MILES, TX — With only two starters back on both sides of the ball, it looks on paper like the Miles Bulldogs may be in for a rebuilding year this football season.
On the field, Jayson Wilhelm is seeing something different.
The sixth-year Miles head coach said the Bulldogs have good numbers this fall and more returning experience than their numbers suggest.
“We’ve got over 40 kids playing, and that’s good. And although we don’t have a lot of starters returning, there are quite a few guys that got a lot of varsity experience, so I’m excited,” Wilhelm said. “We’ve got a couple new faces, and a couple that didn’t play that are back out, so there’s a lot of energy right now and a lot of young guys trying to prove themselves. It’s been pretty refreshing to be out here at practice.”
Miles went 8-3 last year, the Bulldogs’ third straight season with eight wins. Despite the big hit from graduation, they returned to the 7-on-7 state tournament over the summer for the fourth straight year.
Having junior quarterback Liam Yancy back among the handful returners is a significant help. He threw for 2,472 yards and 34 touchdowns with 10 interceptions, while completing 64% of his passes and leading an offense that averaged 36 points per game.
“Any time you return a player, especially a quarterback, that had as good a season last year as Liam did gives you confidence,” Wilhelm said. “I think the senior class last year really embraced him as a sophomore. … I think this year, he’s confident and knows he can get it done, and now he’s bringing these other guys up to his level and stepping up into a leadership role.”
The only other returner on offense is lineman Jaxon Hohensee (5-foot-11, 220 pounds), who Wilhelm said had a “phenomenal summer.”
Sophomore Ryder Satepauhoodle are slated to see time at running back. Satepauhoodle averaged five yards per carry in limited action last season.
Karmany and Caleb Guzman are expected to be the team’s top receivers. Miles will have a lot of production to replace after the graduation of Cooper Ellison, who over a two-year span had 136 catches for 2,450 yards and 38 TDs.
“At the skill positions, we’re still going to be pretty athletic and pretty dangerous there,” Wilhelm said. “We can still win games. We might just look a little bit different with our way of doing it.”
On the offensive line, Dalton Fischer, Jace Holik, Weston Beck will join Hohensee.
Miles’ two returning starters on defense are Hohensee on the defensive line and Kaden Karmany at safety.
Senior linebacker Dalton Fischer was limited by injuries last year but should be a difference-maker if he can stay healthy.
Curry Smithwick is a defensive lineman who came out for football this year that is “kind of a game changer for us,” Wilhelm said. “He’s a big kid with a good motor.”
Satepauhoodle will help Karmany lock down the secondary.
Texas Football picked Miles to drop from second place to fourth in District 7-2A Division II, but Wilhelm said he believes the Bulldogs are still the district’s second-best team behind Albany.
Beyond this season, Wilhelm hopes Miles can continue to chip away at the gap between them and Albany. He’s hopeful the Bulldogs will finally have enough numbers to play a full JV schedule.
Miles’ season begins Friday, Aug. 29, at home against Sonora. The Bulldogs’ district slate starts Oct. 10 at home against Albany.
Miles Bulldogs
2025 schedule
Aug. 29 Sonora
Sept. 5 at Sterling City
Sept. 12 at Johnson City
Sept. 19 Eldorado
Sept. 26 Ozona
Oct. 3 OPEN
Oct. 10 Albany*
Oct. 17 Cross Plains*
Oct. 24 at Hamlin*
Oct. 31 Winters*
Nov. 7 at Roscoe*
*District 7-2A Division II game
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