Season preview: Colleyville Heritage looks to keep building, push through tough schedule

Colleyville Heritage head football coach Jerry Edwards starts his second season with the Panthers after going 12-2, including an undefeated district title, and reaching the state quarterfinals a year ago.

But Edwards and the Panthers are in for a much tougher hill to climb this season after realignment has taken Heritage from one of the weakest districts in the state to one of the most loaded ones.

Colleyville Heritage outscored its district opponents by an average score of 47-9 last season, but with the likes of Argyle, ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 5A Division 2 by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and No. 5 in the Star-Telegram Class 5A Rankings, Mansfield Timberview, Mansfield Summit and Grapevine, the Panthers will likely be tested each and every week.

Six of the nine teams in the new District 3-5A D2 reached the playoffs last season. Sprinkle in teams such as Everman, The Colony, Arlington Seguin and Burleson and it’s the making for a murder’s row.

“When you look at the schedule, that’s the reason why I came to Colleyville Heritage,” said Edwards, whose team is ranked No. 6 in the state in 5A D2 and No. 4 in 5A by the Star-Telegram. “You want to play the best teams. Top to bottom I would put our district right up there as one of the toughest in the state.”

Edwards was forced to scramble to come up with a non-district opponent after scheduling a team that was actually put in the same district with the Panthers. Red Oak, who should battle 5A D1 No. 3 Highland Park for the 7-5A D1 title, was available.

Edwards also scheduled 5A D1 No. 7 Richland, the Star-Telegram’s No. 3 ranked Class 5A squad, to complete the non-district slate.

“We will definitely have our work cut out for us, but just like I told our fans and our players _ the atmospheres on Friday nights are going to be tremendous because every game is going to matter and every game is going to be important,” said Edwards, whose team is predicted to be second in District 3-5A D2 by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football behind perennial power Argyle. “A lot of those are tradition rich football schools and they’re going to bring crowds so it will be a true Friday Night Lights which is exciting.”

Edwards is optimistic, however, because his cupboard is far from bare with 22 returning lettermen including six starters on offense and eight on defense. Look no further than senior wide receiver Braden Blueitt who scored 20 touchdowns for the Panthers a year ago.

Blueitt, a Northwestern commit, really got rolling in the playoffs according to Edwards averaging two to three touchdowns, 150 yards and 10 catches a game. Blueitt draws the opposing team’s best defender each week, but gets separation with his speed and technique.

“He’s a go daddy,” said Edwards of Blueitt. “When the lights come on on Friday nights, everybody in the stadium knows that he’s going to get his touches and it’s hard to stop him. It’s good to have that kind of weapon on your team.”

Blueitt had tremendous chemistry with quarterback Luke Ullrich last season, but with Ullrich graduated the signal calling duties will fall on the shoulders of junior Bodey Weaver, who actually got plenty of playing time a year ago with all of the lopsided games the Panthers played.

Edwards said that Weaver has had a tremendous offseason and has really worked hard. He added that Weaver really grew up on the basketball court where he was an integral part of the Colleyville Heritage varsity team that that went four rounds deep in the playoffs.

“Going to those basketball games and watching him mature from the competitive level, I knew that we had somebody special back there at QB1,” said Edwards, whose entire offensive line also returns to help bolster the offense. “He’s a fierce competitor and it shows when he’s out there.”

The only real hole the Panthers need to fill on offense is at running back where Edwards is looking at three or four players who he says needs to step up. That includes Colin Bennett and Bryce Abram.

On defense, Edwards calls senior defensive lineman Evan Naeata “a one-man show up front” who is tough to block, has a high motor, is quick off the ball, and can cause some disruption.

De’Marius Logan will also be leaned on heavily on the defensive line for the Panthers who really only have to replace a pair of defensive ends with new players according to Edwards.

“Games are won in the trenches, both o-line and d-line play are instrumental,” said Edwards. “And it’s good that we have some guys coming back on both sides of the ball that have a lot of experience.”

Edwards is excited to have his trio of linebackers back in seniors Madden Williams and Darian Lloyd to go along with junior Dax Hebeisen. The three accounted for approximately 70% of the tackles for CH last season according to Edwards.

Bryson Burgess, a senior three-year starter, will be the leader in the secondary that will also feature returners Hayden West and Jaden Hall.

With a tough district that’s sure to feature a lot of close games, Edwards feels that special teams will definitely come in to play and he feels he has an ace in the hole with senior kicker Ryan Zuckert.

Edwards says Zuckert “has a tremendous leg” and feels confident that once the team gets inside the 30 yard line that they will come away with points.

“There’s a standard of excellence here at Colleyville Heritage High School that’s been established way before I got here,” said Edwards. “We were able to continue to build on that last year so our goal, every year like a lot of other teams, is to win a district championship and for us to be in the conversation as a contender in our region.”

Don’t be too surprised if two District 3-5A D2 teams face each other for the Region I championship. The Panthers plan on being there.

High school sports editor Charles Baggarly contributed to this story

This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 3:32 PM.