Iraan High School

Iraan Braves: District 8-1A

Iraan Braves 2009

The Northern Panhandle teams dominated class 1A last year, but Iraan continues to be a team only a break or two away from replacing either Canadian or Stratford as state champion.

With tradition and a young coach hungry to reach the state finals, the Braves braved a difficult early schedule and prepared for another deep run in the playoffs, but lost to eventual state champion Stratford just two games short of the Holy Grail.

John Fellows’ second year as a head coach proved to be without a sophomore slump.  The Sul Ross graduate led his charges to a perfect season record and improved his own coaching record to 20-6 overall.
The Braves breezed past their competition in 2008 and only played two close games, a 21-13 win over Eldorado and 20-12 triumph over Van Horn to preserve the district championship, during the regular season.

Lopsided winning continued in the first and second round of the playoffs.  The Braves easily disposed of Seagraves 35-19 and made short work of highly regarded New Deal 37-7 to earn the right to play Sunray.

Although the Braves didn’t overpower Sunray, they held on to win 16-6 and earn a date with Stratford in the state quarterfinal.  The former state champions proved they had an even deeper football tradition than Iraan with their 55-15 victory.  The Braves defeat left them with a record of 13-1 to close one of the best seasons in the school’s history.

As Fellows begins his third season at Iraan, he has hopes of taking his team two steps deeper in the playoffs. “We have a chance to be a good football team,” Fellows said.  “But we have to grow up at certain positions.”

Upfront defensively, tight ends Jose Chavez and Jaime Ibarra both return as all-district players along with lineman Alex Arnold.

“Chavez (5-10, 190) is our leader on and off the field,” Fellows said.

Ibarra (5-9, 175) earned all-state honors for his 95 tackles and eight sacks last year.  “He is quick off the ball and very explosive,” Fellows said.

The middle of the defense also boasts an all-state player, J.D. Tankersley (5-9, 215), and an all-district player, Bradley Ledford (5-8, 170).  The linebackers combined for over 225 tackles and eight sacks as juniors.
“JD has a great nose for the ball, and he is also a punishing runner at fullback,” Flowers said.

“Bradley is one of the best weak side linebackers I’ve ever seen,” Fellows said of his other senior linebacker who like Tankersley has 4.8 speed.

The post-season honored defense also returns all-district team players in the backfield.   Dakota Green earned all-state honors at free-safety where he proved a strong tackler with 92 tackles, and an even better thief with six interceptions. 

Fellow defensive back, Drew Fellows (6-2,190), was named the District 8-1A newcomer of the year as a freshman.  The rookie garnered 75 tackles, three sacks and three thefts.

With three all-state players returning on defense, Fellows main concern is building a strong offense.
Green will quarterback the Flex Bone formation and will have veterans (Miguel Chavez and Dillion Dees) in front of him on the line as well as Tankersley in the backfield.
Dees (6-1, 220) returns as an-all-state tackle and will be counted on to anchor a relatively young offense.
With Green moving from wide receiver and new players at the skill positions, overall experience on offense could be the Braves only weakness entering the new campaign.
The quest for another perfect regular season record and even deeper post-season run begins August 27 when Mason comes to Iraan.  The Braves travel to Ozona September 4 and then enjoy two consecutive home games, entertaining Eldorado and Reagan County. The pre-district continues at Forsan and ends at home when Stanton tests its mettle at Iraan.

Rival McCamey provides the competition for the opening of district completion at McCamey October 16. Van Horn comes to Iraan October 23.  The Braves take to the road to tangle with Wink on October 30 and end the regular season at home against Marfa on November 6.