After playing its first season at the varsity level last year, the Compass Academy football team will look to achieve sustained success in 2021.
Head coach J.D. Granado will turn to members of the school’s first senior class to try and pick up some victories.
The Cougars went 1-8 in the 2020 campaign while playing in District 1-3A, having to forfeit their last three games of the season which included a first-round playoff matchup against Ballinger.
Their lone win of the season came against Anthony by a 31-16 score.
“Last season was tough across the board, it was a new varsity team,” Granado said. “The kids kept showing up, kept putting in work and they finished the season.
“They got a lot of grit last season, for sure.”
Returners like quarterback/defensive back Dylan Sosa and offensive lineman/linebacker Israel Ramirez are now expected to bring veteran leadership to the newest group at the school.
Sosa said it felt good getting the experience of playing his first varsity schedule out of the way.
“Now we know what it feels like going into this season,” Sosa said. “The team is coming to work every day and I’ve been seeing improvements since day one, so I’m just excited about it.”
The Cougars had to forfeit their last three games of 2020 because of COVID-19 cases, but a large portion of the team’s players worked out over the summer to stay in shape.
Granado said his team had a solid 7 on 7 season and he has seen considerable growth in his returning players.
Since Compass Academy returned to practices earlier this month, the head coach has seen Sosa take the reigns as a vocal leader.
“The kids follow him, he’s a great kid all around and a hard worker,” Granado said. “I’m really excited to see him this season.”
Despite the virus-related issues that plagued the team last season, Ramirez saw all of his teammates bounce back every time something stopped them.
He said everyone showed a fighting spirit, even after some early season losses.
“It showed me that we’re all tough,” Ramirez said. “We had our tough season last year and we all kept coming back, it really showed the heart of the team.”
Compass Academy will have 11 returners on both offense and defense.
Four of the featured returners on offense are seniors: Sosa, Ramirez, Dyton Rendell and Zechariah Valles.
Granado said he is excited to see the school’s first senior class get a chance to be competitive on the football field.
“They’ve been through a lot and they’ve had a rough go,” Granado said. “You think about the young men that didn’t have anybody to look up to and they had to set the standard for themselves.
“It was a tough role to step into and these young men, you don’t find very many young men that would do what they have done.”
The Cougars start the 2021 season with a home opener against New Home at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 27.
All of Compass Academy’s home games will be played at J.M. King Memorial Stadium in Greenwood.
As the season draws near, Sosa knows that the experience of being one of the program’s first leaders will be unforgettable.
Last season was Sosa’s first in action since nursing a broken collarbone as a sophomore, so he wants to step up to make sure this year’s Cougars are heading in the right direction.
“Just being able to lead the team to a winning season, that’s my main goal,” Sosa said.
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COMPASS ACADEMY COUGARS
— COACHES —
>> Head coach: J.D. Granado.
>> Coach’s overall record: 1-8.
>> Coach’s record at school: 1-8.
>> Assistant coaches, duties: Aaron Hardwick, defensive coordinator; Andy Hill, special teams coordinator.
— TEAM INFORMATION —
>> 2020 overall record: 1-8.
>> 2020 district record: 1-8.
>> Last district title: N/A.
>> Last playoff appearance: 2020 (lost to Ballinger, bi-district, forfeit).
>> Stadium name: J.M. King Memorial Stadium (Greenwood).
>> Base offense: Spread.
>> Base defense: 3-3 Stack.
— PLAYERS —
>> Returning lettermen: 18.
>> Returning starters: 22 (11 offense, 11 defense).
>> Key returners: Dylan Sosa, QB/DB, Sr.; Jesiah Salazar, TE/LB, Jr; Tanner Gahr, WR/DB, Soph.; Christian Stout, OL/LB, Jr.; Dyton Rendell, OL, Sr.; Isreal Ramirez, OL/LB, Sr.; Zechariah Valles, Slot/DB, Sr.
>> Key newcomers: Matthew Westfall, OL/LB, Jr.; Isaiah Salinas, LB, Fr.; Anthony Lewis, OL, Fr.; Jagger Lawson, OL/DL, Fr.; Jose Alvarez, OL, Fr.
COMPASS ACADEMY COUGARS SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time Site
Aug. 20 Iraan* 6 p.m. Greenwood
Aug. 27 New Home 7:30 p.m. Greenwood
Sept. 2 Ropes 7:30 p.m. Greenwood
Sept. 10 McCamey 7:30 p.m. Greenwood
Sept. 17 Slaton 7:30 p.m. Slaton
Sept. 24 Lockney 7:30 p.m. TBD
Oct. 1 Morton 7:30 p.m. Morton
Oct .8 Crane 7:30 p.m. Greenwood
Oct. 15 Open
Oct. 22 Anthony 7:30 p.m. Anthony
Oct. 29 Alpine 7:30 p.m. Alpine
Nov. 5 Tornillo 7:30 p.m. Tornillo
*-scrimmage
