supercentex
08-07-2005, 07:59 AM
CHAMPS START PRACTICE
By CHRIS PARRY, Staff Writer
08/06/2005
Robert E. Lee begins defense of its Class 5A Division I title on Monday with the opening of two-a-day football practices.
Eight months after the Red Raiders topped Spring Westfield 28-21 in the 5A Texas Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, an estimated 300 kids are expected to be at the Lee Cox Communications Field House.
"Right now we have 78 varsity, 85 JV and somewhere between 100 and 110 freshmen," said Lee head coach Mike Owens. "It is more JV-wise than we've ever had."
The varsity and JV will begin practice at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at noon. There will be a 30-minute break between the two-a-day sessions, beginning at 9 a.m. Owens added that the team will take a water break every 15 minutes in order to keep the players cool in the expected hot and humid conditions.
The freshmen are instructed to report to the field house at 9 a.m. Monday for an orientation meeting. Owens said he hopes parents will attend with their incoming ninth-graders.
"Parents are invited, in fact we want them there because they have a lot of paperwork to do," Owens said. "Freshmen will begin their workouts at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday."
The University Interscholastic League stipulates that the first four days of practice be non-contact, with players wearing T-shirts, shorts and helmets. Lee players will be in full pads Friday for the first day of contact workouts. Owens said the Red Raiders will have a two-hour workout on Saturday prior to team pictures at 10 a.m.
Practice for most teams began last week. Lee held spring workouts, so by UIL rules the Red Raiders will begin practice a week later.
The Red Raiders will scrimmage DeSoto on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium before opening the regular season Aug. 27 against Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna.
Lee is ranked No. 3 in preseason rankings by Dave Campbell's Texas Football and is listed at No. 11 by 5A Texas Football.
The last 5A team to repeat as state champs was Midland Lee in 2000, completing a three-peat for the Rebels, who won titles in 1998-2000. Southlake Carroll won state titles in 2002 and 2004, but lost in the 2003 championship game to Katy.
It is a large undertaking, and one Owens hopes his players are ready for.
"A lot of our guys worked hard this summer," Owens said. "We will find out come Monday (how ready everyone is). Everyone better show up in shape and ready to go because we are going to work from day one.
"We have a real tough schedule. Chaminade has been working out for two weeks now, so they are (already) ahead of us."
Lee returns several offensive weapons, led by senior quarterback Preston Hill, running back Jason Williams, receivers Jonathan Williams and Jacob Amie, and tight end Tyler Fleet.
Hill was a backup last season to older brother Josh - now at Tyler Junior College - but has several games under his belt after stepping in as a sophomore when Josh was injured. Preston completed 12 of 21 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown last year in limited action. As a sophomore, Preston completed 78 of 150 passes for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns.
Williams backed up district MVP tailback Tyrone Ross last season, but still rushed for 653 yards and scored six touchdowns.
Jonathan Williams had five catches for 126 yards and Fleet totaled eight catches for 81 yards, including a two-point conversion in the 5A Division I state championship game.
On defense, junior Tekerrian Cuba and senior LaQuett Nicholson return at safety and defensive back. Both registered interceptions last season and Cuba totaled 77 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Jacoby McKenzie, a senior defensive lineman, tied for the team lead in sacks last year with four. Matt Uzzell, a senior, returns at linebacker after finishing with 78 tackles.
SCHEDULE
Date --- Opponent --- Time
Aug. 20 - DeSoto (Scrimmage) - 11 a.m.
Aug. 27 - #Chaminade Madonna (Fla.)- 8:00 p.m.
Sept. 2 - at Waco -7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 - -at Colerain (Ohio) (Columbus)- 8:00 p.m.
Sept. 16- Euless Trinity -7:00 p.m.
Sept. 30 - *at Rockwall - 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 - *Longview - 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 - *at North Mesquite - 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 - *John Tyler - 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 - *at Mesquite - 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 - *Mesquite Horn - 7:30 p.m.
