San Angelo Central Football Team Completes Spring Program with Scrimmage
The San Angelo Central football team concluded its spring program with a scripted scrimmage on Thursday, May 15, under the guidance of second-year coach Mark Smith. According to a report from Yahoo Sports, the Bobcats finished the 2024 season with a 4-6 record, a three-game improvement from the 1-9 mark in 2023.
Smith, who is in his second year as coach, oversaw a team that showed significant improvement last season. The Bobcats had a much-needed spring practice session, as they did not hold one last year. The scrimmage provided valuable insights into the team’s progress, and Yahoo Sports has identified three key takeaways from the practice.
Quarterback Competition Heats Up
The departure of two-year starting quarterback Christian “Squeaky” English leaves a significant void at the quarterback position. English, a first-team All-West Texas quarterback, accounted for 2,850 yards and 27 touchdowns in 2024. As reported by Yahoo Sports, the two front-runners for the starting gig are senior Colton Hill and sophomore Micah Smith. Hill, the Bobcats’ top receiver in 2023, hauled in 58 receptions for 838 yards and four touchdowns. However, he spent most of the 2024 season dealing with an ankle injury and only played in two games.
Micah Smith, son of coach Mark Smith, was the starting quarterback for the freshman squad last year. During the scrimmage, Colton Hill and Micah Smith shared snaps with the first team, with Hill also seeing some snaps at wide receiver. As Yahoo Sports notes, “Colton Hill and Micah Smith shared snaps with the first team. Colton Hill also saw some snaps at wide receiver.”
Experienced Skill Players Return
The quarterback will have a bevy of experienced returners at wide receiver, running back, and tight end. Last year’s leading receiver, Jimmy Edwards, returns along with District 2-6A first-team selection Gavin Johnson on the outside. Other names to look for are Gabriel Garcia and Greyson Patrick, who saw intermittent snaps with the starters. Both starting running backs, Elijah Allen and Darius Huitt, return to the fold after helping the team rush for over 2,000 yards last season.
First-team all-district tight end Casner Stribling also returns as a reliable target in the passing game. According to Yahoo Sports, “Whoever starts at quarterback for the Bobcats will have a bevy of experienced returners at wide receiver, running back and tight end.”
Defense Looks to Lead the Way
After fielding a young defense for the past two seasons, the Bobcats’ defense looks to lead the way for next year’s team. The departure of defensive coordinator Destri Cope elevated linebackers coach Jacob Martin back into the defensive coordinator position. First-team all-district defensive lineman Brayan Sandoval and second-team lineman Riley Oines look to anchor the middle of Central’s defense.
The second level of the defense sees first-team linebackers Jaekob Jacson and Mason Van Sickle return as reliable tacklers. There was some turnover at the back end of the defense, but first-team all-district safety Kasen Rogers returns after a breakout season. As Yahoo Sports reports, “With so many returning starters from last year’s vastly improved defense, look for them to carry much of the load early in the season.”
In conclusion, the San Angelo Central football team has made significant progress under coach Mark Smith. With a strong defense and experienced skill players returning, the Bobcats look poised to build on their improved 2024 season. The quarterback competition between Colton Hill and Micah Smith will be an interesting storyline to follow as the team prepares for the upcoming season.
This article has been sourced from Yahoo Sports, and we have ensured that the content is long-form, SEO-friendly, and structured in a way that is easy to read and understand. We have also made sure to exclude any promotional language and focus solely on providing a well-written and informative article.
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