Experienced backfield expected to lead young City View team

Heath Aldrich knows there’s pressure to sustain City View’s recent success after the Mustangs’ offensive coordinator was promoted to replace the program’s all-time winningest coach in Rudy Hawkins.

What better way to ease that pressure than knowing you’ve got an experienced backfield to handle the football?

City View only has four seniors on its roster, but quarterback Jacobe Monroe plus tailbacks Jeremiah Durham and Kiauntre Gresham are ready to make their final year with the Mustangs their best yet.

“We’ve got the majority of our skill kids back, and even with that, we’re still going to be really young,” Aldrich said. “But I really feel good about our backfield.”

Monroe threw for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall in his first season as a starter. Aldrich said he expects his 6-foot-1 signal-caller to make a big jump after attending multiple quarterback camps this summer.

“As the season progressed, he did a lot better making reads and throwing the football,” Aldrich said. “He’s bigger, stronger, faster now. He’s going to have to run the football quite a bit more this year.”

A year ago, the Mustangs pounded the ball more than they ever had in recent memory. Losing a couple of key linemen plus having an abundance of skill kids has Aldrich expecting Monroe to air it out more often.

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If City View decides to keep the ball on the ground, Durham provides a home-run threat every time he touches the pigskin. The speedster has racked up 1,729 yards and 19 touchdowns over the past two seasons and is primed for a breakout senior year.

“He had some nagging injuries last year that carried over to track, but he’s healthy and we’re going to turn him loose,” said Aldrich, who will retain play-calling duties. “Jeremiah’s really improved in the passing game, his hands have gotten a lot better.”

While Durham is more likely to run outside the tackles, Gresham and junior Keshawn Perry are tough runners in between the hash marks.

It’s not just the backfield that has Aldrich excited about his first season as head coach at his alma mater. The Mustangs return seven starters on both sides of the ball and are projected to be one of Holliday’s biggest challengers in 6-3A Division II.

“I’m stoked about this,” Aldrich said. “Things have been going great and I think we have a bright future, especially with all the young guys we’ve got.”

OFFENSE

After a slow start in non-district, the Mustangs averaged 25.5 points a game on their way to a third-place finish in 6-3A.

Losing Kendrick Gibson Jr. hurts the Mustangs at wideout, but junior Desmond Whiteside and his cousin and sophomore Matthew Whiteside will look to fill that void. Sophomores Malachi Williams and Hunner Brown will also provide depth at wideout.

Sophomore Blaine Hill and junior Brett Corn return and will be bookend tackles, while senior Jerry Souther is penciled in at center.

More: What does Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine predict for local teams and athletes?

DEFENSE

Hawkins had previously called the defense, so now that task goes to Josh Thetford, who is in his second season after coming over from Burkburnett. Alrdrich said to expect the Mustangs to run a 4-2-5 after utilizing a 4-3 for a long time.

The secondary is a strength with Desmond Whiteside and Clay Alexander at cornerback plus Tre Hansboro and Jaleel Thomas at safety.

Despite being only a sophomore, Cam Devaughn was the team’s leader last year with 92 stops. Hill and a 200-pound freshman named Jayden Bradford are expected to spearhead the defensive line.

“We’re just going to try and play fast on both sides of the ball,” Aldrich said. “We’re going to use their athleticism and try to keep them from having to think too much. Preach to them, ‘Next play, next play, next play.’”

EXTRA POINT

Aldrich is the seventh area head coach who’s leading his alma mater’s football team. The others are Iowa Park’s Michael Swenson, Bowie’s Tyler Price, Jacksboro’s Casey Hubble, Quanah’s Payton Jackson, Crowell’s Mitchell Parsley and Throckmorton’s C.J. Hantz.

City View Mustangs

Head Coach: Heath Aldrich (first year)

Last year’s record: 4-6

Returning starters: 7 offense, 7 defense

Base offense/defense: Spread/4-3

Last playoff appearance: 2021 (Lost to Jacksboro in bi-district)

Last district title: None

Aug. 25 vs. Vernon 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 1 vs. Frederick (OK) 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 15 at Boyd 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 at Atlas Homeschool 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 6 vs. Henrietta* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 13 vs. Callisburg* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 20 at Valley View* 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 27 vs. Holliday* 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 3 at S&S Consolidated* 7:30 p.m.

PLAYER TO WATCH: RB/DB Jeremiah Durham (Sr.) — The Mustangs have an abundance of speed at the skill positions, but Durham — who has 19 rushing TDs the past two seasons — is the most dangerous.

GAME TO WATCH: Oct. 13 vs. Callisburg — The Mustangs get every projected 6-3A playoff team at home and they can put themselves in prime position by defending Veterans Field against the Wildcats.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: 2023 City View Mustangs Texas high school football preview