MIDLAND TRAIL
MIDLAND TRAIL
Patriots must be more consistent, coach says
By Steve Keenan the fayette tribune
His team simply must display more consistency, says fourth-year Midland Trail head coach Jeremy Moore.
To improve upon last season’ s 4-6 report card, the main component for the success of the Patriots’ offense will be that elusive stability.
“ We’ ve got to be able to consistently run the ball, especially in double-A, to take pressure off our quarterback,” Moore explained.
Reflecting on the 2024 campaign, he reiterated,“ We have to be able to consistently run the ball. Our defense played lights-out last year, but the offense put us in bad spots.”
The 2025 Patriots will rely on a nucleus which features several veteran players back for another year.“ We’ re pretty senior-heavy,” Moore said.
All of the offensive line main contributors will be seniors.“ They came along pretty well toward the end of the season,” he said.
Multiple-year starters Greg Cramer( an honorable mention all-stater at left tackle), guard Kordell Brown and center Nick Workman will guide the linemen. Three other seniors— Gage Johnson( moving from tackle to tight end), Jayvin Willis and Kaiden Nuckols— will play big minutes, and Kaden Rose is among the other returning players with experience.
Sophomore Rayce Dickerson, last year’ s junior varsity quarterback, is projected to be the starting quarterback, Moore said.“ He has a pretty good grasp of what we’ re doing,” he said.“ We’ re not changing a whole lot system-wise.”
The Patriots will miss those who graduated, including quarterback Thad Brown, fullback / linebacker Will McGraw( an all-state
Chris Jackson / For The Register-Herald
Mildand Trail’ s Aidan Foster catches a deep pass during a game in Hico.
choice) and tailback Kaden Lephew.
“ The whole senior class all had roles,” Moore said.“ We’ ve got guys in place to fill those roles, hopefully.”
Running back Jayden Roop missed last year due to injury and will return, and Max White will also get carries. Aiden Weis will man the fullback duties.“ He’ s a thumper, a typical Midland Trail kid,” Moore said of Weis, who will also be expected to plug the hole left by McGraw’ s departure at linebacker.
On both sides of the ball, Jamison Swafford will be a leader.“ He’ s kind of a freakish athlete,” said Moore.
Xaylen Johns will also be expected to provide major contributions to the offense.
Jett Ford, who led the Patriots in takeaways a year ago, will help lead the prevent unit from the secondary.“ He’ s worked hard in the weight room,” Moore said of Ford. So, too, has Weis, in his bid to help the Patriots overcome the departure of McGraw.
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