Wheeler hoping for a healthier season in 2022

Year one under new head coach Matt Hoover saw the Wheeler Mustangs finish 4-7. Wheeler started the year young enough as it was and injuries that mounted throughout the season resulted in them becoming even younger as the year went on.

Now, the hope is that some of those players now have the experience to be difference makers in 2022.

“We had a lot of young guys that had to play last year who probably weren’t ready at the beginning of the year," Hoover said. "As the year went along, they got valuable time and reps that are going to help us going forward.”

Hoover says the strength of the team this year will be found in the trenches. The offensive and defensive lines will be carried by junior Austin Adkins and senior Dylan Marshall. Marshall missed the bulk of his sophomore campaign due to injury, so Hoover counts him as a player that qualified as young entering last year. Hoover added that on top of what the two bring on the gridiron, they also possess quality leadership skills to help bring the team along.

"Dylan was a pretty steady guy for us last year," Hoover said. "Austin was just a young buck that was gritty. Both of those guys get after it and have tremendous motors. They’re going to build up the guys around them with their leadership and help us be successful.”

On offense, the Mustangs will be looking to develop talent at the skill positions. Hoover noted that the coaches have not yet decided on who will be the quarterback this year, though it will likely be "one of the younger guys." Once the signal caller is determined, they'll have the good fortune of being able to lean on the versatile Julius Atherton and steady receiver Elpidio Navarrete.

“Julius was a guy we kind of leaned on heavily in our offense," Hoover said. "He did a little bit of everything. We lined him up at receiver some and he played running back most of the time. He also played some reps for us at quarterback different times throughout the year. He’s kind of our swiss army knife offensively.

"Elpidio is one of those guys who is big and tall. He’s got good speed so he can stretch defenses and be a deep threat for us. A lot of what he did last year before he got hurt was he’d turn a five yard play into a 20 or 30 yard play for us. He’s just got that ability to help us.”

One new name to keep an eye one is tight end/defensive lineman Jackson Groves. Just a freshman, he converted from offensive line to tight end thanks to his athleticism.

That and the fact that at 14-years old, he's already 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds.

“He definitely stands out for being a freshman," Hoover said. "He stands out for any kid at our level, for that matter. He had a really good spring for us and we’re looking for really big things from him."

There will be challenges out of Wheeler's control, too. They still have to play in district 2-2A with Wellington, Clarendon and Shamrock. Hoover said the biggest key for the Mustangs in district won't have anything to do with the other teams they play against.

“I think for us the biggest challenge is to be healthy when we get into district," he said. "We were pretty beat up by the time district rolled around last year...We’re going to have some more guys to choose from so we’re not in the same situation where we had some key guys banged up and limited. If we can stay healthy, I think that helps our cause more than anything.”

Wheeler returns seven starters on each side of the ball. They lose nine letterman from last year, but return 19. Anything can happen once the season rolls around and Hoover is feeling confident about the path the Mustangs are currently on.

“I feel really good from the spring and what we’ve gotten done this summer," he said. "We’re all starting to get on the same page as far as expectations and how we’re going to conduct and carry ourselves moving forward.”

WHEELER MUSTANGS

Head coach: Matt Hoover

2021 record: 4-7, 1-3 district

Base offense: Spread

Base defense: 4-3

Last playoff appearance: 2021

Top returners: Julius Atherton, Elpidio Navarrete, Austin Adkins, Dylan Marshall

SCHEDULE

Aug. 26: vs. Booker, 7 p.m.

Sep. 2: at Hooker, 7 p.m.

Sep. 9: vs. Guymon, 7 p.m.

Sep. 16: at Windhorst, 7 p.m.

Sep. 23: OPEN

Sep. 30: at Boys Ranch, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: vs. Clarendon, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 14: at Shamrock, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 21: vs. Wellington, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 28: vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.*

Nov. 4: at Quanah, 7 p.m.*

*-Denotes district game