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RECRUIT SCOOP: Luke Thomas, Hargrave Football
Luke Thomas was the #1 receiver in District 11-4A last season as the Hargrave sophomore averaged over 12 yards per reception. Teaming up with all-district senior quarterback Justin Shivley and top senior rusher AJ San Miguel, the Falcons offense averaged 383 yards of total offense per contest.
Thomas returns for his junior season in newly aligned 10-4A and will be a top returner in a district featuring former 5A team Vidor with Bridge City moving down to 4A Division 2.
VYPE caught up with Thomas during this quarantine period to discuss his thoughts on the upcoming season and Hargrave football.
VYPE: During this time of quarantine what are you doing as an athlete to stay in shape and keep engaged with your coach and teammates?
Thomas: I have been doing a lot of body weight workouts and agility workouts along with sprints to stay in shape. My teammates, coaches, and I are always texting and calling each other to keep in touch.
VYPE: Explain a typical day in your life with the "stay-at-home" order and how are you engaging with your school work and personal life?
Thomas: The school work is simple and takes a few hours out of my day. After my school work, I do my daily workout and spend time with my family.
VYPE: You're heading into your junior season with the Falcons, what are your individual goals as you are coming off an all-district season from 2019?
Thomas: At the end of the season I want people to look at me and say that I was the best player in the district and that I led by example. Furthermore, my goals are to develop in to a better leader in order to take my team deeper in to the playoffs than Huffman's ever gone.
VYPE: The Falcons had a playoff season in 2019, give us a sense on what Hargrave football will be like this fall.
Thomas: Losing many seniors and only a few returning players, things are definitely going to change and we will have to work hard to accomplish big things, but we're looking forward to the challenge.
VYPE: What is your 2-5 year plan of being an athlete? Are you looking to play at the next level?
Thomas: Yes, definitely looking to play at the next level. I'm planning on getting better each year and playing for as long as I can. My 2 to 5 year plan is to earn a scholarship to exceed at the next level and develop elite skills to start in college.
VYPE: What do you want your legacy to be at Hargrave once you leave in 2 years?
Thomas: I want to not only be the best football player to come through, but the best leader as well. I want to be remembered as a strong athlete who had great work ethic everyday.
SETX Baseball Rankings - March 3
Small schools dominate the SETX region for the 2020 season as Region 3 4A brings dominance with bi-district foes Bridge City (24-4A) and (23-4A) Hargrave.
Kirbyville (23-3A) also checks in with some major punch as the Wildcats will look to build on their 3rd round playoff finish from last season.
Picked to finish fourth in their district from some publications we have Port Neches-Groves coming in under-valued for 2020 with some top prospects leading the Indians in District 22-5A.
Finally we wouldn't be legitimate if we didn't represent Barbers Hill in our rankings. The perennial 5A power school brings with them a host of returners from last years squad that made it to the 3rd round of playoffs.
VYPE SETX Baseball Rankings (Top 5)
1. Bridge City (4A)
The Cardinals are pound-for-pound the most talented team in any classification in Region 3. BC returns seven starters from last years' 20-11-2 squad and six returning all-district performers. Leading the way are "Top 100" prospects Peyton Havard (LLU commit) and Logan Hamm (Texas State commit).
Throw in Cameron Yadon (Lamar commit), Jackson Tims, Slade Foreman, and Sam Carpenter and you have a bonafide, lockdown, stone cold team on your hands. Head coach Chad Landry enters his 13th season at Bridge City and will look as career win number 350 right around playoff time.
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2. Huffman-Hargrave (4A)
The Falcons are coming off a 4th round playoff appearance from 2019 and bring back six starters led by district MVP Noah Zamora. Head coach Tom Deberry has tons of weapons and don't be surprised if we have an All-SETX playoff with a Bridge City vs Hargrave matchup.
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3. PNG (5A)
Port Neches-Groves is a powder keg ready to explode in 2020 and the accelerant for their big bang will be returning superstars Khristian Curtis (TAMU commit) and Carson Roccaforte (LLU commit). These two all-district returners make PNG the district co-favorite for D21-5A and a solid favorite for the regional finals out of R3.
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4. Barbers Hill (5A)
We very well could see an All-District 21-5A Regional Finals this spring with Barbers Hill and PNG. Not to be out done by PNG the Eagles bring back seven starters from their 2019 team that went three rounds deep in the playoffs. Led by returning District Co-Offensive MVP Cameron Cauley and All-District catcher Greg Smith the Eagles will soar in 2020.
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5. Kirbyville (3A)
Don't let their small school classification fool you, the Kirbyville Wildcats are for real. With eight starters back from last years state semifinal appearance Kirbyville brings a solid punch with seniors Logan Webb and Dilyn Bishop.