By Moses Leos III

Molding an influx of young players is the focus for Hays High head coach Neal LaHue as the Rebel football program looks ahead to play in District 25-6A.

While the Rebels didn’t pursue spring football this season, the offseason was a chance for the staff to begin prepping younger players for fall workouts. 

“There are a lot of guys who haven’t played varsity football, but this is their time,” LaHue said. “That’s what it’s all about. They’ll group up fast. We’ll get them ready before district.”

Filling the gaps left by the nearly 60 seniors that graduated has been the focus for the Rebel coaching staff.

LaHue said the team had a “great” offseason and that the team was able to make gains in the weight room.

“When they left (Tuesday), we told them they still have eight weeks this summer to transform yourself,” LaHue said. He added players were told to work on strength, along with speed and agility.

During the spring, the Rebels worked on the fundamentals, along with “piecing” the offensive and defensive packages together, LaHue said. He also said the team went through a “spring phase,” which saw the team practice non-contact 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills without pads.

“I thought we got a lot out of it. The tempo was good,” LaHue said. “We won’t know about some of (the younger guys) until after we scrimmage. It’s hard to gauge. We had a lot of young guys come on. It’s exciting.”

Guiding Hays will be a “good nucleus of starters,” LaHue said, which starts with returning running back Cade Powell.

Last season Powell ran for seven touchdowns and 423 yards.

“He’s a quick back that has power,” LaHue said. “He’s a good zone runner and we need to find a way to get him the ball. We put him in the backfield and left him there in the spring.”

Three players will vie for the starting quarterback spot this summer. The three include Gentry Braugh, Tyler Conley and Issaac Castilleja.

LaHue said Castilleja and Conley both saw action last season, with both starting games in 2015. Braugh is “athletic and runs the option well and is pretty fast.”

The team’s strength lies in the trenches, LaHue said.

On offense, Hays returns linemen Peyton Steele, Seth Seele and Josh Lopez, who started every game last season. Joining the line are Will McSorley and Zach Valdez.

“That’s where it all starts,” LaHue said. “You can play 7-on-7, but you don’t have the five in front of you. Football is different when you put the pads on. Those guys … are a good group. They’re smart and physical.”

Hays’ Manny Galvan, who LaHue said had a “good spring,” along with Cameron Johnson, leads the defensive line. Four Rebel defensive players return from last season, LaHue said.

Joining the defense will be cornerbacks Hector Fuentes and Jason Fowler. Nathan Tovar will also assist the defense at the safety position.

“They’ve worked extremely hard to this point,” LaHue said of the younger players. “Their transition is going to be good.”

But the Rebels’ new path in district play will be a challenging one, LaHue said.

It will include games against the likes of Lake Travis, Westlake and 5A state champion Cedar Park.

But LaHue said there’s “some prestige” with playing in what could be one of the toughest 6A districts in the state.

“Everyone wants to talk about (Westlake and Lake Travis). They deserve the big talk, but I think everyone from top to bottom is pretty good,” LaHue said. “I love the way our kids have worked. We have set some high goals and I think our kids are excited about being in this district.”