Floydada's head football coach J.R. Compton is seen here before the 2021 season opener. (Ryan Crowe/Floyd County Record)
FLOYDADA – In J.R. Compton’s first year in Whirlwind Country, his main goals were to be a competitive team by district and make the playoffs. Despite a 3-8 record, Compton got what he strived for.
Now in 2022, Compton is wanting to take everything up a few notches including a winning season and repeat as a playoff team. With the returning experience of 18-lettermen, eight starters back on each offense and defense, plus a larger senior class – Compton does not want to settle for an ‘also ran’ team. “We should be much further ahead of last season in our season opener against the Ralls Jackrabbits due to the players knowing our system,” Compton explained.
The season opener on August 26 at Ralls will be against a program that has made a habit of winning in the past four years including a 34-12 record during that span. The Jackrabbits were a 7-4 playoff team last season and forecast by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football (DCTF) to win the district 3-2A-II crown this fall. Ralls likes to pound their opponent with its running game and hard-nosed defense.
Week 2 will be the always exciting Floyd County Championship with the Lockney Longhorns at Charles Tyer Stadium. Lockney has a new coach in Jonathan Thiebaud, who was the defensive coordinator of the Longhorns’ 7-4 season last fall. Lockney had a seven game winning streak in 2021 that jump started with a shutout of the Whirlwinds. The Longhorns have a new quarterback for the first time in four years with sophomore Dyllan Thiebaud directing the show. Lockney could be a balanced team of the run and pass this fall with talented underclassmen runningbacks Xavier Jimenez and Iann Rodriguez, and capable receivers of Jonathan Cienfuegos and Malaki Alvis. The Horns defense should again be scrappy and aggressive.
All of Floydada’s non-district games are 2A-II schools. The third week will be against the Smyer Bobcats (0-10 in 2021), New Home Leopards (8-4 playoff team that is picked by DCTF to win its district), and Hale Center Owls (3-7 in 2A-I last fall).
After an open date on the last Friday of September, the Winds will start their journey through a traditionally talented district 2-2A-I in October by hosting the Sundown Roughnecks (8-4 playoff team and district runnerup in ’21), a trip to the No. 14 state rated New Deal Lions by DCTF (11-2 District Champion in 2021), the Tahoka Bulldogs (0-10 a year ago), the Post Bold Gold Antelopes (5-7 playoff team that started 0-4 last fall), and the season finale with the Olton Mustangs – the new kids in 2-2A-I (6-5 playoff team in ’21).
Opponents with District preseason MVP’s (according to DCTF)
Farwell RB – Corey Stancell
Ralls DB – Zaiah Riojas
New Home QB – Caleb Cook
New Deal DE – Kendrick Nelson
Olton WR – Jake Soliz
Teams with returning starting QB’s
New Home – Caleb Cook
Post – Will Fairbanks
Sundown – Hunter Tindol
Olton – Logan Assister
IMPORTANT DATES IN AUGUST
8/1 report for two-a-day conditioning
8/8 first day of full pads and contact
8/11 scrimmage at Farwell
8/18 scrimmage vs Quanah
8/26 SEASON OPENER at Ralls
SEPT NON-DISTRICT games
9/2 Lockney
9/9 Smyer
9/16 at New Home
9/23 at Hale Center
9/30 open
OCT – NOV 2-2A-I contests
10/7 SUNDOWN *
10/14 at NEW DEAL *
10/21 TAHOKA *
10/28 POST *
11/4 at OLTON *
