Texas high school football is more than just a game — it’s a way of life. Dave Campbell's Texas Football is spotlighting a different program from across the Lone Star State, diving into their history, traditions, and legends. From powerhouse programs to hidden gems, Texas High School Football Spotlight is your deep dive into what makes each team unique. Whether it’s unforgettable seasons, iconic players, or fierce rivalries, this series celebrates the schools, communities, and stories that define Texas high school football.

Today’s Spotlight: Cuero Gobblers

The Rundown

For Michael Fox, a Cuero offensive lineman from the Class of 1976, the Cuero Gobblers football program was a religion in South Central Texas. 

“There were three things we knew about for sure. That practice and game field out there was our heaven, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine was our Bible, and (head coach) Buster Gilbreth was our God,” Fox said in a documentary about the program. 

By the Numbers

Class – 4A DII
Enrollment – 641 
Location – DeWitt County, 86 miles southeast of San Antonio

Trophy Case

State Championships – 4 (1973, 1974, 1987, 2018)
State Championship Appearances – 11 (1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1998, 2004, 2018)
District Championships – 37 (most recent: 2025)
Playoff Appearances – 45 (most recent: 2025)

Glory Days

Picking between the 1973 and 1974 undefeated state championship teams is legitimately splitting hairs. Cuero won a then-state record 44 consecutive games from 1973-75. In over 60 percent of those games, 27 out of 44, to be exact, the Gobblers didn’t allow a single point. 

I’m selecting the 1973 team as the best in program history because the defense gave up 55 points all year, compared to 66 points in 1974 (a little leaky there, guys). Also, the first state championship in school history is always sweeter. If you want to pick the 1974 team, I can’t argue with you.

The GOAT

Some of RB Robert Strait’s career stat markers have been surpassed in the nearly 40 years since he graduated in 1989. For example, his 8,411 career rushing yards once ranked second in state history behind Kenneth Hall, and now rank ninth. But every player who matches Strait’s numbers only gives TXHSFB fans an excuse to reminisce about him again. So, as time passes, his legend in Cuero only grows larger. How could it not? He was a 6-foot-2-inch, 225-pound running back who once booted the ball through the uprights on a kickoff. Strait led the Gobblers to three consecutive state championship appearances from 1985-87. During the 1987 state championship season, he rushed for 3,515 yards and 52 touchdowns. 

While Strait is the best player in program history, Jordan Whittington deserves an honorable mention for the best game in program history – and, arguably, the state’s history. In the Class 4A DII State Championship, Whittington led Cuero to its first state title in 31 years with 334 rushing yards and six total touchdowns. Oh, and he had a team-high 11 tackles. Whittington earned the game’s Offensive and Defensive MVP honors.

The Architect

Buster Gilbreth was a head coach at seven different schools over 28 years. But the Cuero Gobblers are his lasting legacy because his 11-year run from 1969-79 kick-started the dynasty that’s still going strong today. 

From the program’s inception in 1911 to Gilbreth’s hiring in 1969, Cuero had one ten-win season and had never been to the state championship. Gilbreth took the school to four title games from 1970-75, a period which included a then-state record 44 consecutive wins from 1973 to the state championship game loss in 1975.

Gilbreth was inducted into the TXHSFB Hall of Fame in 1993. He passed away in 2020 at the age of 90.

Battle Lines

The DeWitt County Showdown between Cuero and Yoakum is one of the state’s oldest rivalries dating back to 1911. While the teams have a longstanding history, it’s not necessarily a bitter history. Yoakum head coach Bo Robinson once described it as playing your cousin instead of a hated person. But make no mistake: bragging rights are on the line every year. The good news for Gobblers fans? Cuero’s on a five-game win streak.

Home Turf

Cuero plays home games at the 7,000-seat Gobbler Stadium, which was renovated in 2013 to retain the small-town Texas charm with modern-day upgrades, namely a video board.  

The Year That Was

Powered by the passing connection between QB Jaxxon Marie (3,708 total yards, 55 touchdowns) and WR Walker Dietze (1,642 receiving yards, 26 touchdowns), the Gobblers finished 12-2 and reached the Class 4A DII State Quarterfinals.

Cuero won the DCTX Game of the Year in the regular season, overcoming a 20-point deficit with two onside kicks and a blocked field goal to beat Sinton 56-55. But Sinton exacted revenge in the playoffs with a go-ahead field goal with six seconds remaining for a 45-42 win.

Looking Ahead

Cuero will push for its first state championship berth since Jordan Whittington went nuclear in 2018 with the 1-2 punch of running backs Melo Perez (1,214 yards, 16 total touchdowns) and Jordan Jones (645 yards, 13 total touchdowns). First Team All-District linebacker Dominic White (110 tackles, three sacks) will be the defensive lynchpin, but the Gobblers’ stout defensive line will be the unit’s calling card.

Xs and Os

Offense – Spread
Defense – 3-3

On The Rise

Defensive lineman K’Den Johnson earned District 15-4A DII Defensive Newcomer of the Year with 30 tackles and a sack. He will be the anchor of Cuero’s defensive line, which figures to be a program strength entering the year.

In Their Own Words

"Cuero is special because of the pride that lives within the school district, the community, and most importantly, the kids who call themselves Gobblers. That pride was instilled many years ago, and the fire behind it still burns just as strong today. Every person who puts on the Cuero “C”, both now and in the years to come, works and competes to uphold the traditions and standards that define this place. That fire has never faded, and it never will. That is what makes Cuero truly special." - HC Jerod Fikac