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
GRAPE CREEK, TX — Tanner Thiel believes this year's Grape Creek football team has the chance to make school history.
The ninth-year Eagles head coach oversaw the program's first share of a district title in 2021, and he led them to their fourth playoff appearance last year.
One accomplishment that has eluded Grape Creek since it opened its doors 27 years ago, however, is a playoff trophy.
With an exciting group of returning — including six starters back on offense and five on defense — Thiel thinks this could be the year that drought ends.
“We've been to the playoffs, but we haven't won that first one, and so that ultimately is our goal. We think we're good enough that we can get kind of the monkey off our back and get that first playoff win,” Thiel said.
Leading the Eagles' returners is running back Sire Garcia, who had 1,260 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 5.5 yards per carry.
Garcia was also a first-team all-district inside linebacker.
“Our kind of workhorse the last couple of years is Sire Garcia," Thiel said. "He's a two-way starter and he makes our offense go. A big playmaker on the defensive side of the ball.”
Braley Woods (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) will take over at quarterback after being named last year's district Utility Player of the Year.
“A really good arm, and a really big kid," Thiel said. "He’s actually our leading receiver coming back because he played tight end with us previously."
Thiel called outside linebacker Chris Duron "an animal" on defense and one of the team's leaders.
Tight end/safety Gabe Santillan and slot back/defensive back Randy Rodriguez are both two-way standouts.
“We really feel like they’re gonna be special players for us this season," Thiel said.
Grape Creek went 4-7 last year and finished in a three-way tie for second place in District 4-3A Division II. The Eagles' season ended with a 42-26 loss to Crane in the first round of the playoffs.
“We feel like this year, instead of losing those close games, we feel like we should be able to win those close games," Thiel said. "So we're to the point where we're not satisfied with keeping them close.”
“I think that this is the type of year that basically turns people's heads about Grape Creek. think our community, our school, our alumni, I feel like this is a year that we can really make them proud. This group of kids that we have coming out this year is some of the best that we've ever had. Talent-wise, top to bottom, it's by far the most talented group that I've had since I've been at Grape Creek.
“I think the main word that comes to mind when I think of our community and our school and our alumni is pride. I think they'll be able to take a lot of pride in the kids that we put out on the field this year.”
Grape Creek Eagles
2025 schedule
Aug. 29 San Saba
Sept. 5 at Reagan County
Sept. 12 at Bangs
Sept. 19 Colorado City
Sept. 26 Tahoka
Oct. 3 at San Angelo TLCA
Oct. 10 at Coahoma*
Oct. 17 Stanton*
Oct. 24 at Wall*
Oct. 31 Merkel*
Nov. 7 OPEN
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