 |
| Preview Guide 2007 |
|
 |
|
By Christopher Lyke
Texas HS Football Chief Editor
Over the last few years this districts involving all five of these teams have made some sort of push into the deep rounds of the playoffs. Last year was no exception to the rule and the same sentiment may be felt on the upcoming 2007 season. The Liberty Hill Panthers found a way to grind through the playoffs last season and in the state title game they managed to upset favored Celina for their first state title. Now the question is whether or not this year's Liberty Hill squad with a target and bullseye squarely on them, repeat as the state champion. But to get back to that point, the Panthers will have to get through the district schedule. In the district, whether or not the other four teams in the district will rise up to give the Panthers a challenge is not the intriguing storyline. Where the storyline is, could be the suspense of who the remaining playoff teams will be.
But starting at the top with the defending state champions, coming back to the squad in 2007 includes solid group with plenty of experience, talent and depth. On the offensive side of the ball, Doug Allman returns from a season where he gained nearly 2,000 yards on the ground. Allman will be joined in the skill set by split end Kyle Staton and a solid nucleus up front. In the front lines, John Miller, Brandon Terry, Ryan Gillespie and Justin Bates are expected to be at the top of their game the vast majority of the season. Terry, a member of TexasHSFootball.com's Kennedale All-Combine Team, will also be key on the defensive side with Marlowe Poitier and Miller next to him. In the middle of the field, Cody Lattimore, one of the state's top returning linebackers, sits in for yet another season and is expected to produce similar numbers (124 tackles) to last year and yet he is only a junior. The bottom line on Liberty Hill is that this team plays no-mercy and grind out football like they last season, expect a return to the deep rounds.
Hutto is the likely team that may stand a chance and give Liberty Hill a run for its money. Although the Hippos have a daunting task at replacing Jeremy Kerley at the quarterback position, this team still has plenty of potential and firepower to make yet another playoff push. Two areas of the field where the Hippos are expected to excel is on the offensive and defenisve lines. As long as these positions and units on the field do their jobs and play hard, the Hippos should be able to give the younger players a good chance to develope in a quick and easy fashion. Look for junior lineman Corey Taylor to have a solid breakout season on the offensive side of the trenches. If this team can put the pieces of the puzzle toegther early, Hutto could be a solid surprise in the regional picture.
The battle for third could come between Cameron Yoe and Rockdale. Both teams are coming off a 2006 season that found themselves digging from the ground up after a series of miscues and misfortunes. While Cameron is looking to stay in the playoff picture and make a return despite a daunting rebuilding task, Rockdale must find a way to utilize the talent and opportunity that they have.
Cameron Yoe will be looking to sophomore Steven Townsend to fill the shoes left by Brian Scott at the QB1 spot. As Townsend is just getting his feet wet, so are most of the key elements of the offense but all is not lost in terms of experience and talent. Tight end Thomas Limmer and OT Nick Zajicek should give the younger players a pair of leaders to boot. Zajicek, like Liberty Hill's Brandon Terry, was also named to the THSF Kennedale All-Combine Team and will be serving double duty on the lines at defensive tackle. DE Jason Siegler joins Zajicek on the line and should be the key leader of the defense.
