ANDREWS The Andrews football team might have a new coach, but there’s still plenty of familiar faces back this fall.
And that includes the head coach.
The Mustangs will enter the 2022 season under the direction Tom Harvey and with a decent number of returning players with experience.
Harvey is no stranger to Andrews, having spent the last seven years on staff for the Mustangs and having served as defensive coordinator for the last five seasons.
He takes over for Ralph Mason who retired after last year and is excited for the new challenge.
“I have all of Ralph’s support,” Harvey said. “That was important to me. We’re pretty well in touch. The other thing about that is he’s a legend.
“Not just because of the wins but how much he’s done for this community and for the kids. There will be big shoes to fill for sure.”
Andrews finished 5-7 overall in the 2021 season that ended with a 43-33 loss to Springtown.
That emotional matchup was pushed back a few days after tragedy struck when a crash involving the high school marching band claimed the lives of band director Darin K. Johns and high school math teacher and director of data information Marc Elbert Boswell.
“I think these kids have great faith in each other and in the things they can do on the field,” Harvey said. “They love each other. They have a great relationship with our coaching staff.
“That accident was terrible. I don’t want to minimize the loss this community suffered just based on the men we loss and I don’t want to tie it to football but I will say there’s been a lot of talk about not taking life for granted. Thank God every day for the opportunity we got to come together as a team and do some special things and set goals. If they’re playing for anything, it’s for each other because we know how quickly things can go sideways.”
This year, the Mustangs return 29 lettermen and eight starters including quarterback EJ Lopez.
“We have 10 people on each side of the ball who have started at least one game and eight that started all last season,” Harvey said. “We have six that have started for three years.
“We’re really experienced. Depth is better than it has been in the past but it’s not a strength.”
Also returning this season is Luis Cervantes who Harvey says has been a team captain since his sophomore season.
Jaxon Lawdermilk is another key returner.
“(Jaxon’s) more of a lead by example guy but he’s leading this year and he’s stepped it up to another level,” Harvey said.
The Mustangs will also have versatile threat Ashton Galvan back.
“He’s a player who plays all over the field for us on offense and defense and special teams,” Harvey said. “He’s always been a fiery leader. He hit another level this year.”
Then of course, there’s Lopez who’s been the starting quarterback since his sophomore season.
“Everyone wants to know about EJ Lopez,” Harvey said. “Well, EJ is EJ. He’s always been a leader and now he’s a senior leader.”
One of the things Harvey says he has liked from his team so far has been the senior leadership.
“We put them in some different positions where they needed to lead,” Harvey said. “In the spring, we had some coaches with some good ideas about how to develop leadership. We asked things of them in spring and summer and they responded and rallied each other.’
The Mustangs will have a five-team district this year after the new realignment as the schedule will include San Angelo Lake View at home on Oct. 8, Lubbock Estacado on the road the following week, Brownwood at home on Oct. 28.
Andrews will finish the regular season with a trip to Big Spring on Nov. 4, a team that delivered the Mustangs a 48-19 loss last year.
Harvey anticipates a tough district challenge.
“I haven’t seen a Brownwood roster but I know enough about them to consider them the favorite to win district,” Harvey said. “I know that Big Spring beat us last year and those coaches are capable of getting them excited enough to do it again.
“Estacado, we’ve always played them in district. You got to talk about those two Ross kids. They’re really good. Big Spring beat us last year and I know how well Lake View is coached.”
Andrews will begin the season against Canyon Randall on Aug. 26 at Mustang Bowl.
The Mustangs’ nondistrict schedule also includes Monahans on the road Sept. 2, Greenwood at home Sept. 9, Seminole on the road Sept. 16, Lubbock High at home on Sept. 23 and a road trip to Canyon Sept. 30.
ANDREWS MUSTANGS
— COACHES —
>> Head coach: Tom Harvey.
>> Coach’s overall record: 32-59.
>> Coach’s record at school: 0-0.
>> Assistant coaches, duties: Jacob Brink; Brenden Clanton; Dana Gillespie; Stormy Jackson; Jace Keesee; Josh Kelley; Lamar Kello; Todd Korchenko; Robert Morris; Britt Narrell; Eric Pierce; Jason Richters.
— TEAM INFORMATION —
>> 2021 overall record: 5-7.
>> 2021 district record: 2-1 (First).
>> Last district title: 2021
>> Last playoff appearance: 2021.
>> Stadium name: Mustang Bowl.
>> Base offense: Multiple spread.
>> Base defense: Multiple.
— PLAYERS —
>> Returning lettermen: 23.
>> Returning starters: 14 (7 offense, 7 defense).
>> Key returners: Shawn Parker, 6-4, 190, Sr., OLB/WR; Luis Cervantes 5-10, 210, Sr., ILB/RB; Jaxon Lawdermilk, 5-11, 225, Sr., ILB/RB; Jaylon Jones, 6-1, 190, Sr., S/WR; EJ Lopez, 5-10, 165, Sr., QB; Oscar Leos, 5-10, 274, Sr., OL
>> Key newcomers: Ashton Galvan, 5-8, 180, Sr., QB/RB; Jared Cargill, 5-11, 160, Jr., WR; Cole Iveson, 6-0, 200, Soph., OL/DL; Adolfo Valles, 5-5, 150, Soph., WR.
