Basin Gridiron Training Camp: Wink Wildcats

WINK, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) - The Wink Wildcats kicked off their 2024 season this week. The Wildcats are coming off a 10-2, district championship season. It was Wink's second-straight undefeated run through district en route to the title.

Despite the success, the Wildcats felt they left a lot on the table.

"Well I feel like last year ended on a note that we weren't really comfortable with. We finished the season 10-2. A lot of people would be happy with that record and there's nothing to be ashamed of with that record, but I felt like everybody on the team felt like we underachieved a little bit," head coach Brian Gibson said.

In the first round of the playoffs, Wink faced Cross Plains beating them 43-0. But the Wildcats' season came to an end in the second round after they fell to Muenster 42-14.

For this season, the bar is set high for the Wildcats as they are picked to defend their back-to-back district titles by Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine. The team is led by senior quarterback Jayden Tally, who was selected as the Preseason MVP for District 4-2A, Division II. However, eighth-year head coach Brian Gibson said he has multiple options for the quarterback position.

When it comes to the offensive line, Grayson Ellis (5-foot-10, 200 pounds) and Raymond Epley (6-foot-3, 265 pounds) are the anchors. Coach Gibson calls Ellis one of...