Tony Venegas
Competition will be fierce at the top in this district. You have the defending state champion in DeSoto, state power Cedar Hill, and quality teams in Duncanville and South Grand Prairie all vying for the top spot. Three out of those four teams (SGP excluded) advanced to the regional finals and Cedar Hill was knocked out by DeSoto.
The top two teams at the top are in some transition: DeSoto lost a senior-heavy laden class from last year while Cedar Hill brings back a former assistant in Carlos Lynn to take over for Joey McGuire. Duncanville and SGP should be a good challenge and will have their own say in the race as well.
Ultimately, I give the slight edge to DeSoto. Even with all their losses including quarterback Shawn Robinson, I think Courtney Douglas is ready for his opportunity in the spotlight. On top of that, I think this will be an inspired team given what’s gone on with their head coach Todd Peterman in recent months. Either way, this will be a fun district race to watch unfold.
Prediction: DeSoto
Cody Daniel
Once again, district 7-6A is going to be among the most entertaining in the state to follow as the season progresses. The top half of the district will once again be a battleground and it would be a considerably upset if any program other than DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Duncanville or South Grand Prairie comes way with the district title.
Following a 16-0 season and a state championship in 2016, DeSoto loses a tremendous amount of talent; most notably quarterback Shawn Robinson. Cedar Hill also loses star quarterback Avery Davis and elite wide receiver Charleston Rambo, as the two are off to Notre Dame and Oklahoma, respectively. Furthermore, Cedar Hill loses head coach Joey McGuire, which will be the most daunting hole to fill without missing a beat. Duncanville, too, loses some notable talent on offense and South Grand Prairie will now have major holes to fill from last season’s imposing defense, including five-star safety Jeffrey Okudah.
All things considered, this will once again be a tremendously competitive district and I see Duncanville getting over the hump following its 11-3 2016 campaign. Cedar Hill, DeSoto and South Grand Prairie simply lose too much.
Prediction: Duncanville
Jonathan Rodriguez
For as much attention that Cedar Hill and DeSoto garner from not only the state of Texas but around the nation, and well and rightfully so, you cannot discount South Grand Prairie and Duncanville. If it weren’t for this district that can be likened to a “Group of Death”, the latter two of the aforementioned teams could very well be district champions outside of life in District 7-6A.
Be that as it may, the amount of athletes and programs that the I-20 corridor lays home to produces rivalries and highly anticipated games that make high school football in Texas what it is.
DeSoto could very well be beginning a dynasty in the world of high school football, but Cedar Hill coach Carlos Lynn and players such as receiver Josh Fleeks, defensive lineman Shabazz Dotson and defensive back Jamarceon Jackson have Cedar Hill ready to avenge their two losses against their district rival in DeSoto and show that they are primed for a title run. Give me Cedar Hill to win the district this year.
Prediction: Cedar Hill
Hunter Cooke
It’s going to be a game of quarterbacks in one of the hardest districts in the state of Texas, as Duncanville, Cedar Hill, and DeSoto will break in new signal-callers as well as a lot of new defenders.
Winning your district is always a difficult feat, but this one is a new level of challenge. Of the teams that went to the playoffs, Cedar Hill went four rounds deep before losing to a team from 7-6A (DeSoto), South Grand Prairie only lost by 8 points in the first round, Duncanville went to the fourth round, and DeSoto won it all. These are not teams to be trifled with.
There’s a plethora of reasons to like most of the top teams here, but I have to give the edge to DeSoto here. They return a lot on defense, and they have enough continuity on offense to inspire hope.
Prediction: DeSoto
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