District 10-6A is shaping up to be extremely competitive this year with defending district champion Rockwall reloading.
All seeking to catch Rockwall, Rockwall-Heath and Tyler Legacy welcome in two experienced head coaches while North Forney and Royse City are ready to embark on their second 6A season. And don’t forget about the Mesquite schools either. Both expect to be playoff contenders.
Here’s what to watch for in District 10-6A.
Mesquite Skeeters
Head Coach: DeMarcus Harris (3rd Season)
Last Season: 4-6; 2-4 in district
Mesquite Key Players and Storylines
The Skeeters finished just one game short of the playoff places a year ago. A five-point defeat to Royse City and an eight-point defeat to Mesquite Horn proved to be defining moments in their season.
However, head coach DeMarcus Harris is not simply just targeting a return to the postseason in 2023. He believes his team has what it takes to make a deep playoff run.
Eight starters returning on each side of the ball show that Harris’ beliefs aren’t far-fetched.
Junior quarterback Sir’Maje Wallace (761 passing yards and six touchdowns) is poised to take a step forward this season after splitting time under center in 2022. He’ll have quite the talented receiver at his disposal in four-star prospect Eli Baesa (300 receiving yards and two touchdowns), who is an Arizona State commit.
Up front, look for tackle Paul Gurrola to anchor the offensive line after earning third-team all-district honors a year ago.
Defensively, Mesquite will hope its wealth of experience will mean improving on last year’s mark where opponents scored nearly 30 points per game against the Skeeters. Linebacker Radavion Wilson (92 tackles) will lead the charge. He was Mesquite’s leading tackler as well as the district’s Defensive Newcomer of the Year in 2022.
At the other levels of the defense, Jayden Edwards (26 tackles) is a player to watch in the trenches, while safety Damarian Williams (78 tackles) will be a key player in the secondary.
Harris said he’s proud of the growth the Mesquite program has experienced recently, When he first took over, the program was struggling for numbers but now it boasts over 300 players at all levels.
With that positive momentum, the Skeeters continue to strive towards one day reclaiming the magic from its 2001 state championship team. With plenty of talent back from last season, a return to the playoffs would certainly be a step in the right direction.
Mesquite Horn Jaguars
Head Coach: Courtney Allen (2nd Season)
Last Season: 8-3; 5-1 in district (Lost to Wylie in bi-district)
Mesquite Horn Key Players and Storylines
Courtney Allen had quite the impact in his first season at Mesquite Horn, leading the Jaguars to their first playoff appearance since 2018. A three-point defeat to Rockwall is all that separated them from their first district title since 2017.
This season, Allen believes the Jaguars can be even better following a full offseason in his system. Seven starters returning on offense and six back on defense means Mesquite Horn will have a good amount of experience to rely on as well.
The Jaguar offense has plenty of weapons with wide receiver Cedric Lott Jr, who recently transferred over from basketball, and junior running back Titus Muse (896 rushing yards and seven touchdowns) leading the way. That skill talent will be crucial as the Jaguars have to make a decision at quarterback, where three players had at least 30 pass attempts a year ago.
Mesquite (TX) Horn 2024 WR Cedric Lott checks in at over 6-4, and weighs 185. He’s reeling in the offers after moving over from basketball in the spring. Long and he is routing folks. Tx St, UNT, and UTSA have all recently offered with TCU and Tech interested @cedriclottjr1 pic.twitter.com/WxozxJhgzH
— Jason Howell (@Jason_Howell) June 3, 2023
Up front, there’s no question who will be leading the offensive line with four-star tackle Lamont Rogers set to anchor the protection.
On the other side of the ball, Allen said the strength of the unit will be in the trenches where the Jaguars have Rice commit Armstrong Nnodim (69 tackles, 20 TFLs) and edge rusher Preston Davis (42 tackles, six TFLs). Behind them, Nathaniel Rainey should be a key player for the Jaguars at safety.
Allen said there will be some new faces in some positions, but he’s been impressed with the way those players have stepped up in spring football. With plenty of talent back, all signs point to Mesquite Horn continuing their positive momentum under Allen’s leadership.
North Forney Falcons
Head Coach: Eric Luster (3rd Season)
Last Season: 3-7; 0-6 in district
North Forney Key Players and Storylines
Not only was last year North Forney’s first-ever season as a 6A school, but the Falcons also went to battle with an extremely young football team.
The learning curve proved too steep for North Forney to secure a win in district play, but head coach Eric Luster believes this year will be different. With four starters back on offense and six on defense, he said his football team is primed to see the pay off from its lessons learned last season.
