CUERO òòò½ÊÓƵ” Cuero canòòò½ÊÓƵ™t be accused of taking an easy road into district play.
Cuero faces one of the most competitive non-district schedules in the area beginning with its season opener against Columbus at 7 p.m. Friday at Gobbler Stadium.
The Cardinals are ranked No. 2 in the Class 3A, Division I preseason poll. Columbus is led by quarterback and TCU commit Adam Schobel, and running back Grayson Rigdon, an Air Force commit, who was a three-time Class 1A Player of the Year before transferring to Columbus.
òòò½ÊÓƵœSeeing on film, obviously theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re really good in a ton of positions,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Cuero head coach Jerod Fikac. òòò½ÊÓƵœThe quarterback can make every throw, so weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to have to be very sound and very disciplined. The Rigdon kid is a slasher. Heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s got good speed and he runs really hard.
òòò½ÊÓƵœTheyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re athletic,òòò½ÊÓƵ he added. òòò½ÊÓƵœTheyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re not ranked No. 2 in the state in the classification below for nothing. Weòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to have to take care of the football because limiting their possessions on offense is going to be big.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Schobel has thrown for over 7,600 yards and 94 touchdowns during his Columbus career.
òòò½ÊÓƵœHeòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a good thrower, and he stays patient and when a window opens up, he puts the ball there,òòò½ÊÓƵ said Cuero defensive lineman Kaòòò½ÊÓƵ™son Roy. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe need to do what the coaches have taught us to do from Day 1, get a good pass rush off, be disciplined in our back half and if we do those things, weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll be successful.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Fikac saw signs of improvement from his team in scrimmages against Kerrville Tivy and San Antonio Davenport.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI thought we competed well,òòò½ÊÓƵ he said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe saw where some of our weaknesses are and things we need to get better at. We went up against two bigger schools òòò½ÊÓƵ” one (Davenport) that went to the semifinals last year. I know itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a scrimmage, but you want to see your guys compete and be competitive. I thought we were right there with them in both scrimmages.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Fikac was pleased with the progress of junior quarterback Jaxxon Marie in the scrimmages.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI thought we threw the ball well,òòò½ÊÓƵ Fikac said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI thought Jaxxon made some good throws and is going through his progressions well with not having a ton of downs on the varsity side at quarterback. Heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s got a ton of confidence and heòòò½ÊÓƵ™s got some playmakers who can do some things for us.òòò½ÊÓƵ
Fikac is still looking at options at running back.
òòò½ÊÓƵœIt will be running back by committee,òòò½ÊÓƵ he said. òòò½ÊÓƵœFour or five got reps in the scrimmages. All those guys are kind of brand new running the ball on varsity on Friday nights, but those guys up front are going to help.òòò½ÊÓƵ
The biggest concern heading into the season could be the secondary, which has limited experience.
òòò½ÊÓƵœOur secondary is pretty young, but seeing them in practice and seeing what they can do, I have high hopes for our secondary,òòò½ÊÓƵ Roy said. òòò½ÊÓƵœIf we just stick together and do what the coaches tell us we need to do every day, weòòò½ÊÓƵ™ll be fine.òòò½ÊÓƵ
After Columbus, Cuero will play La Vernia, Yoakum, Corpus Christi Miller, Belton and Harlingen before beginning District 15-4A, Division II competition.
òòò½ÊÓƵœI want to see us be physical up front, run to the ball, play as a team and do our job and just limit mistakes,òòò½ÊÓƵ Fikac said. òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s going to be a great test. I think our preseason is set up to where every game is a slobberknocker, so we just have to take care of ourselves and play Gobbler football.òòò½ÊÓƵ
