Brylan White (6-0, 220) and linebacker Ethan Michalewicz.
Wall linebacker Ethan Michalewicz makes a tackle against Early in 2023.
White was honorable mention all-state with 89 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 5 sacks. Michalewicz was the district's Defensive MVP with 126 tackles and six sacks.
"They've been big-time players for us forever, it seems like," Slaughter said.
Other leaders on defense will include linebacker Garrett Guy and defensive lineman Lane Stansberry, Slaughter said.
Safety Garren Wiggins returns to anchor the secondary after posting 62 tackles last year.
"We have some very good athletes coming up, and they've been waiting for the chance to showcase their ability, Slaughter said.
Wall Hawks at Practice 2023
(San Angelo LIVE! Photo/Ryan Chadwick)
Wall has an absolutely stacked nondistrict schedule that begins Friday, Aug. 30, at Mason, which is ranked No. 9 in the state in 2A Division I.
The Hawks host Brownwood (No. 7 in 4A D-I) the next week, followed by games against Jim Ned (No. 16 in 3A D-I), Monahans (No. 22 in 4A D-II), Sweetwater (No. 10 in 3A D-I) and Idalou (No. 16 in 3A D-II).
"I would imagine it's one of the hardest schedules in the state of Texas," Slaughter said. "We're going to find out a lot of things about what we do well or need to improve on from that schedule."
Wall is in District 4-3A D-II this season with Merkel, Coahoma, Grape Creek and Stanton — teams that had a combined record of 14-26 last year — so a difficult nondistrict schedule may be what the Hawks need to help prepare them for another long playoff run.
Wall Hawks
2024 schedule
Aug. 30 at Mason
Sept. 6 Brownwood
Sept. 13 Jim Ned
Sept. 20 Monahans
Sept. 27 at Sweetwater
Oct. 4 Idalou
Oct. 11 at Merkel*
Oct. 18 Coahoma*
Oct. 25 at Grape Creek*
Nov. 1 Open
Nov. 8 Stanton*
*District 4-3A Division II game
2023 results
Eastland W 35-10
Cisco W 27-10
Jim Ned L 14-17 OT
Peaster W 42-0
Mason L 7-14
Grape Creek W 67-0
Ballinger W 61-6
San Angelo TLCA W 69-12
Early W 50-6
Brady W 68-0
Tornillo W 66-0
Childress W 21-14
Lubbock Roosevelt W 35-6
Canadian L 12-31
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