TRAVIS, Texas — The Rosebud-Lott Cougars are still riding high after making their first playoff appearance since 2017. But, as they move into a difficult district, they will have to step up if they hope to return.
The Cougars have seen marked improvement in the last few seasons after going 0-10 in 2019. They won three games in 2020 before doubling that win total last season.
"That's just like a taste," senior offensive lineman Easton Fulton said. "Playoffs were just a taste of what we could do, and now we're going after it."
The Cougars return 15 starters from last season's playoff team, including a solid group on the offensive line. That group is led by Fulton, who committed to Sam Houston earlier this year.
That group will help block for new quarterback Jamarquis Johnson, who will transition from wide receiver to quarterback this season. Johnson has Division One offers from UTSA and Texas Tech.
"We're gonna tailor the offense to him a little bit," head coach Brandon Hicks said. "But as far as the intangibles, the leadership and anything, he's taken to it like a duck to water. I mean, the team follows him. He's been at every workout over the summer being a vocal leader, leading by example, doing all the things you want out of a quarterback. So I'm so excited for him."
Johnson will have plenty of athletic weapons at his disposal, including wide receiver Breon Lewis.
"Really, we are trying to go to state and last year... we're not gonna be able to go to state with that, so we're gonna have to up our game a bunch more," Johnson said.
Rosebud-Lott enters the year picked to finish fourth in District 8-2A I.
2022 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE:
8/26 vs Jewett Leon 7:30
9/2 at Wortham 7:00
9/9 vs Goldthwaite 7:30
9/16 Open
9/23 at Crawford* 7:30
9/30 vs Riesel* 7:30
10/7 at Bruceville-Eddy* 7:30
10/14 at Bosqueville* 7:30
10/21 vs Valley Mills* 7:30
10/28 at Marlin* 7:30
11/4 vs Moody* 7:30
*District Game
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