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District 6-6A Season Preview

insoles to jump higher

 

Lewisville may have won this district a year ago, but it wasn’t without close calls. The Fighting Farmers narrowly survived Plano West, 15-14, and Flower Mound Marcus, 17-14, to preserve their unblemished district record.

That competitiveness was present throughout the district as the final playoff spot had to be decided by a three-way tiebreaker.

With plenty of parity among the teams and Division I talent scattered throughout the district, there’s plenty to keep an eye on this year.

Here are the key players and storylines for each of the eight teams in District 6-6A.

Coppell Cowboys

Head Coach: Antonio Wiley (2nd Season)

Last Season: 9-2; 6-1 in district (Lost to McKinney in bi-district)

Coppell Key Players and Storylines

Antonio Wiley made inroads in his first year at Coppell as the Cowboys made the playoffs after missing out in 2021. Their nine wins were the most in a single season since 2017.

The Cowboys hope to build off that success this season. The Coppell coaching staff noted that the gains made in the weight room this offseason should help them be more physical on the field this fall.

Six returning starters on each side of the ball should also help the Cowboys in 2023. They’ll boast plenty of experience especially at the skill positions.

Last year’s starting quarterback Jack Fishpaw has graduated, but the Cowboys believe junior Edward Griffin is more than prepared to flourish in the starting role. They think he could be a hidden gem.

He’ll have two extremely talented receivers at his disposal as well in Luca Grosoli (652 receiving yards and four touchdowns) and North Texas commit Baron Tipton (488 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns).

That’s not all either as speedy Ayrion Sneed (288 receiving yards and three touchdowns) is another receiver the Coppell coaching staff is expecting to threaten opposing defense. He was part of the Coppell 4X100 team that set their high school’s record at the Texas Relays.

Defensively, Coastal Carolina commit cornerback Zach Cody (32 tackles, zero touchdowns allowed), another member of the 4X100 relay team, and safety Weston Polk (67 tackles and three INTs) will be two of the players the Cowboys rely upon to patrol the secondary.

In the front seven, defensive tackle Varun Ravilla and linebacker Amari’a Wiley both return after earning all-district honors a year ago.

The Cowboys coaching staff said they still have a couple of question marks heading into the season at certain positions. However, based off Wiley’s success at Wichita Falls Hirschi, where he led the Huskies to the state semifinals in 2021, expect the Cowboys to be in position to challenge for their first playoff victory since 2017 this fall.

Flower Mound Jaguars

Head Coach: Brian Basil (8th season)

Last Season: 3-7; 3-4 in district

Flower Mound Key Players and Storylines

The Jaguars came out the wrong end of a three-way tiebreaker for the final playoff spot a year ago. If they’re to make it back to the playoffs for the second time in three years, several young players will have to step up in 2023.

Flower Mound returns just three starters on offense and four on defense this season.

Offensively, head coach Brian Basil expects receiver Cameron Bouck and quarterback Jake Watson, who were both JV starters last year, to step into big roles this season. Senior receiver Jason Welch (577 receiving yards and five TDs) will serve as a crucial helping hand as they and several other younger players make that transition.

On the other side of the ball, Flower Mound will be looking for some improvement on a unit that allowed over 34 points per game a year ago.

Flower Mound’s most experienced players will be found in its front seven. Look for linebackers Elijah Luneke (113 tackles and two sacks) and Zeke Zwandenburg (91 tackles, four sacks) and defensive end Scott Rumsey (55 tackles, 3.5 sacks) to lead the way as the Jaguars fill the other gaps left by graduating seniors.

Basil said Flower Mound will be younger than last year when it takes the field this far. However, he doesn’t think a playoff spot is out of the question.

It will be an uphill battle as several players will face baptisms by fire, but Basil has no doubt that his players are hungry for success after the commitment they have displayed during the offseason.

Flower Mound Marcus Marauders

Head Coach: Mike Alexander (1st Season)

Last Season: 6-5; 5-2 in district (Lost to Denton Guyer in bi-district)

Marcus Key Players and Storylines

The Marauders have achieved at a high level in recent years with three district titles and four-straight playoff appearances dating back to 2019.

They will be aiming to not miss a beat this year as Mike Alexander comes over from Grapevine to replace Kevin Atkinson, who retired after 21 seasons as a head coach.

The Marcus coaching staff said the strength of this year’s team will be on the defensive line. Their three leaders of that unit will all be getting ready to play football on Saturdays a year from now.

