By Staff

Fall 2019 Preview: Stockton Football

By Jordan Burton (For OzarksSportsZone.com)

Year One for Travis Hurley at Stockton featured some growing pains.

The Tigers went 2-8 and opened the district tournament against Class 2 power and rival Lamar.

“Last year was a learning experience as it was my first year at Stockton,” Hurley said. “Learning our players’ strengths and where to play them was part of the process. The kids had to learn all new systems as well as the entire staff was new.”

But, in 2019 some of those old weaknesses will become strengths.

With a full year to integrate his system, Hurley is more comfortable with his players and now his players are more comfortable with Hurley’s system.

With 17 total starters back for the Tigers, this fall will see the program continue to trend in the right direction under its new regime.

Expectations will be high.

“We return nine out of 11 starters on offense so we have an experienced group,” Hurley said. “We were young last year and learning a new system, so year two has been much smoother. We have been able to pick up where we left off last year and add to the playbook. We have four out of five returning offensive lineman.

“We return eight of 11 starters on defense and will be deep and talented in the secondary. We brought in a very experienced defensive coordinator in Greg O’Connor, who is a Stockton alum.”

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE FALL SPORTS PREVIEWS

Junior Ben Green is an All-Conference selection and at 6-0, 225 pounds will be a load on both sides of the ball. Classmate Judd Loyd also was All-Conference and will again see reps in the slot and at corner.

Fellow junior Kaiden Byram was another All-Conference selection and will see double-duty at running back and linebacker.

Senior Cole Garretson, yet another All-Conference pick and team captain, will solidify the defensive line and again play tight end.

The offensive line returns four of five starters including: Wyatt Woody (6-1, 320), Derrick DeBouef (6-0, 230), Sammy McGuire (6-2, 260) and Zack Burns (5-11, 170). DeBouef, McGuire and Burns all will be two-way starters.

Junior DJ Rush will join Green and Byram in the linebacking corps. Classmates Cody Shephard and Weston Rains will return to the secondary and defensive line, respectively.

Sophomore Layne Colvin will take over quarterback duties after starting six games as a freshman.

Hurley also is excited about the addition of brothers Drew (senior) and Tate (junior) Wheeler and the depth they’ll add at the skill positions.

Drew, who is being recruited in both basketball and baseball, was an All-Conference player as a sophomore but took his junior year off.

He’ll immediately make Stockton more dynamic.

“Drew has been great for us this summer,” Wheeler said. “I knew he was a tremendous athlete, but I have been impressed most by his work ethic and leadership skills.”

The pieces are in place for Stockton to be one of the most improved programs in the area.

Hurley is excited about what this fall could hold.

“We expect to make a big jump in Year Two,” Hurley said. “The kids have bought into the program and we are having a great summer so far. We return a lot of experience, which is something that we didn’t have much of last season.

“Besides returning 17 starters, we have several other kids that gained valuable experience and will fill bigger roles this fall. Getting Drew and Tate Wheeler to come back to the football program will be big for us. They make us more athletic. We will be fundamentally sound and compete hard for four quarters.”

Stockton will open the 2019 season at Miller on Aug. 30. The Tigers will play their home-opener the following Friday against Ash Grove.