The Taylor Ducks varsity football team is set to kick off their season this Friday, Aug. 30, in a nondistrict matchup against the Gatesville Hornets. Head Coach Earven Flowers anticipates a challenging game as the Ducks prepare for district play.
“[Gatesville is] a very physical team. They pride themselves on the weight room and running the ball,” Flowers remarked. “It’s a good matchup for us to get prepared for tougher teams during the season.”
The Ducks are seeking revenge, having opened the season against Gatesville for the past two years, both of which ended in heartbreaking losses. In 2023, the Ducks fell 34-27 after the Hornets scored a late game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. The previous year, Gatesville edged out a 22-21 victory by converting a two-point conversion that sealed the game.
Flowers identified mistakes as a key factor in those losses, emphasizing the need for his teamto minimize turnovers to avoid another season-opening upset.
“Last year, we started hot and then began making mistakes. Gatesville caused some of those mistakes, but we just have to play cleaner as a team and take advantage of our opportunities,” Flowers said.
As for who will start at quarterback for Taylor, Flowers is keeping that decision under wraps until game day. “We’ll find out Friday,” he teased.
Despite the uncertainty at quarterback, one thing is certain: the return of running back Andrias Fisher, who led Taylor with 645 rushing yards last season. Flowers emphasized the importance of involving Fisher in the offense.
“With Fisher returning, we have to get the ball in his hands, so we need to find ways to ensure his success,” Flowers said.
The Ducks are coming off a 5-6 season, finishing fourth in the 4A-1 Region IV District 13 with a 3-4 record. The Hornets went 7-5 overall in 2023, finishing third in the 4A-2 Region III District 11 with a 2-2 record. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. at Taylor Stadium.
