Olton High School

Joel Baker made a pretty good first impression coaching the Olton Mustangs. With a year under his and his players’ belts, Mustangs fans can’t wait to see what year two brings as Olton builds on last year’s playoff season with a wealth of returning experience. “We will look to capitalize on the confidence built in 2008,” Baker said. “A second year in the spread offense and ‘Arizona Swarm’ defense should translate to an even more successful 2009 season.”

Last year, the Mustangs finished with a 6-5 record, improving on back-to-back 4-6 campaigns. What’s even better, Olton went 4-1 in district and qualified for the playoffs for only the fourth time in the last 16 years. “We made steady improvement on both offense and defense throughout the year,” said Baker, whose squad won its season opener over Farwell (21-9) before losing four of the next five games, including perennial power New Deal (30-7) in the district opener. But the Mustangs bounced back and won their next four over Hale Center (28-0), Lockney and former Olton coach Malcom Moerbe (20-12), Crosbyton (35-34) and Ralls (24-6) to finish as district runner-up. Unfortunately, Olton’s Division 1 playoff run ended in the first round as the Mustangs fell to Morton (40-30), which lost in the next round to Stanton (35-21).

Baker is optimistic the Mustangs — who return eight starters on defense and five on offense among 16 lettermen — can take the next step in ’09, which means winning a playoff game for the first time since 1990 and maybe even recording two post-season victories for the first time in school history. “We have a good core of outstanding skill players back on both sides of the ball,” Baker noted. “The key to success will rest on filling the three first-team all-district offensive line spots lost to graduation. The 2009 season class has the talent and leadership to allow the Mustangs to challenge New Deal for the district title.”

While the dozen players lost to graduation — including linemen Javier Sanchez, Will Whitaker and Whit Whitaker, cornerback Tony Hernandez and kicker Lucas Coelho — will be missed, Baker is confident he has the players to put a solid team on the field. At the top of that talent pool is a quartet of seniors in lineman Dyllon Smith, linebacker Tanner Neinast, receiver Ryan Nieto and quarterback Bobby Wayne Workman, all academic all-district performers (Olton had 19 academic all-district selections out of 28 lettermen in ’08). Smith (6-3, 280) was a unanimous all-district selection on offense and defense and All-South Plains on offense, giving up only three sacks in 11 games. “Dyllon is both a great run and pass blocker,” Baker noted. “He has terrific feet and agility for a big man.” The versatile Nieto (5-6, 145, 4.85) was another All-South Plains honoree at receiver after he caught 49 passes for 772 yards and five touchdowns. “Ryan makes up for a lack of size with good speed and tremendous agility,” Baker said. Nieto’s showed his pass-catching abilities on defense, too, making four interceptions. He also punts, averaging 38.2 yards a kick to earn second-team All-South Plains accolades which he matched on defense.

Charged with getting Nieto the football is Workman (5-11, 150, 4.9). “Bobby Wayne presents a great double-threat and could be poised for a 2,000-plus yard passing and 1,000-plus yard rushing season,” Baker said. Last year, Workman, the district’s offensive MVP, reached 1,632 yards in the air and 507 on the ground, throwing for 15 TDs and 10 interceptions while running for eight scores. He completed 116-of-237 passes and ran 100 times in a balanced offense that produced 1,666 yards on the ground and 1,650 yards in the air.

The top tackler returning is Neinast (6-1, 160, 4.8), who made 84 solo stops and 67 assists with two interceptions in a second-team All-South Plains season. “Tanner plays sideline to sideline and is in on almost every play,” Baker said. The top defensive lineman back is junior end Seth Pinkerton (5-11, 155), who a year ago had 37 solo tackles and 28 assists along with eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss to earn all-district. Rounding out the returning all-district defensive picks is junior free safety Forest Lane (5-11, 60), who has moved to linebacker.

Helping fill in the holes will be lettermen Nick Aviles (6-1, 205), senior defensive end; Eli Perez (5-9, 145), senior running back; Dallas Carrasco (5-9, 160), senior linebacker; Tyler Flores (5-11, 210), junior offensive lineman, Nate Martinez (6-0, 215), junior defensive end; and Torey Jimenez (5-6, 125), sophomore receiver. Baker’s top prospects include sophomores Alonzo Hernandez (5-10, 235) and Eric Martinez (6-0, 220) on the line, receiver Pecos Martin (5-5, 125) and running back Billy Ross (5-9, 160).

Olton opens the season with back-to-back home games against Farwell and Nazareth for homecoming. The ’Stangs, with a home game against Sundown and an open week mixed in, play three of their next four on the road against Dimmitt, Amarillo San Jacinto and New Deal in the district opener.  Then it’s back home to host Hale Center, at Lockney, home against Crosbyton and at Ralls.

“Six-A will look much the same in 2009 with everyone chasing New Deal for the district championship,” Baker said. “Olton, Hale Center and Crosbyton will be fighting for the remaining playoff spots.