The big sleeper in the district could be the Rockdale Tigers providing they can utilize and produce their talent at a positive rate. Depth for this year's Tigers squad should be a distinct advantage and if this squad can reversethe results of last season, they could also be one of the bug surprises of the season. The key star in Tiger camp is rusher Korlin White. White, who is a player with solid speed and with 850 yards of dirt to his credit in 2006, will be counted on as the key workhorse and leader. Like that of Cameron Yoe, the Tigers will likely go with a sophomore to take over the reigns of the quarterback position but look for sophomore Joseph Sanders to split time with junior Mark Drake. Help for White, Sanders and Drake should be coming from an experienced line led by Nick Moorehead and Austin Dodds. Dodds should also be a key player on the defensive side. Joining Dodds in the opposite side of the field in the linebacker slots are Nick Hammett and Bobby Joe Tindle. Tindle is probably the best defensive player on the Tiger roster. With solid speed and decent soze, don't be shocked if he winds up as defensive MVP in the district. |
 |
 |
881 |
4-6 |
|
Team Radio |
|
|
Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
DE |
Greg Carter |
5'11 |
190 |
--- |
Sr |
RB |
Tristan Meyer |
6'1 |
190 |
--- |
Sr |
LB/RB |
Jake Farr |
6'2 |
220 |
--- |
Sr |
|
|
 |
778 |
7-3 |
|
Team Radio |
|
|
Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
OL |
Cory Taylor |
6'2 |
299 |
--- |
Jr |
TE/DE |
Nehemiah Hicks |
6'3 |
205 |
--- |
Sr |
|
|
 |
599 |
13-2 |
|
Team Radio |
|
|
Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
FB |
Doug Allman |
5'10 |
205 |
4.7 |
Sr |
LB |
Cody Lattimore |
6'0 |
205 |
4.7 |
Jr |
OL/DL |
John Miller |
6'0 |
220 |
4.6 |
Sr |
OL/DL |
Brandon Terry |
5'11 |
262 |
5.1 |
Jr |
DE |
Marlowe Poitier |
6'4 |
230 |
4.7 |
Sr |
|
|
 |
524 |
2-8 |
|
Team Radio |
|
|
Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
QB |
Mark Drake |
6'2 |
180 |
4.8 |
Jr |
RB |
Kortlin White |
5'11 |
205 |
4.5 |
Sr |
OL |
Nick Moorehead |
6'1 |
250 |
5.4 |
Sr |
LB |
Bobby Joe Tindle |
6'0 |
190 |
4.5 |
Sr |
OL/LB |
Austin Dodds |
6'0 |
250 |
5.3 |
Sr |
LB/TE |
Nick Hammett |
6'4 |
210 |
4.8 |
Jr |
QB |
Joseph Sanders |
6'1 |
170 |
4.7 |
So |
|
|
 |
452 |
6-5 |
|
Team Radio |
|
|
Pos |
Name |
HT |
WT |
40 |
YR |
QB |
Steven Townsend |
5'10 |
160 |
4.6 |
So |
WR |
Jeremy Burleson |
5'9 |
160 |
4.6 |
Jr |
OL/DL |
Nick Zaijcek |
6'2 |
267 |
5.4 |
Sr |
TE |
Thomas Limmer |
6'4 |
200 |
4.7 |
Sr |
DE |
Jason Siegler |
6'0 |
220 |
4.8 |
Sr |
DB |
Jordan Beckhusen |
5'9 |
160 |
4.7 |
Sr |
|
|
|
 |
| Cameron Yoe Yoemen |
Yoe Field
N Fannin Ave. & East 15th St.
Cameron, TX 76520 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 3,500 (est.)
Directions To Stadium |
| Huto Hippos |
Hippo Stadium
500 FM 685
Hutto, TX 78634 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 3,000 (est.)
Directions To Stadium |
| Liberty Hill Panthers |
Panther Stadium
Main St. & Barrington Ln.
Liberty Hill, TX 78642 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 1,567 (approx.)
Directions To Stadium |
| Rockdale Tigers |
Tiger Stadium
Murray Ave. & Miller St.
Rockdale, TX 76567 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 2,580 (approx.)
Directions To Stadium |
| Taylor Ducks |
Memorial Stadium
Davis St. & W Lake Dr.
Taylor, TX 76574 |
Surface: Grass
Capacity: 3,210 (approx.)
Directions To Stadium |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
 |
Preview Guide Line Up |
|
| Projected Finish |
1 |
Liberty Hill |
2 |
Hutto |
3 |
Cameron Yoe |
4 |
Rockdale |
5 |
Taylor |
|
| Pre-Season Awards |
District Darkhorse |
Rockdale |
District MVP |
Cody Lattimore
Liberty Hill |
Offensive MVP |
Kortlin White
Rockdale |
Defensive MVP
|
Marlowe Portier
Liberty Hill |
Diamond In The Rough |
Brandon Terry
Liberty Hill |
|
| 2006 Records |
| Taylor |
4-6 |
| Hutto |
7-3 |
| Liberty Hill |
13-2 |
| Rockdale |
2-8 |
| Cameron Yoe |
6-5 |
|
| Recruiting Key |
THSF Top 200 Player |
Top 2008 Prospect |
Top 2009 Prospect |
Top 2010 Prospect |
|
| Preview Sponsor |
|
| |
|
| |
|
