Somerset plays stepping stone number two of the young season as the Devine Warhorses kick off their inaugural 2019 home opener against the Bulldogs at Warhorse Stadium Friday night. Devine burst out of the gates quickly last Friday against Kennedy, winning that game 34-0. Somerset presents some new challenges for Head Coach Paul Gomez and his Warhorse football team.
“They have a huge fullback, Deangelo Ramirez (#36), who played against us last year along with their tailback Hunter Hernandez (#5). Hernandez has great vision and is really good and their fullback is a load so we will have our hands full. Kole Detmer (#12) is their quarterback; we know the bloodlines are there for him to be a great player. He is young, only a sophomore, but I expect their passing game will improve every week. They have a big offensive line as well.”
Somerset, a District 15-5A program with a 1,179 enrollment, will undoubtedly have more players on the sideline than what the home side will have. However, they can only have 11 on the field at a time, just like the Warhorses. Devine’s schedule does not have any ‘small-schools’ on its pre-season schedule. Gomez likes the challenges those types of obstacles present.
With Somerset returning seven starters from their 2018 squad, we look for their defense to be one of their bigger strengths.
Gomez says the Bulldogs “run a 3-4 defense and that their defensive tackles have good feet for big guys and their nose-guard is huge, strong, and quick.”
Somerset will be hungry to bounce back from their season-opening 13-0 loss to San Antonio Brackenridge. Their typical high-octane offense managed 153 yards and only six first downs. Detmer completed 2 of 7 passes for 10 yards last Friday. The Eagles also picked him off on three occasions.
I do not recall the last time the Bulldogs were blanked on the scoreboard, but that has to be something that is not setting too well over in Somerset right now. They will be a determined bunch this Friday night.
The Bulldogs are picked to finish sixth in their district that includes powerhouses Corpus Christi Calallen and Port Lavaca Calhoun along with San Antonio Southside, Gregory-Portland, Floresville, Alice, and Corpus Christi Tuloso-Midway.
Last season, Somerset finished 4-3 in district play and 7-4 overall. Although the Bulldogs have 23 returning lettermen which includes six on offense and another seven on defense, Gomez ultimately knows whom he is truly focusing on this Friday night.
“We just need to worry about us and what we do to get ready for the game. We need to have great effort and focus at practice, put our heads down and go to work.”
That “work” will optimistically show dividends for Devine Friday night in front of Warhorse Nation. Kickoff is set for 7:30pm.
By Jerel Beaty
Staff Writer
Somerset on tap at Warhorse Stadium Friday night
