Next Opponent: Montgomery Bears

[IndianFan]

2025 Preview
Coach: Grant Cooper. Lettermen R/L: 27/34. Starters returning O/D: 7/3. 2024: 8-3 bi-district finalist/5-2 district.

Players to watch: QB Jack Merryman (6-3, 210, 4.6), ATH DQ Swapsy (5-9, 175, 4.7), LB Chase Abrantes (5-11, 200, 4.8), K Parker Crenshaw (5-10, 190, 4.6), OL Jaxon Young-Davis (6-1, 275), CB Jordan Cotton (6-2, 175, 4.7). Top juniors: RB Keldrid Ben (5-10, 230, 4.7), WR Luke Piro (5-11, 170, 4.5). Top sophomore: DT Jayace Lemm (5-10, 230, 4.8).

Other prospects: P Waylon Peters, ATH Isaiah Mendoza, DE Nolan Carpenter, S JaMarcus Nickerson, TE Mark Custer, TE David Troyer, DT Braxden Havard, TE Beckam Whiteside.

2025 notes: The Bears were in district title contention a year ago and if a young defense that returns just three starters matures, don’t be surprised to see MHS back in the mix. QB Merryman (772 yards, 9 TDs passing; 4 TDs rushing) has gotten extensive experience the past two seasons and is poised for a breakout season. ATH Swapsy will play both RB and WR and accounted for seven touchdowns in 2024, and junior RB Ben (471 yards, 7 TDs rushing) will be a force, as well. LB Abrantes (96 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks) has a big motor and will lead the defense, while CB Cotton is back to lead the secondary. K Crenshaw is a real weapon, as he’s great for field position and has field goal range of well over 50 yards.

Game Highlights

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Game Statistics

Stats - Montgomery Bears (Montgomery, TX) Football 26-27

View the Montgomery Football individual player's stats and career pages.

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Player Statistics

Stats - Montgomery Bears (Montgomery, TX) Football 26-27

View the Montgomery Football individual player's stats and career pages.

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2025 Schedule

Date	Opponent	Result	Game Info	Watch
8/29	vsKingwood Park	L 47-41	Box Score
9/5	vsCaney Creek	W 48-0	Box Score
9/12	@Elgin	W 48-0	Box Score
9/26	@Dayton*	W 52-46	Box Score
10/3	vsLake Creek*	W 42-31	Box Score
10/10	@Huntsville*	W 54-20	Box Score
10/16	vsSplendora*	W 56-19	Box Score
10/23	@West Fork*	W 52-0	Box Score

 

[1989NDN]

Montgomery's RB #1, Keldrid Ben, and the QB #2, Jack Merryman, are very good. #1 gets most of his yards after contact. He's a load to bring down. When PN-G's DC, Matt McDaniel, has a week to prepare for a good RB, he can put together a plan of attack. He's proven it game after game and year after year, e.g., SOC's RBs, Liberty Hill's running attack, LaPorte's Sean Simon, Huntsville's stable of good RBs, the speedster from Klein Oak, and others. Sean Simon at LaPorte is one of the top RBs...tough, great vision, and the speed to score from anywhere. PN-G did not stop him, but Coach Joseph, Coach McDaniel, and a bunch of fired-up Indians contained him. Coach McDaniel had a plan to get 11-Indian defenders around Sean Simon and it worked. That's what we need to do with Montgomery's Keldrid Ben. Get as many defenders around him as possible and get him on the ground. Hit and wrap up. Hit and wrap up. Hit and wrap up. Thank you Sean Simon at LaPorte for preparing the Indians for district and playoff football. On offense, control the ball. Run the ball, run the ball, and run the ball some more. When they stack the box, take a shot downfield. I believe the Indians will be ready to play and play well at a high level. Time to flip the switch for playoff football!!! LET'S GO INDIANS!!!

 

[1970]

Their RB #1 runs hard, and he sometimes will go short out of the backfield and catch a pass, (not a screen pass), especially on 3rd downs.
If we hit on all cylinders like we did the Lake Creek game then we'll maul the Bears. Also I have the sense that we may see a few plays from our offense that we haven't seen before. I like when #14 comes in on short yardage now; it's not an automatic wildcat or QB sneak, the mix of plays has kept the opposing defense guessing.

 

[cal81]

Yes, the Indians will be prepared on defense. We played a good non-district schedule that prepared us for these kind of games as well as the playoffs. Even Beaumont United is proving to be a good opponent, after beating Beaumont Westbrook last week.

After looking at Montgomery putting up 40 - 50 points on their opponents this season, I'm confident that number will be closer to 20, if that much.

 

[IndianFan]

Montgomery’s primary running back is not a quick strike kind of back. He’s more of a big, lumbering back with good, not great, open field speed. It’s takes him a moment to get up a head of steam. The solution to that is hit him and surround him before he gets started and make a sure tackle. Gang tackle, wrap up his legs, and don’t go high because he is 230 pounds with power. The Indian D will have to stop that or Montgomery will control the ball and the clock most of the night. That’s going to be the challenge since they can also throw with some efficiency. Best outcome is to get into the backfield and pressure both the QB and RB before a play fully develops. Just stop them on 2 or 3 drives and it will be tough for the Bears to keep up on the scoreboard.

