(Seguin) — The high school football season starts in a little over two weeks and the Seguin Matadors are looking to get back to the playoffs under third year head coach Craig Dailey.
Seguin finished fourth last year in District 12-5A with a 4-3 record. The Mats went 6-5 overall on the 2022 season and qualified for the UIL playoffs for a program record fifth straight season. Seguin fell in the Bi-District round of the playoffs to state power A&M Consolidated.
Seguin’s varsity squad has been on the practice field for over a week. The Mats return starting quarterback Corey Dailey, who was named the district’s Offensive Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. Dailey was also named All-District Honorable Mention in addition to being selected to the Academic All District team. The son of the Matador head coach, Dailey threw for 1,916 yards with 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions during his freshman year last season.
Craig Dailey says Corey worked on improving his mental game in the off-season.
“In the summer, you really saw him kind of take the next step of being a leader on the field and taking command of the offense,” Craig Dailey said. “Last year as a 14-year-old, he was kind of just worrying about making sure he was good. And now, he’s (focusing on) game management and all that type of stuff. That’s the part I’m excited about seeing. Knowing how to manage the game. Know when to take shots. Know when to check the ball down. We know he’s able to make all the throws, it’s the mental side where he’s really grown up.”
That Matadors return 15 starters from 2022, seven on offense and eight on defense but have big shoes to fill with the graduation of wide-out and District 12-5A MVP Devin Matthews. Matthews, who has moved on to Texas A&M-Commerce, lead Seguin with 2,131 all-purpose yards last season. He scored 21 total touchdowns, 13 receiving, five on kickoff returns, one on a punt return and two rushing touchdowns.
Seguin has some speedy options to try to fill the production left by Matthews with Nik Henry, Ocean Moreno, Elliot Weaver and Creed Weaver. Henry, Moreno and Elliot Weaver were apart of the 2023 Seguin track 4X100 meter relay team that qualified for the state meet and Dailey says his coaching staff is working with the players to translate their speed and athleticism to the football field to replace the production left by Matthews.
“In the off-season, (replacing Matthews) was one thing we were really worried about. He graduated, how are we gonna fill that slot,” Dailey said. “The success our kids had in track (with) our 4X100 making it to state and three of those guys are underclassmen, all at receiver. So if you can run, we’ll teach you how to do the rest.”
Running back John Jackson returns for his senior season. Jackson had 798 yards rushing as a junior. He ran for 1,118 yards during his sophomore season.
Defensively, Seguin had a young unit a year ago. The Matadors lost only two graduating starters on that side of the ball. Ian Moreno is back this year as a sophomore at safety. Donovan Cray is back for his senior season after starting in the secondary as both a sophomore and a junior. Dailey says the defensive line will be able to rotate up to six-deep and he feels they are very strong up front lead by returning senior Evrin Contreras.
The Mats will take to the road to battle the Alamo Heights Mules on August 25th and of course you’ll hear that game right here on KWED and streaming online worldwide at SeguinToday.com.
Seguin Matadors
2022 record: 6-5 (4-3 in district) Class 5A Division I first round
Coach: Craig Dailey (3rd season)
District: 12-5A
Schedule *ALL GAMES broadcast on KWED and SeguinToday.com*
Aug. 25 at Alamo Heights
Sept. 2 vs. New Braunfels
Sept. 8 vs. Laredo United
Sept. 14 at Lehman
Sept. 22 vs. SA MacArthur
Sept. 29 OPEN
Oct. 6 at Boerne Champion
Oct. 13 vs. Hays
Oct. 20 at NB Canyon
Oct. 26 at Wagner
Nov. 3 vs. Smithson Valley