Cardinals have new leadership, new classification

Photo by John Niesner NEW THINGS ALL AROUND — Sabine High School's football program has a new coach this year: Jerry Baker (above, in hat). Baker is the third head coach in four seasons for the Cardinals, who are also making another change. Due to UIL realignment, their athletic programs are now 2A, rather than the bigger 3A classification. Sabine opens its season Friday night at Redwater. Change has been the operative word for the Sabine High School football program for three years running, and it's already again the theme this year.

But that might not be a bad thing.

Jerry Baker has taken over as the Cardinals' new head football coach and athletic director, and admits he's still putting names with faces. But he is looking forward to coaching what he calls a good group of kids.

"We do feel good about things," Baker said. "We have great kids. We're all still getting to know each other, and it's a busy time around here. But I can tell they're listening. They want to learn."

The Cardinals have been in flux since the end of the 2004- 05 school year with the departure of then athletic director and head football coach Walter Causey. Since then, Sabine has had two head coaches — Greg Anderson (2005 and 2006 seasons) and David Feaster, last year. In that time, the Cardinals have won just two games. They're 2-28 in the last three seasons, and haven't had a winning season since . The Cardinals haven't been to the playoffs in football since Ronald Reagan was president.

There's nowhere to go but up.

The Cards did win the last game of the '07 season, beating archrival White Oak, so there is no lengthy losing streak dating back to last season.

Also, in the University Interscholastic League's mandatory every-two-year district realignment based on enrollment, Sabine (and White Oak, coincidentally) is now a Class 2A school.

"I don't know that (moving to 2A) gives us a lot more confidence," Baker said, candidly. "They've faced 2A schools here in recent years and not done all that well. In fact, they're 0-8 against 2A schools in their last eight meetings. But we hope the numbers are a little more to our advantage."

With the new classification, gone from the schedule are standbys like Spring Hill, Pittsburg and even longtime rival Gladewater. The Cardinals will open with Redwater, a 2A school in Bowie County, this Friday night, and Baker says the Dragons are a lot like Sabine.

"They moved from 3A to 2A about six years ago," he said. "We've seen them a little bit. They remind me of us — their players give a lot of effort."

The Dragons bring back five starters on offense, eight on defense, and went 3-7 last year, 0- 7 in their district. Like Sabine, Redwater also has a new coach: Jeff Stine.

Sabine's first home game is just over a week away. They'll host Troup, always a hoss in 2A play. The Cardinals have an early open date (Sept. 12), then just one more non-district game (at Beckville, Sept. 19) before entering District 18-2A play.

The Cardinals get four district games at home, including the district opener (against Union Grove on Sept. 26, also homecoming) and the season finale (against White Oak Nov. 7).

In two scrimmages prior to the beginning of the season against Tenaha and Gladewater, Baker began to find out more about his own personnel.

He's got a fine young wide receiver returning in Taylor Gray (5-11, 160) who made some big plays last year. Jacob Kenna (6- 1, 170), who returns for his senior season, is overall a good athlete, and could see time in a few positions, as could talented and athletic junior Li'Quan Byrd (6- 1, 165), who got in some snaps last year with now-graduated Josh Herod.

Returning as well are A.J. Charlton, a junior who will be one of the anchors on the line; safety Laramy Barber, also a junior; and a host of other names familiar to Sabine fans: junior Tyler Weatherford, junior Cole Turner, senior Brandon Cole, and senior Chris Lumpkin. The Cardinals are young: they've only got seven seniors on the roster.

Coach Baker might be new, but a lot of other coaches return, including Jay Roy Mount, Bo Barrow, Bob Keeling and Andy Bates. Also helping to coach the Cardinals this year will be Rex Sharp, Bryan Stagner, Andre Williams, Brian Williams, Karl Koelker and Jaclyn Watson.

Baker is realistic, but hopeful.

"We're implementing a new offense and a new defense," he said. "But they're trying. They're giving an effort we've been happy with."