ST. JOHN-HUDSON HIGH SCHOOL
TIGERS
Classification: Eight-Man Division-1
District: 6 (Kinsley, Kiowa County, Macksville, Pratt-Skyline, South Central)
League: Central Prairie League
Head coach: Nick Garcia (entering ninth year)
Assistant coach(es): Gates Hunley, Pat Prescott, Kurt Fairchild
Base offense: spread
Base defense: 3-4
Roster
Preston Nemec, TE/LB, 165 pounds, Sr.; Jorge Calleros, QB/DB, 145, Soph.; Eddy Ibarra, WR/DB, 130, Fr.; Roger Ramirez, OF/DL, 130, Fr.; Andrew Deveney, RB/LB, 185, Jr.; Kevin Neri-Leon, WR/DB, 135, Fr.; Juan Neri-Leon, RB/LB, 170, Sr.; Troy Devine, RB/LB, 150, Soph.; Pat Doran, OL/DL, 190, Soph.; Nathan Ward, WR/DB, 160, Jr.; Trace Shultz, RB/LB, 180, Soph.; Ty Wycoff, RB/LB, 165, Sr.; Bryan Ramirez, WR/DB, 140, Soph.; Zach Claussen, TE/DL, 180, Jr.; Jacob Milton, OL/DL, 252, Jr.; Allen Schwein, OL/DL, 205, Jr.; Jeremy Crockett, OL/DL, 200, Jr.; Austin Towers, OL/DL, 220, Jr.; Greyson Collins, QB/DL, 165, Soph.; Connor Engel, TE/DL, 135, Fr.; Omar Portillo, OL/DL, 240, Jr.; Kristian Claussen, WR/DB, 150, Jr.; Nick Schwein, QB/LB, 160, Soph.; Clay Cooper, TE/DL, 180, Sr.
Schedule
Sept. 5 — At Ellinwood
Sept. 12 — OTIS-BISON
Sept. 19 — At Victoria
Sept. 26 — CENTRAL PLAINS
Oct. 3 — At Kinsley*
Oct. 10 — At South Central*
Oct. 17 — MACKSVILLE*
Oct. 24 — At Kiowa County*
Oct. 30 — PRATT-SKYLINE*
* — District games
All games at 7 p.m.
HOME GAMES IN ALL CAPS
ST. JOHN — While there is a change in the coaching staff for the St. John-Hudson High School football team, it is a familiar face.
After stepping down for the 2013 season, Nick Garcia is back at the helm for the Tigers.
Garcia looks to turn things around after a less-than-stellar 2013 season.
The Tigers went 2-7 overall, going 1-5 in their Eight-Man Division-I district.
St. John was 2-3 in the Central Prairie League.
Now Garcia looks to piece things back together.
“We’re trying to get stability back with our offensive line,” Garcia said. “We’re shuffling kids around in some places. We’ve already had some injuries so kids are playing positions they haven’t played before.
“They don’t complain about it, though. You say ‘play this position,’ and they just move over and get it done. They’re good, hardworking kids.”
Garcia likes to focus on the line because that’s where each play starts, he said, and St. John will be missing their center.
“That’s one of our big items so far this season,” Garcia said. “We’ve already lost our 240-pound center. He’s been working really hard and we’ve lost him to a torn labrum.”
St. John will be returning their quarterback, who played last year as a freshman.
“(Jorge Calleros) is looking real good,” Garcia said. “I’ve been pretty pleased with his performance. He wanted to get better at running the right plays at the right time. He wants to be another coach on the field.
“He’s getting good, too. He’s getting better at anticipating things.”
At receiver, Garcia mentioned a pair of freshmen and a junior, Kevin Neri-Leon, Eddy Ibarra and Nathan Ward, respectively.
“We’re pretty young at the wide receiver spot,” said Garcia, who coached the youth last year. “I coached both the freshmen last year. They were a fullback and tailback last year. They’re both very fast.
“Nathan does a great job running routes. He does a good job getting separation.”
Senior Juan Neri-Leon returns at running back for the Tigers.
“He did a good job last year,” Garcia said. “He was voted as one of our captains this year. He has good field vision. He can see the holes before they open up.”
So Garcia has his pieces, and he’s back to put them together.
“We got right back on it and started going again,” Garcia said of his return. “The kids have embraced me. It was a warm feeling, very heartwarming.
“We’re all just working to get better every day.”
