Posted 1:50 am Sunday, August 09, 2009
Lions Hoping To Build On Last Year's Success
By HAROLD WILSON
Staff Writer
John Tyler makes its return to the gridiron Monday looking to build off their first playoff win in eight years.
Staff Writer
John Tyler makes its return to the gridiron Monday looking to build off their first playoff win in eight years.
Third-year JT head coach Dereck Rush expects close to 150 returning players to be in attendance for the start of two-a-days, which features practices from 8-10 a.m. and 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Lions, who conducted spring practice, start a week later than many schools. UIL rules call for schools to work out in T-shirts and helmets only the first four days before putting on pads Friday.
A year ago JT opened up practice on a then school-record eight-game losing streak. JT, which went 6-6 last year and advanced to the area round, comes into this season with aspirations of a deep playoff run thanks to a dozen returning starters, including eight who earned all-district first or second-team honors and another six who merited honorable mention.
One preseason poll (HuddleUpTexas.com) puts JT at No. 30 overall in Class 5A, and No. 12 in Division II, to start the season.
"We have 33 seniors and that's the most since I've been here in seven years," said third-year JT head coach Dereck Rush, who served as an assistant for four years before taking over the program. "The high expectations are there. They practiced hard throughout the summer and that tells you they want to win."
JT generated noise in the offseasaon, with four players already committing to Division I schools.
Senior defensive tackle and Texas commit Ashton Dorsey headlines the group, which includes offensive lineman Gerron Anthony (Oklahoma State), wideout Ricky Collins (Southern Methodist) and quarterback Jeremy Johnson (Southern Methodist).
Dorsey, a preseason all-state pick and one of the nation's top 150 recruits according to ESPN U, heads a defense looking to improve on last year, when the Lions allowed opponents an average of 307 yards per game.
The linebacking corps come back in tact, a group led by seniors Alvin Arps, Joe Bayonne and Cliff Caldwell, and junior Antjuan Lee.
The offense brings back several playmakers, paced by Johnson, who totaled more than 2,000 yards of total offense and 19 TDs last year, and Anthony up front.
Ky'Ordric Black stepped off more than 1,700 all-purpose yards, followed by fellow back Kedrick Chancellor with more than 700, averaging an even 9.0 yards per touch.
"Offense will be our strong point, but defensively we've got five guys -- Dorsey and four linebackers -- back," Rush said. "We've definitely got some talent over there, it's just unproven. They've got to get thrown in the fire and see how they turn out. Our motto will be to take it one day, one game and one practice at a time and not look ahead."
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John Tyler 2009 At A Glance
2008 Record:
John Tyler 2009 At A Glance
2008 Record:
6-6 (area finalists).
Key Departures --
OL Reginald Carroll (Emporia State), WR Tarrington Joiner (Arkansas-Monticello), DE Ricky Marshall (Texas A&M-Kingsville), RB De'Trich Morgan (Hardin-Simmons), DB Billy Thompkins (Kilgore), RB Dominic Ward (Arkansas-Monticello), DB LaKendrick Wilkerson (Arkansas-Monticello) and DE Alijah Williams (New Mexico Highlands).
Key Departures --
OL Reginald Carroll (Emporia State), WR Tarrington Joiner (Arkansas-Monticello), DE Ricky Marshall (Texas A&M-Kingsville), RB De'Trich Morgan (Hardin-Simmons), DB Billy Thompkins (Kilgore), RB Dominic Ward (Arkansas-Monticello), DB LaKendrick Wilkerson (Arkansas-Monticello) and DE Alijah Williams (New Mexico Highlands).
Returnees
Starters --
Offense: 7/Defense: 5.
Starters --
Offense: 7/Defense: 5.
All-District Players -- First Team:
OL Gerron Anthony, RB Ky'Ordric Black, RB Kedrick Chancellor, DL Ashton Dorsey, LB Antjuan Lee;
OL Gerron Anthony, RB Ky'Ordric Black, RB Kedrick Chancellor, DL Ashton Dorsey, LB Antjuan Lee;
Second Team:
LB Alvin Arps, K Jesse Diaz, QB Jeremy Johnson.
LB Alvin Arps, K Jesse Diaz, QB Jeremy Johnson.
All-East Texas Players -- First Team:
OL Anthony, Dorsey;
OL Anthony, Dorsey;
Second Team:
Black.
All-State Players --
Dorsey (honorable mention).
Black.
All-State Players --
Dorsey (honorable mention).
Statistical Leaders
Rushing Att.-Yds.-TDs
K. Black 156-933-5
Rushing Att.-Yds.-TDs
K. Black 156-933-5
J. Johnson 168-896-9
K. Chancellor 67-486-3
Passing Co.-Att.-Int.-Yds.-TDs
K. Chancellor 67-486-3
Passing Co.-Att.-Int.-Yds.-TDs
J. Johnson 117-221-8-1,141-10
Receiving No.-Yds.-TDs
Receiving No.-Yds.-TDs
K. Black 27-220-4
Total Offense Yards-TDs
J. Johnson 2,037-19
Total Offense Yards-TDs
J. Johnson 2,037-19
All-Purpose Yards-TDs
K. Black 1,704-9
K. Chancellor 718-4
K. Black 1,704-9
K. Chancellor 718-4
Sacks No.
A. Arps 3
2009 Schedule
Date Opponent Time
A. Arps 3
2009 Schedule
Date Opponent Time
Aug. 21 Longview# 6:00
Aug. 28 at Texas High 7:30
Aug. 28 at Texas High 7:30
Sept. 4 Lufkin 7:30
Sept. 11 Arlington Lamar 7:30
Sept. 11 Arlington Lamar 7:30
Sept. 18 at WF Rider 7:30
Sept. 25 Lewisville 7:30
Sept. 25 Lewisville 7:30
Oct. 9 at Mesquite Horn* 7:30
Oct. 16 at Mesquite* 7:30
Oct. 16 at Mesquite* 7:30
Oct. 23 North Mesquite* 7:30
Oct. 30 Robert E. Lee* 7:30
Oct. 30 Robert E. Lee* 7:30
Nov. 6 DeSoto* 7:30
# --
Scrimmage;
* --
11-5A game
# --
Scrimmage;
* --
11-5A game
