Newcastle Bobcats New Year. New Team.

Newcastle Bobcat football is back as practice is fully underway. Practice began on Monday, Aug. 3 as the team prepares for the upcoming season. “I think our goal is to come out and be competitive each and every game. We have a young and inexperienced team, so it is going to be lots of growing pains and lots of learning,” Newcastle Head Coach Julian Menchaca said. The Bobcats will be facing a rebuild as Newcastle said goodbye to a Senior class that included JD Brice, Lane Brice, Jt Spurlin, and Edwin Bennett--four seniors that played on the varsity football team all four years.

The Bobcats are leaning on a few Juniors to step up and feel that leadership role…..including Cash Strawbridge and Hunter Martinez. Two Juniors that each played key roles on last year’s team that saw its season end after a three-way tie in the district. “Just hard nosed kids who want to get better each and everyday and I think they are up to the task, “ Coach Menchaca added. The Bobcats will play their first game of the season on Aug. 29 against Meadow in Jayton, TX—a team that Newcastle has not faced in 15 to 20 years. “It is good to face a West Texas football team and see a new face because out here, you kind of just face the teams that are close around you because it is hard travel wise,” Menchaca stated.

The Bobcats are looking to incoming freshman Ty Strawbridge to potentially fill the void as quarterback for this year’s team, with Cash Strawbridge and Hunter Martinez being the featured running backs. Coach adds that workouts were held over the summer, with the group of Juniors leading the way and being at every workout that was held. As of now, games are still a go as originally scheduled, with the first home game coming in Week 4 of the season against a familiar team win Gordon.