As tonight’s season opener against Rowlett quickly approaches, head football coach Gregg Miller is confident in the ability of the team to win the first opener in three years.

The game begins at 7 p.m. at Homer B. Johnson Stadium.

New year, new goals

Miller has a different outlook going into this year’s season due to the change in coaching staff. The team has new head coordinators for defense and offense. The new defensive coordinator is coach Austin Kaehn, and the new offensive coordinator is coach Brandon Franklin. This new addition to the staff gives Miller hope to become a more competitive team in an already difficult district.

“Everybody in this district has to be ready every single week,” Miller said. “There’s nobody in this district that can’t beat somebody in this district. You better be ready every week or you’re gonna end up not getting in.”

A new kind of serious

One problem the football team has faced in the past is a lack of focus and failure to get serious. They still have some minor issues within the team, but according to Miller, the players are much more mature.

“This team is a very serious bunch,” Miller said. “They know when it’s time to focus and get serious.”

Unfortunately a key player, quarterback Adrian Villarreal, graduated last year. To make up for him, senior Aubreion Bobb is stepping up to the plate, and according to Miller, he’s doing a good job so far.

“He runs our offense very well,” Miller said. “Aubreion doesn’t do things that hurt us. On an offense like ours, we need a guy who knows his limitations and doesn’t get you hurt. His strength is his mentality.”

Similar to last year, the team is having difficulty with depth. Lacking in backups for certain positions such as safeties is causing the scout team to step up and fill the holes. The team hopes this will be enough to make up for the lack of filler players. Luckily former injured player senior Dontae McGee is fully healed and is returning to his running back position to give the team a strong ground game for the upcoming season.

PUTTING THE EAGLES DOWN

Going into this game will not be easy. The Rowlett Eagles went 8-4 last season, and two rounds into the playoffs. This year they are being led by senior quarterback Logan Bonner again after two successful seasons. Miller knows it will be a challenge, and doesn’t deny that they have a good team.

“Rowlett’s got one of the top quarterbacks in the area,” Miller said. “He’s already committed to Arkansas State. They also got their offensive and defensive sophomore of the year returning.”

Last year the Farmers lost to the Eagles by three points in the season opener game.

“We felt like we could have beat them,” Miller said. “We should have beat them. We’re gonna go out there with a chip on our shoulder because we’re not really happy about it.”

See the full Farmer football schedule here.