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6A

District 9-6A Season Preview

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District 9-6A remains the same from the previous realignment with the two Wylie schools joining the seven Garland schools.

Everyone will be chasing Sachse after its undefeated district title a year ago, but this district has been ultra-competitive in recent years. This combination of teams has produced five different district champions in the past five seasons.

Here’s what to watch for in District 9-6A.

Garland Owls

Head Coach: Danny Russell (8th season; 31-39 record)

Last Season: 7-4; 6-2 record (Lost to North Forney in bi-district)

Garland Key Players and Storylines

Garland has been knocking on the door for its first playoff win since 2011 the past two years. But between a one-point loss to Tyler Legacy in 2022 and an overtime defeat to North Forney last season, the wait continues.

This year’s squad has five starters back on each side of the ball to try and end the drought.

Quarterback Orlando Routt “can make all the throws” required of him. He threw for 1,532 yards and 12 touchdowns a year ago.

The Owls took a hit when star running back De’Adrian Hardy transferred to DeSoto, but they do have explosive junior receiver Tyrone Crethers (364 receiving yards and three touchdowns) in the skill positions department. Crethers is a threat to rack up YAC in a hurry.

Up front, Miguel Velasquez earned all-district honors last season. He’s “physical with great feet.”

On the other side of the ball, Amarion Webb is “fast and physical.” He can play linebacker or defensive back.

And when other teams throw the football, they’ll have to be weary of Ty’Ques Miles. He’ll be a leader on defense and can run with any receiver or coverage assignment. Both he and Webb could see snaps at the offensive skill positions too.

Up front, the Owls have athletic defensive lineman Cade McCay.

Head coach Danny Russell said his team is fast across the board. He hopes that pure athleticism will carry the team early on as some young players settle in and the Owls get used to playing under a new offensive coordinator.

Garland Lakeview Centennial Patriots

Head Coach: Anthony Saincilaire (4th season; 16-14 record)

Last Season: 6-4; 4-4 in district

Lakeview Centennial Key Players and Storylines

The Patriots have been teetering on the verge of success the past two seasons. However, their 4-4 in district record in each has left them just on the outside looking in of the playoffs.

They’ll have the firepower to cause defenses problems this season. Senior quarterback Kendrick Sanders was a first team all-district selection last season. He’ll be glad the Patriots have Texas State commit Julius Spencer and fellow 2023 first team all-district selection Trent Harris (830 receiving yards and ten touchdowns) in their receiving arsenal.

Defensively, Lakeview Centennial also has its fair share of playmakers. In the front seven, defensive tackle Ja’len Allen (45 tackles, five sacks) and linebacker Neiman Houston (53 tackles) were both second team all-district selections in 2023. Edge Jaxson Wilson is another player to watch. He’s the younger brother of Baylor defensive lineman Trey Wilson.

Safety Shannon Montgomery (44 tackles) is the Patriots’ safety blanket on the back end. He had eight pass break ups a year ago. Out on the perimeter, sophomore Jeremiah Moore is a budding star. He already has double-digit Division I offers.

The Patriots look primed for a strong season with the talent they have coming through their pipeline. They’ll hope it will be enough to get them back into the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Garland Naaman Forest Rangers

Head Coach: Jesse Perales (6th season; 21-28 record)

Last Season: 1-9; 1-7 in district

Naaman Forest Key Players and Storylines

After seven consecutive playoff berths, the wheels came off for the Rangers in 2023 as they slumped to a 1-9 record.

The offense will be rearing and ready to go this season under the leadership of new coordinator Ruben Torres III. He comes over from 2A Marlin after leading the Bulldogs to playoff victories in all three years he was in charge.

Dual threat quarterback DeAngelo Perales (2,185 passing yards, 748 rushing yards, and 18 total touchdowns) will lead the way for the second-straight season. He’ll be joined in the backfield by speedster Jaydon Anderson and Ivan Garcia at running back.

The Rangers have some firepower out at receiver too. Junior Johnathan French-Love, a second team all-district selection last fall is a budding star. He’ll need to blossom into a top target in 2024 after the other two of Naaman Forest’s top three receivers from 2023 transferred to other schools.

Up front, Reggie Wilson has great size at his offensive tackle position at 6’5″ and 270 pounds.

