Previewing the 2024 Trojan football schedule

Previewing the 2024 Trojan football schedule Image

• Braylon Boggs (2) sheds a tackle as he makes his way down the field during a game against Union Grove last season. The Cumby Trojans' 2024 football schedule has been finalized, which includes five home games and five road games. Photo by DJ Spencer

Dj Spencer Sports Editor Wed, 06/26/2024 - 07:08 Subhead

Cumby looking for second straight playoff trip

Body

CUMBY — The Cumby Trojans have finalized their schedule for the 2024 season. After playing a mostly home schedule last year — six home games and four road games — the Trojans will be playing an even schedule this season, with five home games and five road games.

This season will be the Trojans’ first season under new head coach Ronnie Green, who was Cumby’s Defensive Coordinator last season, and was previously the head coach at Cooper and Como-Pickton. Green replaces Tom Dracos, who resigned following a twoyear return stint as head coach.

The Trojans are coming off a 3-7 season last year, where they went 2-3 in district plays. Cumby managed to make the playoffs after winning out on a tiebreaker. In the playoffs, they were shut out 58-0 by the Mart Panthers in the Bi-District round of the playoffs.

The Trojans will once again play in District 9-2A/ D2, which features each team from the previous district in Clarksville, Detroit, Linden-Kildare, Maud, and Simms Bowie, and also adds Celeste this season.

Here is a look at the Trojans’ schedule, week by week.

WEEK 1

VS. TOM BEAN

For their season opener, the Trojans will welcome the Tom Bean Tomcats to Frazier-Lawrence Field Aug. 30. This will be the third year in a row in which the two teams have played each other. In last season’s matchup, the Tomcats handed the Trojans a 48-22 loss.

The Tomcats went 6-4 overall last season, going 3-2 in district play. Though they finished third in their district, they were ineligible for the playoffs after recruiting players in 2022, allowing fifth-place Trenton to make the playoffs in their place.

WEEK 2

AT UNION GROVE

For their second game, the Trojans hit the road for the first time, traveling to Gladewater to take on the Union Grove Lions at Glyn Johnston Stadium Sept. 6. This will be another third time in a row opponent for the Trojans. The Lions took down the Trojans 45-14 last season.

The Lions went 4-6 during the 2023 season. Despite going a perfect 4-0 in non-district play, the Lions lost all six of their district games, going 0-6 and finishing last in their district.

WEEK 3

VS. COMO-PICKTON

In their third game, the Trojans return home to host their Hopkins County rival, the Como-Pickton Eagles, Sept. 13. Though both teams have enjoyed continuous rivalries in sports like volleyball, basketball, and baseball, this is the first time the two teams will have met in football since 2015, which was a 3820 Cumby win.

The Eagles went just 1-9 during the 2023 season, and failed to win a district game, going 0-6. Their only victory of the season was a 58-8 win over Detroit.

WEEK 4

AT TYLER ALL SAINTS

In their fourth game, the Trojans conclude district play by traveling to Tyler to face off against the All Saints Trojans Sept. 20 at Mewbourne Field. This will mark the third straight game between these two teams. Cumby won last season’s matchup 46-26.

All Saints went just 1-8-1 in 2023. Their only victory was a 38-27 victory against the UME Preparatory Academy Eagles.

BYE WEEK

After four straight games, the Trojans will have their bye week before starting their district schedule.

WEEK 5

VS. LINDEN-KILDARE

For their fifth game, the Trojans begin district play by welcoming the Linden- Kildare Tigers to Frazier- Lawrence Field Oct. 4. In last season’s game, the Tigers outlasted the Trojans 84-70 in a barn burner of a contest.

The Tigers went just 2-8 during the 2023 season, but went 2-3 in district and managed to earn third place in District 9-2A/D2 after winning out on a tiebreaker. In the playoffs, the Tigers were shut out 72-0 by the Dawson Bulldogs in the Bi-District round.

WEEK 6

AT. DETROIT

In their sixth game, the Trojans travel to Detroit to take on the Detroit Eagles at Eagle Stadium Oct. 11. The Trojans took down the Eagles 52-28 when the two teams played last season.

The Eagles failed to win a single game in 2023, going 0-9 overall and 0-5 in district play.

WEEK 7

VS. CLARKSVILLE

For their seventh game, the Trojans will welcome the Clarksville Tigers to Frazier-Lawrence Field Oct. 18. The Trojans won last season’s matchup 5020, which combined with a Linden-Kildare loss that same night, allowed Cumby to earn a playoff spot.

The Tigers are coming off a 2-7 season in 2023, where they went 2-3 in district. Unfortunately, they finished on the wrong side of a three-way tie for third place in District 9-2A/D2, and failed to make the playoffs. The Tigers’ only wins in 2023 were a 23-14 victory against Linden-Kildare, and a 49-8 victory over Detroit.

WEEK 8

AT SIMMS BOWIE

In their eighth game, the Trojans will travel to Simms to take on the Simms Bowie Pirates at Pirate Stadium Oct. 25. The Pirates handed the Trojans a 64-20 loss when the two teams played last season.

The Pirates went 7-3 in 2023, going a perfect 5-0 in district and clinching the District 9-2A/D2 championship.

In the playoffs, the Pirates defeated the Wortham Bulldogs 30-16 in the Bi-District round, before losing 28-8 to the Deweyville Pirates in the Area round.

WEEK 9

VS. MAUD

For their ninth game, the Trojans welcome the Maud Cardinals to Frazier- Lawrence Field Nov. 1 for their Senior Night game. The Cardinals defeated the Trojans 54-22 in last season’s matchup.

The Cardinals finished with a 5-4 record in 2023, going 4-1 in district play and placing second in District 9-2A/D2.

In the playoffs, the Cardinals lost to the Hico Tigers 47-14 in the Bi-District round.

WEEK 10

AT CELESTE

For their regular season finale, the Trojans will travel to Celeste to take on the Celeste Blue Devils at Blue Devil Stadium Nov. 8. This will be the first time the Trojans and Blue Devils have played each other since 2019, which resulted in a 22-13 Cumby win.

The Blue Devils went 7-3 in 2023, going 4-2 in district and placing third in District 8-2A/D2.

In the playoffs, the Blue Devils defeated the Seymour Panthers 41-12 in the Bi-District round, before falling to the Albany Lions 56-0 in the Area round.

The Trojans will be looking to improve on their losing record in 2024 and produce great results. They will also look to make their second straight playoff appearance, and win their first playoff game since 2019.