Players to watch
WR Crosby Carmichael S Caden Lewis Offensive line
Matchup to watch
Aug. 29 vs. Alvarado
Godley’ s starting running back and fullback both return, behind a highly experienced offensive line that includes Bohannon. The left tackle is part of a line that brings back four senior starters, with the center position up for grabs between a sophomore and another senior.
With Bohannon’ s confidence in the size on the edge, he attests to Godley’ s offensive success in its ability to make good decisions.
An aspect of the offense that is still up in the air is the quarterback position. The QB competition continues for Godley, who lists two players at the position on their unofficial roster: senior Jaxon Daily and junior Ryder Papasan.
Once the decision is made between either player, Dudgeon feels strongly about the pass catchers despite the loss of two wideouts who were significant producers last year.
Naming receivers such as Nash Pannell and the team’ s leading receiver last season, Crosby Carmichael, Dudgeon also mentioned tight end Tripp Karnes as potential standouts in the passing game.
As for replacing the two graduating wideouts, the outside receivers this year differ in physical stature by being bigger-framed kids, Dudgeon noted. The size allows Godley to manipulate formations better than they did last season.
Defense
Where Dudgeon felt there was a lot of leadership was in a strong defensive unit, especially in the front seven.
Returning six of the seven up front, Diaz represents a linebacker corp that’ s played together since middle school. Feeling bigger and faster, the linebackers look to make up for the loss of size with their speed off the edge.
The defensive backfield took the biggest hit during the offseason and has the most work to do with the amount of new faces coming in.
As part of the secondary, Lewis recalled the first week of 7-on-7 was a work in progress for the Wildcats’ communication.
The safety assured that the secondary will be fine and shock some people with their speed and physicality.
“ The way we finished last year really didn’ t sit well with me,” said Lewis about Godley’ s collapse in the second half against Brock in the 4A Div. II bi-district round.
With the same schedule as last season, the Wildcats head to round two against a large number of formidable opponents.
“ We feel like we’ re right there with them. You’ re going to know a lot about yourself, win or loss, when you start off like that,” said Dudgeon about rematches with Alvarado, Stephenville and Paradise.“ This group is going to really shock some people with how competitive we are with the top group of the state of Texas.”
One of over 30 seniors on the roster, Diaz expects 2025 to be a renaissance of his freshman year, when the Wildcats made the regional finals.
“ I have deep goals for us this year because we have all the tools and materials to do it,” proclaimed Diaz.
For Godley’ s head coach, 2025 is a dream year as the Wildcats have the potential to be a group that can change the program for years to come. johnson county gridiron 2025 21