DISTRICT 7-3A DII
Focused on football
By Todd Wills
Head Coach: Duke Dalton
2019 record: 6-4
Last Playoff Appearance: 2017
MILDRED — Spend a morning at Mildred’s
football facility and one thing is certain
in Year 2 under coach Duke Dalton. That
stable feeling, and the ability to build a program
back up to the playoffs and who knows
where, appears to be back in Mildred, which
is only eight years removed from playing for a
state championship.
Dalton returns his entire coaching staff,
something that isn’t a guarantee at any level of
Texas high school football. That begins with
his offensive coordinator, Brandon Owen, and
defensive coordinator, Lance Key. Plus Corsicana’s
own Stayton Thomas and Robert Wynn,
Haden Adams, Josh Jones and Rollin Hadsell.
With 13 returning starters, the coaches and
players are focused on football, not getting to
know each other.
“The kids are familiar with the terminology,
the formations,” Dalton said. “The day-to-day
procedures, what the drills are like. So that’s a
big change.
“The kids are comfortable with [the coaches.]
The more simple, the more comfortable
you become, the easier it is to play fast and be
able to do the things you do to be successful.”
Dalton goes into the 2020 season knowing
one area is all but a guarantee to be a success
— the running game.
The Eagles run the Spread, but their offense
starts with senior running back Bishop
Harris, who rushed for 2,134 yards and 28
touchdowns in 10 games last season. Harris,
who averaged 10.8 yards per carry, still earned
second-team All-State honors despite Mildred
missing the playoffs. He was named the Daily
Sun’s Golden Circle Mike Montfort Offensive
Player of the Year.
The Eagles relied on a 1-2 punch with
Harris and quarterback Creed Baker last year.
This season the focal point will be Harris, who
recently verbally committed to Eastern New
Mexico.
“Obviously everything we do is going to
funnel through Bishop,” Dalton said. “He’s the
type of guy that you can move him around,
he can play receiver, he can play quarterback.
We’re going to find a way to get the ball in his
hands as much as we can.”
Daniel Ayers, a senior, will start at quarterback.
Cody Hayes, who Dalton said has gotten
stronger and faster heading into junior season,
will play inside receiver.
Gage St. Clair, a senior, and Micah Owen,
a junior and a newcomer to the football program,
also are expected to stand out at receiver.
And don’t forget Sammy Bustos, who Dalton
said has great hands.
The Eagles return three offensive linemen,
so they should be stout up front — seniors
Kain Holliman and Logan Hancock and junior
A.C. Harrigan. Bishop and the line produced
a 2,000-rusher, so they already have a
strong resume and are continuing to progress.
Defense is where the Eagles coaching staff
really wants to see improvement. Mildred allowed
37.9 points per game in 2019.
The Eagles opened the season with five
straight wins, including the first two district
games, but then lost 4 of their last 5, allowing
at least 40 points in each of the losses.
Dalton, who began his career as a secondary
coach, will be more involved coaching
the defense this season. In fact, that already
had started in two-a-days. He believes in
the scheme. He said last year’s struggles on
defense were more about personnel than the
system.
Hayes, Sanford and Elijah Sanford are all
leaders on defense.
“Last year’s group was more of an offensive
group,” Dalton said. “This year’s group has
more of a defensive-minded intensity.”
Dalton has small school roots. He played
at Boyd and coached there under Texas high
school legend JG Cartwright. Dalton’s been a
head coach at Palmer and Godley.
At 49, he’s settled in at Mildred, which is
on its fourth head coach in nine years. His
daughter is a junior at Mildred.
“I come from a program, my head coach
was there for 35 years,” Dalton said. “I’m
used to that kind of stability. I know that’s an
anomaly these days … I’m a small school guy. I
grew up in this kind of atmosphere. I grew up
in this kind of school.
“This is the place I want to call home. I
want to be able to be here as long as I can.”
2019 SCHEDULE
at Leon W 47 - 43
Italy W 35 - 33
at Kerens W 39 - 20
Scurry-Rosser* W 41 - 29
at Gateway Charter* W 58 - 27
Palmer* L 48 - 13
at Rice* L 40 - 22
Buffalo* L 71 - 30
Blooming Grove* W 40 - 27
at Edgewood* L 41 - 33
*District Game
2020 SCHEDULE
Groesbeck Aug. 28
Cayuga Sept. 4
At Kerens Sept. 11
At Italy Sept. 18
Blooming Grove * Sept. 25
At Palmer * Oct. 2
Dallas Gateway * Oct. 9
at Rice * Oct. 16
Bye Week Oct. 23
Edgewood* Oct. 30
At Scurry-Rosser * Nov. 6
*District Game
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