What Rockwall-Heath was able to do pretty much shook the ground in District 10-4A. You see, the Hawks were able to supplant the big bad Highland Park Scots as the district champs.
This year, things will likely be back to normal.
Rockwall-Heath, a new program by "good team standards" made a lot of noise last season. but this year they come back without a bunch of big keys to that success, starting with Missouri-bound running back Kendial Lawrence, who accounted for well over 2,500 yards and better than 40 scores a year ago.
In all, the Hawks lost four Division I football players, but losing Lawrence hurts really badly.
At Highland Park, the Scots only return two starters on defense, but the offensive outlook is a completely different story.
The Scots return heralded quarterback Luke Woodley, who threw for 3,756 yards and 41 touchdowns a year ago. And he has some accomplished receivers coming back to join him in Morgan Stringer and Josh Francis.
Woodley will, however, have to wait until the second game of the year to get started because he is suspended for the season-opening game against Red Oak on Saturday night because of a DUI he received in the spring.
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One Cinderella team to look for out of 10-4A is Carrollton Newman Smith, which went 2-8 last season after moving down from 5A. However, they return quality at running back, wide receiver and quarterback, and have a couple of studs on defense. The Trojans could surprise some folks, starting with Friday night's opener when they host 4A No. 2 Denton Guyer.
Offensive MVP: Luke Woodley, QB, Highland Park
Defensive MVP: Tristan Farley, LB, Greenville
Game of the Year: Rockwall at Newman Smith, Week 8 (will decide fourth playoff spot)
Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/award-winning blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. He was in the hamburger race at QuikTrip Park.
