Following a 10-2 season in 2023, the Jags went into the offseason and began to train. A motto amongst the team arose.
“The team motto was ‘Next Step’ because it was taking a step further from last season and to making this past season even better,” junior center Joshua McNeil said.
‘Next Step’ was meant to push players to secure another district championship and further into the playoffs. But that can also mean facing unlikely scenarios as a team and working harder for that ‘Next Step.’
The Jags opened the season against Judson, a newfound rival following the Pigskin Classic in 2022, beating the Rockets 27-21. They fell to the Pieper Warriors the following week 38-24, but came back to defeat McAllen Memorial 49-21. After the near loss triple overtime game against Brandeis 21-19 in the district opener, adjustments were made.
“We had to change our whole defense after the Pieper and Brandeis games after we had several injuries,” senior safety Sam Draper said. “Everybody had to play a part because we lost some essential players, so overall it was just like a rebuild.”
Luckily, coaches prepared the boys in pads for situations like these in the offseason.
“We try to put the athletes through adverse situations,” head coach TP Miller said. “There’s a quote that we always like to use by as ‘pressure busts pipes, but pressure also creates diamonds,’ and so we try to make sure our athletes understand that we put them in adverse situations where we can make sure that we’re working together and push through that as a team, not as an individual, but as a team.”
Thanks to the adjustments made on the field, the Jags were able to secure the undefeated district champs title following wins against tough opponents like Reagan 21-3 and Clark on Thursday Night Lights 34-21. They advanced to the bi-district playoff game, knocking out the Taft Raiders 49-7.
“First game was against Taft, and we just did really well,” sophomore offensive lineman Terrin Abrego said. ”We communicated well, and we executed just as we were supposed to, Bryson [Thompson] did really well. He had four touchdowns that game.”
The season came to an unexpected end for the district champions with an area round loss to Lake Travis 55-27.
“Lake Travis is an Austin team, in Austin, they’re just all about football,” Abrego said. “Unfortunately, we did lose. Well, this was our second year losing to them, but next year we plan to come back stronger and we’re gonna beat them.”
Preparing for the 2025-2026 season, the Jags are continuing the ‘Next Step’ mindset with the same goals from this season.
“I think that [Next Step]’s played a factor in this season with like, ‘how much more can we do?’” Abrego said. “It’s like a constant mountain, like, at the bottom of a mountain, it’s beat the first three out of district teams, and then the next part of the mountain is win district, next is go to state, and it’s just on and on and on. Next season, just be ready. We’re coming.”
