Jackets, Hawks picked to finish first, second in District 10-6A football
Jul. 2—Rivals Rockwall and Rockwall-Heath were picked to finish first and second in District 10-6A this fall in football.
The Yellowjackets and Hawks earned the top two spots for the preseason predictions of "Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine."
Rockwall was No. 1, Heath was No. 2, followed by Mesquite, Tyler Legacy, Mesquite Horn, Royse City and North Forney.
The two teams finished first and second last year in 10-6A with Heath winning the district title and going three rounds in the Division II playoffs. The Hawks finished at 11-2. Rockwall wound up at 9-3, reaching the area round of the Division I playoffs.
Both Rockwall and Heath lost prolific passers to graduation. Braedyn Locke of Rockwall passed for 3,600 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2021, plus for 11,182 yards and 128 touchdowns in his career. Josh Hoover of Heath threw for 3,268 yards and 40 TDs in 2021 and for 9,750 yards and 108 TDs in his career. Hoover, now at TCU, earned the Tom Landry Award presented to the top football player in the Metroplex. Locke signed with Mississippi State.
Rockwall also lost a couple of its top receivers, Caden Marshall and Brennan Ray but returns its leading rusher Zach Hernandez (237-1,459, 15 TDs) and wide receivers Noble Johnson (49-875, 8 TDs) and Aiden Meeks (39-665, 11 TDs).
Linebacker Jarrett Stoner is also back to lead the defense.
Heath also lost its top running back Zach Evans (243-1,957, 26 TDs) to graduation along with receivers Jordan Neighbors (52-1,084 11 TDs), Jay Fair (46-894, 13 TDs) and Lance Mason (34-556,5 TDs).
The Hawks' offense also returns running back Brittan Snider (106-837, 8 TDs) and wide receiver Fletcher Fierro (30-397, 4 TDs).
Mesquite went 7-5 last season, winning a bi-district title.
Tyler Legacy was 6-6 and also won a bi-district title.
Horn was 2-7.
Royse City was 8-3 last season in 5A. The Bulldogs made three straight playoff trips in 5A before moving up.
Royse City has lost 1,000-yard rusher Champ Petty-Dozier to graduation but returns quarterback Kenneth Spring, running back Sam Mitchum and wide receiver Jonah Roberson off last year's potent offense that averaged 474.5 yards per game. Roberson led the Bulldogs last season with 47 catches for 1,015 yards and eight touchdowns.Roberson showed his speed at the state meet in May, finishing second in the 400-meter dash (48.01 seconds).
The Bulldogs' defense should be bolstered by the return of Tatum Woods at defensive back and linebacker Breylon Harris. Woods led Royse City with 102 tackles last season.
Royse City's line will have some good size including 290-pounder Cason Bass, 300-pounder Harrison Hays and 265-pounder Kerian Phounsavath.
North Forney, 2-8 in 2021, is also moving up from 5A.
