The Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears have a new head football coach, but he is a familiar face. Eric Peevey grew up in Orangefield, coached there after college at Lamar, also coached at LC-M for three years, and spent nine years as a coach at Beaumont West Brook before taking over now as the leader of the Battlin’ Bears.
On offense Coach Peevey has an outstanding quarterback and other starters back from last season. The all-district quarterback Ashton Landry returns for the Bears. Landry actually had minor heart surgery in May, but Peevey indicated Landry bounced back from that into full offseason mode, had a really great summer, and has done a tremendous job as a leader for the Bears.
Other returnees on offense include Dean Reynolds who is the backup quarterback. Reynolds will play a very pivotal role for Little Cypress-Mauriceville at tight end and multiple other positions.
De’Marion Morris who played wide receiver last year will move to running back this season. Morris fits what Coach Peevey is looking for in a running back with the ability to catch the ball and also is explosive in the backfield.
At a receiver position is Keaton Rives who had an exceptional summer. The Bears will throw the ball around a lot and are counting on Rives to make some big plays for them.
A three-year starter at center is Gunner Johnson. “We have some very pivotal spots for us on offense where we have some leadership coming back, and those seniors have done a great job this summer really building up that leadership,” Peevey analyzed.
Peevey will implement a new defense for the Bears this season with some familiar stars. Switching to the 4-3 a key position will be the middle linebacker which will be filled by an exceptional leader for LC-M in Andy McDow. He is a bit undersized, but McDow is understanding the “Mike” triangle while doing a great job there.
Also at linebacker is Dean Reynolds. Newcomer of the year last season Amier Washington has added 25 pounds, grown an inch taller, and could do some exceptional things in this his junior year. Nick Granger at the outside linebacker is a three-year starter.
The Bears’ secondary should be a strength with Carson Peet a three-year starter at safety. Dwight Davis was a starter at safety for Orangefield and came to Little Cypress-Mauriceville with his father John Davis who is the new defensive coordinator for the Bears.
The defensive line is going to be young but with some speed from the likes of Jarvis Riley and Gianni Huffman. Peevey added, “We’ve got some other players that have done a great job there this summer so far.”
There are some new Bears that Coach Peevey will have play significant roles this year. In the offensive line junior Jan Nazario has put on the needed weight, bought into the new offensively philosophy, and is slated to start at a tackle for LC-M.
Sophomore receiver Alantheon Winn was brought from the basketball gym by Peevey. Winn is about 6-4 and he’s got some things to learn but Peevey sees him especially towards the mid-point of the year starting to make some really big plays for the Bears.
Coming up from the junior varsity is DJ Roberts. “He’ll be starting at corner and also playing receiver for us and has all the skill sets that you need,” Peevey advised.
The remaining days before the start of the regular season will be spent getting the Bears familiar with the new systems being put in with Peevey as their coach. For the remaining days to understand the “Bear Way” of doing things now compared to previously.
The coach promised he will put the Bears through a grinder and make them face adversity on a daily basis which is what football is. Peevey stated, “By putting them in tough situations and to learn how to deal with it we can find out the kids that are ready to really start following this way of work.”
Coach Peevey in his first season of coaching the Bears expects to start a winning tradition at LC-M. His philosophy has always been to win games, build a program, build young men into more mature me, and then into great men for society.
He expects full effort every Friday night from the Bears. His goal is to win a district championship from day one. “Our minds are set right now it’s one game at a time getting after it, but we’re looking to win all of them,” Peevey concluded.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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