Ennis Lions Football Program

THE AWARD WINNING

EHS MARCHING BAND

CHEERLEADERS

2023 ENNIS LIONS FOOTBALL PROGRAM

OFFICIAL THE WELCOME TO ENNIS MEMORIAL STADIUM

“THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER”

Oh! say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming. And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Oh! say, does that Star-Spangled Banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

“MAROON AND WHITE”

Ennis, old Ennis, we’ll stand by thee; Faithful and loyal we will ever be. True to our colors that stand for right, Loyal sons and daughters of maroon and white. We will always face the conquest with spirits bold, Laurels for old Ennis High will be our goal.

VARSITY FOOTBALL 2023

Aug. 25

Aug. 31 (Th)

Sept. 8

Sept. 15

Sept. 22

Sept. 30

Oct. 6

Oct. 13

Oct. 19

Oct. 27

Nov. 3

Waxahachie (10-3)

at Midlothian (12-1)

at No. 11 Colleyville Heritage (8-4)

Corsicana* (1-9)

at No. 24 Everman* (9-3)

Open / Bye Week

Joshua* (2-8)

SCHEDULE

No. 10 Midlothian Heritage* (11-2)

Arlington Seguin* (3-7)

Burleson* (3-7)

at No. 19 Mansfield Summit* (5-6)

*District 5-5A games. Number in parentheses is 2022 W-L record. Dave Campbell’s Football Texas magazine pre-season state ranking is next to No.

2023 CHEERLEADERS VARSITY

CHEERLEADERS VARSITY 2023

2023 CHEERLEADERS VARSITY

2023 CHEERLEADERS VARSITY

2023 EHS lionettes

Anahi Castillo - Jr. Vet

Ashley Abeja - Jr. Vet

Bri’Shun Jackson - Sr. Rookie

Brooklynne Bailey - Soph. Manager

Camila Cuellar - Soph. Vet

Estela Chapa - Soph. Vet

Eva Aguilar - Soph. Vet

Gavi Saucedo - Jr. Vet

Jairaliz Hernande - Sr. 4-Year Vet

Kaile Saavedra - Sr. 1st Lieutenant

Kailyn Heng - Sr. 4-Year Squad Leader

Kaitlyn Magee - Jr. Rookie

Karrah Armstrong - Sr. 4-year Vet

Kaylee Jurica - Fr. Rookie

Kaylee Spencer - Soph. Vet

Kynlie Kubin - Fr. Rookie

Laila Webb - Soph. Vet

lionettes

Lauren Carl - Sr. 4-Year Head Squad Leader

Laurie Castillo - Fr. Rookie

Lily Webb - Sr. 4-Year Captain

Logan Ort - Sr. 4-Year Lieutenant

Makenna Feller - Jr. Lieutenant

MaLeah Lambert - Fr. Manager

Mekenzie Kazee - Sr. Vet

Mia DeCapua - Jr. Lieutenant

Mia Droll - Sr. 4-Year Squad Leader

Neesa Gutierrez - Fr. Rookie

Nellieyah Fortner - Sr. Vet

Nevaeh Kidd - Fr. Rookie

Presley White - Sr. 4-Year Vet

Storie Mauricio - Jr. Vet

Tayler Pruitt - Jr. Vet

Victoria Duarte - Soph. vet

Zoie Welch - Fr. Rookie

2023 LIONETTES OFFICERS

2023 LIONETTEs Squad leaders

2023 LIONETTES Seniors

2023 LIONETTEs

4-Year Members

LIONS UNCAGED

Their challenging tale is being written

Year six in the redux of Sam Harrell, the Hall-of-Fame Ennis football head coach starts a season with different quarterback for the fourth time. The previous five years all produced playoff berths to extend the Lions streak to 11-straight. While the team’s 23-game district winning streak came to an end in 2020, they finished strong, and won a playoff game before coming up short against No. 9 ranked Melissa, 42-38. Harrell, with three state championships under his visor, is an island of surety in a changing world. Unranked, likely related to last year’s 0-3 beginning and a 1-4 mid-season mark, his Lions inverted the lackluster genesis to wind-up with a memorable finish.

