For the first time since he took over the Monahans football team, head coach Fred Staugh got a full offseason to implement his offense and teach his players new concepts.
The extra time to work — which dates back to the spring — has Staugh feeling comfortable for the direction the team can take in the 2021 season.
Last year, the Loboes went 4-7 and finished second in District 1-4A behind Sweetwater and Midland Greenwood.
Monahans advanced to the bi-district round of the 2020 playoffs and fell 34-20 to Perryton.
“This is really the first full year that we’ve been able to implement everything and they’ve been doing really well,” Staugh said. “They’re great kids and they do a great job.”
As the team heads into the 2021 season, it’ll look to lean on players like Cheno Navarrette, Adan Saucedo and Jamarcus Pickens on offense.
The trio has a combination of youth and experience, with the sophomore Navarrette and the junior Saucedo controlling the backfield, while Pickens provides leadership as a senior.
Linebacker Tre Gomez has turned into a senior leader for the Loboes on the defensive side of the ball.
Gomez said he quickly saw a momentum jolt in this year’s team in the few practices that were conducted before the season opener.
He hopes that boost can persist through postseason play.
“We’re definitely doing better as a team, we have more energy,” Gomez said. “We practice harder than any other team we’ve had in the past.
“I think we can go pretty deep as long as we want to, if we put our mind to it and play as hard as anybody else on the field.”
The Loboes are set to play 10 games in their regular season schedule, with a road game against Clint slated to kick things off at 7 p.m. Aug. 27.
Monahans will face familiar opponents in Big Spring, Fort Stockton and Seminole before opening District 1-4A play in October.
Although things seemed to return to normal before fall workouts began, Staugh is still keeping his team prepared for any situations that could arise due to COVID-19.
“We still have protocols in place,” Staugh said. “Last year we dealt with it, so it’s not new to all of us so we certainly will take care of our kids.”
Along with the team’s returners, the head coach is excited to see some newcomers take the field for Monahans.
Staugh saw his newest team members fit right in with everyone else when they first joined in at practices in early August.
Gomez wants to set a strong example for his newer teammates and those who will come in to fill his shoes once he graduates in the spring.
“There’s a lot of pressure on us, especially the ones that have to lead,” Gomez said. “But we have to lead by example, for not just the ones on varsity but the freshmen and junior varsity as well.”
The linebacker also considers his defensive unit one of the best in the Loboes’ district and he plans on holding his team to a high standard once the season starts.
Staugh said he wants his team to work on finishing games in the upcoming campaign, something that affected Monahans negatively multiple times in 2020.
“We played really well at times and there were just other times that we kind of let up a little bit,” the head coach said. “It bit us, so we are going to compete all the way through.”
>>Follow Chris Amaya on Twitter at @OA_CAmaya
MONAHANS LOBOES
— COACHES —
>> Head coach: Fred Staugh.
>> Coach’s overall record: 24-21.
>> Coach’s record at school: 6-15.
>> Assistant coaches, duties: Brian Coker, defensive coordinator; Fred Howard, offensive coordinator; Jacob Brink, defensive tackles; Brandon Jones, wide receivers; Cameron Swarb, cornerbacks; Robert Ontiveros, wide receivers; Scott Tanneberger, safeties; Terry Galindo, defensive ends.
— TEAM INFORMATION —
>> 2020 overall record: 4-7.
>> 2020 district record: 2-2.
>> Last district title: N/A.
>> Last playoff appearance: 2020.
>> Stadium name: Estes Memorial Stadium (6,000).
>> Base offense: Spread.
>> Base defense: 4-3.
— PLAYERS —
>> Returning lettermen: 19.
>> Returning starters: 14 (8 offense, 6 defense).
>> Key returners: Cheno Navarrette, 5-9, 180, QB, Soph.; Jacob Alston, 6-3, 270, OL/DL, Sr.; Leonard Davis, 6-1, 195, WR/DB, Sr.; Ja’Marcus Pickens, 5-8, 165, WR/DB, Sr.; Tanner Jones, 5-9, 180, Ath., Sr.; Ethan Hinojos, 5-9, 200, OL/DL, Sr.; Adan Saucedo, 5-9, 175, RB/LB, Jr.; Robert Burrow, 5-10, 215, DL, Jr.
>> Key newcomers: McClay Ortega, WR/DB; Ryan Ramirez, WR/DB.
