University Star

The departure of familiar faces, such as alumni Cameron Luke and Stan Zwinggi, has forced the Bobcat football team into new strategies in order to retain the offensive 2008 fire power.

“I’m pretty sure Luke owns every record you can at wide receiver,” Coach Brad Wright said. “You’re not going to replace a guy like that. We still have some terrific talent at the wideout position. Guys like Daren Dillard, who came up big for us last year, Mishak Rivas, Joe Chaisson and Da’Marcus Griggs to just name a few. I guess you could say we’re replacing (Luke) by committee. That’s the only way we can replace him.”

Cody Matthews, freshman, is another newcomer who is on the roster for the wide receiver position. Matthews recorded 60 receptions for 1,101 yards and 11 touchdowns in his senior season at Smithson Valley High School and was a unanimous first team all-area choice in San Antonio. Matthews ranks among Smithson Valley’s top five single season leaders in receptions, total yards receiving and average yards per catch. He is among the top 10 players in career receptions, career total yards receiving and season scoring for Smithson Valley.

The Bobcats faced their competition with their running back duo of Zwinggi and sophomore Karrington Bush. The departure of Zwinggi does not appear to affect Wright’s dual running back game plan for 2009.

“Bush will see more carries but we still have two very capable backs with Alvin Canady,” Wright said. “They’ll both receive an ample amount of carries. Alvin showed us some things last season that proved we can’t just let him stand on the side line.”

Canady, junior and San Marcos native, rushed for 322 yards off 73 carries in 2008, a 4.4-yards-per-carry average.

More than half of the Bobcats’ 2009 recruiting class will play on the line, including Prestin Brown, freshman defensive end of Grand Prairie, who played on the USA Junior National Team. The Bobcats appear to have a surplus on the line with the return of six starters from each side of the ball. According to Bradley George, senior quarterback, this surplus gives the Bobcats time to develop their young linemen before calling on them to take the field.

“An offensive line that has four returning starters is nice for any quarterback,” George said. “Alex Luna and Calvin Gore have a lot of experience at the tackles so that will help as well. Everything starts up front, so I am looking for them to lead the way. We just have to produce once the season starts.”