When putting together a puzzle, most people start by finding the outside edges. Those edges of the Mansfield Jr High football puzzle have slowly begun to connect over the past few seasons. Each year a piece is placed while others are still being found. One year the Tigers may have a stellar backfield, but no line to block. Another year they may have a killer defense, but no depth on the roster. The process has set a standard of slow growth and close games, but in 2021 the puzzle of success looks to be nearly completed. With great coaches, super talented athletes, both power and speed, and a high number of players, the Jr Tigers have every piece needed for a winning season.

The Mansfield Jr High team will see five offensive starters and six defensive starters returning. The Jr Tigers offense is fully locked and loaded with weapons that would make an A-10 Warthog seem more like a Red Rider BB gun. Freshman quarterback, Jeremy Strozier, will be leading the way for the Tiger’s WMD. Strozier isn’t your average trigger man though. With a strong accurate arm, a six-sense of defenses, and the ability to make big plays with his feet, Strozier will surely be on the opponent’s “must stop” list. Strozier may be a factor behind the trigger, but the Jr Tigers arsenal doesn’t end there. Mansfield will come out with a powerful, hard-hitting, downright nasty pair of running backs with 8th Graders Zander Walters and Dawson Robinson. Walters is about a good of a power back as they come and his teammates believe that he would rather plow over and punish defenders rather than take the open field. Although not the battering ram Walters is, Robinson makes no bones about making big hits while running the ball either. The difference is if he catches a gap in the defense, the race will be on and there will be very few who can catch him.

It would be easier on opponents’ defenses if Mansfield’s offense was a one-trick pony and just ran the ball. Unfortunately for those opponents, that is not the case. Not by far. Strozier has an arm and can thread a needle in the pocket or on the move to a slew of sure-handed receivers. One of those targets is Freshman, Trey Powell, whose top end speed has been moved from the backfield and will be put to use where he’s the most dangerous….the open field. One solid receiver is easy to look down for any defense. An entire jungle’s worth of equally good talent at the position with enough depth to keep fresh bodies on the field, on the other hand, will be detrimental to opposing defenses. With the perfect mix of size and speed like freshmen “Towering” Toby Towe, Austin Oldham, and 8th Graders Alex Hecox and Dominic Shores.

The fort to protect these priceless weapons has had its weak spots in previous seasons, but Mansfield coaches have something this season they haven’t had the luxury of in the past. Depth. The Jr Tigers will suit up one of the deepest numbers of linemen they’ve seen in years for the 2021 season. This monstrous crew will not only have the numbers to rotate but the strength and power to be a bulletproof shield for their backfield counterparts. Leading that crew will be freshman Eli Garner and 8th Graders Ethan Martin, James Bausley, Logan Ore, and Caden Ore.

“I think our Jr High team should have some higher than normal expectations,” said head coach Tim Cothran. “We have two really good groups in the 8th and 9th grade class that have competed well and stayed together. I feel that this group may achieve a lot and even compete for the Jr High conference!” With all of the offensive firepower in the Jr Tigers armory, one would think Mansfield will be in a few high-scoring shootouts. That’s not very likely to happen. Mansfield’s defense will hold some of the same offensive weapons on defense but with a twist. This team as a whole is mean and they love to lay down the boom. They enjoy the glory of offense, but they love defense because they get to bring the pain. They’ll have a defensive line that holds power and a nasty streak, defensive ends that can smell a quarterback’s fear a mile away, linebackers who beg running backs to run up the gut, and defensive backs that tattoo themselves to wide receivers. Even better, they will have the advantage of depth even more so on defense than offense.

Onboard this Tiger ship helping Coach Cothran are assistant coaches, Keith Stovall, Mark Tolton, Layton Robinson, Daniel Martin, and Adam Hecox. “The future certainly looks good, looking at our younger groups all the way down to our little league team. We are competing and getting better, kids are falling in love with the game, and our overall numbers are improving. The little league teams are getting great coaching. At this level numbers and commitment are a must to be successful. For example, our 9th grade crew that went undefeated as 7th graders are close to 50% of what they were. This is above the norm. Usually, by now we see almost a 2:1 dropoff.”

Almost every player on the 2021 Jr Tigers team has played with each other since third grade in Little League. That gives a deep-rooted trust in each other along with a strong mentality of teamwork. That’s an intangible that is extremely rare in programs but very beneficial to their success.