Heading into tonight’s season opener versus Rowlett, head football coach Gregg Miller is trying to turn the team’s biggest weakness into a new-found strength.

Tonight’s game against the Eagles starts at 7:30 p.m. at Max Goldsmith Stadium.

PLAYING BOTH WAYS

One of Miller’s main concerns for the season was the loss of players who left the team for various reasons, including other sports, family reasons, jobs, or fear of injury.

“We had a lot of deserters this year,” Miller said. “We lost a lot of kids. Our weakness is depth.”

Miller found his solution to the depth problem in changing his approach to coaching.

“We decided to start training our kids both ways [on the field – offense and defense],” Miller said. “The strength of our kids is their flexibility and their willingness to be double-trained. They’re having to learn things they’ve never been taught before, in preparation for Friday nights.”

Miller gave the example that wide receivers are being trained to play defensive back and vice versa. Though there are currently no two-way starters, injuries could create extra challenges this season.

“It’d be a heck of deal to lose a bunch of games, and have all these guys standing over here behind me watching, who are capable of playing corner if one of our cornerbacks gets hurt,” Miller said. “It’s kind of one of those pride deals, where I have to say, ‘well, you’re going to have change the way you do things, if you’re going to do this.’”

One of the players who has exemplified the Farmers’ new strength is tight end and back-up defensive lineman senior Spencer Grider.

“He’s one who has looked really good on offense and defense,” Miller said. “I always knew he could do it,  but I didn’t know he’d be doing like he has been. He’s been doing great.”

Other players expected to have an impact this year are tight end Mauricio Acosta, defensive backs Kori Williams and Kenneth Phillips, center Oscar Salinas, and quarterback Adrian Villarreal, all seniors.

ANTICIPATING THE EAGLES

Miller is starting his third year as head coach here, with many goals in sight. One goal is to win tonight’s opener, something the Farmers have not done in the past two seasons.

Rowlett made the playoffs last year with a 4-6 overall record [3-3 in district play] but lost to Longview in the first round. The Farmers finished one game shy of that record last year with a 3-7 overall record [1-4 in district play] to just miss the playoffs.

Rowlett’s standout players are junior quarterback Logan Bonner and senior defensive tackle D.J. Middlebrooks, a Texas Longhorn prospect. Bonner passed for 2,415 yards and 22 touchdowns last year. Miller said the team also has a “big offensive line” and strong talent at wide receivers and defensive line.

“It’s huge for us because Rowlett is a team that makes the playoffs,” said Miller, describing the importance of a win tonight. “We always come out strong.”

NEW DISTRICT, NEW CHALLENGES

The Farmers aren’t the only team in preparation however, as they enter a tough new district [6-6A], including back-to-back state champs in Allen High School, several other ranked teams, and highly-touted college prospects.

Miller said the team needs to make the most of every opportunity to win, considering the difficulty of the schedule and district.

“The main thing is that we play hard, and execute, and let the chips fall where they may,” Miller said. “[Our district is] tough for everybody. The other schools, they’re gonna have to play every week too. Even the top dogs got to play well.”

Miller said the team’s goals this season are to make the playoffs and be as competitive as possible.

“It’s gonna be fun,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Check out all the Farmer football schedules here.