Last week’s 41-14 loss to defending state champs Smithson Valley hasn’t changed a thing for the Boerne Champion football team as they continue league play this Friday at Seguin.
Friday’s kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Matadors Stadium.
Despite an 0-1 start to district, the Chargers still have the goal of making the playoffs and have six games left on the schedule.
“We’ve got to move forward and put our focus on Seguin,” Chargers coach Blane Ellis said. “It’s an important game for both programs.”
Last year’s contest between the Chargers and Matadors turned into a shootout with Seguin winning it 73-66 at BISD Stadium. The Matadors outscored Champion, 36-14, in the second half to earn the win.
Seguin’s Corey Dailey tossed 7 TD passes in that contest and the 6-foot-6 Dailey is back for his senior year.
“Their quarterback can spin it well and he can create explosive plays when he gets out of the pocket,” Ellis said. “A big part of our plan it to limit his ability.”
Champion quarterback Julian Navarette threw 6 touchdown passes against the Matadors in last year’s contest, but the junior signal caller went down with an ankle injury against Smithson Valley last Friday and was replaced by freshman Ryder Flugence.
Ellis said he’s not sure if Navarette will be ready by Friday.
“It’s a game-time decision,” the coach said. “We’re making plans for both (quarterbacks), if he’s ready or not, we’ll be good.”
Flugence went 4 for 10 through the air for 64 yards and a touchdown, while Navarette was 8 for 15 passing for 147 yards and a score.
Champion’s offensive game plan may change a little depending on who starts at the quarterback spot, but Ellis said they’ll try to be business as usual.
“We’ll call it differently for (Flugence) because he has a different skill set, but it’s all within the same scheme,” the coach said.
Both Charger touchdown passes last week – one from Navarette and the other from Flugence – went to Brogan Dempsey who caught 4 passes for 174 yards and 2 TDs.
Dempsey has faced double teams this year but still produces regardless of who is covering him.
Champion is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in district, while Seguin is 3-1 overall and started league play at 1-0. The Matadors dropped their opener to Alamo Heights, 70-35, but have won three straight against CC Miller (42-27), Brazoswood (34-27) and Victoria East (38-21).
Seguin’s win at Victoria East was the district opener for both and the Matadors showed good balance with 241 yards through the air and 2 scores and added 176 yards on the ground for 3 TDs.
Against Smithson Valley, Champion went to the air for 221 yards and both scores but struggled with its ground game. The Chargers rushed 21 times but only managed 46 yards for 2.2 yards per carry against the stout Rangers front 7.
Ellis said it’s something they’ll have to improve on heading into Friday’s contest at Seguin, especially on first down.
“We’ve got to find a way to run the football, if we can run the football we’ll have a lot of success. We have to do a better job on first and second downs and not be in third-and-long situations,” he said. “The difference between our first two games (wins) and our last two games (losses), that’s been the difference, our ability to run the football.”
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