GARLAND – It was all Mustangs Friday night, as they cruised to a 45-7 victory over the Eagles in the Hammer Bowl.

Sachse (2-0 in 9-6A, 2-2) struck first on Brenden George’s 14-yard touchdown run, following an interception from Ivory Chester to give the Mustangs good field position. George dominated the proceedings, totaling over 330 yards of offense and scoring four first-half touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) to put Sachse up 31-0 at the break.

Defensively, Sachse smothered the Rowlett (1-1 in 9-6A, 1-3) offense, totaling four turnovers and five sacks. Chester had two interceptions on the day, including an interception at the 1-yard-line late in the first half that kept the Eagles out of the end zone. 

Sachse then gained 99 yards on seven plays to put the game away before the halftime break.

Aaron Esheku also had a big day, totaling three sacks and a blocked punt as Sachse held Rowlett to -4 rushing yards in the opening half. Despite the Eagles scoring to start the third quarter with a touchdown, the Mustangs forced two more turnovers, including Aidan Sharp’s 29-yard pick-six toward the end of the game.

Sachse will play Wylie East next Friday night at home, in a battle of two of the district’s top teams.

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By Kyle Grondin  •  [email protected]

Sachse held a 20-13 lead at the break after a second-quarter offensive outburst where they scored 17 points. It was an impressive day for the Mustang offense, who tallied 550 total yards, but penalties and turnovers kept the Cowboys in the game. 

The Mustangs opened the game with a fumble deep in Coppell territory that set up the opening touchdown. Several defensive penalties kept drives alive for the Cowboys, including two touchdown drives in the second half.

With a chance to tie or win the game late, Sachse had a fourth down attempt at the Coppell 47 with just over a minute remaining. Brenden George’s pass fell incomplete, effectively ending the game. George accounted for 421 yards and three total touchdowns in the game, including two passing touchdowns. 

Sachse will regroup and travel to Prosper next Friday, Sep. 1, in their final non-district game.

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The Mustangs return several players, as both starters and backups, to the varsity secondary. With their experience from last season, defensive backs coach Jalen Griffin believes they have the talent to step in and be leaders of the defense.

“We got a lot of talented players on the team,” Griffin said. “They work hard every single day and put the work in whether in the weight room or on the field. They’ve spent a lot of the offseason working with us at camps and with us during the workouts. I feel like we can compete with any offense in the area.”

Sachse’s put plenty of work in this summer to prepare for the new season, sported by their guys in the back. Coach Griffin said what’s impressed him the most has been the team’s desire to learn and become better players.

“They’ve taken time to learn the game of football better this summer,” Griffin said. “They’re working to understand techniques and assignments and understanding the awareness and key spots on the field.”

Leading the way at cornerback and safety this season are Quentin Ellis, Jackson Chapman, Jacob Dillard and Ivory Chester. Those four players will receive the bulk of the reps, while players like Jordan Nelson, Anthony Okoye, Tyler Rice, Aidan Sharp and Jackson King, will get reps as depth pieces.

Chester is entering his senior season with the Mustangs and earned snaps on the varsity team going back to his freshman year. With the most experience on the team, Coach Griffin expects a big season out of him in terms of production and leadership.

“I’m looking for him to have a breakout year and be a leader on and off the field,” Griffin said. “I want him to talk and be communicative and be the focal point of the defense.”

Chester will play strong safety, while Dillard will line up at free safety for the Mustang’s defense. That duo will be relied upon to prevent the big plays that plagued Sachse’s defense last season, and they’re also tasked with stepping up and making tackles when they need to as well.

“Both those guys are just bang-bang hitters,” Griffin said. “Ivory in open space and between tackles and Jacob in open field, they both do a great job of closing with speed and making tackles. Whether it’s making tackles in coverage or the run game, they’re both capable.”

Sachse is aiming with their two safeties to create more turnovers this year. The team needs to further help their offense gain a positive field position, and the team hopes Chester and Dillard can help contribute to that.

“We need ball hawks back there,” Griffin said. “We need them to make the right plays and tackle, but when the opportunity comes their way to make a play they have to take it.”

Ellis and Chapman will handle the cornerback responsibilities, and Coach Griffin credits them both for being students of the game and willing to learn and help the team improve. Ellis’ speed and versatility will be key to his production as the team’s top option at the position.

