Entering the 2022 season, the Alpine Bucks have 24 returning lettermen and wealth of experience.
Alpine head coach John Fellows believes that experience bodes well for the Bucks.
Fellows said the returners know what to expect and what is needed to win on Friday nights.
“I’m pleased,” Fellows said. “I really am. They are focused. They’ve got a mission to complete. I’m really pleased with attendance. I’m pleased with effort. I’m pleased with attitude. It has been really great.”
Alpine finished the 2021 season wtih a 5-7 record and a 74-8 loss to Lubbock Roosevelt in the second round of the playoffs. The Bucks defeated San Angelo Grape Creek, 27-14, in the bi-district round of the playoffs.
During the 2021 season, Alpine averaged 28.6 points per game and allowed 32.6 points per game.
The Bucks biggest offensive loss came from the graduation of Jayden Canaba who completed 48 of 116 passes for 666 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 472 yards on 60 carries and six touchdowns.
The offense is scheduled to feature senior quarterback Tray Ervin.
He completed 16 of 59 passes for 171 yards and three touchdowns in limited action in 2021. He also rushed for 325 yards on 38 carries for five touchdowns.
The Bucks’ top returning rusher is senior Ylan Hernandez. The 5-foot-9 ball carrier rushed for 622 yards on 76 carries for a team-high eight touchdowns. Senior Jordan Rodriguez caught 10 passes for 115 yards in 2021.
Fellows said plenty of playmakers return that will be expected to play a more important role.
“We expected Tray and Jordan to come in and be the leaders,” Fellows said. “(Senior) Jeremiah Pearce has really done a lot of work on his own over the summer to get ready to go.
”(Sophomores) Logan Smith and Moses Riggins have been here everyday doing a good job for us.”
Alpine and the rest of the members of District 1-3A Division II are in a unique situation where they play each other twice throughout the season. Fellows said that should make for an interesting film study on the second go-around.
The Bucks begin district play against Compass Academy 7 p.m. Sept. 23.
“We talk a lot about the only team that can beat us is us,” Fellows said. “Our talent level is here. The effort is there. The attitude is there. They really have bought into the team concept.”
>> IMPACTED: “The economic impact facing every school district is a hardship,” Fellows said. “We are finding ways to make things work and to get things for our kids. Luckily, I’ve been here for eight years so we have a pretty good stockpile of stuff. Our budgets haven’t been hit too bad. I know diesel is high and we’ve always been in the position where we have to travel. As of right now, I don’t think it’s going to hurt anybody. If things continue, it might start putting a pinch on things next year.”
>> AIR TIME: “We livestream on Mascot Media. We try to livestream everything we can,” Fellows said. “All the way from junior high to high school. That was one thing that COVID did help with is now that if a grandma lives in Minnesota or Colorado that they can actually watch their grandkids play. If there’s an aunt in El Paso, they can watch the game. That’s something that’s going to stay even if things with COVID start to get better.”
ALPINE FIGHTIN’ BUCKS
— COACHES —
>> Head coach: John Fellows.
>> Coach’s overall record: 98-65.
>> Coach’s record at school: 45-35
>> Assistant coaches, duties: Adam Llanez, offensive coordinator; Jerry Dominguez, defensive coordinator.
— TEAM INFORMATION —
>> 2021 overall record: 5-7.
>> 2021 district record: 3-1 (Second).
>> Last district title: N/A.
>> Last playoff appearance: 2021.
>> Stadium name: Buck Stadium (3,000).
>> Base offense: Spread.
>> Base defense: 5-0.
— PLAYERS —
>> Returning lettermen: 24.
>> Returning starters: 13 (7 offense, 6 defense).
>> Key returners: Tray Ervin, 5-10, 205, Sr., QB/LB; Jordan Rodriguez, 5-10, 190, Sr., RB/LB; Mateo Miranda, 6-1, 260, Sr., OL/DL; Ylan Hernandez, 5-9, 180, Sr., RB/DB; Rudy Cunningham, 6-0, 305, Soph.; OL/DL; Davian Fierro, 6-0, 270, Soph., OL/DL; Jared Roggow, 6-0, 180, Sr., K/WR/DB.
>> Key newcomers: Reese Ahrens, 5-10, 175, Jr., RB/LB; Tristin Smith, 6-2, 220, Jr., OL/DL; Devon Rojo, 6-0, 175, Soph., QB/DB; Oscar Velasquez, 5-8, 160, Sr., RB/LB; Adrian Lujan, 5-9, 150, Sr., WR/DB.
