With an underclassmen-heavy lineup in 2022, the Broncos showed some flashes of what they could do.

Now a year older, the Broncos look to turn the corner this season and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

“ ‘It seems like y’all are going to have a good season,’ I am hearing that from everybody,” Sam Houston head coach Chad Davis said. “We were 4-6 last year and in a lot of games.

“Hopefully that group of kids being in that situation last year, we can get over that hump this year and win those type of games. We are looking strong. We have a lot of guys coming back with a lot of experience. We haven’t proved anything, so we are just trying to get better every day.”

Sam Houston last won a playoff game in 2006 when it was still playing in Class 4A — five years before they made the move to 5A.

Many of those young starters were on the offensive side and are now juniors in Gavin Stout (QB), Cole Flanagan (WR), Drew Dronet (WR), Ty Stout (WR) and Drew Bailey (RB).

Stout is a three-year starter after throwing for 2,318 yards with 25 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Dronet also had a breakout season with 10 total touchdowns and an area-leading 973 yards on 63 receptions.

“It is going to be his (Gavin Stout) third year starting,” Davis said. “He is progressing very well.

“He has taken complete ownership of the offense. He is the voice, and the one holding them accountable. He is doing a good job with it. He had a great year last year, and we just hope that we don’t fall,” Davis said. “The kid works his butt off. He is a great kid. We have to keep him to do what he can do and not play out of his standards.”

Sam Houston averaged more than 30 points a game last year and could see that increase with a big offensive line that returns four starters in Conner Long, Dennis Myers, Jack Davis and Conner Ducote. All four are seniors and weigh over 250 pounds.

“We only lost one,” Davis said. “We are still having a battle right now for who is going to be that fifth guy.

“But it is a big offensive line, and probably the biggest one that we have had in a good while. We are really hoping they can set the tone up front for us.”

Sam Houston returns five starters on the defensive side, including all-district second team linebacker Wyatt Fontenot, but will have to replace the entire defensive front. Fontenot recorded 100 tackles last year. Other returners include two three-year starters in Elijah Scarborough (LB) and Aaron Gott (CB) along with Phillip O’Neal (CB) and Cooper Smith (S).

“Our leader on the defensive side is Wyatt Fontenot,” Davis said. “He is a senior mike linebacker. He has been a leader since day one. He is a big-time weight-room guy. He is starting to come out of his shell and really speaking up. When he speaks everybody listens. If he can control that side of the ball, it is going to be a good thing.

“I want to see them play fast and play physical, play smart and not give up big plays. If we keep the football in front of us and let those linebackers run and make plays, we are going to be successful.”

Up front will be senior Tyler Guillory (6-3, 205) and juniors Christien Guidry (6-0, 245), Romalis Jackson (6-2, 225) and Hunter Dautriel (6-2, 250).

“We lost four guys across the front last year, but we have about six or seven guys that are rotating on the front four this year,” Davis said. “It is coachable kids.

“They have good size. They have motors. We have some depth there, so definitely looking forward to how they play.”

Senior kicker Ethan Boom is back after making 31 of 39 PATs as a junior and a pair of field goals.

“This is Ethan Boom’s second year kicking, and he has definitely shown a lot of progression, so we are really excited about that,” Davis said.