Valenzuela, Sams get another chance to shine as Jacksboro football figures out starting QB

There’s an elephant in the room at Jacksboro: Who is going to replace Lando Belcher at quarterback?

The recent graduate is coming off one of the most prolific seasons ever produced by a signal-caller from the Wichita Falls area, passing for 4,319 yards and 42 TDs in 2023.

The short answer is, a competition between junior Wyatt Gavit and senior move-in Gannon McElroy is underway and will be decided before the Tigers open the regular season against first-year program Eagle Mountain on Aug. 30.

But whoever the quarterback may be, he will have the luxury of utilizing the area’s top returning rusher and receiver.

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Seniors Luke Sams and Cannon Valenzuela both make their coaches look smart plus the transition of a new quarterback much easier.

“We expect a lot of them as leaders on our team,” Jacksboro coach Casey Hubble said. “We expect them to do the same thing we expect all our kids to do and that’s their job. But then they can use their incredible athletic ability to be the best.”

Valenzuela is far-and-away the area’s top receiver, catching 89 passes for 1,573 yards and 13 TDs. He was also the team’s leading tackler (136) at safety.

He’s been rated a three-star prospect by 247Sports with a verbal commitment to Colorado State while holding offers from five other Division I programs.

Hubble has had the pleasure of watching Valenzuela grow up from a ball boy to what he is today.

“I’ve gone from watching him cheer for our teams as a little boy to being a tall, gangly seventh-grader to turning into the weapon he is now,” Hubble said. “He plays with a mentality that really makes him special, and we expect him to take another step next year.”

Pay too much attention to Valenzuela, and Sams will make a defense pay. He experienced a breakout junior season as the Tigers’ running back, rushing for an area-best 1,742 yards and 31 TDs. He was also a factor in the passing game, catching 38 passes for 642 yards and five more scores.

And if that wasn’t enough, he was third on the team in tackles with 123 from his linebacker position.

“I don’t really think we can expand his role too much. He’s already doing so much for us,” Hubble said. “He’s put on 10 to 15 pounds during the offseason. He’s a lot stronger. We’re just excited to see him take another step this year too.”

And that’s the scary part for Jacksboro’s opponents. Valenzuela and Sams are a year older, smarter, stronger and faster.

Just how good can they be as seniors?

“Obviously we have high expectations for them,” Hubble said. “But more than anything we have high expectations for them as leaders. Leadership is helping everyone around them be better, and we think both of them have that ability.”

Offense

Jacksboro’s quarterback competition is the most high-profile position battle in the Wichita Falls area, given that the winner gets the keys to an explosive spread offense.

Gavit spent his sophomore season as Belcher’s backup, while McElroy played his junior season at Lake Country Christian in Fort Worth, completing 56 percent of his passes for 1,773 yards, 19 TDs and five interceptions. He also rushed for 511 yards and three TDs.

Sams will be spelled in the backfield by junior Luis Balderama, who will have an expanded role on offense with Hubble stating, “He’s too good of a football player not to get touches.”

Hubble’s son, Garrett, is expected to be a big contributor at receiver along with Valenzuela, Eric Pizana and Evan Walker.

The Tigers return two offensive linemen, including all-state and Red River 22 honoree Wade Treadway at right guard. Glyndon Rodriguez played left guard last season but could move to one of the tackle positions. Braxton Crunk, Jerin Luhrsen and Joxan Delgado are favorites to fill the other three spots.

Defense

The Tigers base out of a 4-3 and tout impressive depth at the linebacker position.

Sams and Balerama are both productive linebackers, while Hunter Moffitt is the second-leading returning tackler. Whoever doesn’t win the quarterback battle between McElroy and Gavit will likely be the starting middle linebacker.

The Tigers’ have so much depth at linebacker that two players who fit the position play in the secondary.

That includes Valenzuela, who is expected to play linebacker in college but mans one of the safety positions for Jacksboro. Pizana played linebacker last season but is moving to cornerback in 2024.

They’ll be joined in the secondary by Walker and Hubble, who played a lot of cornerback as a junior.

The defensive line will be anchored by Marcus Olivares, who is joined at tackle by Rodriguez. Ace Walker is a converted quarterback playing defensive end and has grown into the position. Lucas Cornish will get a lot of reps at the other end spot.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Valenzuela, Sams get another chance to shine as Jacksboro football figures out starting QB