Jace Bardwell, an Incarnate Word commit, (45 tackles, 5 TFLs), Will Upshaw, a Tulsa commit, (36 tackles and 11 TFLs) and Matthew Bryant, a Louisiana Tech commit, (49 tackles and 8 TFLs) all return to anchor a defense that has six starters back overall.

Behind them, linebacker Brock Golwas (21 tackles, two INTs) is also back after an impressive sophomore season that saw him earn all-district honors.

On the other side of the ball, Marcus returns just four starters. However, the Marauders do boast another Division I lineman in Tulsa commit Jack Tanner.

At the skill positions, running back Ben Perlmutter (513 rushing yards and seven touchdowns) is back to lead the rushing attack, while wide receiver Karic Grennan (204 receiving yards and one touchdown) will need to take on a bigger role this year after Marcus’ top three receivers graduated.

Heading into district play, there is no doubt Marcus will be battle tested. The Marauders take on DFW powerhouses Highland Park, Southlake Carroll, and Euless Trinity in their first three games.

Although it may take some time for Marcus’ players to learn Alexander’s system, the Marauder coaching staff hopes their team’s toughness and experience gained from their non-district slate will help propel them to another season full of wins in District 6-6A action.

Lewisville Fighting Farmers

Head Coach: Michael Odle (7th season)

Last Season: 12-2; 7-0 in district (Lost to Prosper in Regional Final)

Lewisville Key Players and Storylines

The Fighting Farmers are coming off their first fourth round playoff appearance since their state championship all the way back in 1996.

And while their stingy defense that held opponents to under 14 points per game was the key a year ago, it may be the offense’s turn to take the lead this year. Eight starters return on offense while just four are back on defense.

Lewisville appears set to rely heavily on its backfield this season when it comes to moving the ball. The Fighting Farmers boast a two-headed monster in dual threat quarterback Ethan Terrell (1,207 passing yards and six TDs; 985 rushing yards and 17 TDs) and running back Viron Ellison (1,432 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns). Terrell, a Jackson State commit has started 27 games in his Fighting Farmers career and brings the experience they’ll need under center for another deep playoff run.

They’ll have reliable protection up front as well led by four-star tackle Michael Fasusi and San Diego State commit Devin Love.

That leaves the receiving room, which is head coach Michael Odle’s biggest concern for the offense. The Fighting Farmers will need some players to step up in order to provide the depth they desire in the passing game.

On the other side of the ball, Lewisville’s secondary may as well be a no fly zone. Oklahoma commit safety Jaydan Hardy and Arizona State commit cornerback Tony-Louis Nkuba will make it difficult for any opposing passer to find success.

And while those two players are disrupting opposing receivers, linebacker Mark Cooper will lead the front seven. He was Lewisville’s second-leading tackler a year ago.

With the players returning, Odle expects Lewisville to be an extremely physical team this year. But it won’t be physicality alone. Odle said team chemistry will be of the utmost importance if Lewisville wants to reach the same heights as they did last season.

“There is plenty of talent and experience, the difference will be when it all comes together as one team,” Odle said “We can be very dangerous if we play unselfish football.”

Lewisville Hebron Hawks

Head Coach: John Towels (2nd Season)

Last Season: 5-5; 3-4 in district

Hebron Key Players and Storylines

Last season after the late Bryan Brazil retired, Hebron head coach John Towels had the tall task of filling the shoes left by Hebron’s only head coach in its 22-season varsity football history.

Some close calls in district play, including a 23-21 loss to Marcus, left Hebron out of the playoffs as the Hawks came up on the wrong end of a three-way district tiebreaker.

After seeing the Hawks come up just short in a couple of 6-6A district contests a year ago, Towels believes his squad is ready to flip those defeats into victories this year and contend for a district title.

The Hawks have a mixed bag of experience heading into this season as five starters return on offense and seven are back on defense.

Presumed starting quarterback junior Patrick Crayton (376 passing yards and five touchdowns) is poised to take the keys to the Hebron offense after the graduation of Braxton Baker.

Towels expects tight end Jesse McElroy to be another one of the leaders of the Hebron offense, while wide receiver Chase Harris (159 receiving yards and one touchdown) is primed to step up after the graduation of Hebron’s top three starters a year ago.

Defensively, Hebron looks to have an opportunity to improve after giving up 28 points per game in 2022. There’s no doubt linebacker Bo Onu, a legitimate Division I prospect, will be the player to watch on that side of the ball. However, the strongest unit is likely to be the defensive line with juniors William Cole, Clay Lindmark, Daylon Owens, and Hudson Hill.

Behind that front seven, Towels expects Connor Dean (45 tackles, 2 FFs) to be one of the leaders of the secondary.

