By ERIC VICCARO

sports@bowienewsonline.com

The Nocona High School football team has plenty of expectations coming into the 2017 season, but the district schedule certainly isn’t easy.
Nocona will open the district slate on the road at Holliday on Oct. 13, and both the Indians and Eagles are expected to vie for the District 3A-II-5 title.
“Everything’s in reverse this year,” said Nocona head football coach/athletic director Brad Keck. “We have to play Holliday, Jacksboro and Henrietta on the road. That’s how it worked out.”
Maybe Nocona will be a better road than home team this year.
The Indians also face a first-year head coach in Jacksboro’s Brannon Rodgers, who comes to Jack County from Crosbyton – where Rodgers compiled a record of 72-51.
Keck said he expects Jacksboro to feature a different offense this year, going from a spread to more of a power game with a wing-T formation.
“I think from top to bottom, the district is going to be competitive,” he said.
Henrietta ran the table in the district last year, going 5-0. Holliday was second at 4-1, with Nocona third at 3-2. Jacksboro also qualified for the postseason.
The Indians have made great strides since a winless 2014 season. Nocona finished with a 7-4 record in 2016, falling in the bi-district round to Leonard in Denton. Read more in the June 21 Bowie News.

Nocona quarterback Jeremy James (3) reacts after throwing a TD pass against Archer City last September. James recently attended a summer camp at Texas A&M University. (News file photo by Eric Viccaro)