Sachse senior Chace Wesley (8) and junior Marcus Thigpen (3) jump in the air during pregame introductions last Thursday. Photo by Tina Lopez / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Sachse head football coach Mark “Red” Behrens didn’t mince words after last Thursday’s spring game— the Mustangs are far from a finished product.
Behrens’ sentiments don’t come as a big surprise and are an honest assessment of the massive roster turnover that Sachse underwent this year.
The Mustangs’ coaching staff is tasked with replacing a large senior class who led Sachse to back-to-back undefeated District 9-6A championships and a 17-5 overall record during the last two seasons.
“This is a new batch of guys coming together,” Behrens said. “Just like I told the guys, ‘We’re not where we want to be, but the thing is that you’ve got all summer, fall camp and a scrimmage.’”
But there are several players from that team who are back this season, starting with rising senior quarterback Dirk Williams Jr.
Williams Jr. threw for 1,616 yards to accompany 17 touchdown passes last fall – his first season as the team’s starting quarterback – but he seeks to elevate a Sachse passing attack that struggled with the deep ball.
Behrens praised Williams Jr. for the hard work that the incoming senior put in during the spring to improve his down-field accuracy. His arm strength was on full display during the second half of the varsity portion of the scrimmage. He made three incredible throws on one possession, the last of which result in a nine-yard strike in the middle of the field to senior-to-be Ben Wright for a touchdown.
Williams Jr. is involved in a competitive battle with junior Christian McCaffrey for the starting quarterback job.
Behrens said that McCaffrey has a “rocket of an arm.”
McCaffrey threw a long pass to junior wide receiver John Brown for a sideline completion in the second half.
“We’ve got some competition going,” Behrens said. “They really support each other and take care of each other. It’ll be a good competition until the end.”
For more on this story see the May 22, 2025 print, or digital edition of The Sachse News. Subscribe today and support local journalism in your community.
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