New Boston makes return to Class 2A after UIL realignment

By Johnny Green

Sports Director

NEW BOSTON, Texas—Due to the UIL’s biennial realignment process, New Boston has yo-yoed back and forth between Classes 2A and 3A the past four seasons, spending no more than two consecutive years in the same conference. This year will be a little of both. Although the Lions were dropped to 2A last February, their numbers put them in the Division I (big school) division of the classification, but head coach Rick Barker still sees a lot of difference between now

and when the Lions played a 3A schedule the last two seasons. "It’s like we’ve reversed roles.

We were the small school and underdogs in 3A, and now we’re the big school and the favorites,"

Barker said. "So it’s a little bit different type of pressure

with higher expectations, and

we don’t know how our kids will handle it.

"When we dropped down before, we had trouble adjusting

to playing smaller schools. I think that will be our biggest hurdle this time. We have to be

ready for every team, not just the teams like Daingerfield."

Although the Lions return six starters on both sides of the ball, they have to replace some

quality graduated seniors. "It’s gong to be tough replacing those five we lost on both

sides," Barker said. "They were a big part of what we did, and

we have to have some guys come through at those positions. "New Boston won’t be without

talent, particularly at the skilled positions, where senior Darion

Wade and junior Shakeem Jefferson return at quarterback

and tailback, respectively. Wade inherited the quarterback

position last year when senior Janson Carr was late

reporting due to baseball, and never gave it up, instead teaming

with tight end Carr togive the Lions a better passing threat. "It was a good combination for us, and Darion got better every game," Barker said. "He gave us no reason not to keep him in there. He’s quick and

throws the ball well enough to hurt people. And he’s a threat running the football." Jefferson, a slim, 5-9, 155-poundspeedster, was pressed into action against Mount Vernon last year when the starter was injured and responded with a250-yard effort in the mud. He

finished with more than 800yards rushing in four games, missing the Atlanta contest with an injury." Shakeem also had some good games against pretty good competition after Mount Vernon,"

Barker said. "He can run sideways as good as forward. That’s

what’s good about him. "Sophomore Damien Haskins(5-10, 185) gives the Lions another

running threat at fullback, where he played some last year.

"Damien started at linebacker, but he also played some tailbackfor us as a freshman," Barker

said. "He’ll be our fullback this year. We’re probably going to spread our offense out a little more with the guys we’ve got although we still plan to run

the football. "Senior Terence Lomax (6-3,180) returns at wide receiver, where he had several big catches last year. Senior Ty Nichols(5-11, 165) could also see action

at receiver. Linemen returning are senior Joe Kasitati (6-2, 285) at tackle

and junior L. J. Carroll (6-2, 195)at guard. Replacing 3-year starters Gary Lorance, Cody May

and Carr will be the biggest obstacles. "Joe played all last year and will be our main guy on the

line," Barker said. "He’s pretty good. "L. J. played as a sophomore. He is really smart and play any position on the line. We’re counting on them."

Senior Tyler Garrett (5-10, 190)will start at center, where he

backed up May last year. Senior letterman Zach McIntyre (5-10,190) will step in at the guard opposite Carroll, and senior Trent Clements (6-1, 190),

another senior, will man the

other tackle. Tevin Warren, a 6-1, 200-pound senior will replace

Carr at tight end, where he will be spelled by junior Garrett

Burnett (6-3, 180)."We’ve got a bunch of guys or the offensive line, including

some younger kids we think will be pretty good," Barker said.

Junior Mason Thomas (5-10, 230) will wear two jerseys, backing up Wade at quarterback

when he’s not playing guard in the line. The secondary should be the

strength of the defense, although Wade, who started at safety last year, will not play on that side in early games. Safety Jefferson and senior cornerback Casey Cox (5-10, 180) also return on defense, although Cox is also getting a look at linebacker. Haskins is the only experienced linebacker, necessitating

the move of senior TevinWarren (6-2, 215) from defensive

tackle, where he started last year. Senior DeErrikk Smith(6-2, 170), who didn’t play last

year, will likely man one of the outside linebacking positions. That leaves junior Haydon

Raney (5-10, 190) as the only returnee in the defensive line. "The defensive line is going to be a key for us if we can get some guys to come through there," Barker said. Kasitati, Clements and 5-11,

210-pound sophomore Reginald Scales are candidates as isCarroll. "We’ll have some possible two way

starters in the line," Barker said. "We have some depth and some pretty good competition

for those spots. "As for the kicking game, Barker will likely depend on senior Jorge Cruz, while Warren

will probably punt. Barker sees two-time defending state champion Daingerfield as the team to beat in District8-2A."No doubt Daingerfield stands out. It’s pretty impressive for a school their size to have six

or seven Division I players, "Barker said. As for the Lions, Barker said the jury’s still out. "We think we can be pretty good offensively, but defensively we don’t know," he said. "We can be pretty good or pretty bad.

Offensively, we have enough speed to hurt some folks, but defensively we’re not sure if we

can slow anybody down yet."