Defensively, Garcia (38 tackles, three TFLs) will go both ways and will lead the Rangers in the back end from his safety position. In the front seven, expect linebacker Courtney Jones and defensive end Caden Key to be Naaman Forest’s impact players. Key proved himself to be a threat off the edge a year ago with three sacks and five tackles for loss.

The Rangers will be hungry after last season. They’ll hope their senior leadership on both sides of the ball will help them get back on the right track in 2024.

 Garland Rowlett Eagles

Head Coach: Derek Alford (4th Season; 9-21 record)

Last Season: 3-7; 3-5 in district

Rowlett Key Players and Storylines

Rowlett heads into this fall hoping to snap a playoff drought that dates back to 2018.

The Eagles have had their work cut out for them this offseason with just three starters back on each side of the ball.

Rowlett has to replace much of its backfield production, but receiver Jalen Thomas (359 receiving yards and six touchdowns) is back as a key leader for the offense. Up front, Ugo Anyiam is a force with great strength.

On the other side of the ball, defensive end Vince Martin (25 tackles, four TFLs) was a first team all-district selection a year ago. Safety Derrick Childs has great toughness and a nose for the football in the Eagle secondary.

Head coach Derek Alford notes that his squad may not be the biggest or the fastest this fall. However, he believes their toughness and togetherness should be enough to keep them in the playoff hunt.

Garland Sachse Mustangs

Head Coach: Mark Behrens (21st season; 126-88 record)

Last Season: 8-3; 8-0 in district (Lost to Rockwall-Heath in bi-district)

Sachse Key Players and Storylines

Sachse rebounded from a fourth place district finish in 2022 to take home a district title last season.

Half of its starters (six on offense/five on defense) from a year ago return this year, and the Mustangs have their eyes set on yet another district championship.

Behrens said there’d be a quarterback battle throughout the offseason, but whoever gets chosen is going to have a wealth of options at the skill positions.

Five-star receiver Kaliq Lockett (1,300 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns) is a gamebreaker type of player, while running back BJ Haygood (938 rushing yards and 12 touchdown) will be relied upon heavily out of the backfield. Receivers Santana Quinn (210 receiving yards and four touchdowns) and Josh Ridge (446 rushing yards and seven touchdowns) are two other players to watch offensively.

Up front, offensive tackle Aidan Pierce is getting looks at the Division I level while guard Devin Noudaranouvong and center Jackson Schmidt are also returning starters.

Defensively, Sachse should be strong in the trenches with defensive tackle Corey Walls (78 tackles, 11 sacks) and Aaron Esheku (72 tackles, eight sacks) creating a brick wall up front. Behind them, linebackers Sean Devault and Vashon Brunswick are two playmakers for Sachse who led the team in tackles a year ago. In the secondary, cornerback Jordan Nelson is the lone returning starters, but CJ Wells is a Division I prospect who moved in from Mesquite Horn over the offseason.

The quarterback position is one to watch for the Mustangs, but the talent Sachse possesses at every position group should propel this team into the race for the district title again this season.

North Garland Raiders

Head Coach: Taurus Rucker (3rd Season; 5-15 record)

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

North Garland Key Players and Storylines

Taurus Rucker enters his third year at a North Garland program that is looking to bounce back and reach the heights it did in 2021. That season represents its lone playoff appearance in the last 14 seasons.

Luckily for the Raiders, they have some good talent coming through the pipeline. Five starters return offensively. Among the players to watch on that side of the ball are sophomores quarterback Christian Hampton (806 passing yards and nine touchdowns) and receiver Juju Minor (122 receiving yards).

Hampton was the district’s Newcomer of the Year in 2023 and Rucker believes he’ll only continue to progress as a leader this fall. Minor is an athletic freak, who also starred in basketball and long jump for the Raiders.

Defensively, seven starters are back. Rucker believes they’ll be strong in the trenches. The secondary also has a couple of seniors holding down the fort in cornerback Josiah Rodamaker, who has a strong football IQ, and physical safety Brian Nchotu.

Also keep an eye on sophomore receiver/defensive back Prosper Chukwu, who made an instant impact for the Raiders a year ago.

Rucker knows that with multiple sophomores playing big roles this fall, there could be some bumps in the road. However, his Raiders have their eyes set on a playoff berth as they look to get better week-by-week this fall.

