Battles fuel young Dawgs

By TJ MAXWELL

Cove Leader-Press

Losing nearly an entire team can be sometimes be detrimental to a program or that upcoming group could bring something exceptional to the table to push a program to new heights. Junior quarterback Michael Hays thinks it’s the latter for the 2015-16 Dawgs. “We lost a lot of seniors last year so we have a lot of young guys trying to come together and make plays,” he said. “A lot of the younger guys are really stepping up and we’re seeing who really wants to play football. “I think we definitely had a great start. I think this will be the best spring that we’ve ever had and I think next year will be a great season.” Hays, a right-handed passer, is embroiled in a battle for the starting quarterback position with lefty Cain Garner. “We both have our weaknesses,” said Hays. “Sometimes my elbow is down and sometimes Cain’s feet are bad. We all have our bad days. In the end, it’s about who’s going to grind and come out every day put it all out there.” Hays feels the heated battles will make the team stronger in the end. “It gets pretty intense out here because we’ve all played together for years,” he said. “I think that drives the whole team and, in the end, it makes us fight as hard as we can. I think it’s really going to show who wants to play and who’s going to play during the season.” Junior running back Antonio Lealiiee returns in the backfield with the only varsity experience at running back. He knows it’s vital to his team to provide that leadership presence for a talented, but inexperienced running backs corps – including 2014-15 JV Gold standouts Kylan Herrera and Ezekiel Jordan. “I need to help coach the younger ones that are getting moved up now and help them on some plays,” he said. “We’re making a lot of great progress. Everybody’s getting better working on techniques. I think when we get to the fall, we’re going to be really good for that first game.” The Dawgs do return a trio of experienced receivers in Ra’Shaun Henry and Bradley Lawson, both currently juniors, and Isaiah McGriff, currently a sophomore. All three guys provide experience and speed to help the new quarterbacks find their grooves. Henry likes what he’s seeing from the offense with just one week left in spring practice. “We’re doing good,” he said. “The linemen are blocking well. The receivers are running the right routes and blocking and the quarterbacks and running backs are just getting after it.” Henry also knows his role as a leader is an important one if the team is going to be successful in the fall. “I need to act like a role model,” he said. “We just need to make sure everyone knows every single route and every single play and make sure we have our timing right.” It has yet to be determined who will be passing the ball to Henry and handing off to Lealliie, but both guys feel it’s anybody’s job to win. “They’re looking pretty even right now,” said Lealiiee. “I don’t think it matters which guy is back there. They are both good at their position and they’re both working and making progress.” Hays, Henry and Lealiiee have big shoes to fill following the No. 1 offense in the nation two years ago and the No. 8 offense in the nation last year, but they also know pressure makes diamonds. “I don’t think it’s putting a lot of pressure on us,” said Lealiiee. “The younger guys are stepping up and making some big sparks right now.” Hays agreed. “It’s really motivation,” he said. “Here at Cove, we have established a standard on offense. We’re always among the best in the state. Every day, as an offense, we have to come out here and put everything forward because if we don’t reach that standard, it’s going to be a big disappointment.” All three also agree that, despite losing some talented players, this year’s defense could be even better. “Our defense maybe doesn’t have the size we had last year, but I think we definitely play harder than we did last year,” said Hays. We have Shamad (Lomax) out there. In my opinion, he’s one of the best corners in Texas and we have (D’Mani Paepaelalo) as a returning starter. Even though we lost all the size, I think this year our defense is really going to be solid.” Henry is also impressed with his counterparts in the secondary. “They’re a lot better,” he said. The (defensive backs) are breaking on the ball really well, getting to the ball very fast and tackling.” Cove has just two more spring practices on Tuesday and Wednesday before the annual Blue-Gold Spring Game next Thursday at Bulldawg Stadium. They also kick off the 2015 7-on-7 season with a state qualifying tournament at Austin Lake Travis High School tomorrow starting at 9 a.m. Hays knows this is the perfect opportunity to get the timing down between the quarterbacks and receivers in preparation for the fall season. “I think we really need to establish our passing game,” he said. “We have a lot of speed so I think we have to build relationships between the quarterbacks and receivers and just go out there and dominate.” The run game will take care of itself, said Hays. “We know during the season our running game is going to be great because we have great linemen who are driving the (defensive line) off the ball,” he said. “And, the running backs are putting their heads down.” The Dawgs will also compete in state qualifying tournaments at Belton on June 6 and at Austin Westlake on June 20. Cove will compete in the Centex Passing League with games on June 1 in Cove, June 8 in Cameron, June 15 in Belton and June 22 in Temple. Cove will also compete in the Lone Star Shootout in Belton June 12-13 and, if qualified, will compete in the State 7-on-7 Tournament in College Station on July 10-11.