When stacking up the teams in District 7-5A, you really just need to look at Cedar Hill, or as I like to call it, "The Chill".
Head coach Joey McGuire & Co. are loaded with talent and shouldn't have much trouble holding off Duncanville and South Grand Prairie for the district championship. In fact, a district title should really be a forgone conclusion for the Longhorns, who have aspirations of winning another state championship to remind fans of their magical 2006 state title season.
Cedar Hill doesn't lack in starpower, and it all begins with running back Ben Malena, who's committed to Texas A&M after a phenomenal junior season which saw him rush for 2,202 yards and a gaudy 35 touchdowns on the ground. And he has six teammates returning from last year's offensive unit, including guard Adam Shead, who's committed to Oklahoma, up front to open holes for him.
The Longhorns' offense will be run by one of the better junior quarterbacks in the area in Driphus Jackson, a dual-threat QB who should improve on his sophomore numbers. But make no mistake, this offense will go as Malena takes it as McGuire will stick with his smashmouth philosophy he's used for so long.
If they can't score seven every time, the Longhorns even have a Division I-bound kicker in Eduardo Camara, who's set to kick at Arkansas.
On defense, Cedar Hill has one of the most dynamic defenders in the state in linebacker Aaron Benson. A Texas commit, Benson registered 155 tackles a season ago to go with his seven sacks and three interceptions.
Neither Duncanville nor South Grand Prairie have much of a shot of knocking off "the Chill", and after those two teams, it should be a cake walk for the Big 3 as Irving MacArthur, Irving, Irving Nimitz and Grand Prairie will all be fodder.
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Offensive MVP: Ben Malena, RB, Cedar Hill
Defensive MVP: Aaron Benson, LB, Cedar Hill
Game of the Year: Duncanville at South Grand Prairie, Week 8
Adam Boedeker is a sports writer/award-winning blogger for the Denton Record-Chronicle. He's off to Tunica, Mississippi for one last vacation!
