A lot has changed in the six years since Brett Ratliff was hired at Corrigan-Camden. That is apparent, especially when sitting in the athletic director’s new office.
The school cut the ribbon on new offices, locker rooms, gymnasium and weight room about a year ago. Not only is the new home more comfortable, it also serves as a backdrop to the southwest corner of Bulldog Stadium, where the school hopes for continued football success.
Making the playoffs has long been the expectation of the program, and the Bulldogs have done just that. Last year, the team was 5-6, but 3-2 in district, falling to Garrison in the bi-district round of the postseason.
Just as every team that did not win a state title last year, Corrigan-Camden is looking for more in 2026.
“When we talk about everything that we’re doing football-wise, we’re still a solid football program,” Ratliff said. “Every single year, you’re going to get a different team. In Corrigan, Texas, the expectations are always high. I appreciate that, and I welcome that, and I want that. The kids understand that too.”
The coach refers to recent high points, like a competitive contest with Joaquin that came down to the final seconds. That game was also heartbreaking because of the loss of teammate Daniel Rivera.
“When we’re clicking on all cylinders, and we have all our kids healthy, and all is right with the world, we’re a two-point conversion away from beating a state finalist. It was a very tragic game, but taking away all that, it was an awesome game to be a part of coaching-wise. Those kids, man, that’s one of the performances that I’ll always remember in my career.”
Ratliff is the type to go for what he wants. He did just that in 2020, obtaining his current position as head coach of the school he attended. He did the same at the end of the Joaquin game. With the opportunity near the end of the game to tie it with an extra point, the decision was made to instead play for the win.
“Playing them and playing them as well as we did, really, I’m not going to put it to our kicker to tie it and go to overtime. We’re going to go for two. They stopped us, and they won, and I tip my hat to them. But they went to the state championship last year, and we were just as good as they were. I believe that in my heart of hearts.”
Things will look different after losing a chunk of experience to graduation. That begins at the quarterback position, where starter Will Ratliff guided the team in 2025. Insert Mikey Murphy as what will likely be the first option when the team kicks off versus Hardin, with other signal callers to see time.
“He’s definitely my 1A. I won’t say he’s my one, because I’m not that way with quarterbacks,” Ratliff explained. “Mikey, he can run when he needs to, and he’s not a small kid – he’s 180 pounds. But then, I have the other kid, Da’Tavin Love, he’s a junior. Great basketball player, great skill, and he’s going to provide that for me on the football field. His brother was a great quarterback here before. So, I’m excited about his potential for us to come out and play this year. He provides us a good run threat, but he can sit there and throw the ball too. He was the starter on our eighth-grade team, then he went and decided he wanted to play a little basketball and just focus on that.”
Wanting a return to football, the coach said he has plugged Love in behind center, and the results have been positive. At tailback, Ratliff just smiles. He has a returning all-state performer at the position that will be the focal point for every defense.
“Derrick Reagie is our senior. He’s as good as I’ve ever coached at that spot. I mean, I’ve coached some really good athletes that went on to play pretty high-level college football. One of my best tailbacks ever, when I was at New Diana, he went to North Texas and played. He was special. Derrick ranks right up there with him. He’s the hardest worker in the room all the time, bar none. If I put him out there and tell him to go run the quarter for just a warm-up lap, he’s going to outrun everybody because he can’t stand to lose. He takes that mentality everywhere with him he goes. I’ve been blessed to have him for four years.”
Ratliff mentions great vision, explosiveness, and a hardnosed runner as the senior’s attributes. At 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, he is a 1,700-yard rusher each of the previous two years. At fullback, senior Nehemiah Marshall will lead block on many carries. He’s a 240-pound bruiser, who will also take handoffs when Reagie exits for a breather.
“I actually love him at tailback more than I do fullback, but therein lies the problem,” the head coach said. “I’m not going to remove the other one (much). He’s going to play a lot of tailback – he really is. He’s a great blocker, but when he stands up and gets about three yards deeper, he’s got great vision. I actually think his vision is better than Derrick’s. I think he’s shiftier side to side than Derrick at 240 pounds.”
Romeo Puebla, Adrian Hinojosa and Leibi Ascencio could also see time in the ‘Dogs backfield. At tight end, the coaching staff is sifting through possibilities and different looks to find matchup problems for future opponents. N.J. Love was a starter at receiver last year, and will now slide inside. The coach praised the senior’s hands and flexibility within the offense, easily moving back out as a larger receiver. Junior Kristopher Avelar will serve as a blocking tight end.
At center, junior Kreek Johnson is thought of as intelligent with good technique. The right side of the line should prove to be the strength. At right guard, senior Kayden Burks is said to be the toughest kid on the football field.
“He loves violence. He’s a striker, and he is the best team leader that I have,” Ratliff said. “Kayden will step up. When something needs to be said, he’s the one that’ll say it. He’s that one that I kind of lean on to be my vocal piece. He does a great job with that.”
