The Richardson High football program is quite perplexing when not only looking at its entire history, but the last quarter century specifically.
The Eagles began playing football in 1910 when the school was far from the city of Dallas and long before the urban sprawl completely engulfed the town. Despite more than 100 years of football, Richardson has made the playoffs just 16 times, with their last in 2012 in a 4-7 season — and only three appearances since 1993.
It’s quite peculiar, because great athletes have roamed the halls at the campus on Belt Line Road. The Eagles have fielded dynamic boys and girls track teams over the decades and the other sports have been competitive. Football just hasn’t been there. Richardson’s playoff hopes missed big-time last year as the Eagles went 0-10, with that coming off a 1-9 campaign in 2015 when they outlasted Pearce for their sole win, 54-50. Last year the Eagles gave up 312 points in 10 games, and the offense scored just 66 points.
The Eagles scored in single digits six times (0, 3, 7, 3, 3, 0), reaching the end zone only once in those games. The district isn’t any easier this year, and neither is the non-district slate of Naaman Forest, Midlothian and Irving Nimitz.
Key Losses
OLB Jalan Veasley
Veasley led the team with 94 tackles, including 18 solo tackles against Pearce, and intercepted a pass.
Key Returners
RB Zackery Jackson
Jackson had 276 rushing yards, which was second on the team.
The Verdict
Since making it three rounds deep in the 1992 playoffs, the Eagles have boasted winning seasons just three times in the last 25 years. With the non-district slate and district games against Jesuit, Lake Highlands, Skyline and Coppell, the outlook doesn’t look much better to have a winning record or make the playoffs.
They can make good strides in the program, though, if they can steal a non-district game and outplay rival Pearce, take down W.T. White and knock off a rebuilding Berkner squad.
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