2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / PINE TREE | Pirates want to make double-digit wins in a single season a regular thing, and to become a title contender

**Pine Tree linebacker Dalan Montgomery (17) looks to lay a hit on Kilgore running back Rayshawn Williams (center).**

EDITOR’S NOTE: Our 15 In 15, 15 Previews in 15 Days, continues with Day 10, the Pine Tree High School Pirates.

LONGVIEW – As head football coach at Pine Tree High School, Jason Bachman accomplished something in 2024 that the Pirates have done only four times in 74 years and five times in the program’s history.

That’s winning 10 games in a single season, having done so for the first time since 1976.

Bachman guided the Pirates to a playoff appearance for the second year in a row. It marked their first season back in Class 4A, Division I in one of the toughest districts around in 9-4A.

And the Pirates didn’t mess around, finishing as the runner-up to Kilgore with an identical 5-1 district worksheet, completing the regular season with heavyweight back-to-back wins over Chapel Hill (20-14) and Lindale (13-7) in weeks eight and nine.

Graduation did hit hard, but enough talent returns to hopefully keep the momentum of the past two seasons rolling this season.

Bachman considers players such as Colton Croft, Ashton Valentine, Anthony Anderson, Roger Attaway, David Lively and Jacob Graugnard as his leaders on this year’s team.

The Bucs return six starters on a 4-2-5 defense, which allowed opponents an average of only 16.4 points per contest in a dozen games.

**Pine Tree’s Pirate Stadium. (Photo by JACOB LUCAS)**

Valentine (5-7, 145, wide receiver / safety, senior) had 22 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one interception returning it for a touchdown in limited playing time in the secondary, besides a few snaps offensively. “We’re expecting big things from Ashton on both sides of the football this season,” said Bachman.

Anderson (5-8, 160, defensive back, senior) is coming off a season in which he had 35 tackles, one for loss, a pass break-up and an interception.

A returning defensive lineman, Bachman welcomes back is David Lively (6-2, 248, defensive tackle, senior), who put together a season of 48 tackles, two for loss, 19 pressures to go with a sack, a forced fumble and a break-up.

Junior Bosston Johnson (6-1, 168) is another defensive back, and he had had 43 tackles, two pressures, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a break-up and an interception.

Another key piece defensively will be senior linebacker Dalan Montgomery (5-9, 165) with 64 tackles to go with three fumble recoveries, two pass break ups, two pressures and a forced fumble.

Some of the key players returning in the Pirates’ multiple offensive set will be junior quarterback Croft, sophomore right guard Jeremiah Allison, senior offensive lineman Tristan Peel, junior left tackle Graugnard, center / guard Alex Lara, as well as senior running backs Roger Attaway and Montgomery, along with Ja’Karius Timmons.

Six offensive linemen return from last season and of those six, three were starters.

Because of an injury, Croft (6-3, 200) stepped in and stepped up, playing in the final regular season game against Palestine and the first of two playoff contests against Bridge City.

“He came on and won a couple of games for us,” Bachman said.

In those games, he was 17 of 26 for 306 passing yards and three touchdowns, and only one interception.

Allison (5-8, 305, RG, sophomore) started the season on the freshman team. “He worked his way up to the varsity and finished the year as a starter,” Bachman said.

Peel (6-3, 250, left tackle / left guard,senior), started a couple of games at left tackle, “played a lot during the course of the season and was able to get a lot of varsity game experience,” Bachman continued.

Graugnard (6-2, 250, left tackle, junior) meanwhile, became a starter at left tackle as a sophomore before being injured late in the season. Lara (5-8, 215, center / guard) played a lot throughout the year, earning valuable playing experience.

Attaway (5-9, 160, senior) rushed for 241 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries. Although Montgomery was a running back as a sophomore, he played more defense last year, but is expected to play on both sides of the football this season, according to his coach.

Timmons (5-7, 186), who started the season on junior varsity, ended up on the varsity with 19 carries for 164 rushing yards and three touchdowns, as well as a reception for 19 yards.

Other players to watch are juniors wide receiver / defensive back Jayden Survia (6-1, 155) and tight end Chris Nickoles (5-11, 204), along with Jakayden Watters (6-0, 235), while quarterback Parker Johnson, defensive back Desmond Williams and fullback Kayden Bennett could see valuable playing time.

Pine Tree has a second scrimmage this Thursday at home against Marshall, a 6:30 p.m. start.

Then, they kick off the fast-approaching 2025 season on Aug. 29 at home against state-ranked Gilmer, a team the Pirates opened with last year and defeated, 22-15. The Pirates other non-district games are against Van, Dallas Carter and Hallsville before district play opens on the road at Kilgore on Sept. 26.

See PT’s complete schedule below.