Bulldogs have weapons to spare
MIDLAND Darius Miller is no longer here.
No longer taking shovel passes, bursting through a hole in the line, making a move and racing downfield faster than anybody on defense.
But that doesn’t mean Midland High is lacking any offensive firepower this season.
“The offense is going to be there this year,” senior quarterback Jack Bolger said. “If I can do my job, this offense is going to be pretty good.”
Bolger shared time with departed quarterback Blake Stewart a year ago.
A mobile quarterback with a knack for buying time, Bolger put on nearly 10 pounds in the offseason, and the extra year under his belt gave him time to fully understand Midland High’s complicated offensive system.
His job is simple.
Get the ball to the playmakers.
Blessed with three senior receivers — Antwan Goodley, Kendall Johnson and Trevor Scurlark — who have been playing for the varsity since their sophomore season, Bolger has a wide range of weapons.
“Antwan is a Speedy Gonzalez,” Johnson said. “You just throw the ball up to him and let him go get it. I like to settle in windows, and Trevor is the X-factor.”
No returning receiver in District 2-5A gets deep better than Goodley.
A burner who dominates the 200-meter dash in track and field, Goodley averaged more than 30 yards per reception last fall.
“Once I get to the line, I’m pretty sure I can get open,” Goodley said. “And I trust Jack a lot this year.”
Replacing the running abilities of Miller, a back who rushed for 1,750 yards, picked up more than 500 yards receiving and scored 26 touchdowns, might be a little harder.
Returning backs Corey Street and Jerome Ellis — both spelled Miller at times last year — offer a 1-2 punch of speed and power, but the wild card in the bunch might be junior Tyler Middleton.
Another sprinter with blistering 100-meter speed, Midland High head coach Craig Yenzer promoted Middleton to the varsity halfway through the season last year.
He might be the next talented back in a line that includes Miller, Brandon Batch and Baron Batch, a preseason nominee for the Doak Walker Award at Texas Tech this year.
“That’s the way I like to handle our young running backs,” Yenzer said. “Tyler certainly has the talent. We expect these guys to grow up quickly.”
Midland High should have plenty of offensive firepower to throw at District 2-5A this year.
To win a district title, though, the Bulldogs have to find some defense.
With that in mind, Yenzer scrapped the Eagle defense — a 3-4 set designed to shut down the run — he’s used for more than a decade.
Instead, Yenzer brought in defensive coordinator Shane Fletcher to install a 4-3 set designed to be more flexible.
“We want to be a little more solid in the secondary,” Yenzer said. “We know there’s going to be some glitches, but we’re excited.”
The defense doesn’t have to be spectacular.
Not with that many weapons on offense.
