Crane High School

Crane Golden Cranes: District 4-2A

Purchase photos from Week 3, Muleshoe vs Crane

Crane Golden Cranes 2009

Sports, in the ideal world are supposed to teach life skills.  The Crane Golden Cranes had the misfortune of learning life is bigger than football and spent much of the season rallying around a teammate to overcome the sudden loss of his father. Crane enters most football seasons expecting to win and play into December.  In 2008 the Golden Cranes appeared to have the talent to make a deep playoff run, untimely injuries and the tragic loss of running back Cody Black’s father proved too much to overcome as the team lost 21-14 in the bi-district round to Lubbock Roosevelt ending the season at 8-3.

After beginning the season with victories over Roscoe, Midland Greenwood and San Angelo Grape Creek, the Golden Cranes found themselves ranked as high as number three in state polls before losing 63-41 to eventual state champion, Muleshoe, in the fourth week.  The Golden Cranes rebounded to defeat Wall and enter district with a 4-1 record.

Kermit defeated Crane 9-7 in the first week of league play but the Golden Cranes rolled through the rest of the district outscoring their opponents 214-13 to enter the playoffs with high hopes.

Improving Lubbock Roosevelt showed they were not pretenders in the playoff picture and ousted the Golden Cranes.

As 2009 approaches, coach Naldo Esparza returns 11 lettermen after losing 17 seniors to graduation, but half the starters on offense are holdovers and five starters return on defense.

Cody Black, Teague Esparza and Jordon Cavazos lead the list of returnees.  All three return as all-district honorees on both sides of the ball. Black (6-0,190) is both a running and receiving threat on offense and scored nine touchdowns last season.  He also starts in the defensive backfield and scored two defensive touchdowns off of his three interceptions. Esparza (5-9,170) returns as the top receiver .  The wide receiver caught 31 passes for 524 yards and six touchdowns.  On defense, the senior teams in the backfield with Black for a strong combination. Cavazos (5-9,165) also plays wide receiver, defensive back, but adds punting to his resume of ability to play different positions, and is likely to start at quarterback during his final high school campaign.  The senior caught 42 passes for 430 yards and six touchdowns as a wide receiver.

Not only will Esparza have three returning two-way all-district starters, he will also have four others who received post season kudos at one position, and one is an all-state recipient. Justin Mendoza (6-0,185) returns at linebacker.  The senior registered 111 solo tackles, 39 assists, 3 sacks and 6 tackles for loss on his way to being selected to the AP all-state team.

Garrett Wilson (5-10,170) joins Mendoza in the linebacking corps as an all-district pick.

Michael Flores (6-2,230) returns to anchor a strong offensive line.  The senior returns as a second-team all-district honoree and is joined by junior Cody Harrelson (6-4,220) who also was honored on post season lists.

Jacob Lowry gives the Golden Cranes a third decorated offensive lineman.

With such a strong returning line, Crane will try to capitalize on that strength as it tries to win back the district title and move deeper into the playoff season.

The opening kickoff on the new season will be on August 27 in Sweetwater against Roscoe.  The Golden cranes entertain Greenwood the following week and then travel to Grape Creek. Muleshoe, and a chance to avenge a loss to last year’s state champion awaits on September 18 in Denver City before ending the pre-district schedule on September 25 against Wall.

District 4-2A play opens on the road with what could be the district championship game against Kermit on October 9.  Crane continues league play at Reagan County and then entertains Ozona before traveling to Sonora and ending the regular season at home against Alpine.