For Panthers, drop to 5A not as important as winning

The University Interscholastic League dropped Colleyville Heritage into Class 5A for the next two years because of the school’s enrollment.

As far as second-year head football coach Joe Willis is concerned, it doesn’t really matter. He strives for this program to attain something beyond the classification.

“We won’t accept being in [Class 5A],” Willis said. “We’re not interested in being the best team in 5A. We want to be the best team in Texas. It’s not about the number of As you have. It’s about the ability to get the Ws and play at a championship level.”

That’s not just lip service. The Panthers are living it in their non-district schedule. They open with preseason 5A No. 1 Aledo. Two weeks later, they meet Class 6A preseason No. 9 Euless Trinity.

Colleyville Heritage’s potential has the attention of the rest of the state. With 10 returning starters, the Panthers are ranked somewhere between No. 8 and No. 21 in the Texas High School Coaches Association 5A Region I poll and the Associated Press Class 5A preseason poll.

This program hasn’t had a problem going to the postseason. It hasn’t missed since 2005. However, making deep runs has been the issue. Since the 2006 state quarterfinalist team, Colleyville Heritage has advanced past bi-district twice.

Willis’ confidence is building because he has players who have gone through a full offseason. It’s physically demanding. It’s exhausting. But there will be a payoff. History says that, because Willis coached Cedar Park to state championship games in 2012 and 2014 (winning in 2012) before he arrived in Colleyville last May.

Like many coaches, Willis divides the season in thirds. The first is the winter offseason. The second is the spring. The third is the season itself. Players are also trained on both sides of the ball so there will be some familiarity in case they are needed for any situation.

“This year will be easier because we’ll be able to breathe in games,” Willis said. “You have to be in shape. We take our level of conditioning to the highest. Kids have to be physical to play a physical game.”

The Panthers have one of the top quarterbacks in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in left-hander and San Diego State commit Cam Roane (2,300 passing yards, 21 TD, 497 rushing yards in 2015). The receiving corps starts with Ke’Von Ahmad, who should threaten to surpass his 2015 marks (1,390 yards, 18 TDs).

Should the running game led by Mario Ortiz serve as the ideal complement, then the Panthers can spread the field even wider. Look for Ahmad to see some time in the backfield as well.

Defensively, the secondary has some rebuilding to do with the losses of defensive back Reid Harrison-Ducros and safety Jordan Porter. Senior Marcus Mosely has emerged as the next leader.

The linebackers could be the heart of the unit, with senior Matt Herrera (6-0, 200), junior Deuce Nesbit (6-1, 220) and senior Emerson Lout (5-10, 190). Willis calls Nesbit the most physical player he’s ever coached. Senior nose guard Travis Richards (6-1, 240) has to start the push up front.

“We’re going to be OK,” Willis said. “We are cross-training our guys. The kids also retained a lot from the spring. They came to fall camp ready.”

Head coach: Joe Willis (2nd season)

2015: 5-6, lost to Mansfield in Class 6A Division I Region I bi-district

Returning starters: 5 offense, 5 defense

Offense: Spread

Defense: 3-4

Key players: QB Cam Roane, WR Ke’Von Ahmad, LB Matt Herrera, DB Marcus Mosely

Notable: The non-district schedule of Aledo, Frisco Heritage and Euless Trinity combined to go 28-8 in 2015 … Gervon Thothian will be a starting safety this fall after moving from the offense … His twin brother Germon will occasionally see time as an outside linebacker … The program received two potential impacting transfers in senior wide receiver Jared Webster from Saginaw Boswell (5-11, 180) and senior linebacker/center Nick Bradley from Colleyville Covenant.

This story was originally published August 17, 2016 at 1:46 PM with the headline "For Panthers, drop to 5A not as important as winning."