The Redwater Dragons will take to the field in 2022 with high hopes to rebound from a tough season a year ago that saw them go winless in district play. Head Coach Brandon Layne says that he expects his squad to compete every week and be in the hunt for a district championship and ultimately reach their top goal of earning a spot in the postseason. Layne will hope to achieve those goals with his power spread offense with QB Gavin Carrell at the helm as the field general. Carrell will rely heavily on running back Jaxon Minter and wideout Marquez Johnson, behind a front line anchored by Alex Calicott and tight end Cade Pipes. Minter rushed for over 600 yards and scored six touchdowns a year ago in Coach Layne’s first season at Redwater, and hopes are high in the Dragons’ locker room for even more offense from him this year.
On the defensive side of the field, Coach Layne and the Redwater faithful will have their eyes on linebacker David McKeever, who goes into the season picked to be the defensive MVP of a district stacked with quality players. The quick footed McKeever had 133 tackles and a pair of interceptions in 2021, and will be a force to be reckoned with for opposing offenses. McKeever will have some solid help on this 4-3 defense coming from linebackers Cooper Thompson and Colin Narens, and a d-line bolstered by Pipes and their 215 pound junior Devan Smith.
The Dragons were 3-7 in last year’s campaign and picked to trail teams like DeKalb, Hooks and New Boston in the district standings, but this is a team that might surprise some folks in 2022. Don’t be surprised if the team makes their goal and earns one of those coveted postseason playoff berths.