Congratulations to @NFHSrecruits on advancing to @Texas7on7 State Tournament #txhsfb #tx7on7 @dctf pic.twitter.com/xpxZSPdWnD
— Matt Stepp (@Matt_Stepp817) June 10, 2023
Case in point of a young football team? The North Forney offensive line consisted of all sophomores a year ago.
With better protection from a more experienced offensive line this year, players such as dual threat quarterback Tamarion Crochett and receivers Isaiah Mayfield and Kasen McCoy will have more time and space to operate this season.
On the other side of the ball, the Raiders have leaders at all three levels. Defensive lineman David Paine Jr. recently received an offer from Western Illinois. Meanwhile, cornerback Aamii Branch and linebacker Caleb Holt were both all-district selections in 2022.
Last year may have been a bumpy road for the Falcons, but heading into 2023, Luster has no doubt about the potential of his team after an offseason of hard work. He said they will be a team that will make noise in District 10-6A as they aim for their first playoff berth since 2020.
Rockwall Yellowjackets
Head Coach: Trey Brooks (4th Season)
Last Season: 10-2; 6-0 in district (Lost to Waxahachie in area round)
Rockwall Key Players and Storylines
When you’ve made 10-straight playoff appearances like Rockwall has, there is no such thing as a rebuilding season.
Instead, the expectation is to reload.
That will be the case this year as the Yellowjackets return just three starters on offense and four on defense. Despite, that lack of experience, Head Coach Trey Brooks still believes his team will have what it takes to not only contend for a district title but to also make a deep playoff run.
The Yellowjackets will have to settle in a new starting quarterback this season, but whoever wins the job will have two reliable players to rely on in running back Ashten Emory (808 rushing yards and seven touchdowns) and receiver Kai Helton (498 receiving yards and four touchdowns). Emory, who was Rockwall’s bell cow a year ago, is attracting looks from schools at the Division I level.
Heads Up Play By Rockwall’s Ashten Emory and In My Opinion The 10-6A New Comer of The Year @AshtenEmory @ROCOgameday @rockwalljfndfb pic.twitter.com/PVJuNZ6eyb
— CoachSean13 (@CoachSean13) November 4, 2022
Although there is plenty of turnover, the Yellowjackets have good leaders in the trenches on both sides of the ball with the return of left tackle Michael Wells and defensive tackle Hunter Aiello (32 tackles). Both were all-district honorees last season.
The strength of the defense could well be in the secondary where safeties Jake Overstreet (77 tackles) and Brendon Ross (55 tackles) are both back. They are Rockwall’s two leading returning tacklers from last season.
Not only has Rockwall made the postseason the past 10 years, but it has also won at least one playoff game in each of those seasons. The Yellowjackets may be lacking in starting experience in some positions this year, but with the program’s postseason pedigree, count the Yellowjackets out at your own risk.
Rockwall-Heath Hawks
Head Coach: Rodney Webb (1st Season)
Last Season: 7-5; 3-3 in district (Lost to DeSoto in area round)
Rockwall-Heath Key Players and Storylines
During his one year as the Highland Park athletic director, Rodney Webb had an itch he couldn’t scratch.
“During my year away from coaching, I missed it immensely – the connection to the kids, the camaraderie of the coaches, and the Friday Night Lights,” Webb said.
That feeling led him to accept the opportunity to take over the Rockwall-Heath program, which was open following the resignation of John Harrell. The Hawks clinched the last playoff spot in the district a year ago before knocking off Wylie East in a bi-district upset.
This season, Webb is optimistic about his Hawks. He believes if they can perform to their full potential, “the sky is the limit.”
Seven starters returning on offense and five on defense means the Hawks have a good amount of experience back this season.
Offensively, the backfield will be the driving force for Rockwall-Heath. Quarterback Caleb Hoover (1,851 passing yards and 16 touchdowns) is back to lead the Hawks under center, while Malachi Tuesno (780 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns), his second-leading rusher from last season, also returns.
The receiver room has a couple more question marks following the graduation of the Hawks’ three-leading receivers from a year ago, but Webb is confident senior Fletcher Fierro (138 receiving yards and two touchdowns) can take on a bigger role this year.
1:24, Q3 — Caleb Hoover (@calebjhoover) dropping dimes.
He hits Fletcher Fierro (@FierroFletcher) for his third touchdown pass of the night.
