Smoking For Jesus football adds wrinkles for rematch with Bulverde Gloria Deo

The Smoking For Jesus football team will welcome Bulverde Gloria Deo in the playoffs of the Texas Association of Independent Athletic Organizations at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25, at Wallace Riddell Park, 710 Northington St. in Burnet.

It’s a rematch of a 36-34 Eagles (6-5, 3-0 district champions) victory Oct. 28.

Senior Isaac Legier intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown to give the Eagles the lead. On the last play, sophomore Benjamin Frazier tackled the punt returner to ensure the victory.

Head coach Charles Frazier, Sr. predicted the Eagles would face the Lions (7-3, 3-2) again this season. So he wasn’t surprised Gloria Deo is coming back to Burnet County.

“It’s going to be a really good game,” he said. “They’re going to be coming to play hard. We’ve definitely prepared.”

Coaches have spent the last few days reviewing films, creating another scouting report, and inserting some different plays opponents haven’t seen, he said, though he didn’t elaborate.

“We’re going to throw some new things at them,” Frazier said. “We’re going to try to beat them with our speed.”

Fans shouldn’t expect to see many new changes on defense. Defensive coordinator Boo Maxwell has the Eagles playing sharp, smart football, and the players have embraced his toughness and philosophy, Frazier said.

“He has them so primed,” the head coach said. “The defense is hitting on all cylinders. They’re communicating and talking to one another. There’s not a lot that’s going to change.”

Maxwell’s enthusiasm for defense is contagious and a big reason why that unit has performed well, he added. Maxwell relates to the players on many levels and teaches that side of the ball to have controlled aggression, meaning the Eagles take calculated risks that pay off when they matter most.

One example was Legier’s interception against the Lions.

“(Maxwell is) running up and down the field,” Frazier said. “I think he might have raced Isaac to the end zone from the sideline. He can see things, and the big thing is they trust him. They see him pumped, so they’re pumped. And he’s not ashamed to admit when he’s wrong.”

Frazier also announced that four Eagles have been chosen to and agreed to play in the TAIAO all-star game. They are seniors Jonathan Frazier and Legier and juniors Connor Kitchens and Efrain Aviles, III.

The players were chosen because of their stats and the team’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

Legier has completed 130 of 211 passes for 2,065 yards, 34 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and has 86 rushes for 1,237 yards and 18 scores. The younger Frazier has 33 receptions for 511 yards and 11 touchdowns and has 28 rushes for 251 yards and 4 scores. Kitchens has caught 22 passes for 418 yards and 6 touchdowns and has 20 carries for 248 yards and 3 scores. Aviles has 27 catches for 594 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“Only first-team (all-state) players are in the game,” the coach said.

The contest will be played Dec. 10 at Bryan Allen Academy.

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