Texans Shootout: Northwest hungers for playoffs

By Richard Greene | Originally published Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Last spring, members of the Northwest football team were given a poker chip, saying “all in”.

During the first week of practice this fall, the Texans returned the chip.

“This week, we turned in the chip, and everyone said what it meant to them,” said senior quarterback Draze Lawliss. “You could tell everyone was all in. That is what is going to take us to [the playoffs].”

The impromptu speeches of the young men on his football team even stunned veteran head coach Bill Patterson, who begins his fourth year with the Texans.

“I’ve been coaching 31 years, and I’ve never heard anything like what I heard from those 60 kids and nine coaches,” Patterson said. “They talked about what they expected. To a man, they said this means something.

“This wasn’t planned. Everyone put their chip in the bowl, and it started from there. The kids made some points, and there wasn’t any sugarcoating.”

The Texans hope that burning desire to win and the bonds forged through the offseason can lift them past last year’s 4-6 finish and back to the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Northwest finished a game out of the postseason last year in fifth place in District 7-5A. Injuries to Lawliss and several other key players in critical games against Keller Fossil Ridge and Keller Central kept the Texans out.

“You lose a Colton McDonald for five games, Draze for three, Carter James for three and Eric Chiofalo for four, it makes it hard,” Patterson said. “Everyone has injuries, but when you lose all those to injuries, it makes it hard to get back on the right side of ledger.

“We still had a chance to get in the playoffs until we got beat by Keller Central.”

To get over the hump, the Texans bring back a solid cast of veterans with a lot of varsity experience. Northwest returns 28 lettermen with seven starters on offense and six on defense.

“It’s the best group I’ve had returning and the hardest working,” Patterson said. “They are an unselfish group of young men.”

To lead the offense, a confident, stronger and faster Lawliss returns. Despite missing three games, he threw for 1,360 yards and 11 touchdowns and ran for 342 yards. After last year, he said he feels more in charge entering a second year as a starter.

“I feel like I belong and that I have the respect of the other players and coaches,” Lawliss said.

Around Lawliss, the Texans return Dylan Stubbe and Chase Morrison at receiver. Dakota Chavis is back in the backfield.

The Texans are working to develop the offensive line to give the skilled players the best chance to succeed.

Defensively, Northwest has a big chore playing against some of Texas’ top offenses, in the state, including defending state champion Southlake Carroll.

“We have to be ready. There’s a lot of teams in our district that can sling it,” said senior defensive back Mason Baker, who returns after making 48 tackles and picking off two passes last year.

Baker will be a part of an experienced and deep secondary.

The Texans bring back several people to the front seven, but they are moving standout defensive end Carter James to linebacker.

The Texans’ move from District 7-5A to 4-5A keeps them with the state champion Dragons and Keller Central, Fossil Ridge and Keller. Haltom, Richland and Timber Creek join the fray.

Patterson said it will once again be a tough and talented league.

“Last year, our district produced more Division I signees than any other in the state of Texas,” he said. “It will be that way again.”

But Patterson expects his team to be challenging for one of the league’s four playoff spots.

His team believes that too.

“That’s been our goal since last year,” said tackle Travis Stubblefield. “We want to do something that’s never been done, win a playoff game. If we stay healthy and do what we are supposed to, maybe we can end the year with a ring.”

NORTHWEST OFFENSE: LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY

The Northwest Texans’ offense averaged more than 300 yards per game last season, and when at full strength could be potent.

As the Texans look to compete in a tough District 4-5A, they will try to find consistency with a mostly veteran group.

“We need consistency, and we have to do a better job of taking care of the ball,” said Northwest coach Bill Patterson.

Northwest committed 20 turnovers last year – 13 fumbles and seven interceptions. The mistakes truly cost the Texans in a 36-6 loss to Keller Central. With a playoff spot on the line, Northwest had four turnovers.

As the Texans try to avoid coming up short again, they will turn to several veterans at skilled positions, including quarterback Draze Lawliss. In his first year as a starter, he threw for 1,360 yards and 11 touchdowns and ran for another 342. He put up those stats despite missing three games with a concussion.

The senior enters the season full of confidence and ready to lead a Texans offense that he expects to be improved.

“This year everything is clicking,” Lawliss said. “We’re coming together. The offense is clicking on all cylinders.”

