BY NOLAN RUTH
X – @RealNolanRuth
The new high school football season is rapidly approaching as the first regular season games are less than two weeks away.
As the Parker County Insider for GM Sports Media, it’s time for a series of previews that will look at the 12 football programs in the west-metroplex county.
The first piece of the series focuses on the county-seat and the Weatherford Kangaroos, who finished 5-5 a season ago, and fell short of the postseason by potentially just one game. That team is no more. The Kangaroos lost more from last year’s roster, including the loss of eight offensive starters. The youth and lack of depth will be a big concern for head coach Aubrey Sims, who is entering his fourth year at the helm.
Offensively, Weatherford should be very good up front with two returning starters in Logan Moses and Murrell Wilson, along with junior Rhett Gray. The offensive line is going to have to do a good job protecting sophomore quarterback Cutter Kennedy, who threw for 636 yards and six touchdowns at the varsity level as a freshman. Kennedy’s biggest weapon as signal caller will be the third and final returning starter from a year ago, wide receiver Colton McClure, who is also a starting pitcher for the baseball team.
McClure caught 52 passes for 864 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. With the lack of dynamic playmakers on the offensive side of the ball, the key will be getting the ball to McClure.
Defensively, the Kangaroos return just a few more than the offense. Asa Dowling and Kaden Fleming will be making the difference up front, both combining for 99 tackles with Dowling adding four sacks in 2023. At the next level, linebacker Liam Riley is expected to burst onto the scene after getting some decent reps as a sophomore a year ago. Then in the secondary, it will be Micah Moore who will be tasked with defending the pass. Moore will have a very big job this season as every team in district 3-6A will be relying on the pass. Thankfully, he will have some help from Jaime Gray who has some experience.
Overall, Weatherford will be relying on new faces to emerge on both sides of the ball. Those who are returning will be called upon to lead the pack and get the new faces ready for the tough battles ahead.
Schedule & Analysis:
vs LD Bell
at Azle
vs Arlington
at Royse City
vs Crowley
at Mansfield Legacy
at North Crowley
vs Mansfield Lake Ridge
vs Boswell
at Mansfield
Floor: 1-9
I can be convinced of Weatherford losing every single game on the schedule, except for Royse City. The realignment was not kind to the Kangaroos, despite L.D. Bell and Euless Trinity leaving the district. Instead they get three Mansfield schools that have recently had run-ins with the likes of Duncanville and DeSoto. While that is in the past, it has definitely helped develop the athletes in Mansfield. Opening the season with L.D. Bell, Azle and then Arlington will be good measuring sticks and early tests, but could leave Weatherford 0-3 going into the Royse City game, which should be an easy win before entering district.
Average: 4-6
There is a good chance the Kangaroos can get off to a hot start against L.D. Bell and Azle, who both will have their struggles this season. In a theoretical average season, I still think the Arlington game is a tough one to win, as the Colts are expected to be even better than they were a year ago. Then when district play rolls along, everything goes south. In this scenario, I give Weatherford the edge over Mansfield Lake Ridge, but not much else. Sadly, this would yet again leave Weatherford out of the playoffs.
Ceiling: 7-3, 4-seed
Opposite of what I said when talking about the floor, I can be convinced of Weatherford pulling off some close wins and raising some eyebrows. There is a slight chance they can run the table in non-district and send Arlington home disappointed. Then, in district play, there is a chance of the Kangaroos pulling off a sweep of the Mansfield schools, which would ultimately clinch the final playoff spot in the district. However, I still am not convinced things will go well with the Crowley schools, and Boswell who has quietly been sneaking up the ranks lately.
