Basin Gridiron Training Camp: Andrews Mustangs

ANDREWS, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – This year’s Andrews football could look very reminiscent of Mustangs from the past, according to head coach Tom Harvey. While the Mustangs return one of the most electric runningbacks in 4A, it’s their defense that Harvey expects to shine bright this season.

Andrews is historically known for its hard-nosed defense, dating back to when Harvey started his coaching career at Andrews in 1992 as a defensive assistant. It was those defenses in the early 90s that have widely been accepted as some of the best in the program’s history. But Harvey expects this year’s could rival them.

“We’ve had some great defenses, this has a chance to be as good as any of them,” Harvey said.

He specifically expects his linebacking core to be the center of the defensive prowess. At least six defensive players for the Mustangs run a 4.5-second or better 40-yard dash.

“This will be the fastest defense we’ve had. Now they just gotta go out and make it the best defense they’ve had,” Harvey said.

Andrews will be very well-balanced this year, as it returns District Newcoming of the Year, junior phenom JaeSean DeBouse. In his first varsity season as a sophomore, DeBouse led the Mustangs offense with 2,236 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on 203 carries.

DeBouse shined in Andrews’ unique Slot-T formation, which the team will carry over to this season with an extra emphasis on involving the passing game.

“We didn’t have trouble with the quarterback and we didn’t have trouble with the receivers, but we just could not protect the passer,” Harvey said of his 2023 offense. “I think you’ll see that dimension blossom a little bit in our offense.”

“It worked for us good last year and it was our first year doing it so this year we’ll be even better at it,” DeBouse said.

Harvey expects DeBouse to come out of his shell more this year and fully embrace a leadership role for the Mustangs. DeBouse has high expectations for himself this season, aiming for 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns.

His dominance earned him the Preseason Offensive MVP by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football (DCTF) magazine.

“It means a lot you know. A lot of people have been hyping me up so I’m going to follow up with it. I really have confidence in myself that I wasn’t just picked for that for no reason,” DeBouse said.

DCTF predicted the Mustangs would win their first district title since 2021. Andrews is aligned in a new district, 3-4A Division I, with Big Spring and San Angelo Lake View, who were aligned together last circuit, and newcomer Pecos, who opted to move up to Division I.

The Mustangs open their season on the road to Clint on Aug. 30.

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