By Greg Jaklewicz
Photos Courtesy of WylieSports.com
Wylie welcomes Coronado for Homecoming at Hugh Sandifer Stadium
Last Week’s Lessons
The building process continues for the Wylie Bulldogs, who welcome Lubbock Coronado to Hugh Sandifer Stadium for homecoming.
Wylie is 1-1 after a 24-21 loss at Lubbock Monterey. The Bulldogs led at halftime and twice in the second half, but the Plainsmen utilized their size advantage on the offensive line and their knack to convert on third down to hold off Wylie to even the 10-year series at five wins apiece.
“They are a very good football team,” Wylie coach Clay Martin said of Monterey. “We play a non-district schedule that is built to challenge us … and to expose us at times … so we can make adjustments and get better.
“Overall, it was a very competitive game and one that we used to learn a lot about our football team.”
Martin liked seeing his team respond when it got behind, putting together two long drives that quickly ate up Lowrey Field turf.
“There was never any hesitation as to our response,” he said. “We were able to answer some adversity that we were facing for the first time this year.”
This came despite senior running back Julius Laine gaining just 38 yards after busting 120 in the opener against Brownwood.
“Obviously, a lot of that has to be credit to Monterey,” Martin said. “They were packing the box, and as time goes on, we need to stress controlling the line of scrimmage. We’re going to continue to run the football.”
Sizing Up Coronado
Coronado is 0-2, with losses coming to Wylie district rivals Wichita Falls Legacy (28-22) and Lubbock-Cooper (49-14). The Mustangs, coming off a 3-7 season, are picked fifth in District 2-5A, Division I.
The Pirates, on the other hand, are the favorite to win District 2-5A, Division II, with Wylie expected to challenge for its third title in four years.
While Martin constructs a pre-district schedule that he hopes lays a foundation for success in district play, Coronado is doing the same.
The Mustangs have been down the past three seasons after a major run of success. Coronado has gone 8-22, including a 41-12 loss last season to Wylie. The Bulldogs gave up less than 200 yards on defense and shut out the Mustangs in the second half. It was the first meeting between the two teams.
However, the Mustangs were galloping for six seasons before their recent downturn.
2017: Went unbeaten until losing 69-49 to Denton Ryan in the fourth round of the Class 5A, Division I playoffs.
2020: Went unbeaten during the regular season, but their 12-game streak ended with a 42-41 double-overtime loss to Red Oak in the third round.
Overall: In six years, Coronado was 60-17 with two district titles.
Last week, Lubbock-Cooper set the tone for a blowout early, scoring first with a pick-six in the opening quarter.
QB J.J. Villalobos threw two touchdown passes but finished with only 101 yards on seven completions.
WR Campbell Stanek, a senior with 4.4 speed, caught both TD passes and four total receptions. He had eight scoring catches in 2024.
RB Za’Vondric Stevenson added 70 yards on just four carries.
RB Darien Brooks ran 12 times for 40 yards.
OL Jemar Richey (6-3, 280) and Sebastian Rosales (6-3, 205) give size up front.
DB Willie Crain has attracted Division I attention.
“They will be a challenge for us,” Martin said.
How to Corral Coronado
The Mustangs will be Monterey-like in many ways.
“Once again, (our opponent) is athletic at certain positions and they possess some great size on their offensive line,” Martin said. “That is something we’ll have to deal with again. They are going to be aggressive on both sides of the ball.”
Martin said it’s key to eliminate big plays, and so far, Wylie has done well there.
Longest Brownwood play in Week 1: 17-yard run
Longest Monterey play in Week 2: 29-yard pass
Game-winner vs. Monterey: 26-yard TD pass
Wylie addressed third-down situations in practice.
“It’s really happened both weeks. We need to get off the field. It has been a point of emphasis this week,” Martin said. “To be a good football team, those downs, really on both sides of the ball, will make or break you. We’ve got to get better in our third-down play.”
Wylie is not a finished work, Martin added. The playbook will expand, and players are still competing for spots.
“There still is personnel that has a lot of competition going on for positions,” he said. “We’re still playing a sizeable number of people at certain spots. But it’ll all work itself out as we get more experience and more reps.”
The Bulldogs are starting a number of juniors to offset key losses to graduation.
Big Picture in District 2-5A
Wylie has two more non-district games remaining. To date, the district looks highly competitive. Only Wichita Falls Memorial is unbeaten; the other six teams are 1-1, each notching a good win.
“I think every game will be a dogfight,” Martin said. “That’s why experiencing that early on is good for the Bulldogs.”
District 2-5A Standings (Non-district)
Team | W | L |
|---|---|---|
WF Memorial | 2 | 0 |
Wylie | 1 | 1 |
Ab. Cooper | 1 | 1 |
WF Legacy | 1 | 1 |
Am. Palo Duro | 1 | 1 |
Lub-Cooper | 1 | 1 |
Plainview | 1 | 1 |
Week 2 District 2-5A Results
Lubbock Monterey 24, Wylie 21
Amarillo Palo Duro 48, Amarillo Caprock 0
Abilene High 34, Abilene Cooper 13
Lubbock-Cooper 49, Lubbock Coronado 14
Plainview 49, Pampa 41
Amarillo Tascosa 53, Wichita Falls Legacy 3
Wichita Falls Memorial 33, Frenship 26
Week 3 Schedule
Friday
Lubbock Coronado at Wylie
Amarillo Palo Duro vs. Canyon
Abilene Cooper at San Angelo Central
Lubbock-Cooper vs. Amarillo Tascosa
Plainview at Hereford
Wichita Falls Legacy at Frenship
Wichita Falls Memorial vs. Fort Worth Dunbar