It’s the beginning of a new season for the varsity football team, complete with new uniforms and, thanks to a trip to the state quarterfinals, new expectations and higher standards. The Farmers keep their focus with familiar opponents on the schedule as the team will host the Naaman Forest Rangers on Friday, Aug. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Like last year, the non-district schedule also includes games against Highland Park and Mesquite. 

“It’s exciting,” head coach Michael Odle said. “Our culture is in place and the kids are bought into it, ringing the bell each day and taking ownership of what we want to do and how we want to do it. We’re just excited to see that play out on the football field.”

The team already hit the field in a scrimmage at home against the Byron Nelson Bobcats last Thursday. The Bobcats finished their first two drives with field goals, while senior quarterback Ethan Terrell threw a fade to the corner of the end zone and later scored a touchdown on a designed quarterback run play.

“It was a great wake-up call,” senior running back Viron Ellison said. “We could finally play someone that’s not our team and we’re able to hit someone else to really get some real good practice in.”

Even as the varsity teams took the field at 7:30 p.m., temperatures were in the high 90s. Because forecasts predict similar temperatures for Friday, kickoff was moved to 7:30 p.m., half an hour later than usual. 

“We’re going to play a lot of people with the heat and with it being early in the season,” Odle said. “We’re letting kids compete and get after it, showing off our depth. By the time we start district, we should know who’s taking the majority of snaps.”

Last season’s opener at Naaman Forest ended in a 28-6 win for the Farmers. All four of the team’s touchdowns came from run plays.

“They held us to 28 points when we were a 30-plus point scoring team last year,” Ellison said. “Teams are going to try and stop the run, so they’ll probably come out stacking the box. We’re probably going to come out this year with a lot more passing.”

The Rangers would finish 5-6, making the playoffs for the seventh straight year. Junior quarterback DeAngelo Perales finished his first year as a starter with 22 touchdown passes. Although the team lost senior wide receiver Jason Flores, who is now focusing on baseball, Perales will have several returning wideouts such as junior Dylan Turner, who was second on the Rangers with 417 yards and six touchdowns.

“They’re a playoff team,” Odle said. “They have an experienced quarterback who can make dynamic plays, so they’ve got a good thing going. It’s a big test for us.”

The Rangers have key starters to replace, most notably at running back and along the defensive line. Junior Ivan Garcia was the Rangers’ leading rusher against the Farmers a season ago and could be next in line for the starting running back position. Ultimately, the Rangers will have to depend on younger players to make an impact early. 

“They’re a simple offense [to us],” senior linebacker Mark Cooper said. “We could go further than we did last year not only because of the new people but because the football IQ we have this year is different.”

The Farmers, meanwhile, have several returning starters, including four along the offensive line. Terrell and Ellison scored a combined 30 rushing touchdowns behind that line a season ago, and Terrell added six touchdown passes through the air. 

“I think we have a quarterback that can do anything we ask him to do,” Odle said. “I think he’s very talented. Ultimately, we’re going to see what we’re really good at and keep doing it. Secondly it’s predicated on how teams play. If the box is loaded, then we’re gonna throw it.”

The defense, which held opposing offenses to under 14 points per game last season, also has star players returning. Senior cornerback Tony-Louis Nkuba broke out last season with a team-leading seven interceptions. Senior safety and utility player Jaydan Hardy, a four-star recruit who committed to the Oklahoma Sooners over the summer, should see playing time in all phases of the game again this year. 

“The defense was great last year, and I feel like they’re even better this year,” Ellison said. “We’ve got a stronger team this year, and I feel like we’re going to do something special.”

The biggest question is how the defensive line performs after having to replace three of its top players from a season ago as defensive ends Carl Malvo and Rendell Carter and defensive tackle Mason Johnson have all graduated.

“Those are three really good players who we don’t have coming back,” Odle said. “The new players stepping up don’t need to be them. They need to be themselves and the best version of themselves.”

Odle mentioned juniors Sean Oliver and Rhyan Sewell as defensive linemen who could show out this season.

“Those are names that are going to be called a lot,” Odle said. “The good thing about defense is it’s a team game. Everybody’s got to do their part. Our relentless effort and our preparation never goes into a slump. So no matter who you are, if you play hard and you’re prepared, you get a chance.”

Last season, the Farmers won their first district championship in 21 years and advanced to the Region 1 finals before falling 24-13 against Prosper. The Farmers enter the season ranked at No. 15 among class 6A teams on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football staff poll. Success brings notoriety and higher expectations against tougher competition, which is why the coaches stress the same “game at a time” mentality that has brought the Farmers this far. 

“I got people in my DMs saying ‘Can’t wait to play y’all,’” Ellison said. “But like coach always says, names don’t matter. We’re a playoff team now, looking forward to playing teams late like Duncanville and Prosper. We just have to get there first.”