HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 15
that helped keep the ground game going . Senior quarterback , Devon Wilson filled in as a quarterback and also had some moments .
But without two of their guys , the offense stalled on several occasions as they averaged 20 points per game and were shut out twice in district games .
“ Hunter going down was a huge punch , but we had guys step up . Dillon Thomas stepped up and carried the ball well . We weren ’ t crippled that much , but when your starting quarterback and running back go down for what felt like an eternity , we had some kids step up ,” Schaub said . “ We were fortunate to have some leadership . If not we would have fallen apart .”
While New Waverly had an opportunity to lay down and let the season go , the Bulldogs preserved with 16 seniors who weren ’ t ready to give up on the season . And luckily for the Bulldogs , neither were the underclassmen .
New Waverly saw nonstarters come up and tell Schaub that they would play wherever they were needed in order to make the team successful at the end of the season .
“ I think we put those kids in positions to be leaders when they are young ,” Schaub said . “ We told the seniors in Week 9 , we can give you two more games but the third is up to you . Surprisingly we had some kids step up that I didn ’ t think would and we banded together .”
The Bulldogs got into the playoffs and were set to play one of the best teams at the 3A , DII level . The Eagles were a perfect 10-0 and Dave Campbell ’ s Texas Football had them slated to come out of the region as the champion .
However , New Waverly gave them a run for their money , despite what the scoreboard showed .
New Waverly held them to 43 points , their fourth-lowest in the 11 games they won in 2024 . The Bulldogs were playing their best ball when it counted and gave them an opportunity to shine in the upcoming year .
“ Realistic expectations where they are a one seed and we are a four seed , so we just have to go out and compete ,” Schaub said . “ That was the most impressive game , to me , that we played all year . We did things we hadn ’ t done all year . Devon played one of his best games in four years . All of our seniors played a big part and it was great to see we competed against the third team in the state .”
While the season ended in the bi-district round , New Waverly still has plenty to grow from this year . The Bulldogs have their quarterback of the future in Ryson Nunez .
Nunez led New Waverly in the final few games on the field despite having his left arm amputated in the womb after a tear in the amniotic sac . With the top spot on offense likely settled , the Dogs will have plenty of experience coming back to help get them back to where they were in 2021 .
HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 15