Players Matchup to watch
WR / MLB Bleu Hubbard RB / LB Elijah Dominguez Offensive line
to watch
Sept. 19 at Malakoff yards and 27 touchdowns, while incorporating his running ability with 529 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
With a full year of experience under center, learning from the mistakes he made in crucial games such as Mexia, Landers has spent the offseason getting faster and watching plenty of film.
Also coming off a sophomore year is one of three returning receivers and one of Landers’ favorite targets, Kason Sanders.
A season where he gained a great amount of mental toughness, Sanders caught 34 passes for 557 yards and five touchdowns.
A Zebra whose impact will be felt dramatically on both sides of the ball is the 2024 all-district MVP, wide receiver and linebacker Bleu Hubbard.
Defense
Hubbard accounted for 770 yards of
total offense and nine touchdowns last season, but received much praise for his work in the middle of the defense.
102 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and eight quarterback pressures for Hubbard, who didn’ t even appear in the final two games of the year after breaking his foot against Mexia.
The recovery process has gone smoothly as Hubbard prepares for 2025.
“ We’ ve always been able to battle through lots of adversity, whether that be not having a lot of depth, people doubting us, or people counting on us to win,” said Hubbard.“ When the odds are stacked against us, we still always find ways to be successful.”
Set on earning first-team allstate, Hubbard hopes his efforts lead the Zebras back to glory.
“ I want everyone to just know my name, and I want teams to fear me when they see me; that is my ultimate goal,” said the MVP.“ At the end of the day, though, it doesn’ t matter about my goals, but the teams. I wanna see my team holding up that state championship trophy in December, that is the No. 1 goal.”
Overall, the Zebra defense brings size up front and returns all but three players from 2024.
With the same schedule this year, Ebner’ s honesty about the strength of schedule stands.
“ I told them, as a program, I can’ t get you easy games,” said the head coach.“ If you think these games are going to mean anything other than getting better, then you’ re confusing yourself and it’ s going to be tough on you.”
For Bason, it doesn’ t matter who Grandview plays. It’ s about how they start and the way they finish. johnson county gridiron 2025 23