TLU Sports Information; Sports Marketing
(Seguin) — 12 minutes and 48 seconds.
That’s all that separated the 2025 Texas Lutheran Bulldogs from their first outright conference title since 2015. With a share of the 2024 title followed by the regular season crown last fall, TLU looked primed to finish off the McMurry Warhawks after all-SCAC running back Kilbreante Williams’ 7-yard score gave TLU a 19-7 lead in the first SCAC Championship Game. Four TLU turnovers later, McMurry had scored 20 points and took home the title, 27-19. A season unfinished, a story without the right ending.
But in life, the true mark of success is rising after you fall and standing tall. This offseason, fifth year Head Coach Neal LaHue saw a team hungering for another shot at glory.
“We probably had one of our best offseasons in the spring,” LaHue said. “It’s a lot to made of [that title game], but we have a very team-focused group. Even after that loss last year in Little Rock, our kids never divided. They stuck together. We know we didn’t do enough to win the game. We moved on.”
All that said, LaHue isn’t willing to credit this impressive offseason entirely to one championship game.
“Is it a motivator? I hope. But we have high goals and we would like to get back to that spot. [Of course], everybody says that now. Everybody in our conference is probably saying that. We’re no different.”
Everybody may be saying that, but TLU’s body of work proves they have enough bite to back up their bark. Since rejoining SCAC in 2024, TLU has gone 12-2 in regular season league play. The reason for this TLU renaissance? The players holding onto a championship mindset unaffected by wins and losses.
LaHue has praised his team’s unity throughout his time in charge. Heading into this season, that tight knit core welcomes back a huge piece to the puzzle. After his knee injury in game one last year, quarterback Caden Bosanko will return to the field. The fifth-year senior from San Antonio was the SCAC co-offensive player of the year two years ago. A real threat to toss scores and run them in, Bosanko’s return has ignited hopes of another title run for TLU.
“He’s worked extremely hard to get back last spring. We expect big things from Caden. He’s a huge leader on our football team,” LaHue stated. “We just want him to be better and healthier at the end of the season than the beginning. So, we are going to bring him along [slowly] as he gets back into this.”
Bosanko’s return is exciting for TLU after they took some heavy losses in their skill groups. The Bulldogs lost their top four ballcarriers along with four of their top six pass catchers. However, LaHue knows there are guys he can count on to fill the void.
In the running back room, veteran Javin Logan comes back for his senior year after cracking into the rotation last fall. In his five games, Logan finished fifth on the team in rushing yards (177). Adding on, TLU brought in sophomore transfers James Garza (McMurry) and Zach Blue (Hardin-Simmons) to bolster the run game while sophomore Johnathan Pompey returns from injury to great expectations by LaHue.
On the perimeter, redshirt senior Exavier Durham makes his way back after catching 3 passes last fall, including a 33-yard touchdown at Lyon College on November 8th. Joining him, 6’1” Ty Reyes is a fascinating prospect after dealing with hamstring issues early last year before emerging towards the end of the season. Plus, you still have Ja’Mare Nichols as a factor that returns with more receiving yards last season than any other player.
Moving over to the tight ends, it all starts with the all-SCAC stud Chris Taylor. The former Cibolo Steele Knight enters his third year in Seguin fresh off a career-high 15-catch campaign. Joining on LaHue’s preseason pick list is sophomore Kindru Walker from New Braunfels Canyon after catching a pass last year. Mix in the new transfer expected to play slot receiver named Joe Perez, and LaHue doesn’t expect TLU to lose a step offensively.
“We feel good about the weapons we have on offense,” LaHue said. “Some of them have just got to prove themselves.”
On defense, TLU welcomes back 8 defensive starters from a platoon that finished second in the SCAC for scoring defense last season with the 20th most forced turnovers in D-III. All-SCAC talents Justin Navarro, Troy Tomaselli, Marvin Farris, Ezekiel Williams, and Ayden Abuzlam are some of the big names amongst the returners. But one kid to watch after his performances in SCAC play is sophomore defensive back Malik Johnson. Saving his best for last, Johnson finished his freshman year with a career-best seven tackles in the SCAC title game while tallying the 2nd-most pass break ups of anyone on the team.
Clearly TLU has plenty of talent on the table heading into 2026. But one major development this offseason might be the secret sauce that’s fueled one of TLU’s best offseasons under LaHue.
“We just moved into the Lundquist Center, and that weight room is unbelievable. The facility upgrade was a boost to our program. I think it lit a fire under our kids too. These guys are invested and want to be successful as we start the year off with two rivals.”
Year five of the Neal LaHue era begins Sept. 5th at #14 Trinity down in San Antonio. Kickoff will be at 7pm on KWED and streaming worldwide on SeguinToday.com.