The John Cooper School Football 2014 PREVIEW

First home football game is Friday, August 29 vs. The Woodlands Christian Academy at 7 p.m. It's a GREEN OUT, so expect some school spirit!

"The commitment level these boys have shown in the summer with strength and conditioning and 7-on-7 should prove to be a catalyst for a great season for the Dragons. The boys have bought into our plan and are working very hard. I expect to see them continue to improve daily"- Coach Brent Landrum

Still an emerging program, The John Cooper School begins its fourth year of football and third year of high school football this season. This is the second year Cooper will have a varsity football team, but the first year that they will play all 12 contests (two scrimmages and 10 games) against varsity teams. Cooper will field a Varsity, JV, 8th grade, 7th grade, and a 6th grade team. The ability to field five teams depends on solid numbers and this year Cooper will suit up 110 football players over seven grade levels. (52 upper school level, 58 middle school, plus 6 student managers.)

The varsity team now competes in the newly-formed Southwest Preparatory Conference (SPC) Independent Division for football only, with Austin St. Andrew's, Austin St. Stephen's, and San Antonio Saint Mary's Hall. The four teams will play a round-robin schedule. Cooper will play SPC Division I opponents Dallas Greenhill and Houston St. Johns. This will mark the first games in school history versus SPC Division I opponents. In all, Cooper will play five SPC teams this season.

Key Matchups Thevarsity team is prepared for a challenging schedule. The varsity team will scrimmage Bay Area Christian and Second Baptist. Home games will be againstWoodlands Christian, St. John's, Ft. Bend Christian, Austin St. Andrew's, and San Antonio Saint Mary's Hall. Away games will be against Dallas Greenhill, Rosehill Christian, Cypress Christian, Austin St. Stephen's and Village School. Players To Watch Varsity returns 23 of 43 lettermen from last year's 6-4 (3-4 and Varsity games and 3-0 in games versus JV teams) team. After graduating 15 seniors, Cooper has 10 senior football players this season.

Defense: the team will be led by junior inside linebacker Andrew Coleman (5'11", 190 lbs., 43 tackles) and senior Dragon safety Parker Wooden (5'10", 170 lbs., 48.5 tackles). Sophomore inside linebacker Emerson Raybon (6'2", 230 lbs.) will provide experience and size in the middle. Senior cornerbacks Alex Farley (5'7", 150 lbs.) and Sam Hodges (5'10", 155 lbs.) look to lead the secondary. Senior defensive tackle Alec Mitchell (6'0", 245 lbs.) and sophomore defensive tackle A.J. Krehbiel (5'10", 215 lbs.) look to anchor the defensive line.

Offense: Dragons spread offense will be led by junior quarterback Michael Gerber (6'3", 175 lbs., 2,078 yards, 23 TDs) and senior running back Clark Hyde (5'10", 190 lbs., 48 carries, 210 yards, 20 receptions, 177 yards, 4 total TDs). The Dragons aremost experienced on the offensive line with three juniors that all have significant playing experience. Tackles John Finnerty (6'2", 180 lbs.) and Nicholas Ruffcorn (6'2", 180 lbs.) along with guard Davis Nitcher (6'0", 200 lbs.) look to anchor the line along with center Krehbiel and junior guard Salvador Recio (5'7", 165 lbs.) Hodges is the leading returning receiver (30 receptions, 367 yards, 3 TDs)

Senior Ray Walker (6'2", 170 lbs.) looks to replace All-Montgomery County second team receiver Iker Pimienta ('14). The receiving corps has more depth than any position on the field for the Dragons. Senior Sebastian Calleja (5'8", 165 lbs.), senior Riley Pepper (6'1", 165 lbs.), senior Matt Milano (5'11", 155 lbs.) and junior Kevin Henry (5'11", 175 lbs.) all look to contribute as receivers.

2013 (First varsity football team in school history) season record: 6-4