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Offensive innovation is taking over every level of football from the NFL all the way down to Friday night lights. Teams are constantly chasing up-tempo, high-flying schemes that seek to pass the ball, and often, leave the run as an afterthought.

Some things are still sacred, though. As the Vidor Pirates gear up for the 2024 campaign, they’re sticking to their cannons with a smashmouth style of old-school football.

“We go with our core values of commitment, relentlessness, things like that,” head coach Dwayne DuBois said. “We’re trying to find two things. We’re trying to work into shape just like  everybody else is doing, and working on our focus. We want to be relentless.”

The Pirate offense returns six starters to the fold.

They’re headlined first and foremost by running back Riley Marlow, who was the district’s Offensive MVP pick by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football. The senior paced for 1580 yards and 14 scores last year and will again be the bell-cow back as his team looks to do what they do best – establish the run.

“He’s a very talented individual,” DuBois said. “He’s got great vision, tremendous leadership skills, so he’s a total package. We’re asking him to take it up a notch this year, because I think he can probably be, and this is saying something, the best we’ve ever had at that position. We expect a lot out of him, and he accepts that role and he runs with it.”

Quarterback Daigen Venable is also back. While Vidor doesn’t throw the ball much, their signal-caller unlocks the run game with his legs and has the full confidence of his head coach. DuBois said it’s a big deal to have their team’s ‘bus driver’ back to stabilize the offense.

The offensive line should be strong, too. Three-year starter William Jones is moving to center and Dubois said the guards are looking good, especially for this early in the year.

There are five starters returning on the other side of the ball.

Dallas Pachuca and Skylar Stankovich are foundational talents on the defensive line. DuBois said the rest of the unit will rally around their leadership and experience. DuBois also mentioned Hunter May as a breakout nose tackle.

The linebacking corps is less experienced, with the Pirates still searching for both an inside and outside linebacker to step up in a big way through camp.

In the secondary, Aiden Villafano started 11 varsity games last season and returns at defensive back. He’s joined by Brody Bloss, who DuBois expects big things from in 2024. The experienced coach said several other players who lack much playing time at the varsity level bring good football skills, but they’ll need to grow in a hurry as the team begins to lean on them more.

Overall, DuBois said his team’s attitude has stood out throughout camp.

“We’ve got a good group of seniors,” he said. “They have good leadership skills and these guys are hungry to win. They know the team has had success before them and they want to continue that success, but they want to take it a step farther. Now, even the younger kids have been jumping in there following that role. I’m impressed by the work ethic.”

The Vidor Pirates travel to Silsbee to kick off the new season Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m.