The Smithville Tigers will be entering the season with a lot stacked against them.
They have been realigned into District 23-3A, which hosts five playoff teams in the six team district, including four that reached the state quarterfinals or better.
On top of that, several of the Tigers’ key players graduated.
However, the Tigers are used to facing challenges and are more ready than ever to pounce on their opponents, which was obvious in their first scrimmage against Lampasas last Saturday.
Head coach Justin Wiley said that the players looked good on the field and that several new varsity faces got in a lot of playing time.
“We will see continued improvement this next year,” Wiley said. “Number wise, our junior and senior classes will be smaller, but we have guys ready to step in.”
According to Wiley, Smithville has graduated 48 football players in the past two years, which is a high number for the 3A school.
The Tigers will have 18 returning lettermen suiting up this fall.
One of those lettermen is linebacker/running back Jacorey Lincoln, who will be entering his third year with the Tigers.
Lincoln said his goal this year is to make it to the playoffs.
“This year, it’s a real fight club,” Lincoln said. “We will be competing with some hard-hitting and physical teams.”
Wiley said Lincoln will not only have a prominent role in defense, as he has in the past, but this year he will serve as a running back, where the Tigers need to replace the speedy Jordan Runnels, who walked-on at SMU.
“I think if Jacorey takes on an increased role in leadership he could finish his senior year with a bang,” Wiley said.
Lincoln, who is a two-time all-district linebacker, said he is ready to take on the pressures of leading the team.
“It is a lot of responsibility,” Lincoln said. “But, with help from friends and other leaders we can pull through.”
Out of all of the teams they are playing this year, Lincoln said he is most looking forward to going against La Grange and Caldwell.
“We always play hard against La Grange because it’s La Grange,” Lincoln said. “Caldwell is also fun to play because its tough and we like the challenge.”
During his three years, Lincoln said his favorite football memory is from his sophomore year, when Smithville shut out district rival La Grange 38-0 on La Grange’s own field.
“I will never forget that game,” Lincoln said. “I would like to see something like that happen again.”
The Smithville Tigers will play one last scrimmage before the season starts against Rice Consolidated today (Thursday) at 7 p.m. on Barry Field.