LEANDER LIONSHead Coach: Tom Flood (91-98-4)
1998 Record: 3-7 (0-5 in district)
Playoffs: Last Appearance in 1996
Lettermans Lost: (26) QB Bryce Morrison, WR Matt Vandergrift, WR Dustin Odom, RB Brandon Cline, DE John Jowers, DB Micah Fore, DL Adam McCue, DB Ramon Garcia, RB Tony Roucloux, LB Shawn Sturdivant, OL Robert Biggs, DL Justin Oliver, DB David Wright, OL Wes Alsup, LB Robert Green, OL Ramon Ruiz, OL Brent Roy, OL Alex Barnes, OL Mike Aguirre, OL Kevin Weinrich, WR Elliot Sanchez, WR John Sweatlock, WR Josh Payne, TE Keith Davis, LB Kevin Bailey
Returning Starters: (12) RB Matt Davis, DL Jonathan Herrin, LB Odell Grant, WR Ben Hill, DE Josh Wharton, DL Jonathan Hatfield, DL Robert Allen, DL L.W. Robinson, DL Ben Grall
Outlook: The Leander Lions lost all league games last season in their new district 8-5A. The district maybe a tough but that doesn't excuse anything. Leander knew a year in advance to prepare themselves to play against powerhouses Ellison and Waco. The 0-5 district record was due to the lack of offense in the second half. The Lions never scored a single point in the second half of any of their district game. This season the Lions must replace the district's leader passer Bryce Morrison. Hoping to fill in his shoes are Seth Simmons, Paul Thompson, and Chris Ball. Simmons played WR last season and is more experience than the others. Thompson is a young sophomore who has good speed and is a track star. Ball may have the heart but is too short to see over the line and too slow to run anything kind of option. Injuries plauged the Lions but that too doesn't make an excuse for their terrible record. RB Matt Davis runs better than the regular injured RB Tony Roucloux. The defensive front seven played exceptionally well in holding Ellison's Reggie Duncan and Coppres Cove's Vontez Duff out of the end zone but not after they gained over 200 yards each. The Lions gave up a district high 355.6 yards a game. The secondary was weak after the injury to DB Micah Fore and the removal of DB Ramon Garcia for marijuana usage. The hopes of playoffs are out of the question but winning a few district games must lie in the hands of DL Jonathan Herrin, DE Jonathan Hatfield, DE Josh Wharton, and LB Odell Grant. Davis must produce another 1,000 yard season if Leander has any chance of moving the ball.
Strength: Versitile Davis is the only offensive weapon. He is big and fast. Davis caught 15 passes for 150 yards last season. Backing him is Zach Bailey and former Westwood and McNeil player Maurice Carter. Carter has break away speed but fumbles often. Ben Hill figures to be the top reciever. The defensive front for Leander is great against the run with Grant getting an all district mention.
Weakness: The team itself. Leander is a scrub team and always has been. The secondary cannot cover the speedy recievers and the front seven hits hard but don't put pressure on the passers and usually give up big runs. The Lions haven't made the playoffs since 1996, but before that it was 1969.
1999 PREDICTIONS
District 8-5A
1. Copperas Cove
2. Waco
3. Temple
4. Ellison
5. Killeen
6. LEANDER
Schedule (1-4 in district, 5-5 overall)
| DAY | DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | Sept. 3 | at Lampasas | 8:00 | W 52-7 |
| Friday | Sept. 10 | vs Crockett | 7:30 | W 24-21 |
| Friday | Sept. 17 | vs Lanier | 7:30 | W 42-14 |
| Friday | Sept. 24 | at Belton | 7:30 | L 23-22 |
| Friday | Oct. 1 | vs Pflugerville (HC) | 7:30 | W 28-14 |
| Friday | Oct. 8 | at Copperas Cove* | 7:30 | L 42-10 |
| Friday | Oct. 15 | vs Temple* | 7:30 | L 34-14 |
| Friday | Oct. 22 | at Ellison* | 7:30 | L 47-7 |
| Friday | Oct. 29 | vs Killeen* | 7:30 | W 22-20 |
| Friday | Nov. 5 | at Waco* | 7:30 | L 42-7 |