South Garland Titans

Head Coach: Damaso Martinez (6th season; 6-41)

Last Season: 2-8; 0-8 in district

South Garland Key Players and Storylines

South Garland hasn’t finished above .500 since 2012, but head coach Damaso Martinez believes last year’s 2-8 record doesn’t tell the full story. Two losses by five points or less in district play meant the Titans weren’t far off from their winningest season since that 2012 campaign.

This year, just 16 lettermen are back although they do include 11 starters from last year (five on offense and six on defense).

If you want fireworks, Camron McNeil, a three-year starter, is the player to watch. He’s got 4.4 speed and can play running back or slot receiver. He’ll also have an impact on the return game.

Santiago Moreno will shift over to running back from H back. He’s “strong and explosive” with “great hands out of the backfield”

Hector Platas will be paving the way for these two backs. He’s a three-year starter, who’s got good movement at 6’3″ and 305 pounds. He’ll be a “dominant player in the trenches” this fall.

Talking about the trenches, defensive end Sanclair Del Real will make his presence felt on the other side of the ball. He led the Titans with six sacks a year ago.

Jared Balderas will be one of the leaders of the Titan defense. He missed out on last season due to injury, but he’s got great field vision and “is not shy to come down hill and fill his gap.”

Behind him, defensive back Vantonio Wilkerson (37 tackles and two interceptions) is South Garland’s “most physical player on defense.” He’s another three-year starter, and the Titan coaching staff believes he’s due for a breakout year.

Many of these senior three-year starters have shared the field since they were freshman. That chemistry will be key as they look to go out with a bang in their final year starring for the Titans.

Wylie Pirates

Head Coach: Jimmy Carter (5th Season; 20-22 record)

Last Season: 6-5; 5-3 in district (Lost to Rockwall in bi-district)

Wylie Key Players and Storylines

The Pirates have now made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons. The expectation is to add yet another playoff appearance to that list this season with 11 starters (six on offense/five on defense) returning from a year ago.

The Wylie coaching staff believes they have a great foundation in the trenches with their offensive line. Michael Oyeka will lead that line. He earned first team all-district honors a year ago.

Behind him, the Pirates’ passing game is in good hands with quarterback Jagger Bale (1,976 passing yards and 17 touchdowns) and playmaking wide receiver Martaveion Sanders (800 receiving yards and eight touchdowns). Both are three-year starters.

On the other side of the ball, linebacker Harrison Vicic will carry the torch for the Pirate defense. He was their leading tackler a year ago. Defensive lineman Brady Light will be a handful in the trenches, while safety Ryan Walters will be the quarterback of the secondary.

Now for the other half of the positions where Wylie isn’t returning starters, the Pirates’ coaching staff admits that they’ll be young in some places. But despite that inexperience, they are confident in the athletes they have as they look to return to the postseason yet again this fall.

 Wylie East Raiders

Head Coach: Marcus Gold (4th season; 22-11 record)

Last Season: 10-2; 7-1 in district (Lost to DeSoto in area round)

Wylie East Key Players and Storylines

Wylie East picked up its first playoff victory since 2016 a year ago with a bi-district triumph over Tyler Legacy.

The Raiders’ prospects are looking promising this season with seven starters back on each side of the ball, including several seniors who have started since sophomore year.

Wylie East has a legit playmaker leading its offense in quarterback Howard Fisher IV (1766 passing yards, 650 rushing yards, and 32 total TDs). He has a stud to target in the passing game too with receiver Amarean Porter (662 receiving yards and seven touchdowns). Porter is coming off a breakout sophomore year and is turning heads at the Division I level.

Up front, left tackle Daniel Oparah is Wylie East’s “best lineman on offense.” He’ll play some defensive end too which means he’ll pair up with versatile defensive tackle Jayden Janshego (35 tackles).

And when opposing offenses look to throw the ball, they’ll have to be weary of safety Mike Henderson (37 tackles; 657 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns). The Texas Tech commit had a pair of picks a year ago and also led the Raiders in rushing yards offensively. Expect to hear his name called a lot on Friday nights.

In the heart of the field is where you’ll find linebacker Rome Jeffers (66 tackles, 5 TFLs). He has a great football IQ.

Head coach Marcus Gold said his team will have some inexperience on the offensive line, but there is no doubting the talent at the skill positions.

The Raiders will have their eyes set on their second district title in three years as they aim to make some noise in the playoffs yet again this season.

 

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