The San Antonio Express News ran a long, front page article in today's sports section (12/12) on the Castle Hills team ... nice picture of Dante Johnson on the site.
http://www.expressnews.com/sports/high_ ... 867.php#/0
Six-man Castle Hills built from ground up
(Photo Caption): “The number of touchdowns honestly hasn't crossed my mind,” says Castle Hills First Baptist tailback Dante Johnson, who has 57 on the season. Castle Hills will face Fredericksburg Heritage for the TAPPS six-man D-II title at 6 p.m. Saturday in Zephyr.
By Lorne Chan
San Antonio Express News
December 12, 2013
SAN ANTONIO — He scores five touchdowns per game, more than any football player in the state.
He has become a hero at his school and might help revive its enrollment. And he's going to school in northwest San Antonio, although you've never heard of Dante Johnson before.
Johnson is a junior at Castle Hills First Baptist, which plays private school six-man football.
The field is a little smaller, and the plays move a lot faster, but the glory of Friday Night Lights? That's still there.
“The number of touchdowns honestly hasn't crossed my mind,” said Johnson, who has 57 on the season. “Honestly, it feels like there's something bigger here. We're small instruments in a bigger plan.”
Castle Hills was a school at its peak size in 2000, when about 1,000 students attended from kindergarten through 12th grade. Enrollment dropped to about 200 by 2009, including about 40 in high school. Administrators were looking for a spark, and one idea was six-man football.
Coach James Criner was hired in 2009, although he had no previous six-man experience. His previous job was working in a church housing ministry, an industry hit hard by the recession.
“We started with 10 players, one who had previous football experience,” Criner said.
“Everything was new.”
The team received a $10,000 donation to buy all the equipment. Without its own field, the team spent much of the season practicing on a dirt lot next to the school. The goal posts were two trees.
The Castle Hills Eagles learned the six-man rules quickly, making the playoffs in their first full season in 2010.
Six-man is played on a field that's 80 yards long and 40 yards wide. Every player is an eligible receiver, which is why 6-foot-1, 300-pound Michael Chiarez has six 1-point conversion receptions. Kicked conversions count for two points (and field goals are four points), while runs or passes count for one.
A team has to cover 15 yards for a first down, and there is a mercy rule after a 45-point margin, which makes Johnson's numbers even more stunning. Castle Hills has “45ed” eight teams this year and didn't play all four quarters. In one mercy-rule game, Johnson rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns — on three carries.
Behind Johnson, Castle Hills is playing for a TAPPS state championship.
Three of the four TAPPS teams playing in the six-man state title games are from the area. Boerne Geneva (13-0) faces Dallas Covenant (12-1) in the Division I final at noon Saturday, while Castle Hills (13-0) faces Fredericksburg Heritage (9-4) in the Division II final at 6 p.m. Saturday, with both games in the West Texas town of Zephyr, just east of Brownwood.
According to Maxpreps, Johnson ranks fourth in the state among six-man rushing leaders with 2,491 yards. Castle Hills averages 63 points per game, 35 of which are scored by Johnson.
Johnson, who is 5-11 and 200 pounds, spent his first two seasons at Town East, another area six-man private school. He also played at Clark last spring in practice, where he was a middle linebacker. He decided to transfer to Castle Hills after becoming friends with some students through the church's youth group.
“I think Dante could start anywhere in the city and put up good numbers,” senior Ethan Leos said. “I live in the Brennan school zone, so I know guys on that team. Dante is just as talented and plays with more passion and desire. He knows what it takes to be great.”
Leos has 33 touchdowns this season, which would be an astounding number if the guy sitting next to him didn't have 24 more.
The team's success has provided a boost to Castle Hills' profile and school spirit, according to school superintendent Michael Pinkston. The enrollment has jumped to about 500 — with about 90 in high school — many wearing their Castle Hills playoff T-shirts.
There's currently a fundraising effort to build a practice field and stadium.
“We know we're almost as low on the totem pole as you can get, being a TAPPS six-man school,” Criner said. “But playing for a state championship still means a ton.”
As for Johnson, he'll have another season to improve on his five-TD per-game average. He hopes to play 11-man football in college, although it hasn't been easy to draw recruiting attention.
“I think we're underestimated,” Johnson said. “... I hope we're making a difference.”
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