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Tough draw: Bobcats get defending champs in season opener
BY Chris O’Dell, codell@starlocalnews.com
Less than a year removed from Celina’s 11-0 start, the Bobcats are looking for similar early-season success in 2012.
The senior-heavy team will also enter the new season with added momentum after winning the two-day Division II FOX Sports Southwest 7-on-7 State Championship in College Station.
However, this year’s team has aspirations beyond any regular season accomplishments and knows another Class 3A state title is possible.
Although key contributors such as running back Jamarick Simmons and offensive lineman Jordan Roos have moved on to the college level, plenty of experience returns for Celina.
Preseason all-state selection Jake Raulerson will anchor the offensive and defensive lines, playing right tackle in the run-oriented offense.
“We’ve got a good group back on the line,” Elliott said. “They’ve been real good so far.”
Junior Erik Freeman will line up at left tackle while seniors Landon Lohmann and Ross Wisdom join Raulerson in protection.
With a year of experience under his belt, sophomore Nathan Elliott will lead the offense from the quarterback position after an efficient summer of 7-on-7 action.
“That experience is crucial,” Elliott said. “He should be able to settle down and just play some football now. He’s still young, but having that experience helps a lot.”
After winning the starting job during Celina’s second game of the season against Prestonwood Christian Academy last year, Elliott completed 106 passes for 1,460 yards and 22 touchdowns while adding 586 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.
The sophomore quarterback will be handing the ball off to junior Deshawn Davis, who started several games in place of an injured Simmons last season.
“I think the big thing for [Davis] has been his confidence this year,” Elliott said. “His confidence has gone up a lot since track season.”
Davis finished the 2011 season with six touchdowns on just 43 carries, averaging more than eight yards per attempt.
With what could be one of the top defenses in the state this year, the Bobcats made it through scrimmages against Wilmer Hutchins and Bridgeport without the first team unit surrendering a touchdown.
“The defense has just been outstanding,” Elliott said.
Raulerson will again line up at nose tackle while his brother Josh leads the group from the middle linebacker position.
“Josh has really been a leader for us,” Elliott said. “He’s done a good job of running the defense.”
Junior Micah Nelson will start the season as the team’s free safety and should give the defense an insurance policy in the secondary.
The unit will have an early test Saturday when the Bobcats face defending Class 2A champion Melissa at Eagle Stadium in Allen.
“[Melissa] has a great team,” Elliott said. “We know them real well and that program has come on really strong in the last few years.”
The two teams were slated for a Week 4 contest last season before rain canceled the game without it being made up.
While Melissa came home with a state championship in hand in 2011, the team graduated a major part of its title team.
“They lost a lot,” Elliott said. “I think they have three starters back on defense and four back on offense.”
Running back Marcus Ellis is one of the four returners on offense for Melissa and tallied nearly 900 yards and 10 touchdowns last season while averaging more than seven yards per carry.
“[Ellis] is a great player and he does a real good job running the ball,” Elliott said.
The two teams will kick off the action at 7:30 p.m. in Allen’s new state-of-the-art venue.
“Our kids are so excited about it,” Elliott said. “It’s like a playoff atmosphere already. It should be a great experience.”
The Bobcats will then return to Celina to play their home opener Sept. 7 against Crandall.
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