Lawliss brings back a pair of experienced receivers in Dylan Stubbe and Chase Morrison, who combined for 30 catches, 376 yards and a pair of scores.

“Chase will be a huge help, and Dylan is a three-year starter,” Lawliss said.

In the backfield, Dakota Chavis returns after running for 182 yards and three touchdowns last year. He had an impressive spring, and Patterson said the job is his to lose.

“He’s had a good fall,” the coach said. “It’s his to do, and he can get the bulk of the carries if he performs.”

Dzosa Nkolo Kangkolo is expected to get some carries.

The success of the offense may rest up front with the line, where the projected starters are tackles Travis Stubblefield and Jacob Jennings, guards Kris Key and James Gregory and center Leo Garcia.

“They are not huge, but they come off the ball quick,” Patterson said. “We’ve got plenty of guys back that have played plenty of football.”

Stubblefield knows his group up front must produce to allow the talented skilled players a chance to make plays.

“This year, we’re putting the team on our back,” he said. “We have a lot of guys that have started games in the past.”

In a district with other explosive offenses, the Texans know they must score to keep pace.

NORTHWEST DEFENSE: FACING A TOUGH TASK

The challenge in front of the Northwest Texans’ defense is one they understand and accept.

After facing some of the state’s best offenses last year – Southlake Carroll, Allen and Denton Guyer – the squad knows the task will not be any easier this year, especially with Carroll and Fossil Ridge awaiting in district.

“We have to be big,” said defensive back Mason Baker. “There’s a lot of teams in our district that can sling it.”

Northwest gave up 379 yards per game last season, including 220 through the air.

With six starters and a wealth of experience returning, Northwest coach Bill Patterson expects the unit to be better.

“Mason, Colton McDonald, Derrick Benson, Carter James – all those guys have played a lot,” Patterson said. “We’ve got to make plays and create turnovers. We’ll play so much zone, we should be getting some picks. We have to do a better job of getting turnovers.”

The Texans should have the secondary to create those turnovers with Baker, who picked off two passes and made 48 tackles, and Benson, who led the team with three picks. Sam Jennings and Colton McDonald, who is the team’s leading returning tackler with 49, complete the veteran secondary.

“We can be solid,” Baker said. “We can lead this defense. We’re all seniors and have a lot of experience.”

Up front the Texans have made some changes. Carter James has moved from defensive end to linebacker.

“He’s looking really good,” Patterson said. “He’s aggressive and gets to the football.”

James likes his new role in the 4-2-5.

“It’s better for me,” he said. “It frees me up to make more plays. I like to fly to the football and lay big hits.”

Jacob Parker will be at the other linebacker spot.

On the defensive line, the Texans look for Joe Gonzales, Cody Duffey, Bryan Caldwell and Duke Kicinski to create havoc.

Patterson said Kicinski has looked strong along with the experienced Gonzales and Duffey, a former running back who has moved to defensive tackle.

“He’s gotten bigger and faster,” Patterson said.

The Texans will all need to play bigger and faster to slow down the offenses they will face throughout the season.

HOMETOWN HERO: DRAZE LAWLISS

In the spring game, Draze Lawliss stood confidently in the pocket and rifled the ball downfield to an open receiver as if he were playing a leisurely game of catch.

As he begins his second season as the Northwest Texans’ starting quarterback, the lightning-fast pace of 5A football no longer has his head spinning as he tries to make decisions.

“After a while you get used to it,” Lawliss said. “Everything seems to move slower.”

The now-experienced signal caller is confident that he’s ready to shoot down opponents and lead the Texans beyond district for the second time in three years.

“All I want is to get to the playoffs,” he said. “It’s what I worked all summer for. Every day I was at the school doing everything to make the team better.

“I feel confident having a year behind me. I know the offense well. This year, everything is clicking.”

Lawliss took over the reins of the Texans’ offense last year as a junior. He put up solid numbers, throwing for 1,360 yards and 11 touchdowns, and rushed for 342 yards and five scores.

He threw for four touchdowns in an opening win over Carrollton Creekview. His best game was against Midlothian when he threw for 441 yards, completing 22 of his 38 attempts for 441 yards with an interception.

His overall numbers came in six games. He missed four contests in the Texans’ 4-6 season because of concussions.