Heath 62, Trinity 24. @SportsDayHS pic.twitter.com/CNv3f8BY3C
— Shawn McFarland (@McFarland_Shawn) September 2, 2022
On the other side of the ball, the secondary will be Heath’s strong point with safety Brady Luff and cornerback Charles Jones. Luff was Heath’s leading tackler last season. Up front, Webb believes opposing teams will have to be weary of defensive end Jacob Lozano, a second team all-district selection a year ago.
The Hawks have put together a consistent run of three-straight playoff appearances. With Webb’s pedigree of deep playoff runs across his 19 years as a head coach in the DFW area, keep an eye on Rockwall-Heath this season.
Royse City Bulldogs
Head Coach: David Petroff (11th season)
Last Season: 7-5; 4-2 (Lost to Harker Heights in area round)
Royse City Key Players and Storylines
A move from 5A Division II to 6A proved to be no problem for the Bulldogs a year ago. Not only did they make the playoffs for the fourth straight year, but they also won their first playoff game since 2019.
Head Coach David Petroff said his players are looking forward to taking the field this fall as they look to build on their success from last season.
Bi-District Champs. First year in 6A and Gold Ball 🏈 to show for it. I love the Bulldogs. @uiltexas playoffs #rcisdjoy pic.twitter.com/IEyx0Z3Ukq
— Kevin Worthy (@kworthy11) November 12, 2022
Royse City returns half of its starters from a year ago (six on offense and five on defense).
Heading into 2023, the offense is tasked with replacing many of its key producers as Royse City’s starting quarterback, four leading rushers, and top receiver all graduated.
However, Petroff is confident that wide receiver Ja’Cori Williams (430 receiving yards and four touchdowns) and running back Aidan Walker (148 rushing yards and two touchdowns) are prepared to fill that void at the skill positions. Up front, he is expecting Reuben Logan, a second team all-district selection last season, to be the leader of the offensive line.
On the other side of the ball, a talented trio of juniors are set to lead the Royse City defense. Look for big years out of safety Jeremiah Byars (69 total tackles), cornerback Cordarian Powell, and linebacker Gabriel Duncan.
Royse City has set a standard over previous years and proved that it could uphold that standard at the 6A level last season. As the Bulldogs take the field this fall, Petroff emphasized his players know the goal will be to be celebrating their fifth-straight playoff appearance come November.
Tyler Legacy Raiders
Head Coach: Beau Trahan (1st Season)
Last Season: 2-8; 1-5 in district
Tyler Legacy Key Players and Storylines
New Tyler Legacy head coach Beau Trahan is going down a new career path after leaving a job at the University of Tulsa, where he was the passing coordinator. After 15 years coaching at the collegiate level, Tyler Legacy will be his first-ever head coaching job.
He said it’s the realization of a lifelong goal.
“I grew up as the son of a head high school football coach in Texas; being a Texas high school head coach has always been a dream of mine,” Trahan said. “To be at a place like Legacy with the resources they have and an administration that I believe is the best in Texas, made this decision easy for me.”
On the field, there is work to be done. After three-straight playoff appearances from 2019-2021, last year didn’t go the way the Raiders would have wanted as they finished 2-8.
However, Trahan said he’s noticed the hunger of his current group of players from the moment he took over. He’s excited to watch them grow in his new system as they compete throughout the year.
Offensively, Tyler Legacy returns five starters as it looks to improve upon last year where it put up just 16.9 points per game.
Quarterback Luke Wolf will be a big part of Legacy’s growth as he returns to lead the Raiders for the second-straight year. He earned District Newcomer of the Year and should take a big step forward this season.
Elsewhere, Trahan anticipates receiver Kalan Greenhouse being one of Wolf’s top targets, while junior offensive lineman Cash Acker should lead the Raiders in the trenches.
On the other side of the ball, five starters are also back. The good news for Legacy is that two of their three leading tacklers from last season are included in those five starters. Look for linebacker Brooks Gallagher (117 tackles, 10 TFLs) to make plays all over the field, while TCU commit defensive end Travis Jackson (60 tackles, 15 TFLs) makes a nuisance of himself in the trenches.
In the secondary, Sir’Christian Johnson will help lead the Raiders at cornerback after transitioning over from receiver alongside fellow senior Makel Sears (26 tackles).
Since taking over, Trahan said he’s witnessed just how much the city of Tyler loves football and supports their team.
With that backing behind them and the desire his players have shown to succeed, Trahan believes his team should be able to be more competitive this year, as long as they stay healthy.
CLICK HERE to listen to the Texas HS Football Podcast, with Taylor Arenz
