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THE DUKE: GCM Signal-Caller Ready for Senior Season
MASON DUKE GETS IT.
The Goose Creek Memorial quarterback, who also plays first base and in the outfield for the Patriots' baseball team in the spring, knows what it takes to win at this level and the next.
He comes from a family of athletes. His father played football and baseball at the University of Texas. His older brother, who was also the quarterback at GCM went on to play at SMU.
They are his inspiration and driving force to play football and baseball.
"To play both sports at a high level takes extreme concentration on goals and time management," Duke said. "Knowing when to work on each separate sport to keep it fresh is essential."
This summer, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound dual-sport star shined at the Prairie View A&M and Stephen F. Austin football camps.
"I received great college level coaching and was able to gauge myself against some top talent," Duke said.
When he wasn't at camps or playing baseball, Duke was working on his football craft but not just by himself.
It was a team effort, which he hopes will pay off this fall with another playoff berth and that first-ever GCM football playoff victory.
"This offseason I took pride on developing better relationships and trust with my receivers, running backs and most importantly the offensive line," he said. "I was building timing with them and chemistry, which will translate on the field on Friday nights."
Looking towards the future, just like a Kyler Murray or Patrick Mahomes, Duke would like to play baseball and football at the next level if given the opportunity.
But before he worries about that eventual college decision, for now, it is GCM Patriot football that's at the forefront of his mind.
"My team and I have worked extremely hard this spring and offseason," Duke, whose favorite two pro athletes are Cam Newton and LeBron James, said. "Our goal is the same… which is to win games and take a trip back to the playoffs. Personally, my goals are to be the best version of myself and lead my team to victory.
THE PLAYBOOK: Goose Creek Memorial Football
Goose Creek Memorial made the playoffs for the first time since 2013 last year. Shannon Carter enters year three of leading The Patriots as they aim to "Plant The Flag" in 2021 by making it back to the postseason and getting the first playoff win in program history.
The Patriots are off to a 1-2 start to the season and face Galveston Ball on Friday. We caught up with Carter prior to the beginning of the 2021 season. This article appears in the VYPE 2021 GCCISD Fall Edition.
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VYPE: As you enter year three, do you feel your program and culture taking hold?
CARTER: Year one it was "Speak Victory", last year we wanted to "Wake'Em Up" and this year it is "Plant the Flag". To me we're saying we are here, operating on all cylinders and a program that needs to be reckoned with.
VYPE: How did you all come up with "Plant the Flag"?
CARTER: My wife, Gretchen, did. We were sitting there talking one night and I was like 'What should our motto or war cry be this year?'. She said 'Plant the Flag'. My wife is a great coach's wife and she gets credit for the slogan this year.
VYPE: What does "Plant the Flag" mean to you?
CARTER: For me, it's nothing at all close to war. I am a history major, and I know symbolically what that means from teaching World War II. The flag is very symbolic that we're staking our claim. So, that's what it means to me. We don't want last year to be an anomaly; we want that to be every year and we want to build off last year.
VYPE: What's the next step for your program?
CARTER: I think all of us we're scared of success. When you're fighting to hit a target and you haven't hit it, you stay motivated. But then what do you do when you hit that target? We want to be a playoff team again and we want to win the first playoff game in school history. That's our mark, hopefully we hit it.
Players to Watch
Mason Duke (QB)
Josiah Rice (OLB)
David Pierre (OLB)
Jayson Gipson (TE)
Riley Banks (OT)
Ethan Dyson (OT)
LaJewel McGilbray (ILB)