“When I was healthy, things were going as I wanted,” Lawliss said. “Injuries set me back.”

One of the concussions came right after he threw a touchdown pass in the Texans’ win over Coppell.

A bigger, stronger and faster Lawliss hopes to avoid some of the injuries that plagued him last year. Northwest coach Bill Patterson said the increased size and speed have only added to his confidence.

“He gained weight and is faster and stronger,” Patterson said. “When you get bigger and faster, it makes you play better and gives you more confidence.

“He’s throwing the ball well and has a better understanding of what we are trying to do.”

With his experience, he also knows he has to continue putting the ball in the air even if it gets picked off.

“You’ve got to move on and have a short memory,” Lawliss said. “If you dwell on things, it hurts you. You just have to go out and do the best you can.”

2012 NORTHWEST TEXANS

2 … Sam Johnson … DB … 11
3 … Mason Baker … DB … 12
4 … Chase Morrison … WR … 11
5 … Parker Kneis … DB … 11
6 … Tyler Crim … WR … 11
8 … Reggie McDaniel … DB … 11
9 … Steven Taylor … K … 12
10 … Dusty Cloud … QB … 11
11 … Malcolm Love … RB … 11
12 … Jacob Parker … LB … 11
13 … Tariq Bell … DB … 11
14 … Houston Patterson … WR … 12
15 … Jordan Muldrow … WR … 12
16 … Dylan Stubbe … WR … 12
17 … Casey Daywhea … WR … 12
18 … Draze Lawliss … QB … 12
20 … Emmanuel Moore … WR … 10
21 … Derrick Benson … DB … 12
22 … Dakota Chavis … WR … 12
23 … Tyler Wille … DL … 12
24 … Dzosa Nkola Kangkolo … RB … 12
25 … Carter James … DL … 12
26 … Aaron Johnson … LB … 12
27 … Sage Ricker … K … 11
28 … Caleb White … DB … 11
29 … Tyler Jones … DB … 12
30 … Michael Elliott … LB … 12
31 … Josh Hendricks … DB … 11
32 … Cayden Ihrig … K … 12
33 … Nick Chiofalo … DL … 11
34 … Joseph Musgrove … LB … 12
35 … Cody Duffey … RB … 12
37 … Duke Kicinski … DL … 11
38 … Lane Allen … LB … 11
40 … Colton McDonald … DB … 12
44 … Dylan Housley … DL … 11
49 … Tyler White … DB … 12
50 … Ryan Woody … OL … 11
51 … Leo Garcia … OL … 12
52 … Matt Harris … DL … 12
55 … Morgan Peters … LB … 11
57 … De’Marcus Guiden … DL … 11
60 … Kris Kay … OL … 11
62 … Travis Stubblefield … OL … 11
63 … Justin Slowinski … OL … 12
64 … James Gregory … DL … 12
65 … Reece Batterton … OL … 11
66 … Jacob Jennings … OL … 11
70 … Clayton McGilvray … OL … 12
71 … Tyler Hair … OL … 11
72 … Joe Gonzales … DL … 11
75 … Chase Sepulvador … OL … 12
76 … Amaro Aranda … OL … 12
77 … Lonnie McKinnis … DL … 11
78 … Brandon Niccum … OL … 11
80 … Josh Wilson … TE … 11
83 … Luis Ramirez … WR … 12
84 … Cameron White … DB … 11
86 … Jordan Housley … DB … 12
87 … Devionne Bailey … WR … 12
88 … Troy Bates … WR … 12
90 … Dane Ezell … DL 11 …
97 … Bryan Caldwell … DL … 12
99 … Nick Ramirez … DL … 12

2012 SCHEDULE

Aug. 30 … Grand Prairie … Away
Sept. 7 … Grapevine … Away
Sept. 14 … Midlothian … Home
Sept. 21 … Open
Sept. 28 … Keller* … Home
Oct. 4 … Fossil Ridge* … Away
Oct. 12 … Haltom* … Home
Oct. 19 … Southlake* … Away
Oct. 26 … Timbercreek*# … Home
Nov. 2 … Richland* … Away
Nov. 9 … Keller Central* … Home

All games at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted
*Denotes District 4-5A games
# Denotes homecoming