“Quentin has some great feet,” Griffin said. “He can play press and run with guys deep and has great footwork. His coverage is second to none and can handle almost any matchup. I feel like he’s built to handle our top receivers next season.”

Chapman transferred to Sachse before this season but takes over the other starting cornerback spot with plenty of talent to show. Coach Griffin is excited to see him on the field in a Mustangs uniform.

“He’s very long and has the skills to go up and get the ball,” Griffin said. “He just hasn’t played for us a lot so we want to see what he can do.”

Alongside the starters, Sachse’s backups will receive plenty of chances to prove themselves and get more snaps on the field. Rice played as the team’s third safety last season, while coach Griffin believes Sharp and Okoye can get plenty of snaps as well.

“It’s just the next man up for us,” Griffin said. “We prepare our backups like our starters and want them to be ready to step in and contribute if we need them. They’re all very capable players.”

They’ll get that chance on the team’s first game on Friday, Aug. 25, as the Mustangs take on Coppell on the road.

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One of the best programs in the area, the Lady Mustangs graduate several seniors following a 35-win season and regional quarterfinals appearance. For head coach Rikki Jones, it’s nothing new. She’s been with the program since the school’s inception, and won’t deter from her expectations.

“The roster will change every year, but our expectations don’t,” Jones said. “We want to win the district and go deep in the playoffs again, but we understand there will always be challenges. I think there will be more parity in the district this year and without players like Macy [Taylor] and a couple of our back row players, it may take us a little longer to gel than usual.”

Sachse’s biggest challenge is replacing District 9-6A MVP Macy Taylor, who led the team with 500 kills and 406 digs last season, showing her versatility as a six-rotation player. As she goes to Providence College on scholarship, along with the graduation of senior defensive players Chi Tran, Bailey Malone and Mackenzie Colwell, the Lady Mustangs know what challenges lie ahead. Early in the preseason, they preached ball control and defense to help make up for the losses.

“We have to work hard to be where we want to be, and that’s the case every year,” Jones said. “We’re going to highlight what we do well and continue to work on what we don’t, but a lot of credit should go to the players this summer, who have worked hard and are coming together now. We’re excited for the new season.”

Sachse’s dealt with losses to senior players in the years past and still managed to put together strong seasons following. The year before last, the Lady Mustangs lost Zoria Heard, one of the top liberos in school history, and managed to win all 16 district games.

Part of that development has been the internal leadership of the program, as teammates push each other to get better every summer. It’s something that Coach Jones appreciates, and it is how she likes her team to operate.

“It’s their program and it will always be about the players,” Jones said. “If the kids are pushing each other to get better, it’s a lot better than me trying to push them and coach them constantly. They’ve had some great influences over the years with some of our former players, who were great ancestors of the program and they pass along that leadership to the next generation. We’ve seen that this summer with some of our returning players.”

The three key returners for the Lady Mustangs include Favor Anyanwu, Kaelynn Sims and Scarlette Young. Anyanwu is one of the top players in the country, playing for the USA under-19 national team. She was second on the team with 410 kills and led the team defensively in the middle with 122 blocks. She’ll lead the team from the front her senior season, after committing to USC last year.

“She’s just a physically dominant player, one of the best we’ve ever had,” Jones said. “She’s big, quick on her feet and has great leaping ability, plus a terrific volleyball IQ. Put all of those qualities together and you have a fantastic player.”

Anyanwu has worked to add more to her game each season, with last season improving her serve. She was third on the team with 40 aces, and that versatility allows her to stay on the floor all game and be a six-rotation player.

“We want her to continue to work defensively and on ball control, that way we can take advantage of attacking from the back line,” Jones said. “She works hard to be great and makes the game look easy.”
Sims has been with the program since her freshman season, heading into her junior year as one of the most veteran players. She’s worked this summer to assume the leadership role left by some of the other players and embraces being a focal point for the team, however, she can affect a game.

“She’s a middle blocker on her club team, but for us, she moves outside and does a terrific job,” Jones said. “She works extremely hard and will do whatever it takes to be good and help the team win. That rubs off on her teammates.”

Young is the Lady Mustangs’ top setter heading into her senior season but is working to take on a bigger defensive responsibility this season. With her effort, Sachse should have a potent attack behind their big three.

