(Seguin) — The Seguin Matadors enter the 2025 season with postseason aspirations following a successful return to the playoffs in 2024.
Last year’s trip to the postseason was Seguin’s sixth out of the last seven years. The Mats had several dramatic victories on their path to the postseason in 2024. Seguin erased halftime deficits against Brazoswood, Victoria East, Boerne Champion, and completed a second half comeback against Wagner on a Hail Mary pass into the back of the end zone on the game’s final play.
Back to lead the offense this season is senior quarterback Corey Dailey, who has started every Seguin game since his freshman year. Dailey, who has committed to the University of Pittsburgh, is coming off a stellar junior campaign where he threw for over 2,500 yards and 35 touchdowns, earning him the District 13-5A Offensive MVP.
Following a season that saw explosive offensive performances, including a memorable 73-66 shootout victory over Boerne Champion where Dailey threw for 451 yards and seven touchdowns, Seguin aims to build on their playoff foundation under the guidance of head coach and athletic director Craig Dailey—Corey’s father and a former Seguin quarterback himself.
Craig Dailey, now in his fifth year as the head coach at his alma mater, says he wants Corey to continue to improve his game.
“He has free rein, pretty much, to get us into the right play,” said the elder Dailey. “Just get positive plays. Be disciplined. If the vertical shot isn’t there, check the ball down. That’s really the next part of the game.”
The younger Dailey says they plan to be aggressive.
“We’re gonna play fast, score fast,” said Corey Dailey. “We’re gonna try to put the ball in the end zone and break the scoreboard. That’s our goal every game.”
Bursting onto the scene last year for the offense was running back Ian Moreno. Moreno moved over from the defensive secondary to the offensive side of the ball due to injuries at the running back position.
Pressed into action in the third game of last season as a junior, Moreno rushed for 296 yards on 42 carries in Seguin’s 41-37 come-from-behind victory over Brazoswood. Moreno finished the season with 1,273 yards on 233 carries and eight rushing touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for 165 yards with two scores.
Craig Dailey wants to take advantage of Moreno’s versatility.
“You’re gonna see us use him in different ways, more than last year,” Dailey said. “He’s gonna line up in the slot. He’s gonna catch the ball out of the backfield.
“Traveling with Corey (for recruiting trips), I was getting to sit in Division-I staff rooms and pick the brains of what those guys are doing. So, we brought some of that back to Seguin to fit our kids. And when you can get a back like Ian out and put five out in a route, it puts a lot of pressure on the defense, in my opinion.”
Moreno and Dailey played behind a senior-laden offensive line in 2024. This season, there will be four new starters up front in the trenches.
“We’re more athletic up front, not as big as we’ve been. So, we’re using their athleticism,” Craig Dailey said. “They’re doing a good job.
“I think there are three things you need if you look at analytics in football: win explosives, take care of the ball, and protect your quarterback. If you do those three things, you usually win games. If you keep the quarterback clean and you get your running back to the second level, I think we’re always gonna have a chance to score points.”
The defense is led by top returning tackler Damian Garcia. The linebacker had 57 tackles along with one interception and one fumble recovery as a junior in 2024. Senior lineman Hunter Mica is also among a number of Matador defenders back again this season. Mica had 50 tackles and a fumble recovery last season. Dailey says he wants his defense to get the ball back to his offense this season.
“We’re stressing takeaways, flying to the ball, and eliminating explosives –so the opposite (of the offense). Make the other team throw underneath and tip the ball and make the play,” Dailey said. “We have a lot of experience back, especially in the secondary. We were really young in the secondary last year, and now we have everybody back. I’m excited.”
The Matadors will play all the same teams from a tough 2024 schedule. Half of the teams on Seguin’s regular season schedule made the playoffs last year. Three of those teams were district champions and one was a state champion. Defending Class 5A Division I state champion Smithson Valley comes to Matador Stadium on October 17th.
“It’s gonna be a whirlwind, but we like the challenge,” Craig Dailey said. “You have five quarterbacks (in the district) that are Division-I caliber. It’s gonna be fun.
“And I’m a quarterback guy. So, every week, it could be two good quarterbacks going at it–whoever has the ball last. And hopefully our guy has it last, and we make a play like we did against Wagner.”
The Matadors won four games in District 13-5A in 2024, including that dramatic comeback win over Wagner. Seguin finished in fourth place. The Mats were 5-6 overall. They fell in the bi-district round of the UIL playoffs to San Antonio Southwest. The Dragons held off a second half Matador rally to win 33-26.
Seguin starts their quest for another playoff season tonight at Alamo Heights. We will have that game and every Matador game this season on KWED radio and streaming at SeguinToday.com. And listen for High School Football Friday Nights starting at 6:15 p.m. throughout the season on KWED with coverage of the Matadors, Navarro Panthers, and Marion Bulldogs.
Seguin Matadors
2024 record: 5-6 (4-3 in district) Class 5A Division I first round
Coach: Craig Dailey (5th season)
District: 13-5A
Schedule – ALL GAMES broadcast on KWED and SeguinToday.com
Aug. 29 – 7 PM at Alamo Heights
Sept. 5 – 7 PM vs. CC Miller
Sept. 12 – 7 PM at Brazoswood (in El Campo)
Sept. 19 – 7 PM at Victoria East *
Sept. 26 – 7 PM vs. Boerne Champion *
Oct. 3 OPEN
Oct. 10 – 7 PM at Pieper *
Oct. 17 – 7 PM vs. Smithson Valley *
Oct. 24 – 7 PM at Wagner *
Oct. 31 – 7 PM at New Braunfels *
Nov. 7 – 7 PM vs. SA MacArthur *
* District