Newman Smith Ready for Long-Awaited Playoff Berth

Trojans earn postseason bid for first time in 26 years

When Carrollton's Newman Smith High School nearly rallied and shocked Denton Guyer, the state's second-ranked team in Class 4A, during the season opener, it seemed as if it was just a big let up by Guyer.

Now, the Wildcats can thank Newman Smith for legitimizing that "hiccup" after the Trojans have clinched a playoff berth -- their first since 1983.

Newman Smith has gone through growing pains, struggling mightily the past two seasons while working in a youthful group of skill position players, but this season they are rounding into championship form. Though they'd need a lot of help, their chances at a District 10-4A title are still there.

The Trojans aren't real big up front, but they are loaded with skill players and a small group of great two-way players.

Offensively, they're led by QB Aldo Quiroga, who's a legitimate dual threat guy under center. Then they have a bruising runner in RB Randall Joyner, a RB/WR with speed in Braxton Bearden and a beast of a wide receiver in Al Lasker, who's averaging around 30 yards per reception after tearing his ACL just six months ago. Lasker's story is really pretty amazing the more you think about it.

Overall, this is a good story of perseverance and hard work paying off. Congrats to the Trojans.

Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/award-winning blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. He's shocked by Andre Agassi's revelation.

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