Frenship Tiger Football is ready for the challenges ahead as they are poised to take another step forward in the 2019 season. It’ll be Head Coach Jay Northcutt’s third season and the Tigers will be led by senior quarterback Donovan Smith. Smith, a Texas Tech commit, joined the Tigers in the spring and looks to make an immediate impact in his final season of high school football.
“He’s the kind of player that makes everyone around him better. Receivers want to run better routes, offensive linemen want to block and protect better, even the defense wants to play better knowing there’s a guy on the other side of the ball with the skill he brings,” explained Northcutt. “He’s a natural leader and the team is responding very well to him.”
Smith will be surrounded by other senior leadership in receivers Drew Hocutt and Cooper Scott, both major contributors to the Tigers’ 2018 campaign. Hocutt and Scott combined for 868 yards receiving in 2018 and will be looking to step up to replace a receiving leader now at UTEP in Skyler Newsome. Running back William Bayouth will also look to maintain his position as the Tigers’ leading rusher, 2018 saw him gain 366 yards on the ground despite missing time due to injury.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebackers Jake Gilbert and Tristin Laughlin and free safety Colton Anderson were three of the Tigers’ four leading tacklers in 2018 and will look to play the stifling style defensive coordinator Mark Ribaudo expects of his unit.
The Tigers faced off with the Caprock Longhorns on Friday, August 23rd in a scrimmage at People’s Bank Stadium. While no one wins a scrimmage, the Tigers looked sharp on both sides of the ball with plenty of positives to discuss including an interception returned for a touchdown by safety Coldon Kiser and plenty of offensive fireworks.
Hopes and expectations are high heading into 2019 with plenty of talent on this Frenship Tigers squad. Don’t miss the action at 7:00 pm on Friday, August 30th at People’s Bank Stadium. You can also catch the action live on Double T 97.3.