By Nolan Ruth
X – @RealNolanRuth
The 2024 season was a tough one for Jacob Johnson and his Millsap Bulldogs. However, that was to be expected. The participation numbers were already low, and a few early season injuries did not help. However, the culture in the small town in west Parker County has changed for the better. Johnson expects nothing less than the best from his few players. The Bulldogs still managed to make the playoffs but fell to Tolar in the first round.
Numbers will also be a problem this coming year as Millsap is only returning 10 lettermen. However there is a strong sophomore class coming in that could turn Millsap’s fortune in 2025. While young, and a tough district schedule, the Bulldogs are possibly more talented than they ever have been.
Because of the low numbers, most of the players will be playing iron-man football. The biggest name amongst the few returners is Grayson Hunkapiller, a second team all-Parker County lineman. He will anchor what should be a very strong offensive line alongside Lane King who is also a returning starter. Isaac Gonzales and Jimmy Thomas will join them up front, and three of the four are expected to make a difference on the defensive front as well with Hunkapiller being the only one to be at linebacker instead of the defensive line. Johnson believes that his team will be very strong up front on both sides of the ball.
Among the other key returners is Luke Camarillo, who was a key player at receiver in 2024 and is expecting a breakout season in his final year in a Bulldog uniform. Dillon Clay will join him at tight end to make a difference in the passing game, as well as being a strong blocker in the running game. Again, both will also make a difference on defense with Camarillo being a force at safety and Clay at outside linebacker after a season in which he recorded eight tackles for loss.
Just about every other position will be filled with someone new, particularly from a sophomore class that has not lost a game since they joined together in middle school. With the transfer of quarterback Brogan Sims, sophomore Madden Gilbert will be the one to step up as the signal caller to lead the young offense. However, that may not be the worst thing. Johnson says that Gilbert may be their best weapon this season and the fastest player on the roster.
In the backfield Johnson is giving the nod to his sophomore son Braun Johnson, who saw quite a few varsity reps as a freshman and made a solid impact. He is expected to be an immediate force on both sides of the ball at running back and linebacker. Gabe Jones is another solid sophomore on the roster that is one of the few who will only focus on one side of the ball at wide receiver.
Aside from the sophomore class, some other juniors expected to step up are Corey Goen, who will also focus on just one side of the ball at linebacker, Levi Tippie and Tyson Johnson who will play both sides in the trenches to get the push up front offensively and defensively.
Schedule & Analysis
vs Hamilton
at Dublin
vs Tolar
vs Paradise
at Santo
at Holliday
at Jacksboro
vs Valley View
at Wichita Falls City View
vs Henrietta
Floor: 0-10
Do not get me wrong, this is the absolute worst case scenario. Up front, the Bulldogs will be very strong, but this is a very tough schedule. Dublin is due for a fairly good season. Hamilton and Paradise are both reigning regional champions in their respective divisions. Tolar is always a tough team to beat, and they knocked off Millsap twice in 2024. Santo and Valley View are tough to say that they will be losses, but due to the youth of this squad it is not out of the question. Of course Holliday, Jacksboro and City View are the big teams to beat and all three are ranked teams in the preseason polls. Again, keep in mind this is a worst case scenario, but with the Bulldogs’ youth and the strength of schedule, a winless season is not off the table.
Ceiling: 5-5, 3-seed
In a best case scenario, I can see at least one upset being pulled. Take your pick on Holliday, Jacksboro or City View. All are on the road and will be tough, but Millsap is being slept on and that could be the downfall of one of those teams. Valley View and Henrietta should be very winnable games to get the Bulldogs in the playoffs at the very least. One upset puts them in the third seed. Hamilton, Tolar and Paradise are very tough non-district games and it is hard to see an upset happening in those games. Dublin and Santo will be very winnable games, especially after how those games went in 2024.
Nolan’s Prediction: 4-6, 4-seed
It would be great to see a district upset happen, and I believe it can happen. However, it is very hard for me to talk myself into that happening. I see this 2025 season going almost exactly how the 2024 season did in the regular season, but with the losses being much closer. Teams sleeping on the Bulldogs will be sorely mistaken for doing so, but the youth of this team is a severe hurdle against a very tough and experienced schedule.
