(l to r) Coach Lonnie Jordan, Jack Hutton, Mitch Coulson, Lattrell Smith, Andy Jordan and Azion Washington

Lake Highlands High School Head Football Coach Lonnie Jordan gave Exchange Club members a preview of the season last week at Back Country Bar-B-Q, and he warned he’d graduated several strong players from last year’s playoff squad.

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“This team will look a little different,” he said, “and we have to work to the strength of each team. The pace of the game this year will be different.”

Jordan introduced Reid Waller, the Wildcats’ new defensive coordinator and former head coach at Plano Senior High, Weatherford High and Henderson High. He also coached defensive players at McKinney High and Trinity Valley Community College.

“Reid has several state championships, and he’s the best mind I know in the business,” praised Jordan. “He brings a lot of wisdom.”

“Coach Jordan is one of the best coaches and one of the best people I’ve ever been around,” returned Waller. “Coaching for him was a no-brainer, a slam dunk.”

Waller recalled his 13 years in Plano – particularly coaching against LHHS standout Marcus Stiggers.

“We’d come under the overpass on Church Road and get off the bus, and I kept hoping he wouldn’t be there,” Waller joked. “I was asking, ‘Is he really human?’ He did unbelievable things.”

After defeating Waller’s team his senior year, Stiggers was gracious in victory but told the opposing coach another stellar player, Davaren Hightower, would replace Stiggers when he headed off to play at the University of Colorado-Boulder in the fall.

“There’s a lot of rich football tradition in Lake Highlands,” said Waller. “I’m looking forward to doing a nice job for you.”

Corey Campbell, returning offensive coordinator, was equally enthusiastic – particularly about junior Mitch Coulson. Last year’s District 8-6A Newcomer of the Year will quarterback the team.

“We can’t wait to get going. It’s a new era for us, and we’re excited about 2019.”

“We’re football coaches, and we need to win football games, but equally important to us is building character in these young men,” said Jordan. “If you follow us on Twitter this year, you’ll see #ChopWoodCarryWater. That’s the title of a book by Joshua Medcalf – a book of parables. His idea is to fall in love with the process of becoming great. It’s not a football book – it has nothing to do with football. It has everything to do with being great.”

Jordan also recalled the days of Marcus Stiggers, Phil Dawson and other top level players in LH’s past.

“I want to remind these guys – those are players who lived off of Whitehurst and Audelia and in White Rock Valley. They’ve been in their locker room and practiced on their field. It’s important to remember that.”

When asked about playing Duncanville, a team likely to be ranked one of the nation’s best, Jordan didn’t hesitate before answering.

“We welcome the challenge. A lot of their players are returning, and our plan is to build up to that game and sneak up on those guys. If you want to be the best, you’ve got to play the best.”

The Wildcat 2019 football schedule is here:
Aug. 23 at 7: McKinney Boyd (scrimmage) at Wildcat Stadium
Aug. 30 at 7:30: Mesquite High at Hanby Stadium
Sept. 6 at 8:30: Plano East in the Cotton Bowl Showcase
Sept. 13 at 7:30: Haltom at Wildcat Stadium
Sept. 26 (Thurs.) at 7:00: Skyline at Kincaid
Oct. 4 at 7:30: Berkner at Wildcat Stadium (LH is home)
Oct. 11 at 7:30: Duncanville at Duncanville
Oct. 18 at 7:30: W.T. White for our Homecoming
Oct. 25 at 7:30: Pearce at Wildcat Stadium
Nov. 1 at 7:30: Molina at Kincaid
Nov. 8 at 7:30: Richardson at Wildcat Stadium

Bell Boys: (l to r) Gib Spurr, Barrett Pesterfield, Robbie Carson, Michael Dorsey and sponsor Brody Lyons