Opening with losses of 23-20 and 35-33 to ranked teams, the squad would gel in accord and with one-mind. Scoring 30+ in every win during an impressive 5-2 stretch, gave credence to a solid core of rising players and a coaching staff that knew how to utilize a spatula. Rather than windingdown, they inverted to cap a successful season.

Can they do it again? A year ago, Team Maroon opens with Waxahachie (6-5 in 2021), Midlothian (8-5) and Colleyville Heritage (12-2), a trio with a combined 26-12 record. This fall, playing the same three, who went 10-3, 12-1 and 8-4 (in 2022), a collective 30-8 mark, provides another challenging start.

WARDE’S WHEEL H USE

Rolling Seven

Team Maroon has 7 returning starters coming back on offense.

Coach Harrell had Dylan Santos, Collin Drake and Jackson Gilkey line-up behind center and won 29-of-34 district games. This year he unveils No. 7, senior Wondame Davis at QB. The transfer from Aurora, Colorado, caught 56 passes for 764-yards and seven TDs last season. He ran 11 times for 109-yards and two scores. During the Lions spring scrimmage, his arm rolled sevens while spreading the wealth to a cast of receivers.

Oklahoma-commit, junior WR, Gracen Harris, a voracious collector of pigskins, had 72 catches as a freshman and another 87 a year ago. He parlayed them into 2,573-yards and 21 TDs. He is a tracer bullet lighting up opposing skies. Attention on Harris opens the secondary for Kalen Tisdale, LaMarion Peanut McGowan, Taurean Bell and TE Jalen Henderson.

Offensive Coordinator Chase Willingham was at the controls as the Lions gained more through the air, 249.6 yards per game, than on the ground, 171.6 ypg. That was an anomaly. The 2021 team threw for 208.5 and ran for 225.9. He has two veteran RBs returning, Jamarrion Wafford (377-yds) and Jeremy Brown (253yds), who can more than fill the bill as versatile ball carriers. The success of this unit will likely come as a result of how well the offensive line blocks for Wafford and Brown and how much protection they provide for Davis. Line Coach Zach Clark has four players who started 12 games - Julian Castillo, Blake Prestidge, Gerardo Ramirez and Braylen Lambert. Filling the shoes of fouryear starting center, Patlan Mendez, will be a chore. Wade Ivie and Adam Meer are also bidding for a starting berth.

Young Lions’ D

Team Maroon has 5 returning starters in the fold on defense. The force de resistance looks to recover from a 2022 campaign in which a young Lions defense allowed 27.3 ppg, an increase from the 19.5 of 2021. Yards permitted rose as well, from 311.9 ypg to 367.3, much of it surrendered on the ground, 89.9 ypg rushing in 2021 to 180.7.

Granted, the team made adjustments and improved down the stretch. Undersized up front, team speed and lateral pursuit caused 24 takeaways; half of them interceptions.

The D-Line has a pair of playmakers, Lonnie Collins (59 tackles) and Kyris Brown (46), while Linebackers Malachi Perez (135 tkls) and Cannon Montelongo (72) – are the Top 4 returning tacklers. Collins made five sacks and a team-high 13 tackles for lost yardage. Cornerback Jeremy Brown, Jr., is perhaps the best cover-man among the defensive backs, though he may concentrate on offense. Perez scored four TDs on defense, twice on fumble recoveries, and returned two-of-his-three interceptions to the house. The Lions will also be in search of new place-kickers, a holder, punter and a long-snapper.

District predictions

Overall, Dave Campbell’s Football Texas magazine has predicted Ennis to slide from 2022’s third place finish to fourth. That would still clinch a playoff berth against the top District 6-5A team, which has been South Oak Cliff in each of the past two seasons. DCFT forecasts Midlothian Heritage to repeat as league champions, followed by No. 2 Summit and No. 3 Everman. Their bottom four picks are No. 5 Seguin, No. 6 Burleson, No. 7 Corsicana and No. 8 Joshua.

