DISTRICT 8-5A DII
A tougher mentality
From Staff Reports
Head Coach: Hal Wasson
2019 record: 7-4
Last Playoff Appearance: 2019
It’s Year Two of the Hal Wasson era at
Corsicana, and if it’s not a night and-day difference
for the coach, it’s darn close. Consider
this: A year ago Wasson took over a team that
had lost 95 percent of its offense to graduation
(the most of any high school team in Texas),
and this season he brings back four of of his
five starting offensive linemen and his entire
backfield of quarterback Solomon James,
Anthony Young and Da Da Daniels.
Those three were all sophomores last year,
and the trifecta still produced more than 3,000
yards of offense. James threw or more than
2,000 yards and Daniels ran for 811 while
Young, who was injured for part of the season,
ran for 626 yards, including a huge 195-yard
night in the playoffs against Braswell.
Wasson wants a lot more this time around,
and his focus starts and ends with a tougher
mentality, a more explosive offense and
protecting the football, The Tigers lost nine
turnovers in their final two games — close
losses to Ennis and Braswell.
“The key to our success is going to be our
mindset,” he said. “That’s what we’re working
on. That’s going to be the biggest factor in us
growing. I’ve been encouraged that its coming
around. When you’re building a program you
have to create that atmosphere in the locker
room and have it carry over to the field where
everyone cares about each other and everyone
goes hard on every rep,
“Everyone wants to work hard to win on
Friday night. You have to work hard Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and build
that mentality.” he said. “I think it’s baby steps
and that’s what you expect. I love the kids
here. I’ve seen the atmosphere continue to get
better. I’ve seen the leadership grow.”
Wasson is excited about new offensive
coordinator Brad Skinner, and loves the idea
that this year’s offense brings back experience
and talent. Seniors Juan Andrade, a three-year
starter at center, and Verson Davis, a twoyear
starter at tackle, lead the way, and senior
Nathan Simons, and junior Cam McFadden
returned to the OL. And all-district tight end
Kolby Kinkade is also back what promises
to be an even more powerful OL that could
ignite Wasson’s spread offense.
“We feel good about our offensive line,”
Wasson said. “And our backs can be explosive.
We want to be more explosive this year and
do a better job of protecting the football. In
a spread offense to be effective you have to
protect the football. We want to concentrate
on our rushing offense and protecting the ball.
“Our quarterback and running backs are
very talented, and they have matured. I’m
excited about Da Da. We may put him at
receiver some. We want to take advantage of
his speed and get him the ball in space. Da
Da is really hard to tackle. He’s very elusive.
Anthony is a very patient runner and a strong
runner. He’s very instinctive and a powerful
runner. Last year he didn’t get healthy until
the end of the year.”
Wasson wants bigger plays, game-changing
plays.
‘We need to make explosive plays on offense,”
said Wasson, who also expects sophomores
K.J. Armstrong and Jamarian McBride,
who played nose guard as a freshman, to have
opportunities to run the ball.
The Tigers return one starter at receiver, but
George Foster, a senior, made some big, clutch
catches when he played. He was injured at the
end of the season, but returns with great hands
and will lead what Wasson calls a good young
group of receivers, who he sees emerging as
James improves in his second season. James was
the district’s offensive newcomer of the year
and he was Texas Football magazine’s preseason
pick as this year’s 8-5A DII Offensive Player of
the Year.
Wasson expects players to step up on
defense after losing safety Drew Denbow and
linebacker Tyler Farmer, who were exceptional
impact players and all-district defenders who
were co-winners of the Del Thrash Award,
given to the top player in the Golden Circle,
saying “We lost two really big hitters in Drew
and Tyler.”
Brayshun Parrish, a three-year starter is back
to anchor the defensive line and Grant Harrison,
a leader at linebacker, returns after a big
year, along with Jesus Mendoza, and Shemar
Smith, a big-hit, cover guy who will lead the
secondary. McBride returns at nose guard and
Joseph Lopez is back on the DL. Sophomore
Jacoby Harris will step in defensive end and
the Tigers expect big things from sophomore
Jayvon Thomas in the secondary.
“I’m optimistic we are going to put together
a real good defense,” said Wasson, whose Tigers
face some big challenges in a district that includes
Ennis,, which is ranked No. 1 in 5A DII
in Texas Football magazine’s preseason poll. To
win the district title the Tigers will need to beat
an Ennis team that is considered the favorite to
2019 SCHEDULE
at Centennial L 34 - 21
Boswell W 40 - 34
at Greenville* W 20 - 7
Kaufman* W 40 - 7
at North Forney* W 27 - 24
Terrell* W 42 - 7
at Royse City* L 27 - 0
Sulphur Springs* W 41 - 14
at Forney* W 7 - 0
Ennis* L 30 - 21
at Braswell** L 49 - 28
*District Game
2020 SCHEDULE
The Colony Sept. 25
At Frisco Lebanon Trail Oct. 2
(at Toyota Stadium)
At Whitehouse Oct. 9
At Royse City * Oct. 23
Forney * Oct. 23
Bye Week Oct. 30
Greenville * Nov. 6
At Sulpher Springs * Nov. 13
North Forney * Nov. 20
At Crandall * Nov. 27
Ennis * Dec. 4
*District Game
win the state title. Once again, the Tigers will
play Ennis is the regular season finale.
They open the season on Sept. 25 with a
home game against The Colony and play their
first district game on the road at Royse City
on Oct. 16 in what will be a critical showdown.
The Tigers went 7-3 in the regular season
last year, losing to state-ranked Burleson
Centennial, state-ranked Ennis, which lost to
eventual state champ Aledo in overtime in the
playoffs, and Royse City.
But Wasson isn’t worried about his schedule.
He wants one thing — a tougher mentality
— from his team. That’s where Wasson
wants to see the real growth this year. That’s
what Year 2 is all about. That’s what building
this program is all about.
“In the big games you ask the question,
‘Can you be at your best when it means the
most?’ “ Wasson said. “You have to have that
tough mentality to do that. I’ve said it before
and I will end with it — the key to our success
will be our mindset.”
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