Bowie played its first varsity football season in 1992 and lost 9 of 10 games.  The Vols failed to post a winning record in any of the following 13 seasons.    In 2006, Bowie hired Kenny Perry from Fort Worth Haltom.  Perry was a former assistant to Eddie Peach at Arlington Lamar.  In Perry’s first season in charge, Bowie won seven games and earned the school’s first ever playoff berth.  The Vols followed that triumph with a truly memorable 2007 season that’ll serve as a benchmark for future classes. 

          Bowie won 12 games and advanced to the Region 1 championship game before losing to eventual state champions Euless Trinity by seven points (21-14).  Bowie’s only other loss came in the last regular season game against a talented DeSoto squad (24-23).  No program’s stock has made a sharper rise than Bowie’s over the last two seasons.  The turnaround is all the more remarkable given the fact that Coach Perry only arrived two years ago.  Six returning starters (4 offense, 2 defense) and 25 lettermen form the Vols’ foundation in 2008. 

          Senior quarterback Christian Matthews (6’3 180) is the reigning district MVP.  Matthews passed for 2,806 yards while completing 64% of his passes for 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year.  He added 629 rushing yards on 109 carries for nine more touchdowns.  Matthews started his sophomore year, and his efficiency numbers improved dramatically as a junior.  Simply put, Matthews is one of the top quarterbacks Texas has to offer this season.  Junior QB Deric Davis (5’8 195) has raised eyebrows at camps this off-season, and Bowie will find ways to get him involved this season despite the presence of Matthews.

          Senior RB Keidrick Jackson will step into a bigger role this season after earning a varsity letter last year.  Jackson rushed for 229 yards on 44 carries (5.2 ypc) and 13 touchdowns in 13 games as a junior.  Jackson finished second on the team in scoring last season.  Matthews returns one of his top downfield targets in senior WR Trae Hawkins.  Hawkins averaged 12.4 yards per catch on 39 receptions for 484 yards and five touchdowns.  Senior WR Jonathan Gazaille also has varsity experience and should add another potent downfield target for Matthews.

          The Vols will be strong up front with two returning all-district players.  Senior OG Jamaal Lewis earned first team all-district recognition in 2007.  Senior OG Derrick Okafor is also returning after scooping up second team all-district honors.  Seniors Cory Hickson, Alex Camacho and Trent Stookesberry are other returning lettermen up front.

          A highlight of Bowie’s team last year was defense, and the Vols return some key experience on this side of the ball.

          The defensive line returns seniors Donovan Vestal, Rickie McGraw and Greg Smith.  First team all-district pick, senior MLB Chris Hank, leads the linebacking crew.  Hank was one responsible for making the calls last season, and his experience solidifies Bowie at this position.  Seniors Ronny Thomas and Caleb Carr played as juniors.

          The secondary also returns its leader in free safety Dexter Linton.  Linton is a top Division 1 recruit, and was also a first team all-district pick.  Seniors Jordan Donnell and J’Mond Green add more experience in the back four. 

          Bowie built on their first taste of success in a huge way last season, and the progression should continue this season.  The Vols don’t return a ton of experience, but what they do have back is very good.  Even when Bowie was going through losing seasons, many recognized the great talent this campus contained.  Bowie has always been a hotbed for Division 1 talent.   Now that they’ve apparently found the right coach for the job, it seems the sky is the limit for the program, and that is a scary prospect for the rest of Texas.

 

2008  Team  Outlook

Pre-Season State Top 25:  10th Pre-Season Rank (Region):  6th (R1) Pre-Season Rank (District):  1st (4) Returning Offensive Starters:  5 QB Christian Matthews (Sr.) * '07 Dist. Off. MVP WR Trae Hawkins (Sr.) WR Jordan Selexman (Sr.) * 'Transer from Duncanville OG Jamal Lewis (Sr.) OG Derek Okafor (Sr.) Returning Defensive Starters:  2 ILB Chris Hank (Sr.) FS Dexter Linton (Sr.) All-State Players (Team):  2 QB Christian Matthews (2nd) DB Dexter Linton (2nd) Returning All-District Players:  6 QB Christian Matthews (Offensive MVP) WR Jordan Selexman (1st) OL Jamal Lewis (1st) ILB Chris Hank (1st) FS Dexter Linton (1st) OG Derrick Okafor (2nd) Other Players to Watch: QB Deric Davis (Jr.) RB Keidrick Jackson (Sr.) WR Montrey Nelson (Jr.) WR Jonathon Gazaille (Sr) OL Cory Hickson (Sr.) LB/DB Ronny Thomas (Sr.) LB Ishmail Shittu (Sr.) LB/DB Caleb Carr (Sr.) Justin Foster (Sr.) DB J'Mond Green (Sr.) DB Jordan Donnell (Sr.)   2008 Schedule (Stadium): 8/30     Trotwood, Ohio (Maverick) 9/5       @ South Garland (Dragon) 9/12     Dallas Skyline (Maverick) 9/20     FW Wyatt (Maverick) 9/27     Arlington Martin (Maverick) 10/3     OPEN 10/10   @ Mansfield (Anderson) 10/17   Arlington Lamar (Maverick) 10/24   @ Arlington (Maverick) 10/31   Arlington Houston (Maverick) 11/7     @ Mansfield Summit (Anderson) Opponents Combined Record:  56-32 Projected 2008 Record:  9-1 Key Games (Rank): @ South Garland @ Mansfield @ Arlington @ Mansfield Summit Strength of Schedule (Rank): 85.50 (37th) Unit Rankings: Offensive Line (9th)   The Bottom Line: Strengths: Great Coaching Staff & Great Talent Return All-State Caliber QB Speed, Speed, Speed Weaknesses: Replacing 16 Starters