Countdown to kickoff: Grapevine talent can build on past success
Grapevine
District 8-5A
Last season: 8-3 (5-1 District 6-5A)
Key players: DL Brian Andrews (6-2, 255); LB Brennon Davis (6-1, 215); QB Alan Bowman (6-2, 200); LB Nick Jordan (6-0, 200); DE Matt Ingram (6-4, 205); OL Wyatt Morgan (6-4, 275)
The big picture: In 2015, the Mustangs — in their second year under coach Randy Jackson — took a major step to restore some Grapevine glory. It was the team’s first winning season since 2011. Now the program seeks its first playoff win since 2006. With 15 starters among 25 returning lettermen, that will be the expectation. The 2016 club will be a senior-laden group, though QB is not among them. Alan Bowman is a junior, but has played at the varsity level since he was a freshman. “He started 18 games before he got his driver’s license,” said Jackson, who compares Bowman (2,711 yards passing, 27 TDs) to a coach on the field. Protecting him will be an offensive line that went from concern a year ago to strength with four returning starters. RB Zach Wolf (810 yards, 5 TDs) earned the starting job last season and begins 2016 as the main guy in the backfield. The one position in transition is the WR corps. Transfer Zack Carnes was a QB at Colleyville Covenant, but will fill a receiving role this year with the Mustangs. Dylan Gonzales returns after missing his junior season and will see duty at WR as well as DB. Defensively, Grapevine surrendered only under 13 points per game last season and returns eight starters. The front seven is highlighted by NG Brian Andrews and OLB Brennon Davis. ILB Nick Jordan had more than 90 tackles last season. Junior Robert Acosta had an excellent spring and will add depth to the secondary.
Quotable: “We all kind of work for each other. We’re not selfish. Everyone knows what we need to do for the team and nobody questions that. Everyone just does their job … A deep playoff run would mean everything. That’s what we’ve been working toward for the last four years, a deep playoff run — something that really means something. We can go 8-3, but if we go out in the first round nobody will remember an 8-3 season. We go a few rounds deep and people are excited about what’s to come with Grapevine.” — OL Wyatt Morgan
“This season we’ll be a lot deeper. We’ve got guys that can come in and there’s always competition at positions. That will definitely keep the starters on their toes.” — DL Matt Ingram
“It just takes a while to get your stuff going. We feel like we took a big step last year and it got us sort of over the hump, so to speak. The is a senior class that is talented but also high character guys. One of our big deals is that your best players have to be your best leaders and I think we have a good group this year. We feel good about having a chance to build on what we did last year.” — Coach Randy Jackson
Notable: Grapevine won state titles at the 4A (now 5A) level in 1996 and 1998.
This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 10:26 PM with the headline "Countdown to kickoff: Grapevine talent can build on past success."