Smithson Valley quickly established itself as a 5A power after moving up from the 4A ranks in 2002.  The Rangers won three Region 4 titles in their first four seasons as a 5A school.  However, consecutive playoff defeats in the region have snared the program’s surging momentum towards an elusive state title.   

          In 2006, San Marcos upset a favored Rangers team 35-34 in the bi-district round.  Last year, the Rangers slipped on a 28-7 second half lead in a dramatic 38-35 defeat to Madison .  The setbacks were especially cruel to a Smithson Valley program that’s largely dominated the Region 4 landscape this decade along with Judson.    

          The 2008 edition is charged with righting the big game wrongs of recent seasons, and 30 lettermen return to lead the Rangers’ dispute against any changing of the guard.  Officially, just two full-time starters return (1 offense, 1 defense); however, eight additional players return who earned significant playing time in 2007.  Those eight are evenly split between offense and defense, so the Rangers have a foundation on which to build the 2008 team.

          Senior running back Trey Reinhart (5’7 160) is Smithson Valley ’s most productive returning player on offense.  Reinhart rushed for 648 yards and five touchdowns as a junior.  Reinhart stepped up to fill a void when starter Trent Rios was injured. 

          Reinhart will be running behind a near totally remade line.  The Rangers graduate what may be the most talented senior line in school history along with a productive QB, so Reinhart is one of the players the Rangers will look to for early stability. Senior OT Dillon Brown (6’2 240) is a returning letter on the line.  Out wide, senior Cody Matthews (6’4 170) looks set to take over the playmaking role vacated by the graduation of Cody Renken.  Senior tight ends Will McLane (6’2 210) and Brad Nasis (6’1 220) round out the Rangers’ experience on offense.

          The Rangers will be reloading on defense as well. Senior free safety Ryan Wood (6’0 180) provides veteran leadership.  Wood is the top returning tackler on the team (70 tackles, 3 INTs in 2007).  Junior LB Alex Rubin contributed as a sophomore last year.  Senior DT Drake Lawsage (6’1 220) and DE Stephen Fox (6’1 180) are two more returning contributors. The Rangers typically field strong special teams units and senior Taylor Cowart adds security in the kicking game.  Cowart converted 68 PATs and 4 FGs last season.

          Reinforcements for the 30 returning lettermen move up from an 8-1 JV squad.  Rebuilding the line and finding a new quarterback are glaring needs on offense.  Jacob Brown, a starter for last year's JV at DB, is primed to take over at QB.  The Rangers must reload an offense that averaged over 42 points a game last year.  The Rangers have dropped off defensively the last two seasons, and have plenty of questions to answer on this side of the ball as well.  Few programs in the state reload as well as Smithson Valley , so write off the Rangers at your own risk.  

 

2008  Team  Outlook

Pre-Season State Top 25:  18th Pre-Season Rank (Region):  3 (4) Pre-Season Rank (District):  1 (26) Returning Offensive Starters: 1 TE WIll McLane (Sr.) Returning Defensive Starters: 1 FS Ryan Wood (Sr.) All-State Players (Team): 0 Returning All-District Players: None Other Players to Watch: WR Cody Matthews (Sr.) OT Dillon Brown (Sr.) DE Stephen Fox (Sr.) DT Drake Lawsage (Sr.) LB Alex Rubin (Jr.) K/LB Taylor Cowart (Sr.) 2008 Schedule (Stadium): 8/29     @ Converse Wagner (Rutledge)              9/5       Converse Judson (Ranger)                9/11     @ SA Reagan (Comalander) 9/19     New Braunfels (Ranger) 9/26     @ SA Johnson (N/A) 10/3     SA MacArthur (Ranger) 10/10   @ SA Madison (Comalander) 10/17   OPEN 10/24   SA Churchill (Ranger) 10/31   @ SA Lee (Comalander) 11/7     SA Roosevelt (Ranger) Opponents Combined Record: 54-41 Projected 2008 Record: 9-1 Key Games (Rank): vs.  Converse Judson @   SA Madison vs. SA Roosevelt Strength of Schedule (Rank): 79.20 (33rd) Unit Rankings: N/A   The Bottom Line: Strengths: Program consistency Experience at each spot on defense Returning placekicker (80 pts last yr) Weaknesses: Inexperienced QB Inexperienced OL