At right tackle, Tony Cuevas is a junior that also started on the line last year.
“Tony is probably the best true offensive lineman that I have, because he’s got a little bit more size, but he’s also got the good footwork. He understands leverage and he’s just seasoned.”
The left side of the line isn’t quite as settled. Uriel Danini, a junior, is penciled in at guard with quick feet. Perhaps the offense’s biggest question mark is at left tackle, where senior Samuel Anastacio, junior Fabian Torres, and freshman Horace Harrell are battling to start. At receiver, look for juniors Blake Elam and Amos Kiel as the quicker pass catchers. Emanuelle Foreman will likely be on the other side. The sophomore is thought of as a special athlete at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. As a freshman, he was a standout in the high jump, with a mark of 6-foot-6, just missing the state meet. His father, Ed, was quarterback at Corrigan when the school last won state in 2002 and played outside linebacker for the Texas Longhorns. His mother was an All-American track athlete at the University of Houston.
Bulldog defensive coordinator Amaro Villareal said his side of the ball took some big hits at graduation. Mason Murphy, Tahj Thomas and Will Ratliff are a few that were multiyear starters on defense. They were players who could see problems the offense presented, diagnose it, and find a solution.
Villareal said current players can find the issues, but it’s those final steps that could take time to develop.
“Those guys – that senior class was special, so replacing them is going to be really tough,” Villareal said. “All those guys were invaluable.”
As much as Reagie will command opponents’ attention on offense, coaches say he is just as productive on defense. He will team with Danini as bookends on the defensive line.
“Returning Derrick is a huge part of what we’ve got coming back,” Villareal said. “We’re leaning on him to produce the great numbers that he’s had every season. (Danini’s) quick off the ball. He’s going to help us out. We’ve got a freshman, Horace Harrell, who is going to step up. We expect big things from him.”
Cuevas, Johnson, Anastacio, and Ascencio should round out the group up front. Villareal believes the strength of his defense is in the second level. At middle linebacker, Burks is the name the coordinator says is “going to be our dude.
“Tough as nails, he likes physicality, and he comes downhill. Great leadership, he’s here all summer, and he’s a grinder.”
Torres starred on the junior varsity and played some on varsity as a sophomore. His role expands as a junior at outside linebacker. Quarterback Murphy can play most anywhere in the back seven. He will start at outside linebacker, with the Bulldogs deep in the secondary.
Marshall is another who will be moved around, both linebacker and defensive end. Da’Tavin Love is said to have good instincts for the ball, despite missing action on the gridiron for a few years. He will help lead the secondary. Kiel and Foreman each have some experience at corner. Jakob Seaver and N.J. Love are both competing for time at corner, while Elam, Hinojosa and Taven Eleby are doing the same at safety.
“What’s good about all those guys, they can all play safety or corner,” Villareal said. “They’re multi-talented, so they’re learning both spots. That’s been really good for our program to be open to that, because some kids don’t like change. They really picked it up. We cross-train as many as we can, because you never know. In (Class) 2A ball, we’re just trying to finish games.”
The coach specifically mentioned Elam and Seaver as players on the rise after their showing in the scrimmage versus Buffalo. Hinojosa, also known, as “Flaco,” is the kicker extraordinaire. He’ll handle both kicks and punts for the team. Quarterback Murphy can also punt when needed. Torres and Johnson will be the deep snappers.
The schedule should prove to be a challenge. Non-district opponents are difficult, beginning with the home opener versus Hardin.
“I’ve got to get our kids ready to play,” Ratliff said. “I’ve got to get me ready to coach. We’ve got to be able to work through difficult situations and work out personnel groupings, and I’ve got to be able to convert on a fourth down. I’ve got to be able to stop on a third-and-short. Those are things I want to see against good football teams. I’ve got to see what our kids are made of.”
With realignment, Corrigan-Camden will now be part of Region 4. The district also took on a new look with Iola and Lovelady in and Hearne out. Yet, the coach believes it will be a familiar foe back at the top of District 14-2A.
“I think Centerville, year in and year out, is going to be the top team in the district, or vying for the top spot,” Ratliff said. “Until somebody can just strip it from them consistently, they’re the top team in the district. Leon was special last year. They graduated nine on both sides of the football, but their J.V. and their junior highs were very, very good. We ended up playing them for the district title, and they beat us.”
The coach believes the rival Indians of Groveton will be one to watch, with a strong coaching staff and young group that could be dangerous. He also anticipates being in the playoff mix, competing for a district title, just as all of northern Polk County expects. It will not be easy, but that’s exactly the way he wants it.
“We’re not trying to build the greatest athletic program in the world, we’re trying to build the greatest group of kids in the world that’s going to go out and do great things when they graduate. If that’s what we’re about, then I’ve got to put them in challenging situations, where they can overcome some adversity, because life ain’t easy.”
