Weatherford Democrat - Sports Special

Wheaton looks to lead Roos back to playoffs
First-year Weatherford Kangaroos head coach is no stranger to the game of football.
In his 28 years as a coach, he has coached in multiple states at multiple levels and now, he has made his way to Weatherford to lead the Roos’ football program.
O’Neal steps into leadership role
The Weatherford Kangaroos lost an enormous number of seniors to graduation in 2006, which meant many of the juniors from a year ago would be asked to step up and fill the voids.
Linebacker Stuart O’Neal was one of those juniors, who watched and learned as much as he could from the Class of 2006. Now, he has the opportunity to return the favor as a senior leader on the 2007 version of the Roos defense.
Weatherford defense undergoes change
Like all aspects of the Weatherford Kangaroos football program, the Roos defense underwent a change during the offseason, converting from the 3-4 alignment to the 4-2-5 set.
While change is not always easy, Weatherford Kangaroos first-year head coach Kenny Wheaton said his staff has been diligent in finding the right players at each position.
Weatherford taking it one game at a time
First-year Weatherford Kangaroos head coach Kenny Wheaton is taking a simple, yet affective approach to the 2007 schedule that lies in front of his team — one game at a time.
“What we talk about with the kids is our goal is to be district champions,” Wheaton said. “How you do that is you win one game a week and that’s what you focus on is one game a week.
Thomas back in backfield for Roos
Fred Thomas was a multi-purpose player bursting with potential for the Weatherford Kangaroos in 2006, but his season was cut short after suffering a knee injury against the Aledo Bearcats in just the third game of the season.
“It was hard. It was boring,” Thomas said of watching the remaining seven games from the sideline. “To see my team out there playing and me sitting on the sideline doing nothing, it was hard for me. Sitting out was hard for me. It sucked going to physical therapy and all that, but it worked. I had to do it. Now, I’m 100 percent and I’m ready to go.”
During the offseason, Thomas reshaped his body and added 10 pounds to his frame, making him a solid 6-1, 200-pound bruiser.
New offense brings new possibilities for Roos
In a time when most football programs are spreading the field and hooking up for long pass plays, while mixing in some running plays just to keep the defense honest, the Weatherford Kangaroos are taking the opposite approach.
Under new head coach Kenny Wheaton, Weatherford has gone to the spread triple-option, which is designed to be more of a ball-control offense that relies heavily on the run.
Roos defensive end looking for Moore
Over the past two years, Weatherford Kangaroos senior defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore has been garnering attention throughout the state of Texas, and throughout the nation, for his ability on the football field.
Lewis-Moore joined the Weatherford football program in seventh grade after he left the flag football fields of Ranger and moved east to a new town and the full-contact version of the sport that has given him the stage to display his natural abilities.
Bearcats’ road to success poses challenges
ALEDO — While the senior-laden Aledo Bearcats were able to run through their regular season schedule last year with a 9-1 record, a majority of the teams they faced were young and inexperienced at the varsity level.
It would seem that the table has turned, to some extent, in 2007.
Key to Bearcats offense: versatility
ALEDO — Offensive success is found when a team can do a myriad of things well.
But what happens when a team can do those things, but get it done several different ways?
That offensive unit can become a hard crew for opposing defenses to stop.
McMillan ready for the next level
ALEDO — The Aledo Bearcats offensive line was something of great pride for the Bearcats last year. Talented and senior-laden, there were very few teams, even in the playoffs, that could match its size and strength.
District coaches took note of that, naming senior offensive tackle Kyle Hix the 2006 District 8-4A Most Valuable Player.
Of the original five starters from last year, none remain as all five graduated.
Bearcats defense looks to replace key starters
ALEDO — In 2006, the Aledo Bearcats defense had a stretch of over 288 minutes without allowing a score.
That scoreless stretch included a five-game shutout streak which lasted the entire second half of the regular season. In the Bearcats’ seven district games, the Bearcats defense allowed an average of seven points.
But graduation claimed several components of Aledo’s defense, including all the defensive line starters and their backups.
Day looking for the next big play
ALEDO — For Aledo senior cornerback Kenton Day, the moment the ball is put up into the air by a quarterback, he gets excited.
“I get to make a play, maybe pick one off,” Day said. “It is fun when a team passes a lot. It helps the defensive backs out there have some fun. I am like, ‘Finally, I get to make something happen.’”
Buchanan heading into familiar territory
ALEDO — Aledo Bearcats head football coach Tim Buchanan understands the pressure that will be on both him and the Bearcats entering the 2007 season.
After advancing all the way to the Class 4A, Division I state semifinals and returning a majority of the Bearcats’ offensive weapons, many feel they have the potential to make another deep run through the playoffs, possibly even making it back to the state championship game for the first time since winning it in 1998.
For Loftin, it is all about having fun
ALEDO — Whether at quarterback, receiver or safety, Aledo Bearcats’ Cole Loftin sees football through the eyes of a child.
When you talk with him about football, he gets excited. Like a child at Christmas, each play for him is like opening the next gift, not knowing what to expect.
And for Loftin, that is especially true, because one doesn’t know which way he is going to affect the game. Is he going to throw? Can five or six defenders bottle him up behind the line of scrimmage for a sack? Is he just going to take the snap and run it? Is he going to hand it off?
POJO defense looks to be improved
SPRINGTOWN — In 2006, The Springtown Porcupines defense was poor. Springtown head football coach Brad Turner admits that and even takes a good share of the responsibility.
The offense he installed last year, scored a lot of points, but its quick strike ability left the defense exposed and allowed opponents too many opportunities to exploit it.
Wilson getting brought up to speed
SPRINGTOWN — A senior quarterback is generally not the person one might think of as being the most inexperienced player in a varsity system.
To start the 2007 season, that is the case for Springtown Porcupines senior quarterback Kyle Wilson.
Wilson, who moved to Springtown from Weatherford in the spring, has been on the fast track to be ready for the season opener Friday night in Mineral Wells as the starting quarterback.
Turner knows challenges await in 2007
SPRINGTOWN — Springtown Porcupines head football coach Brad Turner enters his second season in northern Parker County with some challenges and some things that are easier this year than they were last year.
Year One is a year of building and preparing. Year Two is when a program begins to take on a life of its own, as pieces are added to the foundation laid down the year before and it continues to build and grow from there.
Running game a priority for Porcupines
SPRINGTOWN — If someone wanted to go to a game and see a shoot-out last year, they just needed to find out where the Springtown Porcupines were playing.
Featuring an All-State quarterback and receiver, the Porcupines produced huge numbers of yards.
But those guys are gone, leaving the Porcupines looking for new players to step into the role of playmaker.
Porcupines emphasizing quick start in 2007
SPRINGTOWN — Last season, the Springtown Porcupines came up short in their season opener against the Mineral Wells Rams, losing 14-7.
That loss sent Springtown into a tailspin which took the Porcupines three weeks to recover from.
So finding something to focus on this year was not difficult for Springtown head football coach Brad Turner and the Porcupines.

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