BY NOLAN RUTH
X – @RealNolanRuth
Head coach Jacob Johnson has done something in Millsap that has never been done before. Entering his 10th season leading the program of the western-most school in Parker County, Johnson is on a run of four consecutive playoff appearances. Before he arrived in Millsap, the program never had back-to-back playoff appearances, only had two district titles and just one playoff win.
Despite not adding to the district title count, the Bulldogs are eyeing their fifth straight postseason appearance and they’ve recently won a playoff game in 2021 against Henrietta. Now, Millsap finds itself in a northern district with their usual adversary of Henrietta and if one thing is for sure, a fifth straight playoff berth will not come easy. The kicker is, that game might be the one to determine who goes to the playoffs.
The biggest thing working for the Bulldogs is the return of their backfield in quarterback CR Tippie and Reid Green at running back. Tippie threw for over 1,500 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2023. Green is a rough and tumble runner that eclipsed 1,000 yards a year ago with 10 touchdowns of his own and was named District Offensive MVP.
On the outside, Millsap will have plenty of weapons to throw to for Tippie, including returners Brandon Savage and Conner Penry. The pair of receivers totaled 421 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. Luke Camarillo also joins the pair as one of the juniors to keep an eye on in the passing game.
The trenches will be the weakness for the Bulldogs on both sides of the ball, having to replace almost every starting position up front. However, that doesn’t mean names will pop up to make a difference. Corbett Southern is a two-way player that is most known for his defensive play, but could be called upon to play Ironman football. Hayden Johnson is the most experienced offensive lineman, according to Johnson and junior Grayson Hunkapiller is eager to make a name for himself.
Green, Savage and Penry will all be going both ways, and all in the secondary for the defense. Camarillo is also expected to join as the final piece of the secondary. Kyle Gore will be the anchor of the linebacker corps. Gore saw plenty of playing time as a junior in 2023 and will be expected to make a major difference this season.
With all that said, the biggest difference maker for Millsap will be athlete Nixon Delaune, who was the brightest spot for the Bulldogs a year ago, earning All-District honors on both sides of the ball. No less is expected as he will jump from linebacker to wide receiver.
Millsap has two under-the-radar names in Brogan Sims, who can step in at quarterback for Tippie, or either one can motion out as a receiver. The other name is Braun Johnson, a freshman who has turned heads, alongside the entire freshman class this season, since they were in seventh grade.
Schedule & Analysis
at Hamilton
vs Dublin
at Tolar
at Paradise
vs Santo
vs Holliday
vs Jacksboro
at Valley View
vs Wichita Falls City View
at Henrietta
Floor: 2-8
It’s a running theme in Parker County that teams schedule a very hard non-district. That is exactly what Millsap has. Hamilton has been on the rise lately and returns a lot from a playoff team. Dublin is a former district rival that got the last laugh last season. Tolar is a regional rival that played for a state championship in 2023. Paradise has had the Bulldogs’ number since that day in Arlington two years ago, and they’re now a top program in 3A D1. I give Millsap the game with Santo. After that, this is a very losable district for the Bulldogs. I don’t see them losing to Valley View, but the other four could very well be losses to end the playoff streak in Millsap.
Average: 4-6, 4-seed
Millsap and Hamilton have played quite a bit recently, and I genuinely do not believe Hamilton is the better team. I think Millsap could definitely open the season with a win. The next three, I am still not convinced for what I call an “average” season. However, in this scenario, the Bulldogs finish the season with a significant road win over Henrietta to clinch their fifth straight playoff berth.
Ceiling: 7-3, 3-seed
I believe that while Millsap could have its flaws early on, the first two games are very winnable. Dublin is an old district rival in whom the Bulldogs are hungry to deliver a counter blow. While I still am not sold on Tolar or Paradise, I think Millsap can go into district at 3-2. Then after two losses to state-ranked teams Holliday and Jacksboro, the Bulldogs avenge their playoff loss to City View and take down Henrietta to easily secure the third seed in a very deep district.
