HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL Nostalgia is starting to hit Rudder football head coach Eric Ezar a little bit more heading into this upcoming season. He was on the sidelines when leading the Rangers to their first playoff berth in program history in 2021. As he looks at this year's roster, he sees loads of similarities with that team.
"We've got probably seven or eight kids who are three-year starters, who are coming back," Ezar said. "We had a team three years ago who went to the playoff s, first in school history, and then we had to come in and play a lot of young sophomores, and so now those kids are kind of like a plant. They've been in the ground.
They're growing [and now] they're starting to bud into beautiful flowers." A ton of returning starters combined with a year of getting better, stronger and faster give Ezar confidence. "I think we have the guys to do it, but we have to stay healthy," Ezar said.
"We don't have a ton of depth, so we can't get our big-time players hurt and so getting even a few kids hurt at a certain position, offensive line or some of the skill guys, [it] could hurt us. But if we can stay healthy, we feel like we can play with anybody." One of the big boosts during the off season was the skill group taking part in many 7-on-7 tournaments throughout the latter part of the spring.
Although Rudder didn't advance to the state tournament, they finished in the final round of each qualifying tournament, including beating 6A schools like Denton Guyer and Arlington High. "We can play with the big guys, and so that was a real good confidence boost for our guys," Ezar said. Do-it-all offensive threat Jaquise Martin returns for his senior season after finishing as a first team all-district selection.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Tulsa commit threw for 320 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in 2023. He also rushed for 227 yards and four touchdowns, while catching 34 passes for 579 yards and eight more scores. Martin will still get quite a few snaps at quarterback, according to Ezar.
"It's really good because we all have been playing [alongside] each other since eighth grade and so we've got a lot of good communication and now with us being seniors, we got more knowledge," Martin said. Junior running back AJ Morrison returns after being named second team all-district thanks to his 238-yard season. Morrison's offseason growth has granted him more touches, not only out of the backfield but at receiver, too.
"AJ was probably the MVP of our spring game, rushing for about 150 yards [and] he has turned into just a great ballplayer, a guy that we got to get the ball into his hands," Ezar said. "He's going to play some tailback, he may play a little bit of inside receiver, but he's kind of the guy that if we can get the ball into his hands, he can make a lot of things happen." Next to Martin at receiver are a slew of seniors in Brandon and Randon Cooks, Jayden Erskine and Kayden Holmes.
Up front, the offensive line starts with second team all-district junior guard Juan Gutierrez. The tackles are expected to be JD Ballard and Gabe Garcia. Omar Bustamante will play center and Tyler Benavidez will assist Gutierrez at the other guard spot.
"The offensive line is looking great and if the offensive line looks great, we can do a lot of things like out of the backfield, running the ball, and get enough time for the quarterback to get it out," Brandon Cooks said. The eight offensive returners will complement an experienced defense, with six starters coming back. Brandon Brown and sophomore Javion Richardson return along the defensive line and Erskine will always be relied on at linebacker.
The strongest position on defense is arguably the secondary, led by 6-3 cornerback Za'montae Wells, alongside multiyear starter, Randon Cooks and Jordan Oliva, who was the district's defensive sophomore of the year. "He should have a big grow-up this season," Brandon Cooks said of Wells. "He can press on the line [and] he can play off.
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If we need a big play, you know Monty will do it." A unique aspect to 2024 is the Rangers' scheduling and how realignment not only shook up the district, but also Region III. The Rangers begin the season at Aug.
30 on the road against New Caney West Fork at 7 p.m. They begin district play Oct.
11 against University and conclude the season at home against Waco High on Nov. 8. Outside of Brenham, Rudder will be in a new-look District 10-5A-II with Waco University, Waco High, Belton and Killeen Ellison joining the two returners.
The Rangers also have a completely refreshed nondistrict schedule with five new opponents for 2024. Outside of a 2020 game against Nacogdoches, Ezar is unfamiliar with all of them. If a return to the playoffs becomes a reality, some of the toughest competitors move away from Rudder's region, with former district foes Huntsville and reigning 105A-II champion Montgomery Lake Creek, alongside reigning state champ Port Neches-Groves, residing in Region II.
"Our big thing is just getting back to the playoffs, which will be the second time in our history to go to the playoffs," Ezar said. "We feel like if we can mix it up and get in the playoffs, anything could happen." Rudder Rangers Head coach — ericezar (22-28 in 5 years at Rudder; 36-54 in 8 years overall) Assistant coaches — offensive coordinator Terrence Toliver, defensive coordinator Timothy George, co-offensive coordinator Ryan O'Bryant, JaQuayln Crawford, Stewart Donley, earl Bolden, Bryan Douglas, Matt garza, Thomas Goodman, Johnathan green and Jihad Wright.
District — 10-5a division II 2023 record — 3-7 (1-5, sixth) Returning lettermen — 26 lettermen (8 offensive, 6 defensive starters) Key returners — WR Jaquise Martin, sr. (ad); RB Ced McClintock, jr. (a-d); Jordan Oliva, jr.
(10-5a def. soph. of year); WR Brandon Cooks, sr.
(2nd a-d); OL Juan gutierrez, jr. (2nd a-d); OL Chance Hernandez, sr. (a-d); OL Mason Mixon, sr.
(2nd a-d); RB Bruce Hendrick, sr. (2nd a-d); RB aJ Morrison, jr. (2nd a-d); PK santiago Lugo, jr.
(2nd a-d); CB Zamonte Wells, sr. (2nd a-d); s Randon Cooks, sr. (2nd a-d) Key losses — OL/dT Hunter Mcgary (a-d/ a-d); C Migueal garcia (a-d); dT Breylen Norwood (a-d); CB Ryan Campbell, sr.
(2nd a-d); Te Malik dunn (2nd a-d); dT Jamarian West (2nd a-d); de Trace emola (2nd a-d) All-time record — 47-109-1 Playoff appearances/record — 1 (0-1) Playoff appearances (1) — 2021 Get local news delivered to your inbox!.
