ODEM, Texas — The Odem Owls had the biggest turnaround in the Coastal Bend last season, going from the bottom of the barrel in 2022 to the district penthouse in 2023.
The Owls got back to what they're used to last year after they coming off the heels of a dreadful 1-9 season. Odem returns a good amount of starters on defense, but must replace some skill positions offensively.
Head Coach Armando Huerta says those new guys are earning their playing time with what they're showing in camp and scrimmages. He knows the expectation in Odem is always to win, but his team is also using the cautionary tale of 2022 to not take anything for granted.
"You know, we went 1-9 with the same expectations," Huerta said. "We learned our lesson and our kids are humble. They're cautiously optimistic."
Odem opens up at home against Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco next Friday night. They'll have a big district opener at home against Hebbronville on September 27th.