By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
The Azle Hornets are coming off of a season that ended earlier than head coach Devon Dorris wanted. In 2024, the offense averaged 38 points a game. That was the key thing for the Hornets to get to their 7-3 record. In 2025, that will be the key thing again with the return of quarterback-receiver tandem Derrek Vowell and Aiden Mackey. Brayden Combs also returns at receiver. Vowell threw for 2,154 yards and 22 touchdowns a year ago. Of those stats, 1,266 yards and 19 touchdowns were to either Mackey or Combs. Expect Azle to lean heavily on its passing game.
A big player for the Hornets this year will be the addition of wide receiver Brodie Clark. Clark will add an aspect of speed to the passing game after spending most of his high school career playing six-man football at Azle Christian School. For his senior year, he has made the jump to 5A ball after rushing for 1,021 yards and 13 touchdowns, and receiving for 549 yards and 7 touchdowns in just seven games.
In the backfield, talented sophomore King Stephens takes over at running back after the graduation of Hagen Hughes. Stephens saw some varsity time as a freshman a year ago and ran for 406 yards and six touchdowns on 62 carries.
The key for the Hornets offense is the development of a young offensive line. Only one of the five linemen is returning. Cole Johnson is the lone returning starter up front and will be tasked with the leadership role to get the line up to standard.
Defensively, the Hornets have some questions with only four returning starters. However, those returners are young which could be promising as the season progresses. Sophomore Josh Guevara is back to lead the linebacker corps after recording 18 tackles as a freshman. He will be joined by junior Jensen Jutson. In the defensive backfield, Riley Self and Hayden Cassady return to lock down the pass, while the defensive front is going to be looking for someone to step up and lead in the trenches.
Schedule & Analysis
vs Abilene Cooper
at Weatherford
at Denton
vs Brewer
at Birdville
vs Fossil Ridge
at Denton Ryan
vs Granbury
at Aledo
vs Richland
Floor: 4-6
I do not see the Hornets falling to Weatherford in non-district play, but it is feasible that Abilene Cooper could pull off an opening night upset with a strong offensive corps returning. Once district play starts, Azle will be underdogs to Aledo, Denton Ryan and Richland. The other two games to be wary of are Brewer and Birdville. Both were close matchups in 2024 that had they gone the other way, Azle would have been out of the playoffs. Both teams on paper look a lot stronger this time around, so in an absolute worst case scenario the Hornets fall to both and miss out on postseason play. It is unlikely we will see upsets from Denton, Fossil Ridge or Granbury, though stranger things have happened.
Ceiling: 8-2, 3-seed
Aledo and Denton Ryan are the two games that it is hard to see Azle pulling an upset. However, Richland lost a lot to graduation. Though it is the final game of the regular season and the Royals will have plenty of time to gel, it is not off the table for the Hornets to pull off the upset at home given the chance. And of course, just like in 2024, Azle could very well run the table until the Ryan and Aledo games. If the Hornets beat Richland it will be the greatest football season Azle has seen.
Nolan’s Prediction: 7-3, 4-seed
As nice as it would be to see the Hornets upset Richland, the fact is they will be heavy underdogs in that game. Some concerns up front on both sides of the ball will be a bad weak point against Richland who will be very talented despite graduation losses. However I do think it is much closer this year. I expect a very similar year to 2024. The biggest question of the season for Azle is if they can get past the first round.