“Scarlette works hard to deliver the best service and master her craft,” Jones said. “She’s a real team player, and has a thick skin on the court and when she’s coached. She’s been a dedicated player for us for a long time now.”

Sachse begins its season on Aug. 8 at home against Rockwall-Heath, with its first district game on the road at Wylie High School on Aug. 22.

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A big reason for that sense of optimism is the linebackers, where two returning starters represent one of the best linebacker duos in the area. Head coach Mark Behrens is excited about the group and the work they put in last season.

“The good news is that every one of our guys got experience last year,” Behrens said. “Our two top linebackers played almost every snap after the second game and did a really good job. So we got some optimism there and feel great about what they can do. The best part is two of our starters are juniors, so we’ll get a couple of years with this core and we’re very excited. Our front seven will be as good as anybody in the district.”

Leading the way in the middle is junior Vashon Brunswick. As just a sophomore last season, Brunswick was one of the team’s leading tacklers and showed off the athleticism that has earned him a Division 1 offer from Colorado as he enters his second year as a starter.

One of the top athletes on the team, his ability to cover ground sideline-to-sideline is critical to Sachse’s defense.

“Brunswick is really football savvy,” Behrens said. “He’s old school and plays downhill and that’s what Colorado liked about him. I love the kid because he brings physical play and leadership to the table for us.”

Brunswick’s best ability is defending against the run, as he’s one of the best tacklers in the entire district and embraces physical play. That also allows him to play on offense when needed, as Sachse will use him in short-yardage situations next season.

“He sets the tone for us for sure,” Behrens said. “He’s not as fast as Davault but he thrives in the middle and he’ll come down and hit you. We have a lot of speed beside him and it should work well for us.”

Standing on the outside of Brunswick is fellow returning starter Sean Davault, who enters his third season on the varsity roster and second season as a starter. Davault was key to Sachse’s defensive turnaround in the second half of the season and is one of the most experienced players on the roster.

“The more disciplined he becomes, the better football player he’ll be,” Behrens said. “He’s athletic and can run on the perimeter, but he’s incredibly physical. He loves to blitz and come off the edge, and he’ll bring the heat.”

Davault’s blitzing ability aligns perfectly with what Sachse likes to do defensively. They bring a lot of pressure, and that’s where Davault will likely be used the most in passing situations to provide even more pressure on the opposing quarterback to throw quickly.

“He’s a wild man, that’s for sure,” Behrens said. “He’s going to get better and will be a force to be reckoned with.”

After spending the last two years as a running back, Sachse will also get to see Dane Norberg on the defensive side of the ball this season. While he’s played linebacker before, it’ll be a change of pace for the talented senior, who also comes with plenty of varsity experience.

“He’s not the biggest guy but he’s not afraid to play big and hit people,” Behrens said. “It’ll be a little different for him, but he’s athletic and gives us a lot of speed on the field, so we feel like he can do a good job for us.”

Rueben Gaytan, Chase Thomas and Ethan Williamson provide the depth at the position, with Gaytan and Thomas having varsity experience last season. That core six players all bring athleticism and length to the Sachse defense, something they hope will help the coverage unit this season.

“They all got reps at different stages,” Behrens said. “The better we’ll be is if a backup can step up and give us 15-20 plays a game, so they have to be ready to step up and make up for that time.”

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The senior USC commit was one of 12 players from across the country named to the USA U19 volleyball team. The team will compete at the FIVB Girls U19 World Championship on Aug. 1-11 in Osijek, Croatia, and Szeged, Hungary.

USA’s first game will be tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. local time, as they will face Korea. They will also play on Aug. 2-3 at the same time, with all games available on Volleyball World’s YouTube page.

Anyanwu, one of three newcomers to the team, is coming off of a standout junior season, where she was named the District 9-6A offensive player of the year. She had over 400 kills and 122 blocks last season for the Lady Mustangs, helping the team to 35 wins and a regional quarterfinal appearance.

The tournament coincides with the start of Sachse’s 2023 volleyball season, which begins on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at home against Rockwall-Heath.

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The Mustangs are blessed with a talented team on the line of scrimmage and hope to vastly improve their ability to get stops with that group. For head coach Mark Behrens, he’s seen the most improvement this offseason from some of the players on the line of scrimmage.

