Alief Elsik High School - Ramblings Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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 ckoff returner Carlos Ver- itequl decides on which Iroctlon to run after receiving the kick off during the second half of the Katy game. Photo by L. Cates Runningback Ray Milsap 1 Junior Varsity District: 2nd Opp. Score Houston Loo 7- 6 McCullough 6-15 Katy 12-13 Spring Woods 13- 6 Stratford 21- 7 Memorial 6-21 Northbrook 14- 7 Spring Branch 14- 6 Westchestor 9- 7 Hastings 6-10 Junior Runningback Randy Rios runs over one Stratford dofondor while trying to keep his balance so he can gain moro yards. Photo by L. Cates ach O'Keefe tries to decide next In the Katy game. Photo what defense he will use by L. Cates Junior Varsity Football 61

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'Copley Brought The Team Together By Instilling Confidence’ I didn’t expect them to go nine and one. but I did expect them to be winners and they proved to be that.” said Coach Copley. With their second winning season in a row. the junior varsity football team went six and four, five and two in district play. A 7-6 victory over Houston Lee, highlighted by an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown by Rob Rathgeber. got the team off on the right foot. “Many things contributed to the success of our team, but our defense had to be the key, especially our secondary. Not very many teams could pass against us and that stopped a lot of drives of opposing teams wanting to score.” stated Junior Rodney Allen. Another part of the team’s success was due in part to the play of runningback Randy Rios who picked up clutch yards when the team needed it. ’’Coach Copley brought the team together by instilling confidence and moral support for the players so that we always had a positive outlook on all the games,” said Junior Rob Atiqi. “Coach Copley was great. He really pushed us so that we could become the best players that we could be. Not only that, he also stood behind us 100% in whatever we did. and that really helped.” added David Phillips. Of course, every year the last game of the season is against Hastings. The Bears came into the game without a defeat in district play. Despite a great defensive effort by the team, the Bears were the victors on a 52-yard field goal to give them the win. putting Elsik second in district competition, preceded only by Hastings. By B. Payne. Reporter Devin Longuet looks for an opening after deciding not to pitch the ball. Photo by L. Cates Carlos Verastequi stops a stopped the Tigers on a third playor from advancing in the down play, and gave Elsik Katy game. The tackle the ball. Front: B. Locke, C. Campbell, P. Bowor, R. Kasper. T. Fusco. T. Vlnh. Second: R. Blankenship, R. Rathgeber, J. Beadle, D. Longuet, T. Navarez. S. Lee, C. Yu, D. Isaacks. Third: N. Hoyt, M. Middloton, B. Roquemore, B. Leaumont, T. Mesa, D. Orsak, C. Verastequi. Back: R. Mil- sap, R. Atiqi, R. Ober, Hanst.D. Phillips, M. Howe. Pace, P. Jones. Photo by Teot 60 Junior Varsity Football

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H.B. 72 Eligibility Reduces Opportunities For Sophomore Wins It was an extremely frustrating and unusual year for the sophomore football team and their two coaches. Both Coach Fawcett and Coach Rayome started off feeling optimistic, but for the first game. Lee coaches informed them that Lee didn't have a sophomore team to play due to H.B. 72 eligibility requirements. So the coaches decided to reschedule the game against Katy in place of Lee. Four more cancellations caused the team to play only seven games all year. Even with these setbacks, the team D. Johnson gets ready to stop a Katy runningback behind really came through. “The boys have shown a real good effort this year. stated Coach Fawcett who was a great instiller of confidence. “Coach Fawcett is very confident in our ability to play football and that helps us players a lot,” stated Lee Smitherman. “If we didn't have all those cancellations we could have beaten Northbrook, but the boys kept a good attitude all year.” added Coach Fawcett. “The team really played together great, said Sophomore Mark Packwood. who tho line of scrimmage. Photo by B. Mitchell caught the winning touchdown against Brazoswood. Another reason for the wins was defense. “Coach Rayome is a great defensive coach, and he knows how to psych up for the games.” added Packwood. “The last game against Hastings was a tough loss for us. We just didn’t have any defense.” explained Lee about the loss. Hastings racked up twenty-nine points against the tough defense. Chris Samuel tries to ward off an opposing Katy tackier. Chris was a big factor in team success, contributing over 700 yards In Just seven games. Photo by B. Mitchell - v. Front: T. Schumacher. S. Munshl, R. Castillo, L. Smlthorman, K. Campbell, L. Patln, S. Burg, K. McDaniel, T. An. Second: N. Terasas, C. Lee, E. Leon, K. Johnson, A. Espinosa, P. Flores, C. Samuel, K. Price, D. Brady, E. Robles. Third: T. Palumbo, V. Smith, T. Gallagher, G. Bowersox, J. Mitchell, A. Rodney, C. Morgan, A. Gully, J. Leo. Fourth: T. Harrison, J. Rutherford, M. Packwood, L. Smitherman, R. Cradit, S. Codner, R. Curren, R. Peters, Johnson, M. Williams. Bujnoch, G. Cuellar. Ba Coach L. Fawcett, Coach Rayome. Photo by C. Tea 62 Sophomore Football