(Marion) — The Marion Bulldogs will return a huge senior contributor on defense plus key senior leadership on offense as they look to return to the UIL playoffs again in 2024.
The Bulldogs finished fourth in District 13-3A last season and reached the Bi-District round of the postseason. Marion is lead by head coach Ryne Miller who is entering his seventh year as the Bulldogs’ coach.
This season, the Bulldogs will see some small changes in their district with UIL realignment. New to District 13-3A this year is Florence, while shuffling out are Blanco and San Antonio Cole. Ingram-Moore, Llano, Luling and Randolph are back as Marion’s district mates. The Randolph Ro-Hawks were the co-champion of the district last season with Blanco.
Returning for the Bulldog squad this year are a couple of all-district offensive first teamers from 2023. Senior running back Christian Sanchez earned first team honors last year with multiple 100 yard and multi-touchdown games for the Bulldogs. Blocking up front for Sanchez is senior Garrett Mann. Mann was a first team offensive lineman for Marion in his junior season in 2023 and his sophomore season in 2022.
Coach Ryne Miller says Sanchez and Mann provide great leadership with the the upperclassmen on the team.
“They’re a huge influence on our team. The leadership they bring to the table is unimaginable with the way they do everything the right way,” Miller says. “But yeah, with Christian and Garrett and then you throw Hadley (Mote) into the mix and (junior) Kade Pape in there as a quarterback coming in who has some experience, it’s a special group.
“And we’re excited for these guys. They put a lot of work into the offseason in 7-on-7 and everything and I know these guys are ready to roll.”
On defense, returning from the All-District First Team is the aforementioned senior Hadley Mote, who plays linebacker. Mote broke the Marion single season tackle record in 2023. The Bulldog star linebacker averaged over 12 tackles per game as a junior with 141 total stops last season. Mote is a two-time returning All-District First Team member.
Miller says Mote is a big asset for the Marion defense.
“He’s huge. Hadley is another one of those guys who put in a lot of work this offseason too, and having him back is huge,” Miller says. “When you can bring back a guy that had almost 150 tackles last year it’s special. It doesn’t happen very often in the state of Texas. We’ve got about seven or eight returners on defense and a bunch of guys that played last year, so it’s an opportunity for these guys to have a great season.”
In a school as small as Marion, there are a lot of athletes who play both ways and just about everyone does for the Bulldogs. Unlike players at much larger schools, football players at Marion almost have to work twice as hard on the field and in the film room to prepare for offensive and defensive game plans each week.
“They guys come in early in the morning ready to roll. When you get guys like we have, they’re excited to be here and put in the hard work,” Miller says. “The sense of urgency is there and I know these guys are gonna keep trucking along and stay ahead of the curve and be ready for non-district and district.
“We had to replace some guys on the offensive line, but a bunch of young guys have stepped up and we’re excited about where they are. They got a lot of stronger in the offseason. All of our skill guys are back and we’re excited for those guys to make plays and do what we need to do to win football games.”
The Marion Bulldogs hope that winning continues with the hard work they’ve put in to get ready for the 2024 season.
Marion Bulldogs
2023 record: 5-6 (3-3 in district) Class 3A Division I first round
Coach: Ryne Miller (7th season)
District: 13-3A
Schedule
Aug. 30 – 7 PM at Stockdale
Sept. 6 – 7 PM vs. NB Long Creek
Sept. 12 – 7 PM vs. Gonzales
Sept. 20 – 7 PM vs. Lago Vista
Sept. 27 – 7 PM at Poteet
Oct. 4 – 7 PM at Luling * Broadcast on KWED and SeguinToday.com
Oct. 11 – 7 PM vs. Randolph *
Oct. 18 OPEN
Oct. 25 – 7 PM at Ingram Moore *
Nov. 1 – 7 PM at Llano *
Nov. 8 – 7 PM vs. Florence * Broadcast on KWED and SeguinToday.com
* District