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Plug and play: Lions look to reclaim TAPPS throne
BY Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
It's says a lot about how far a program has come when a state semifinal loss is deemed an unfitting end to a season.
Yet for the first time since 2008 that was the case when Prestonwood Christian Academy closed the curtain on its 2011 campaign after falling to Beaumont Kelly, 24-21, and being denied a crack at a third consecutive TAPPS State Championship.
One year later, just half the players who endured the brunt of that loss are back in the fold after an offseason that presented the Lions with more spots to fill than in years past.
The Lions retain just eight players from the 2010 championship squad, the majority of whom still figure to play prominent roles this season.
Among those is senior Mike Mitchell, a four-star prospect at linebacker who returns after spending his junior year headlining the defense at Plano West. Senior Corey Meador complements Mitchell on the inside, with junior Austin Tankersley making strong impressions early on the outside. Those three will hold prominent roles under new defensive coordinator Chris Jones, who joins the Lions' staff after spending 13 years at Decatur. Under Jones, Cunningham hinted the defense will showcase more odd-man fronts and be more aggressive than in previous seasons.
That aggression may well be noted up front, where seniors Zach Mossimo and Christian Morgan anchor the group at end.
One season removed from leading the Lions in rushing, senior J.P. Coward makes a switch to cornerback where he and junior J.R. Reed will help lead the secondary, alongside juniors Gabe Lozano and Trey Warren at safety.
"I want to play to the best of my ability and help the team," Reed said. "I'm looking to get as many picks and turnovers as I can. I hope I can be a game-changer this year."
While the defense undergoes a bit of a shift in identity under Jones, the Prestonwood offense may prove more run-heavy than in past years. With the presence of alum Parker Ash dictating more of an aerial assault by the Lions over the past two seasons, the rise of sophomore Mickey Mitchell will add a more mobile threat to the mix.
"[Mickey] brings an element that allows us to run a bit more," Cunningham said. "We haven't really had a running quarterback since Kaleb Kyser three years ago. It's good to know that part of our offense has a chance to come back."
Like his brother at linebacker, Mickey is also coming off a brief stint at West and will enjoy his first sustained stretch of varsity football in 2012.
"It feels great," Mickey said. "I just want to come out here and prove that I can be this team's quarterback and that's what I look to do."
Should Prestonwood approach a more run-heavy offense, senior Grayson Warren will be one of the focal points at running back. Warren ran for 329 yards as a junior, good for second on the team despite missing the entire regular season due to injury.
Out wide, the Lions are slimmer on experience with senior Stephen Riegel ascending to the top role at receiver after bagging 24 catches for 348 yards and two touchdowns last season. He'll be complemented by Meador and sophomore Jelani Kilpatrick, with freshman Michael Irvin -- son of the NFL Hall of Famer -- quickly rising as well.
"[Irvin is] only a ninth grader, but sure isn't playing like one right now," Cunningham said. "He's really been coming in at receiver for us."
A wrinkle the Lions look to utilize more are tight end-centric formations to help further implement Morgan, a Florida State commit who ranks among the best at his position in the nation.
Senior Nate Jones bolsters the offensive line at center, matched at guard by juniors Patrick Murray and Kaleb Earls while Mossimo looks to be the favorite at right tackle, with the left side still up for grabs. It's a position that will be settled in the coming days, when the Lions take the field for the start of a hectic non-district schedule. Prestonwood opens on the road at 7:30 p.m. Friday against Class 3A powerhouse Henderson before hosting another 3A heavyweight in Gilmer on Sept. 7.
"We've got an extremely tough pre-district schedule," Cunningham said. "The key for us is win or lose, we need to grow each week and not get too caught up in the results of those games.
"We need to be focused on where we're going as a team."
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