# - East Texas Football Classic
* - District 12-5A game
By CHRIS PARRY, Staff Writer
08/06/2005
Robert E. Lee begins defense of its Class 5A Division I title on Monday with the opening of two-a-day football practices.
Eight months after the Red Raiders topped Spring Westfield 28-21 in the 5A Texas Bowl at the Alamodome in San Antonio, an estimated 300 kids are expected to be at the Lee Cox Communications Field House.
"Right now we have 78 varsity, 85 JV and somewhere between 100 and 110 freshmen," said Lee head coach Mike Owens. "It is more JV-wise than we've ever had."
The varsity and JV will begin practice at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at noon. There will be a 30-minute break between the two-a-day sessions, beginning at 9 a.m. Owens added that the team will take a water break every 15 minutes in order to keep the players cool in the expected hot and humid conditions.
The freshmen are instructed to report to the field house at 9 a.m. Monday for an orientation meeting. Owens said he hopes parents will attend with their incoming ninth-graders.
"Parents are invited, in fact we want them there because they have a lot of paperwork to do," Owens said. "Freshmen will begin their workouts at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday."
The University Interscholastic League stipulates that the first four days of practice be non-contact, with players wearing T-shirts, shorts and helmets. Lee players will be in full pads Friday for the first day of contact workouts. Owens said the Red Raiders will have a two-hour workout on Saturday prior to team pictures at 10 a.m.
Practice for most teams began last week. Lee held spring workouts, so by UIL rules the Red Raiders will begin practice a week later.
The Red Raiders will scrimmage DeSoto on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium before opening the regular season Aug. 27 against Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade Madonna.
Lee is ranked No. 3 in preseason rankings by Dave Campbell's Texas Football and is listed at No. 11 by 5A Texas Football.
The last 5A team to repeat as state champs was Midland Lee in 2000, completing a three-peat for the Rebels, who won titles in 1998-2000. Southlake Carroll won state titles in 2002 and 2004, but lost in the 2003 championship game to Katy.
It is a large undertaking, and one Owens hopes his players are ready for.
"A lot of our guys worked hard this summer," Owens said. "We will find out come Monday (how ready everyone is). Everyone better show up in shape and ready to go because we are going to work from day one.
"We have a real tough schedule. Chaminade has been working out for two weeks now, so they are (already) ahead of us."
Lee returns several offensive weapons, led by senior quarterback Preston Hill, running back Jason Williams, receivers Jonathan Williams and Jacob Amie, and tight end Tyler Fleet.
Hill was a backup last season to older brother Josh - now at Tyler Junior College - but has several games under his belt after stepping in as a sophomore when Josh was injured. Preston completed 12 of 21 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown last year in limited action. As a sophomore, Preston completed 78 of 150 passes for 1,062 yards and five touchdowns.
Williams backed up district MVP tailback Tyrone Ross last season, but still rushed for 653 yards and scored six touchdowns.
Jonathan Williams had five catches for 126 yards and Fleet totaled eight catches for 81 yards, including a two-point conversion in the 5A Division I state championship game.
On defense, junior Tekerrian Cuba and senior LaQuett Nicholson return at safety and defensive back. Both registered interceptions last season and Cuba totaled 77 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Jacoby McKenzie, a senior defensive lineman, tied for the team lead in sacks last year with four. Matt Uzzell, a senior, returns at linebacker after finishing with 78 tackles.
SCHEDULE
Date --- Opponent --- Time
Aug. 20 - DeSoto (Scrimmage) - 11 a.m.
Aug. 27 - #Chaminade Madonna (Fla.)- 8:00 p.m.
Sept. 2 - at Waco -7:30 p.m.
Sept. 9 - -at Colerain (Ohio) (Columbus)- 8:00 p.m.
Sept. 16- Euless Trinity -7:00 p.m.
Sept. 30 - *at Rockwall - 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 - *Longview - 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 14 - *at North Mesquite - 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 - *John Tyler - 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 28 - *at Mesquite - 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 - *Mesquite Horn - 7:30 p.m.
# - East Texas Football Classic
* - District 12-5A game