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| District 10-5A Preview |
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By Christopher Lyke
Texas HS Football Chief Editor
The Garland district features a potential state championship contender in the Garland Owls and a playoff race that could come between five other teams within the district. The question about this district is whether or not it is primed and ready to step up to the challenge against their 9-5A counterparts. Certainly, in comparison this district is almost as competitive as 9-5A from top to bottom. Which team is the most qualified to give the Owls a run for their money and which teams will be left out in the cold by the time the playoffs arrive?
It is already no secret that the legendary Garland Owls football program is no stranger to winning and making a big impact in the playoffs. It is also no secret that the Owls have produced their fair share of talent in the past. The 2006 edition of the Owls is certainly no different. With one of the state's top all-purpose players and a good nucleus surrounding him, expectations are high once again. Offensively, the Owls will be looking to Greg Hunter to provide the fuel to the offensive fire at quarterback. Among Hunter's top targets will be Malcolm Williams, Johnny Wooten and David Little.
Williams, who missed the final seven games of 2005 due to a foot injury, will be looking to back up his University of Texas commitment with a stellar 2006 season as the star wide out, defensive back and kick returner. Joining Williams on the defensive side, is wide out David Little. Little, like Williams, can play virtually any skill position position on the field if asked to. Other key defensive players to watch in Owls camp includes Marquis Frazier, Dwight Hamilton and Brian Johnson.
As usual, the team that is normally right at the Garland Owl doorstep is the Colonels of South Garland. The big playmaker for the Colonels is quarterback Nick Florence, who took over half way through the regular season and eventually compiled nearly 2,100 yards of offense through the air. With the loss of Phillip Payne to Texas, the key receiver in Florence's target range will be David Little. On the defensive side, look for Graham Cole and TeeJay Johnson to become the key impact players. Johnson, who is one of the top recruits in the state, will be looking help a young but very good defense make a return trip to the playoffs.
Last season, it was South Garland and Nick Florence that ended the dream for many Longview Lobos fans in the playoffs but it was the Rockwall Yellow Jackets that exploited the Lobos and gave them all they could handle and more in district play. Now the same Rockwall team has made shift to the Garland ISD district. The Yellow Jackets, come back in 2006 with only 17 returning lettermen, but 12 of those lettermen are starters from last year. Among those starters is RB/WR Tony Dabney, who is a multi-threat all-purpose player like that of Garland's Malcolm Williams. In 2005, Dabney collected 250+ yards in the air and 550 yards on the ground. TE Cole Wardell, RB Marcus Mathis and WR/DB Bobby Taylor are also back for their senior season. Mathis returns as Rockwall's leading rusher and Taylor, alongside DB Kendall Riley, will be looking to provide the knockout on defense.
Although inexperienced in many areas of the field, the North Garland Raiders should be a very solid playoff contender in the district. The Raiders bring back quarterback Adrian Linwood and wide receiver Hubert Anyiam, who will be looking to connect in more ways than one under the spread offense. But look for the bigger impact of the Raiders' 2006 season to be felt over on the defensive side with LB Jermaine Love entering his senior season. Love, who is one of the state's linebackers. Love in 2005 collected a total of 135 tackles and 9 sacks.
Sachse, another solid playoff contender in 10-5A, will have its strength along in the skill positions, but it should have a solid focus with the return of Blake Emert. With Emert's prescence on the offensive line, the Mustangs will feature a potent passing attack that includes Brandon Helms and Brock Tarrant. Look for RB Brandon Mondy to become a better productive rusher out of the backfield as well. But with a line that lacks size, Mondy and the rest of the offense will have to work harder than they have in the last couple years, if they intend to make a playoff run.
