Mineola returns plenty of offensive talent as Yellowjackets prep for 2024 season

MINEOLA, Texas ( KETK ) – The Mineola Yellowjackets football team fell one win short of last year’s playoffs after dropping their final regular season game 49-21 to Commerce.

“How that last game ended left a bitter taste in our mouth to kind of come out with a little bit more focus,” Mineola head coach Aaron Slider said.

Slider, who’s entering his second season at the helm, said the Yellowjackets are eager to put last year’s disappointing finish behind them.

“How they work. Their expectations of each other. Showing up every single day. Summertime. Springtime. Fall time. It doesn’t make any difference. A lot of that part is there with a majority of our kids,” Slider said.

Slider said three players are vying for the starting quarterback spot with less than two weeks until the season kicks off.

No matter who ends up getting the starting nod, they’ll have plenty of weapons to get the ball to on offense.

Mineola returns nine starters on offense including senior receiver Colton McMahon.

“It’s great. Especially because most of them are coming on the O-line and so our O-line’s gonna be really strong this year. So we’ll be able to block for the quarterback, block for our running backs. Ainsley Steward’s gonna be a stud this year like he was last year so I’m just really excited to see what our group has,” McMahon said.

McMahon transferred from Whitehouse his sophomore year where he went up against former Wildcat standout and now Tennessee Vols cornerback Jermod McCoy.

“He taught me a bunch of routes and how to get off presses and stuff so that’s definitely helped me a lot,” McMahon said.

Senior right tackle David Reyes is also back for the Yellow Jackets.

Reyes said the offensive line will play a vital role in how much success Mineola has this season.

“It’s gonna be up to us to help win games. And yeah, we’re very excited,” Reyes said.

The Yellow Jackets are embracing their motto of “Mineola Tough” as they get set for a district slate that includes powers like Winnsboro, Mount Vernon, and the defending state champion Malakoff Tigers.

“To be tough. To be hard-nosed. To be physical. But also no matter what it can carry outside of athletics into your life when things get tougher, you know, you fall back on that to not give up. To step back up every single day and go do what you’re supposed to do,” Slider said.

Mineola opens the 2024 season on Friday, August 30 against De Kalb. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Meredith Memorial Stadium in Mineola.

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