Jul 30, 2010
Mustangs figure to challenge for 24-4A title
July 27, 2009
FRIENDSWOOD — It was 25 years ago last season when the Friendswood Mustangs made their deepest run since they captured the Class 2A state championship in 1973. None of the players were even born and head coach Steve Van Meter was a junior wide receiver on that squad coached by Henry Winston.
Despite losing some key players to graduation -- Van Meter has a strong foundation of players who will return and have experience in their quest to make another deep run.
The Mustangs shared the District 24-4A title last year with Angleton at 6-1, but when the playoffs began - all teams begin with a 0-0 record. Lose and the season ends -- win and you continue on...it is that simple.
Friendswood missed the playoffs in 2007 when everyone thought that team would be the one to challenge for a state championship.
"The players last year found the missing ingredient that the 2007 team didn't have," Van Meter said. "Last year's team was completely selfless. There were no egos floating around the dressing room. The kids repected one another and were willing to pay the price as one unit. The seniors provided strong leadership and the rest is history."
Van Meter has to replace some key players that were instrumental in the deep run. They include three-year starting quarterback Jacob Karam (Texas Tech), WR Andre Gautreaux (Rice), WR Cody Bergeson (Southeastern Louisiana), and WR Austin Fitzpatrick (North Texas).
Karam was named District 24-4A "MVP" and was a finalist for the "Offensive Player of the Year" award by the Touchdown Club of Houston.
Air Karam finished as the most prolific passer in FHS history. He set numerous records including most touchdown passes in a game (7 TDs twice), most career passing yards (7,607), most yards in a single season (3,308), most touchdown passes in a season (38), most touchdown passes in a career (84), most career pass attempts (872) and most career pass completions (502). Karam, who completed 59.19 percent of his passes, led the entire Houston area in passing in 2008 among all classes. That is quite an accomplishment considering that the gunslinger missed two games that were canceled because of Hurricane Ike. He also scored 18 touchdowns rushing.
Gautreaux (6-1, 185) was unanimously named to the All-District first-team after he finished as the second leading receiver in the Houston area with 54 catches for 1,165 yards and 17 TDs. He also set a new single-game school record with 422 all-purpose yards against La Marque when the Mustangs romped past the Cougars 69-48.
Gautreaux's performance against La Marque included 9 catches for 181 yards and 4 TDs; 4 kickoff returns for 189 yards including an 88-yard return for a TD; 1 punt return for 52 yards and five total touchdowns. Gautreaux also did double duty on defense and was named to the All-District second-team as a defensive back.
Fitzpatrick (6-3, 215) was also a unanimous pick for the All-District first-team after grabbing 34 passes for 559 yards and seven TDs. Fitzpatrick caught a 70-yard pass from Karam in the state semifinals and finished the monumental game with seven catches for 144 yards in a stellar effort in his final game as a Mustang. Fitzpatrick was recently named as a member of the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State baseball third-team for the second straight year.
Bergeson (6-2, 190) was named to the All-District second-team as a wide receiver after snagging 18 passes for 450 yards and four touchdowns. Bergeson, who may be the most all-purpose athlete in the school, was named to the All-District first-team on defense as a defensive back.
The Mustangs will miss offensive tackle Colton Yuchnewicz (6-4, 330), but Van Meter will welcome back four offensive starters on the line who proved to be some of the top trench warriors in the Houston area.
That includes Sean Golz (6-1, 240) and Hunter Ratcliff (6-4, 240) who will help anchor the line this coming season.
Friendswood has seven returning offensive and seven defensive starters to put the Mustangs in the district title hunt.
One of the offensive standouts from a year ago was running back Andrew Andrew Cole (6-2, 190), who began the 2008 season on defense, took over the running back spot due to an early season injury to Al White. Cole led the Mustangs with 1,540 yards rushing on 141 carries for 18 TDs including over 500 yards rushing in the playoffs.
Junior QB Peter Maetzold (6-2, 175) is a talented young prospect that has a strong throwing arm and the mental toughness to take over for Karam. He will also be joined by sophomore running back Jonathan White (5-8, 160, 4.5) that has the break away speed that will compliment Cole.
Sophomore kicker Zach Hardy was named to the All-District first-team after hitting 45 extra points and three field goals during the regular season for 54 points to lead the league in scoring by kicking.
Defensively, the Mustangs will be led by DE Beau Barnes (6-5, 215), LB Tanner Chidester (6-2, 215), FS Matt Kennemer (6-1, 175), SS Brandt Liufua, DT Sam Giamfortone, OLB Robert Smith, and DB Hunter McAfee.
There is no question that District 24-4A is one of the toughest leagues in the entire state. There is a very strong possibility that the Region III champion will emerge out of this league again.
Angleton is the top choice to take the district title with Friendswood, Texas City, and Brazosport as the top four teams. But no one can leave out Pearland Dawson, La Marque, and Manvel. Despite 19 starters returning for Santa Fe -- most don't figure that the Indians can emerge from the cellar.
Here is the pre-season prediction for District 24-4A:
1. Angleton2. Friendswood
3. Texas City
4. Dawson
5 Brazosport
6. La Marque
7. Manvel
8. Santa Fe