“They’ve really taken to what we’re coaching them and worked at it this offseason,” Behrens said. “We got a lot of talent and a good group of young men. They’re going to be leaders on the team and they’re always trying to get better at what they do.”

The senior defensive end was one of the best in a long line of dominant defensive linemen in District 9-6A, finishing second-team all-district last season. Committed to Texas Tech for the class of 2024, Behrens is excited for Ofili to showcase his talents during his senior season.

“He’s come a long way as a football player,” Behrens said. “He was basically a B-team player as a freshman, but he’s put in a lot of work to get better and improved his speed, quickness and strength every year. Now he’s maturing as a football player and it sounds simple but it’s not. He’s worked at his craft and is reaping the rewards.”
The Mustangs graduated one senior overall from the varsity team, and that was starting defensive tackle and second-team all-district player Jaron Counts. He had 43 tackles and three sacks last season for the Mustangs’ defense but was a major part of the run defense with his size.

Stepping into those big spots on the defensive line are Travis Simpson and Cory Bennett. Both aren’t as big as Counts was at defensive tackle, but have different qualities that should help the team succeed.

“Travis has one of the quicker twitches I’ve seen for a defensive tackle,” Behrens said. “The good thing is we have that talent and depth. When we’ve had that opportunity and that type of depth, we’ve been pretty good defensively.”

Next to the tackles, Corey Walls will slot in at defensive end, the third returning starter for the Mustangs. Walls has been one of the top workers this offseason, and coach Behrens believes this group has what it takes to be the best defensive line in the district.

“He is working his tail off this summer and he is always trying to get better during workouts,” Behrens said. “The leadership he’s showing on the field is amazing compared to most juniors.”

With that group, the Mustangs have a great deal of talent to work with next season, but the younger players in the wings and hoping to earn reps make it even better. They’re led by defensive ends Nicco Wards and Aaron Esheku, a rising sophomore and junior respectively who hope to be impact players next season.

“I played defensive tackle, and I told the guys I couldn’t take as many snaps as they do today because how much of the game is throwing the ball and rushing the quarterback,” Behrens said. “So we have to be able to sub them in and out and give them the rest they need to be successful.”

The Mustangs are talented on the defensive line and believe they have what it takes to improve a defense that surrendered 36 points per game last season. They’ll get a chance to prove it starting Aug. 25.

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This year, they don’t have that same concern. Brenden George started the last eight games for the Mustangs at quarterback, winning the District 9-6A co-newcomer of the year in his junior season. After throwing for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022, head coach Mark Behrens and the coaching staff are ready to see him take the next step forward in 2023.

“We cycled through a few guys last year and worked out a few different guys,” Behrens said. “Brenden settled into the role and did a good job last season. I think he’s a hard worker and has maxed out his ability with his work ethic. He does a lot of good stuff for us and has an understanding of what we’re trying to do.”

George showed a dual-threat ability that made him dangerous for the Mustangs offense last season, as he also rushed for three touchdowns. While he completed 64 percent of his passes as a junior and ran the ball well, coach Behrens said the team is ready to see what he can do with a developed receiving core around him.

“He’s what I like to call a 1.5 quarterback,” Behrens said. “He can throw the ball, and the point five is that you have to account for him in the backfield. If you cover well but forget about Brendon in the backfield, he’s going to tuck the ball and hurt you.”

George’s mobility and the athleticism of the backfield for Sachse will be key to their offensive success in 2023. With a younger offensive line in front of him, the ability to stay unpredictable in the backfield and run sideline-to-sideline will be key to the passing offense and keeping a clean pocket.

“He’s going to run the ball and continue to take some hits,” Behrens said. “We got Brenden and we have some athleticism at the backup spot that can help us as well. He’s got athleticism and we’re going to have to use that to help our team be successful.”

Along with running the ball, George showed good chemistry with the top receivers in the offense during spring practices. As he’s continuing to develop the chemistry, the most important part will be taking care of the football and making the right decisions in game speed.
“It’s a difficult position to play, no doubt,” Behrens said. “He has worked for everything he’s got, and when collisions are happening all around you it’s not always easy to make the right throw and be perfect. I have respect for every quarterback in the country and what they’re able to do on the field.”