The Rowlett Eagles experienced a playoff run for the first time in school history last season, but the return trip may be harder than it has been with the decimation of the Eagles through graduation. Gone is LB Jared Norton and RB Andre Pierce. Enter DB Jesse Bell, DL Hendric Chatman and OL Brad Brown as the team's primary and key leaders. |
| Key Players & Team Information |
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2714 |
9-3 |
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Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
OL |
Brad Brown |
6'2 |
290 |
5.3 |
Sr |
DL |
Hendric Chatman |
6'1 |
225 |
5.0 |
Jr |
DB |
Jesse Bell |
6'0 |
170 |
4.5 |
Sr |
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|
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2468 |
4-6 |
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Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
RB/WR |
Tony Dabney |
5'9 |
176 |
4.5 |
Sr |
WR/TE |
Cole Wardell |
6'4 |
212 |
4.8 |
Sr |
RB |
Marcus Mathis |
5'7 |
165 |
4.5 |
Sr |
WR/DB |
Bobby Taylor |
6'0 |
160 |
4.5 |
Sr |
DB |
Kendal Riley |
5'10 |
180 |
4.4 |
Sr |
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2404 |
10-3 |
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Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
WB |
Malcolm WIlliams |
6'3 |
205 |
4.39 |
Sr |
RB |
Johnny Wooten |
6'0 |
205 |
4.51 |
Sr |
OL |
Miguel Perches |
5'11 |
250 |
5.1 |
Sr |
OL |
Tyler Greider |
5'9 |
185 |
4.72 |
Sr |
OL |
Carlos Perez |
5'8 |
260 |
5.2 |
Sr |
QB |
Greg Hunter |
6'0 |
195 |
4.81 |
Sr |
WR |
David Little |
6'1 |
165 |
4.65 |
Sr |
DE |
Marquis Frazier |
6'3 |
245 |
4.75 |
Sr |
DE |
Chancey Aghayere |
6'3 |
210 |
4.71 |
Jr |
LB |
Michael Horn |
5'10 |
195 |
4.67 |
Sr |
DB |
Dwight Hamilton |
5'11 |
175 |
4.49 |
Sr |
DB |
Brian Johnson |
5'9 |
178 |
4.55 |
Sr |
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2358 |
6-4 |
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Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
OL |
Blake Emert |
6'6 |
260 |
5.1 |
Sr |
WR |
Brandon Helm |
6'2 |
195 |
4.64 |
Sr |
WR |
Brock Tarrant |
6'1 |
170 |
4.59 |
Sr |
RB |
Brandon Mondy |
5'10 |
165 |
4.5 |
Sr |
DE |
Michael Hughes |
6'4 |
240 |
4.98 |
Sr |
DL |
Saul Sanchez |
6'1 |
245 |
4.95 |
Sr |
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2277.5 |
4-6 |
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Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
WR |
Hubert Anyiam |
6'1 |
175 |
4.5 |
Sr |
QB |
Adrian Linwood |
6'1 |
190 |
4.6 |
Sr |
LB/RB |
Jermaine Love |
6'0 |
205 |
4.5 |
Sr |
DB |
C.J. Cox |
6'0 |
195 |
4.6 |
Sr |
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2267 |
1-9 |
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Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
OL |
T.J. Cleavinger |
6'2 |
300 |
5.3 |
Sr |
DB |
Chris Shinault |
6'1 |
170 |
4.6 |
Sr |
K/P |
Bubba Rogers |
6'1 |
200 |
-- |
Sr |
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|
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2175 |
3-7 |
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Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
QB |
Daren Dillard |
6'3 |
180 |
4.4 |
Sr |
RB |
Kenny Wright |
5'9 |
165 |
4.4 |
Sr |
DB |
Corrigan Powell |
5'11 |
165 |
4.6 |
Jr |
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2140 |
8-5 |
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Pos |
Name |
Ht |
Wt |
40 |
Yr |
QB |
Nick Florence |
6'1 |
175 |
4.7 |
Jr |
DB |
TeeJay Johnson |
6'1 |
195 |
4.5 |
Sr |
WR |
John Turner |
5'11 |
210 |
4.4 |
Sr |
DE |
Graham Cole |
6'0 |
240 |
4.7 |
Sr |
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| Projected Finish |
1 |
Garland |
2 |
South Garland |
3 |
Rockwall |
4 |
North Garland |
5 |
Sachse |
6 |
Rowlett |
7 |
Lakeview |
8 |
Naaman Forest |
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| Pre-Season Awards |
District Darkhorse |
South Garland |
District MVP |
Malcolm Williams
Garland |
Offensive MVP |
Nick Florence
South Garland |
Defensive MVP |
Jermaine Love
North Garland |
Diamond In The Rough |
Tony Dabney
Rockwall |
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| 2005 Records |
| Rowlett |
9-3 |
| Rockwall |
4-6 |
| Garland |
10-3 |
| Sachse |
6-4 |
| North Garland |
4-6 |
| Naaman Forest |
1-9 |
| Lakeview Cent. |
3-7 |
| South Garland |
8-5 |
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| Recruiting Key |
| THSF Top 200 Player |
| Top '07 Prospect |
| Top '08 Prospect |
| Top '09 Prospect |
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