Ennis Football Last 5 Years

Looking Back: Eleven years in Maroon

Strength of Schedule - Lions have second toughest non-district

The eight teams of District 5, with three of them state-ranked, play three games apart from the seven all-important district games. They help prepare teams for the final seven. Here is a look at who each team will play. Seguin, Ennis and Burleson have the toughest gauntlets to run through.

District 5-5A Non-District Games

2023 OppW-L Opp (2022 W-L)

Seguin 31-7

Midlothian (12-1) at Red Oak (9-3) at Aubrey (10-3)

Ennis 30-8 Waxahachie (10-3) at Midlothian (12-1) at Colleyville Heritage (8-4)

Burleson 28-8 at Burl. Centennial (12-2)

Frisco Lone Star (9-3)

Weatherford (7-3)

Joshua 21-12 Arling. Hts (10-2) at Wyatt (7-5)

Ft. W Southwest (4-6)

Head Coaches at the Helm

Burleson Elks Chad Worrell*

Corsicana Tigers Aric Sardinea

Ennis Lions Sam Harrell

Everman Bulldogs Michael Boone

Heritage Jaguars Eric Edwards

Joshua Owls Danny DeArman

Seguin Cougars Joe Gordon

Summit Jaguars Channon Hall

*First season at Burleson

Summit 15-17

Lake Ridge (4-6) at Mansfield (7-4)

Ft. W Crowley (4-7)

Mid. Heritage 14-19 at Stephenville (9-3)

Cleburne (0-10) at Waco LaVega (5-6)

Everman 13-17

Corsicana 11-20

Haltom City (0-10) at Stephenville (9-3)

Denton (4-4)

Frisco Liberty (0-10) at North Garland (3-7)

Whitehouse (8-3)

Lions Stat Leaders 12 Games

Last Years’ Team Stats

ENNIS LIONS varsity 2023

ENNIS LIONS varsity 2023

ENNIS LIONS varsity 2023

ENNIS LIONS varsity 2023

COACHES & FAMILIES

ENNIS LIONS varsity 2023

QUARTERBACKS

RUNNING BACKS

OFFENSIVE LINE

DEFENSIVE LINE

ENNIS LIONS varsity 2023

RECEIVERS

LINEBACKERS

TIGHT ENDS

SPECIALISTS

DEFENSIVE BACKS

VARSITY

QUARTERBACKS

7 - Wondame Davis, Jr., 6’0, 180, Sr.

14 - Brady Payne, 5’9, 160, Soph.

RUNNING BACKS

4 - Jeremy Brown, Jr., 5’9, 170, Sr.

6 - Jamarion Wafford, 5’10, 185, Jr.

19 - Jamarquez Farsee, 5’6, 165, Jr.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1 - Gracen Harris, 5’11, 170, Jr.

2 - Lamarion McGowan, 5’11, 160, Jr.

11 - Kalen Tisdale, 6’0, 175, Sr.

12 - Taurean Bell, 6’2, 175, Sr.

16 - Kaden Griffin, 5’8, 160, Jr.

40 - Asione Trent, 5’9, 165, Sr.

80 - Jordan Slovacek, 5’10, 170, Sr.

TIGHT ENDS

0 - Jalen Henderson, 5’9, 180, Sr.

32 - Ayden Jones, 6’0, 200, Jr.

88 - Anthony Molina, 5’11, 200, Sr.

OFFENSIVE LINE

50 - Rudy Moya, 5’7, 220, Jr.

54 - Ray Jiron, 5’9, 220, Jr.

55 - Julian Castillo, 5’11, 230, Sr.

56 - Bryce Beets, 6’2, 285, Jr.

57 - Dillon Martinez, 5’7, 190, Sr.

62 - Braylen Lambert, 5’10, 260, Jr.

