Midland Christian football likes progress after spring game

May 15-Second-year Midland Christian football coach Phil Dawson liked what he saw from his team this spring.

The Mustangs put a bow on two weeks of spring practices on Friday with their annual Blue and White game at Gordon Awtry Field.

Both the offense and defense had their moments, and Dawson said the Mustangs are heading into the right direction as they are coming off an 8-4 season with an appearance in the TAPPS Division II regional round of the playoffs in 2025.

"A lot of young guys got a chance to show us what they could do, a lot of returning guys picked up where they left off," Dawson said. "I really like this group. There's a unity with this year's team and I've really like what I've seen."

Junior Stacy Jones, a key returning player on both sides of the ball, also likes what he's seen from this group.

"I love what we have here, and I love what the future holds for the upcoming season," he said. "Obviously, there are mistakes that are going to be made in the spring, but we can only go up from here. We're doing great. We had a couple of injuries and a couple of kids who didn't play, and we had freshmen step up. When you're on the field, you do your absolute best and you do anything you can. If we do that we can be a great football team."

The Mustangs are going to have to replace some key players lost to graduation on both sides of the ball, especially from a defense that was among the best in the Permian Basin in 2025.

Dawson said the seniors set a great example for the younger players to follow.

"These younger players got to see with their own eyes what it looks like," he said. "Now they're getting the opportunity to step up, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Spring ball is great to try out young guys and see where the competitions are. We're excited about this young group."

Jones also credited the seniors for helping him develop as a player.

"They helped me push myself, not only as a player a man of Christ, a teammate, and everything else," he said. "If I and others can push on from what they did, it's going to be a good future. They showed the freshmen through the people in my grade that they can lead as well. It's not just the seniors and the older kids who can lead."

Going into the 2026 season, the offense will have the most experience returning, especially with standout players, such as quarterback Jaxon Franco, running back Caleb Cruz and receivers Payton Ross, Holt Brownlee and Jones.

"We have some few spots on the o-line that we're trying to figure out, but the guys are putting their best foot forward," Dawson said. "I think we have the makings of being something good."

Dawson said the team put in a good 10 days this spring and the hard work that the players have put in the offseason showed during that time.

"Very positive. Obviously, we have a long way to go," he said. "We have a little break here and then we'll get to work in the summer.

"The culture is really settling in," said Dawson comparing this spring to last spring. "It's not new like it was for me and the players. I feel like we're gaining some momentum from the solid foundation that was laid last year."

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