BONHAM, Texas (KTEN) - After a 2-8 season in 2022, the Bonham Purple Warriors are poised to bounce back under new head coach John Ramsey.

There's no doubt Bonham will be unified on the field this year.

"We're all here together, we play as a team, and we're brothers," junior linebacker Fletcher Horton said. "We love each other, and I think that goes a long way." 

Coming off a 2-8 season, one of the biggest positives for the Purple Warriors are their 12 returning starters.

"Our juniors and seniors are going to have to step up big for us," Ramsey said. "A lot of them played as younger players. A lot of team have some playing experience that will be vital for them this year.. It will pay off for them and it will pay off for us."

And you may be hearing the names of those key upperclassmen a lot on Friday nights.

"In our town, in our community, the days of playing on one side and taking part of the game off is not going to happen for us," Ramsey said. "We're going to build some toughness in our kids and we're going to play some football. The best guys we have are going to play the most for us."

After Ramsey was promoted from special teams coordinator this offseason, he made a couple of major changes to the program, including installing a new offense which has players excited.

"The way we're doing it is different, way different," sophomore running back/wide receiver Devin Pittman said. "Y'all haven't even seen it yet. It's going to be good.

Although the offense may be different, the Purple Warriors quarterback will remain the same.

"Heath Brown started for us as a sophomore and really learned a lot," Ramsey said. "He was really thrown to the wolves a little bit. He did a good job for us and things are going to slow down for him a bit on the varsity level."

Despite some tough matchups that lie ahead, you won't catch Bonham fretting over its 2023 opponents.

"We're worried about us," Ramsey said "If we can be good at what we're doing, if we can be the best Purple Warriors we can be, then everything is going to work out good for us."

Bonham will open its 2023 season on the road at S&S Consolidated on August 25.