The Tigers made significant improvement in district last season under a new coach and reached the playoffs with a young team.

This year appears to be even more promising with experienced players who are familiar with second-year coach Joe Riley.

“That stuff always helps,” said Riley, who coached for 12 years at McLean before taking a decade off from coaching.

As Riley restores the rich playoff tradition to Groom, he plans on keeping the same basic offensive (Spread I) and defensive schemes.

2008 Record: 4-5, 3-1 in Six-Man Division II District 7; lost, 71-24, in bidistrict to Silverton.

Returning Experience: 10 lettermen, 5 offensive and 5 defensive starters.

Players To Watch: Eric Torres, WR-DB; Tyler Babcock, E-LB; Billy Corley, TE-LB; Jacob Torres, QB-LB.

Promising Newcomers: Zane Kuehn, RB-S; Taylor Fields, RB-LB.

Basic Offense: Spread I.

Basic Defense: 2-3.

Keys to success: Groom must build on the momentum created last year. And with more players to work with, the veterans can teach the new players.

High School Enrollment: 45.

2008 JV Record: Did not play.

Playoff History: 1956, 1957, 1958 (regional champion), 1959, 1960 (regional), 1961 (regional champion), 1965 (regional champion), 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972 (state semifinals), 1973, 1975 (state final), 1976 (state semifinals), 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996 (six-man regional), 1998 (six-man quarterfinals), 1999 (six-man final), 2000 (six-man quarterfinals), 2001 (six-man quarterfinals), 2008.

School Spirit

Name of Stadium: Tiger Field (1940).

Biggest Rival: Lefors.

Bet You Didn’t Know: A 190-foot-tall cross that can be seen from 20 miles away is located just west of Groom on the south side of Interstate 40.