Behind George, Kendrick Hanks Jr. is the backup option for the Mustangs, who are also at wide receiver. He represents an even more mobile option for the Sachse offense and can run the short-passing game flawlessly as well. The Mustangs have younger options in the pipeline but hope to stay healthy and use those top two options with experience in 2023.

“Kenny Hanks has a lot of talent and can run with the ball,” Behrens said. “We’re still working on his decision-making sometimes but he’s got a lot of talent to work with.”

As Sachse continues to work out its offense in the summer months and prepare for fall camp, the key to its success in 2023 will be how these quarterbacks can get the ball to the pass catchers. The Mustang receivers are the deepest and most talented group on the offensive side of the ball and can help the team put up a lot of points next season.

“We just have to make sure he can get the ball to our receivers and stay in a clean pocket,” Behrens said. “It’s one of the best groups we’ve had, maybe ever, at the receiver spot. So it’s just about getting them the ball and letting them make plays. Hopefully, our offensive line can help him out and make Brenden’s life a whole lot easier.”

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This season, they have a few more questions than answers as the Mustangs just return one starter to the line of scrimmage from last season. As they’re working out some of the younger kids to see who can handle the varsity level, coach Mark Behrens knows it’ll take some work this fall for this group to compete.

“We have some young pups we’re looking to get on the field and just get some experience,” Behrens said. “We haven’t played this many young guys on the offensive line in a while and it’ll be an adjustment for those guys at first. They are talented players and we’re going to keep getting them bigger and coaching them up.”

Fortunately for the Mustangs, their returning starter is one of their best players from last season, center Austin Smith. A first-team all-district center for the Mustangs, Smith was named the team’s offensive most valuable player last season and brings plenty of experience to the Sachse middle.
He takes on a major leadership role for the entire Sachse offense, including calling out coverages for his younger teammates at the line of scrimmage.

“Austin is a great kid and great leader for us, he’s truly the quarterback of the offensive line,” Behrens said. “If he was a couple of inches taller and a couple of pounds heavier, every school in the country would be looking at him for college. He’s a very talented player and the kind of kid every coach wants in his program.”

Smith brings experience to the offensive line, and was working hard throughout the spring to get his teammates up to speed on the offense and what’s expected for next season. Among his teammates, Aidan Pierce slots into a starting tackle position as a junior from the junior varsity team, while juniors Devun Noudaranouvong and Jackson Schmidt at guards and senior Tristan Dobney at the other tackle spot, though he’s recovering from an injury.

While the team has an idea of who might start at those positions, the depth gets a little more difficult to pinpoint with several sophomores battling for time at the varsity level, including Brett Hough.

“We’ve got some guys on the defensive side of the ball that might have to fill in until those younger guys are ready, but it’s tough to pinpoint right now,” Behrens said. “We don’t have a lot of depth and we want our younger players to get some reps on the junior varsity team. We’ll have to get creative with some guys if they need to step up from the defensive side to help out in case of emergency.”

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For the new year, the team is looking at a running back-by-committee approach after the graduation of Pope Akanna. The Naval Academy signee finished the 2022 season with 1,074 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, following a line of strong lead running backs like Luke Keefer and Brian Okoye in years past.

While there’s no true lead back this season, head coach Mark Behrens said the Mustangs feel great about their options to pick from.

“We got three kids on the offensive side of the ball we feel good about, plus two guys on defense we think can help out,” Behrens said. “The good news is they’re all underclassmen for the most part, so they get a chance to prove themselves and get a chance to learn and get better at the position for a few years with us.”

Leading the way is Sachse’s returning leading rusher in Brendon Haygood. The rising junior had five rushing touchdowns in 2022, averaging nearly six yards per carry in a limited role. He was held out of spring with an injury, but showed plenty of burst and speed on the track for the Mustangs and hopes to be on the field in the fall.

“His speed wasn’t great last season, but running track really helped him out,” Behrens said. “He’s already doing full workouts and if that top-end speed is better then he can really be a complete back for us.”

Beyond Haygood, Keandre Little and Josh Ridge are also competing for opportunities in the backfield, along with defensive players Dane Norberg and Sean Davault. Little took the majority of the carries in the spring with Haygood out, while Ridge can move between both slot receiver and in the backfield.

All four players provide different skill sets to the backfield, allowing the Mustangs to pick their running backs depending on the matchups.

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