 

[Usedtocould]

District will be decided
For the chance to go into SOC’s “bracket” vs our district’s “bracket” for region.

 

[4-0-Niner]

Ok actual football talk now. I see we brought back the big boy package on offense and are running all kinds of variations out of it. However, I haven't ever seen us run a big boy package on defense. I was always curious in short yardage situations where we pack the box and are in man on the outside anyway, why not experiment with a bear front, like 5-2 basically adding maybe Wolford and Reeves or Black to the D-Line? I know it makes you a lot more vulnerable to the air attack, but I feel like there have been a few snaps it could have worked. Not saying every third and short either. But in a key moment where the tush push is imminent, even just the sight of it could make an opponent burn a timeout to get out of the formation they fielded.

 

[IndianFan]

Great idea. Wolford went in at DT/DE and absolutely caved in the opponent’s offensive line in an earlier game this year. The team still got the first down but it’s an example of situational lineups that can make a huge difference in key moments.

The band and what it brings to the atmosphere is important to the football team and crowd. They can also rattle the other team when they’re on offense. No band can be a psychological difference maker.

 

[4-0-Niner]

Great idea. Wolford went in at DT/DE and absolutely caved in the opponent’s offensive line in an earlier game this year. The team still got the first down but it’s an example of situational lineups that can make a huge difference in key moments.

Yea I believe that was La Porte. Also, he ran someone down in the Nederland game, a turnover and he caught them from behind on the sideline. I think Reeves played D-line his freshman year also. I just figure why not use our biggest strongest guys when it makes sense? Just like putting Barnwell at tight end on offense.

 

[4-0-Niner]

Hell, I would take some Victor Trevino fullback action too. His freshman year he had an insane run on a designed fake punt. Maybe I'm overdoing it, I just feel like we need some aces up our sleeves. Then again knowing our coaches they are probably 3 steps ahead of me on this whole train of thought.

 

[19PNGndn68]

Ok actual football talk now. I see we brought back the big boy package on offense and are running all kinds of variations out of it. However, I haven't ever seen us run a big boy package on defense. I was always curious in short yardage situations where we pack the box and are in man on the outside anyway, why not experiment with a bear front, like 5-2 basically adding maybe Wolford and Reeves or Black to the D-Line? I know it makes you a lot more vulnerable to the air attack, but I feel like there have been a few snaps it could have worked. Not saying every third and short either. But in a key moment where the tush push is imminent, even just the sight of it could make an opponent burn a timeout to get out of the formation they fielded.

Montgomery has a kicker that made a 53 yd field goal against Dayton may have to do the big boy package to block his attempts. Remember who (#74 ) blocked the last second Texarkana FG attempt last year. Our OL knows how to push to their kicker.

 

[IndianFan]

Best players play both ways all game in small classifications. Plugging in players at key moments makes absolute sense as long as they can be relied on to execute the position and play properly within the scheme. Your biggest and strongest bodies crashing down or filling a gap on the line sounds good every time. Wolford can take an offensive tackle, push him into the side of their entire line and blow up one side of the play single handedly.

 

[Usedtocould]

Rotate all OL in at DL 2 plays at a time

Especially when we score quickly

 

[99JBBG]

Montgomery’s primary running back is not a quick strike kind of back. He’s more of a big, lumbering back with good, not great, open field speed. It’s takes him a moment to get up a head of steam. The solution to that is hit him and surround him before he gets started and make a sure tackle. Gang tackle, wrap up his legs, and don’t go high because he is 230 pounds with power. The Indian D will have to stop that or Montgomery will control the ball and the clock most of the night. That’s going to be the challenge since they can also throw with some efficiency. Best outcome is to get into the backfield and pressure both the QB and RB before a play fully develops. Just stop them on 2 or 3 drives and it will be tough for the Bears to keep up on the scoreboard.

230 lbs? Good grief

 

[99JBBG]

Anyways, Montgomery RB at 230 lbs? Had to Google average HS size, which is 185. That's a big boy. But I bet Simon runs harder, from the backfield. So he hit the line almost full speed. If we could slow him down, I feel confident for Friday.

 

[4-0-Niner]

Yeah, I genuinely meant no ill will towards any of the band members directors or parents. I know they bust ass just as much as the boys i’m only grieving the situation not any actual people. They are certainly key contributors to what makes us special.

 

[4-0-Niner]

Anyways, Montgomery RB at 230 lbs? Had to Google average HS size, which is 185. That's a big boy. But I bet Simon runs harder, from the backfield. So he hit the line almost full speed. If we could slow him down, I feel confident for Friday.

We’ve got us a old Jerome Bettis on our hands

 

[IndianFan]

We’ve got us a old Jerome Bettis on our hands

The Indians have defensive linemen that weigh less. He'll be a load but you know the old sayng, "the bigger they are the harder they fall". Let Jaxin Winfrey and Blake Brashers take a few shots at that bus and we'll see how long his tires stay inflated.

 

[99JBBG]

The Indians have defensive linemen that weigh less. He'll be a load but you know the old sayng, "the bigger they are the harder they fall". Let Jaxin Winfrey and Blake Brashers take a few shots at that bus and we'll see how long his tires stay inflated.

All about containment. Won't be the first time

 

[IndianFan]

All about containment. Won't be the first time

And not being run over by the bus. Don't let him get into 2nd or 3rd gear.