(Geronimo) — After nearly two decades of grinding out yards with their signature Slot-T offense, Navarro High School football is ready to turn the page under new athletic director and head coach Glenn Hill, who brings fresh offensive concepts and a legendary coaching bloodline to the Panthers’ sideline.
Hill comes to Navarro after serving since 2021 as the offensive coordinator at Smithson Valley High School. Hill coached under his uncle, Larry Hill, who has been the head of the Rangers program for over three decades.
Glenn Hill is bringing a new offense with him, meaning that for the first time since the late 2000s, Navarro High School will take the field without their trademark Slot-T offense.
In 2007, Les Goad brought the Slot-T to Navarro. Rod Blount took over for Goad in 2018, and he continued the Slot-T tradition. Blount left for George West early this year, and the Navarro ISD turned to Hill, who helped Smithson Valley win their first state championship last season.
Hill says his players have embraced the new offense at Navarro.
“It’s not a secret that this has been an extremely successful school,” Hill said. “Les Goad, I think he had 127 wins here. Then Coach Blount took over and just continued winning while he was here (with the Slot-T). It’s a great offense.
“The only thing is, I’m not a Slot-T guy. You gotta do what you believe in, and the kids are buying into it, though. They’re finding that there’s more similarities than maybe they thought initially.”
Hill also says the new offense will keep the physical elements of the Slot-T.
“While we’re not in the Slot-T, (our new offense) is a physical, tough-minded, running the football first style of offense. And our passes will come off of that. So, that’s been the biggest change.
“Yeah, we are in different formations. We have guys lining up in a bunch of different places and we’re spreading it out a little bit, but we’re gonna run the football a good amount and try to be a really physical football team.”
Hill’s challenge will be implementing this new system while maintaining the winning culture he’s inheriting. Navarro boasts a rich playoff tradition.
In his seven years as the head football coach at Navarro, Blount led the Panthers to at least the second round of the playoffs in each of those years. Last season, Navarro lost their first two games in a tough District 13-4A, but won three of their last four district games to make the postseason and advance to the area round of the playoffs.
The Panthers only had two returning starters from the 2023 squad, but this year Navarro will be able to draw more experience from the 2024 team. Hill says he’s excited about his returning playmakers.
“We got a good group. Evan Rodriguez playing receiver –he made an impact last year. He’ll be playing defensive back for us, too. Dylan Trotti is a returning running back. He’s quick, he’s really elusive, super strong kid, power-lifter type of guy. Hudson Jenner is another receiver. Braddock Gallini is playing tight end.
“And then the quarterback run game –that was a really big part of our offense the last several years. Every quarterback that we have in our system can run the football too.”
Navarro will need to replace some departing starters on the offensive line, but Hill feels confident they can do that.
“Tyler Riske, who was actually defensive newcomer of the year last year in the district, has embraced the role at center. He’s really athletic and intelligent. We have some big guards next to him in Grayson Carlisle and Chris Ledezma. And three or four tackles that play two-way that we will rotate in and out. They can all move. They can all run.”
For the Panther defense, Hill says that group also brings back experience.
“Up front is where we can have a good group. Mason Harvey on the inside. Lane Black who is a two-year starter on the offensive line is there. Gallini and Deegan Bush on the end,” Hill said. “Same with the linebacker corps –Mason Berry who’s played some offensive line as well, will be our middle linebacker calling the shots on defense.”
In 2024, the Panthers and the other three playoff teams from the district advanced at least two rounds into the playoffs, including district champion Wimberley, who made it to the Class 4A Division II state semifinals for the second straight year. Hill says the schedule will be a test for his team.
“There’s no cupcakes here, non-district as well. So, we’re gonna be tested every single week. There’s no weeks off. It’ll be a fun run. It’ll be a difficult run, though.”
That run for the Panthers, their new coach, and new offense starts tonight at Floresville. Like last year, the Panthers will play 10 straight games in the regular season before their bye in the last week. The district season for Navarro will begin on September 26th against the defending district champion Wimberley Texans in Wimberley.
Navarro Panthers
2024 record: 5-7 (3-3 in district) Class 4A Division II area round
Coach: Glenn Hill (1st season)
District: 13-4A
Schedule
Aug. 29 – 7 PM at Floresville
Sept. 5 – 7:30 PM vs. Antonian
Sept. 12 – 7 PM at Canyon Lake
Sept. 19 – 7:30 PM vs. La Vernia
Sept. 26 – 7:30 PM at Wimberley *
Oct. 3 – 7:30 PM vs. Salado * – Broadcast on KWED and SeguinToday.com
Oct. 10 – 7:30 PM at Jarrell *
Oct. 17 – 7:30 PM vs. Gonzales *
Oct. 24 – 7:30 PM at Smithville *
Oct. 31 – 7:30 PM vs. Lago Vista *
Nov. 7 OPEN
* District