Lavaca QB set for season

LAVACA — Maddox Noel has serious game at quarterback for the Lavaca Golden Arrows, but he’s also a funny guy.

Noel will switch jersey numbers to No. 55 for his senior season.

“It’s just for fun,” Noel said. “It’s my senior year, and I’m going to enjoy it.”

Lavaca Coach Mark Headley, a veteran who will enter his 18th season as head coach of the Golden Arrows, just kind shook his head and grinned about Noel’s jersey number switch from No. 1. “He’s being funny,” Headley said.

Noel’s game on the field, though, is very serious. He’s one of the most versatile quarterbacks in the state.

Last year, Lavaca finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the 3A-1 Conference, but missed out on the playoffs due to the tie-breaker.

Noel and the remainder of the seniors have big expectations this season.

“I definitely feel like me and all the seniors who have been playing have that experience have to help lead the team,” Noel said. “We’re just finishing out our career and going and winning ball games.”

Last year in a 61

48 win over Hackett, Noel completed 18 of 24 passes for 239 yards and 3 touchdowns and ran 24 times for 105 yards and 4 scores. He also returned a punt 16 yards.

In a 39-14 win over Greenland, he completed

9 of 13 passes for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns, ran 22 times for 182 yards and 2 touchdowns, and had 2 interceptions and 3 tackles on defense.

He finished the season with 1,414 yards and 14 touchdown passing, and 716 yards and 18 touchdowns rushing.

“We’ve got him back, and this will be his third season to start,” Headley said. “We’ve got a running back back and a couple of receivers. I feel good about our skilled guys. We’ve got two returners on the line.”

Kris Fultz and Isaac Morris return on the line for the Golden Arrows.

Lavaca competed in their first team camp at Charleston last week, will continue with their summer workouts after the mandated two-week dead period on July 10, participate in a lineman challenge at Charleston and another team camp at Ozark.

“We’re still looking for some pieces on the line,” Headley said. “We’ve pretty much got our skilled guys set, but we’re playing with some guys on the line to see where we need to put them. We had a good spring, but it’s good to see us against other people and different looks. Our line of scrimmage on both side of the line, we’re trying to figure that out.”

Noel