High school football preview: Idalou coach Clay White optimistic entering second year
Idalou football coach Clay White said he's "lightyears" ahead of his starting point last season. Considering the Wildcats reached the third round, that sets a high bar for 2023.
As White enters his second year at the helm, he said familiarity between the players and staff should result in more success.
The Wildcats also have a season's worth of experience in White's spread offense. Back to man the ship is quarterback Tate Hendley. White said his signal-caller is "cool, calm and collected" just as he is on a pitcher's mound. Hendley helped the Idalou baseball team make the third round, too.
"(He's) level-headed, very intelligent, competitive," White said. "We love multisport athletes."
Three returning starters on the offensive line, led by Colton Hurst, also give White optimism. Hurst, a former fullback, and Antonio Hernandez provide athleticism up front, White said.
TEAM PREVIEWS: Lubbock A-J's 2023 high school football preseason hub
Blake Dyas will switch from receiver to running back, and Carter Crump returns at tight end. Landon Hiebert and Kash Koontz were in the receiver rotation last season as well.
Crump is also a key piece to the defense. He'll join J.T. Hodges, an undersized but "electric" D-lineman. Dyas and Koontz provide experience in the secondary.
Idalou finished second in district, falling 20-3 to Abernathy in the league opener. White praised his team's ability to regroup, which led to a pair of playoff wins.
"It's a testament to them," White said. "They stuck with it, they got better every week and we played on Thanksgiving. I want to use that momentum to move forward. We want to play in December, and just like everybody else, we want to win our last football game. It's something that's rare, but that's the goal."
Idalou Wildcats
Head coach — Clay White (9-4, all at Idalou)
2022 record — 9-4 overall, 4-1 in District 4-3A Division II
Last district title/playoff appearance — 2020/2022
Base offense — Multiple spread
Base defense — Multiple 4-2-5
Returning lettermen — 16
Returning off./def. starters — 5/4
Players to watch — Tate Hendley, QB; Colton Hurst, OL/DL; Carter Crump, TE/DL; Blake Dyas, RB/DB; Antonio Hernandez, OL/DL; Kash Koontz, WR/DB; J.T. Hodges, OL/DL
2023 schedule
* — denotes District 4-3A DII game
Aug. 25 — at Sweetwater, 7 p.m.
Sept. 1 — at New Deal, 7 p.m.
Sept. 8 — vs. Holliday, 7 p.m.
Sept. 15 — vs. Vernon, 7 p.m.
Sept. 22 — vs. Shallowater, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6 — at Abernathy*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 13 — at Coahoma*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 20 — vs. Roosevelt*, 7 p.m.
Oct. 27 — at Littlefield*, 7 p.m.
Nov. 3 — vs. Stanton*, 7 p.m.
2022 results
Sweetwater W, 38-20
New Deal W, 14-9
at Holliday L, 37-7
at Vernon W, 17-0
at Shallowater L, 15-8
Abernathy* L, 20-3
Coahoma* W, 28-16
at Roosevelt* W, 38-14
Littlefield* W, 17-13
at Stanton* W, 56-34
Friona W, 24-21 (bi-district)
Crane W, 28-0 (area)
Wall L, 30-0 (region semifinal)
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: High school football preview: Idalou coach Clay White optimistic
