Vidor Football is on the verge of a breakout season this fall. The Pirates had a disappointing 2018 season where they ended up the season 4-6 (1-6) after starting the season with a three game win streak. Adding to their woes were three losses in district, by six points or less, that prevented them from the post season.
Longtime Vidor head coach Jeff Mathews looks to build on last seasons struggles on a new beginning for 2019.
"We've got a chance to be a really special football team this fall," said Mathews, entering his 21 season at the Vidor helm.
"We lost so many games last year in the fourth quarter, not just the one possession games. Our numbers were low due to enrollment, we dipped below 1200 students, and that meant we had a lot of kids playing both ways. We lost some good players due to graduation but we also return good players that will help us."
The Pirates return six starters on both sides of the ball which includes RB/CB Brad Nunez (1,398 yds rushing) who will anchor Matthew's run oriented Slot-T offense. Junior QB Quentin Root should take over as the starter.
"The Split-T affords us the luxury of running an offense not a lot of teams see," said Mathews.
"We've had success with our offense over the past seven years, we've led our district in yards. Brad's a big part of that, he's a three year starter and should have led the district last year, we had to put him on defense our last two games, he should have been a 1,700 yard rusher last year."
A big concern for Vidor will be the defensive line where youth and inexperience will come into play but Mathews feels this athletic group will grow fast into their roles.
"As good as this district is, if we can get these kids to grow up fast we can be right in the thick of everything."
The defense will be anchored by senior LB's Gage Galloway (86 tackles) and Mason Brown (120 tackles) and will have top sophomore NG Jordon Smith busting up the middle.
Look for Vidor to press Crosby, Barbers Hill, and Baytown Lee for the final playoff seed come early November.