Towels is excited about the young talent on the Hebron roster heading into this fall but with that talent comes inexperience. The answer to how far Hebron will go this season could come down to whether the sheer talent the Hawks posses can overcome the learning curve that comes with competing at the varsity level.

Plano Wildcats

Head Coach: Cody White (1st Season)

Last Season: 4-7; 3-4 in district (Lost to Prosper in bi-district)

Plano Key Players and Storylines

Cody White is back in Texas after 11 seasons away. The former Denison coach had plenty of success during his time at Brentwood Academy in Tennessee, where he led the football program to four state championships.

But now, White said it was time to come home and he believes Plano is the perfect fit. The Wildcats made it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2017 last season and won more games than they had in the previous two seasons combined.

White said he aims to continue that upward trajectory this year. If Plano is to do that, the Wildcats will likely have to lean on their defense.

They return eight starters on that side of the ball, including several key players in the front seven. Linebacker Jeff Sekula (66 total tackles) earned all-district honors last season, while defensive ends Jaxon Lee (39 tackles) and David Nwabuoku (21 tackles) are each expected to heavily contribute in the trenches again this season along with defensive tackle Rodney Jones, a 2022 second team all-district honoree.

In the secondary, Rohon Kazdi (37 tackles), Michael Lee (18 tackles), and Donald Smith are a talented trio of juniors opposing quarterbacks will have to be weary of when throwing the ball this fall.

Offensively, there are a lot more question marks. The Wildcats should be strong in the trenches with offensive linemen sophomore Brock Schlef and senior Jonathan Benson.

However, beyond that are the unknowns. White noted the Wildcats lack depth at the skill positions and will also be starting a new quarterback this fall. Senior running back Josh Campbell (98 rushing yards) is one of the Wildcats who will help fill the void in offensive production this fall.

But despite some of the holes remaining on offense, White still is full of confidence in this year’s team. He said Plano returns more experience than most other 6A schools. And with their defense shaping up to be rock solid this fall, a second-straight playoff berth appears to be in reach in 2023.

Plano East Panthers

Head Coach: Tony Benedetto (2nd Season)

Last Season: 3-7; 0-7 in district

Plano East Key Players and Storylines

The Panthers got off to a hot 3-0 start a year ago before coming up empty in district play.

If Plano East is to find more success in District 6-6A action this year, Head Coach Tony Benedetto said his team will have to play more disciplined football. He believes that will be the key for the Panthers in getting over the hump in close ball games.

Heading into this fall, Plano East brings back six starters on each side of the ball.

Offensively, not only is Rice commit quarterback Drew Devillier (2,210 passing yards and 18 touchdowns) back but so are two of his key protectors up front in senior offensive linemen Corbin Glass and Ralee Jackson. Elsewhere, the Panthers will need a couple of skill players to step up after graduating their leading rusher and top two receivers from a year ago.

On the other side of the ball, Benedetto will be hoping for improvement on a unit that surrendered over 37 points per game a year ago.

The Panthers must replace their four leading tacklers from a year ago, but Benedetto is confident that junior defensive back Andrew Earls (32 tackles), senior linebacker Excel Oleru (28 tackles), and three-star defensive lineman Chima Chineke (31 tackles) are prepared to lead each of the three levels of the Plano East defense.

Over the past four seasons, Plano East has won just two district games. However, the Panthers showed progress under Benedetto in how they opened the 2022 season. Now the question remains whether they can find that same success in district play this year.

Plano West Wolves

Head Coach: Tyler Soukup (5th Season)

Last Season: 2-8; 1-6 in district

Plano West Key Players and Storylines

Plano West’s 1-6 district record from last season doesn’t look pretty on paper. However, it wasn’t too far off from its district rivals. Five of those six losses were by 13 points or less.

Heading into this year, the Wolves will have a new look offense. All three quarterbacks who saw notable playing time a year ago graduated along with Plano West’s leading rusher and receiver from last year. Demetrius Willis could be one of the players that slides into that vacant running back role after seeing some playing time out of the backfield a year ago.

With so much turnover at the skill positions, the experience of offensive tackle Tyson Jones up front will be crucial.

In addition to Jones, linebacker Jamie Seguin is the only other returning Plano West player to have earned first or second team all-district last season. Look for defensive end/linebacker Ibrahimi Mahdi to be one of the players that steps up alongside Seguin on that side of the ball this year.

Plano West could have easily finished with a couple more wins than it did a year ago. But looking forward to this season, its potential for success will likely defined by how quickly its offensive can get into its groove following the graduation of most of its production from a year ago.

 

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