2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / GLADEWATER | Lewis, Bears aiming big, with talent to make it happen
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is No. 13 in ETBlitz.com’s 15 In 15 series, 15 football previews in 15 days. Still to come: Kilgore and Leverett’s Chapel. See links to all of the previews so far below.
GLADEWATER – Jermaine Lewis is in a unique situation.
In fact, it’s not even really a “situation.” A situation is when you find yourself normally in a bad spot, right? There between the ol’ rock and a hard place spot?
Not Lewis. Lewis may have taken the steering wheel of a 3A program with a TON of potential – “potentially” ready to strike, and help take Gladewater High School football to the next level, for the first time in a long time.
Jermaine Lewis is not new to coaching, not whatsoever. He’s not even new to Gladewater. He was the assistant athletic director last school year to AD Jonny Louvier.
But near the end of the school year, Louvier decided to move on from coaching and go into the private sector after his fifth season there. The Bears finished 4-6 in a very tough district that not only included state-ranked teams Liberty-Eylau and Jefferson, but also scrappy teams like White Oak and Tatum, and Tatum was ranked at points during the year.
Don’t tell Lewis, though, that this is some kind of a rebuilding year, or one his team won’t be able to handle more pressure this season, from a district sure to be just as tough.
“Hey, man, our kids are confident in what we’re doing offensively and defensively,” Lewis said. “We’ve had a good summer; good energy, great attitudes. We feel like we’ve got just as good a chance as anyone else. But this district, it’s tough. (Class) 3A is tough, period.”
The Bears officially wrap up offseason activities with a scrimmage at home tonight against North Lamar. Then things get real on the road next Thursday, one of a handful of Thursday openers in East Texas, when the Bears visit Daingerfield to kick off the 2025 season.
Their first home game at Jack V. Murphy Stadium is just over a week later, on Friday night, Sept. 5, against New Diana.
Non-district games at home against West Rusk and Spring Hill follow, and then the final weekend of September, the Bears go to Jefferson to begin their District 8-3A, Division I schedule.
See Gladewater’s complete 2025 schedule below.
Lewis heads into football battle with kids in which he’s got confidence. And there’s both experience and talent there, as well.
The Bears will have nine starters back on offense. Now, a big one will be missing: apparently, quarterback Luke Brown has decided to try and concentrate on baseball, so there’s an opening there, an opportunity for Achilles Hess (6-foot-1, 160 pounds), a junior, to step up. “And we believe he can, and will,” Lewis noted.
Joining Hess in the backfield are a pair of real talents returning from last year. Carsin Cooper (5-11, 200) is back for his senior season — “He is a collegiate-level talent,” Lewis said — and also back is junior Tray Watts (5-10, 175). “We’ll be counting on those two guys, and several more, to help us in a big way this year.”
Watts had 826 yards a year ago.
Gladewater will run the pro-I, the veer offense, and on defense, Lewis plans to run a 4-2-5 set-up.
Personnel that Lewis expects to see in prominent roles this year include lineman Amarion Minter (6-1, 195), wide receiver / defensive back Brayson Woods (6-2, 185), tackle Montavion Traylor, tight end Jakobe Crosby (6-0, 173), defensive back Landen King (5-11, 162), wide receiver Aubry Floyd (5-8, 145), defensive back Anthony Sanchez, fullback Grafton Morgan, defensive lineman Dion Patton, defensive back Maddaxx Vasquez, defensive lineman Dion Patton, defensive back Za’Kevion Watson, wideout / DB Caleb Balcora, kicker / punter Korbin Sergio, and linebacker Mason Budro (6-0, 180), who Lewis is high on, on both sides of the ball.
“I told Budro he has the potential to be the best player on the field every time he steps on it,” Lewis said. “We’re blessed with a lot of talented, good kids.”
Budro had 112 tackles last season, and Minter had 10 sacks to lead the team.
Gladewater went 17-6 in the 2020-21 seasons, but is looking for its first 10-win season since 2018.
Troup (On Thursday, August 7): 2025 ETB OFFICIAL TROUP FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Tiger by the tail? LOL, not this one! | Troup aims to start, and finish, strong in ’25.
Gilmer (On Friday, August 8): 2025 ETB OFFICIAL GILMER FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Glory days: A return to the big time for the Buckeyes?
Overton (On Saturday, August 9): 2025 ETB OFFICIAL OVERTON FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Can Mustangs ride back to double-digit wins, and keep up winning ways?
West Rusk (On Sunday, August 10): 2025 ETB OFFICIAL FOOTBALL PREVIEW | WEST RUSK / A decade of postseason runs? Well, let’s run it back, son
Beckville (On Monday, August 11): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW: BECKVILLE | Records falling, winning being done — just another weekend for Ross and the Bearcats
Sabine (On Tuesday, August 12): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW | SABINE / A reset, a new season, and this Cardinals team has talent (Presented by KILGORE MERCANTILE & MUSIC)
Carthage (On Wednesday, August 13): 2025 ETBLITZ CARTHAGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Armed & loaded Bulldogs on Drive For 11 / Presented by ZIPPY J’S
Henderson (On Thursday, August 14): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / HENDERSON | Meeks returns, and Lions fans, get ready for a ride | Presented by WHATABURGER
White Oak (On Friday, August 15): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / WHITE OAK | In a stacked district, could Roughnecks challenge for title? | Presented by ENERGY WELDFAB
Pine Tree (On Saturday, August 16): 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 | Presented by GOUDARZI & YOUNG
Tatum (On Tuesday, August 19): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / TATUM | Lots of new faces, but talent there to help Eagles soar
Arp (On Wednesday, August 20): 2025 ETBLITZ FOOTBALL PREVIEW / ARP | Tigers want respect, and one way or another, they’ll earn it
Here’s the 2025 Gladewater football schedule, followed by an example of the ETBlitz.com Gladewater Team Poster. There are 7-8 spots on the poster, like the other ETB team posters, but there are openings available. The team poster will run on every Gladewater football story the entire season, and is only $100 a spot. Anyone interested in getting their business onto the poster should e-mail Jenna Lucas at ads@etblitz.com.