64 - Davionne Adams, 5’9, 250, Jr.

70 - Wade Ivie, 6’0, 295, Sr.

72 - Adam Meer, 6’0, 320, Jr.

74 - Zack Calderilla, 6’0, 280, Jr.

75 - Jonathan Almanza, 6’1, 300, Sr.

77 - Blake Prestidge, 5’11, 240, Sr.

78 - Gerardo Ramirez, 6’0, 230, Jr.

KICKERS / Specialists

28 - Jax Bishop, 5’8, 155, Jr.

30 - Adrian Sandoval, 5’7, 145, Jr.

DEFENSIVE LINE

8 - Bryten Fields, 5’6, 225, Sr.

9 - Kyris Brown, 5’9, 160, Sr.

13 - Prince Joiner, 5’8, 175, Sr.

17 - Max Sellers, 5’6, 165, Jr.

42 - Kingston Parker, 6’1, 270, Jr.

44 - Johnny Pruitt, 5’10, 190, Sr.

45 - Boston DeSantis, 5’11, 180, Soph.

46 - Noah Berry, 5’10, 210, Jr.

72 - Adam Meer, 6’0, 320, Jr.

87 - Colton Wilson, 5’11, 220, Sr.

88 - Anthony Molina, 5’11, 200, Sr.

92 - Jamarquis Dickerson, 6’4, 350, Soph.

94 - Judd Tabb, 6’1, 260, Sr.

98 - Jesse Mauricio, 5’7, 220, Sr.

99 - Lonnie Collins, 6’0, 265, Sr.

LINE BACKERS

5 - Kobe Wafford, 5’7, 190, Sr.

9 - Kyris Brown, 5’9, 160, Sr.

10 - Xavier Collins, 5’11, 195, Soph.

20 - Cannon Montelongo, 6’0, 205, Sr.

21 - Brett Simmons, 5’11, 175, Jr.

22 - Malachi Perez, 5’10, 185, Sr.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

3 - Ketrevius Tarrant, 5’9, 160, Jr.

4 - Jeremy Brown, Jr., 5’9, 170, Sr.

6 - Jamarion Wafford, 5’10, 185, Jr.

15 - Charod Watts, 5’9, 160, Jr.

19 - Jamarquez Farsee, 5’6, 165, Jr.

23 - Jaquarius Malone, 5’7, 155, Jr.

25 - Zay Jones, 5’9, 160, Jr.

33 - Cadden Kazee, 5’7, 155, Sr.

COACHES

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

DON DRAKE

HEAD COACH

SAM HARRELL

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH

STEVE MARROW

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

CHASE WILLINGHAM

Offensive Assistant Coaches

Zach Clark, Jake Smith, Steven Moreno, Ron Horodnyckye, Hunter Kent, Deven Collins

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

PAUL WILLINGHAM

Defensive Assistant Coaches

Steve Marrow, Hank Hollywood, Darius Fennell, Jared Burchard, Jacob Jackson

SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR

STEVE MARROW, JAKE SMITH

JUNIOR HIGH COORDINATOR

RANDY FULTON

Junior High Assistant Coaches

Channing Taylor, Andrew Denova, Hayden Wilson, Michael Bailey, Noah Herring

ATHLETIC TRAINERS

ERIC RIDER, CAITLIN FINDLEY, BAYLEE REJCEK WARD

LIONETTE DIRECTOR

TIA HENSLEY

CHEER TEAM DIRECTOR

ERICA TODD

BAND DIRECTOR

DAVID INGRAM

STATISTICIANS

RICK NELSON, GILBERT SANTOS

PUBLIC ADDRESS ANNOUNCER

JAKE WILLINGHAM

FOOTBALL COACHES 2023 varsity

2023 EHS BAND

BAND

2023 EHS BAND Quartermasters

2023 EHS BAND

2023 EHS BAND SENIORS

2023 EHS BAND SENIORS

2023 EHS BAND sections