X – @RealNolanRuth
The Parker County football series resumes with a drop down to class 4A where the Springtown Porcupines are looking to continue their slow rise back after going 3-8 two years ago.
Head coach Brian Hulett has worked his magic as always and has developed his program and the players stepping in. They improved to 9-4 in 2023 and made an appearance in the regional semifinal game before falling to Brownwood. Despite heavy graduation in the offseason, the Porcupines look poised to be even better in 2024.
The two biggest pieces missing from a year ago are quarterback Hudson Hulett and running back Drake Doggett. However, Springtown seems to have a solid answer. Hayden Nichols will take over as the main signal-caller, moving over from the defensive side of the ball.
Nichols was named second-team all-district on the defensive line, but did step in at quarterback when Hulett went down with an injury. In the playoff loss to Brownwood, Nichols completed 12 of 23 passing for 93 yards, also rushing for 112 yards and a touchdown on nine carries. Joining him in the backfield will be Darren Sweely at tailback.
Sweely also got reps on offense, but was more known for his defensive play at safety, recording 88 tackles and a pair of interceptions while earning all-district honors. Braydon Butler and Chase Thompson are returning at wide receiver and will be called upon in the passing game while upfront James Snyder and Breyden Kearby will be holding down the fort and getting the push in the trenches.
Most of the athletes for the Porcupines will be playing both ways in 2024 with the exception of Nichols and Robert Lewis, who will be a force to be reckoned with at linebacker in his junior season. While Lewis could see some offensive reps, he will likely not be called on to be a consistent two-way player. Sweely will return to play safety again along with his duties at running back and Thompson will also play defensive back on top of being one of the best receivers. Junior Riley Jackson will also bounce between receiver and defensive back.
The biggest weapon for Springtown will be its size. The speed and athleticism is not quite where the Porcupines have been in the past, but the plethora of size and physicality up front on both sides of the ball should be more than enough to make up for that.
Schedule & Analysis
at Joshua
vs Graham
at Kennedale
vs China Spring
vs FW Southwest
at FW Carter Riverside
vs FW Eastern Hills
at FW Diamond Hill-Jarvis
vs FW Western Hills
at Decatur
Floor: 6-4, 2-seed
It’s not going to be a very challenging year in district play for the Porcupines. Aside from Decatur, the only big challenger is going to be Fort Worth Southwest and Springtown is still lightyears ahead of them. The final game of the season against Decatur has already been considered the de facto district title game. The only thing that could really go poorly for the Porcupines would be the non-district stretch where they play Graham, Kennedale and China Spring. The opener against Joshua will likely be a fairly easy win.
Average: 8-2, 2-seed
Not much changes from the floor to an average season. Decatur will still be expected by most to be a loss, but winning two of the three tough non-district games could turn some statewide attention to Springtown – attention that has not been seen in five years. Kennedale and China Spring seem like the most likely of those three tough non-district games to be wins for the Porcupines with Graham being the one loss.
Ceiling: 10-0, District Champions
Springtown plays some darn good football. Though there will be some growing pains this season, it’s not completely out of the question that the Porcupines could pull off wins against Graham and China Spring, especially early in the season when these teams will also be dealing with their own growing pains. It all comes down to the rivalry game with Decatur. It’s a rivalry in which it seems anything can happen. So it’s not out of the question that Springtown pulls off its first undefeated regular season since 1998.
