Flower Mound Jaguars – 43-49 overall / 0-2 in playoff games

2008 Record: 6-4 (1-4 in 6-5A)

Head Coach: Cody Vanderford (43-49 record overall as a head coach / 43-49 in Tenth season at Flower Mound)

Interview with Flower Mound Head Football Coach Cody Vanderford:

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Lettermen Returning: 20 / Letterman Lost: 49
Starters Returning: 4 on Offense, 4 on Defense

Key Losses: Collin Ashley (Vanderbilt), Craig Wenrick (UTEP)

Players to Watch: RB Hunter Lee (Jr., 5’10, 200), OL Geoff Maas (Sr., 6’2, 280), QB Paul Millard (Jr., 6’3, 190), OL Matt Scott (Sr., 6’2, 260). LB Steven Sumpter (Sr., 6’2, 200)

CSR Outlook from Thomas D. Lee: After losing 49 lettermen, including several high-impact, multiple year starters who were involved in both playoff games in Flower Mound history, the Jaguars will have to reload while competing in one of the most competitive districts in the state of Texas. Head Coach Cody Vanderford knows a lot about offensive success both as a coordinator at Marcus in the 1990s and as the head coach of the Jaguars, and he will have to rely heavily on underclassman to run his complex offense in 2009. Vanderford has tutored some great quarterbacks over the years, and Flower Mound fans hope Junior Paul Millard, who has the size and speed to be a dangerous field general, is the next. Jaguar fans might remember his older brother, Ryan, a football player at Flower Mound, but he probably is best known as a Jaguar baseball player. Returning to the offensive backfield for Flower Mound is Junior RB Hunter Lee who averaged better than five yards per carry in 2008 while scoring seven touchdowns. Flower Mound will look for leadership from the offensive line as both Geoff Maas and Matt Scott are coming back. Defensively, the Jags will be lead by division I prospect Steven Sumpter who posted 70 tackles and two interceptions last year as a safety. This year, Sumpter will be a linebacker to try and take advantage of his instincts closer to the line of scrimmage. Sumpter’s move likely won’t be the only one as CB Matt Arend will follow in the footsteps of Collin Ashley and see some time at wide receiver. A third playoff appearance in the last four years isn’t out of the question, but it will probably require the Jags to win at least two games against LISD rivals Marcus, Hebron and Lewisville.

CSR Outlook from Ryan Mueller: Although Flower Mound will have to replace 14 outstanding starters after a six-win season in 2008, Jaguars Head Coach Cody Vanderford believes with young talent comes new opportunity. Flower Mound fans will certainly miss WR Collin Ashley who caught 35% of the total passes thrown by a Jaguar quarterback, amassing 855 receiving yards in his senior season. Coach Vanderford believes wide receivers Josh Brake and Matt Arend will combine to provide incredible speed and help sophomore Paul Millard nestle into the starting role at quarterback. Millard saw limited action behind graduating senior and two-year starter Brandon Colquitt, completing 25 of 38 passes for 385 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Jaguar offense should place more of an emphasis on the run this season with junior RB Hunter Lee returning in the backfield. However, Lee will have his work cut out for him with a young offensive line fighting to create space up front. Jaguar Defensive Coordinator Mike Chiaverini will point to Senior OLB Steven Sumpter for both leadership and support as DT Jeramey Dockery and the entire senior-laden defensive line graduated this past May. The Jaguars most important game of the season will take place at a new venue in October when they saddle up for the mound showdown at UNT’s Fouts Field. After taking on tough teams like Carroll and Hebron early in the season the Jaguars will be fighting for a playoff spot when they meet the Marauders in week nine. Marcus will be a hungry team after losing the highly anticipated rivalry game four times in the last five years. More than anything Flower Mound will need to quickly overcome inexperience as they enter the 2009 non-district schedule.