Royse City holds off Newman Smith’s fourth-quarter rally Thursday night, winning 24-16

After taking 17-0 and 24-3 leads during the first three quarters, Royse City held off a furious 16-point rally by Newman Smith Thursday night, escaping with a 24-16 victory at Carrollton Standridge Stadium.

The Bulldogs (6-3, 4-2) were led as usual by quarterback Richard Morrison, who threw for 231 yards and three touchdowns, including a 57 yard completion to Justin Jacobs in the third quarter which proved to be the difference.

Bulldog receiver Eric Schneider caught five passes for 75 yards.

Royse City’s defense held Newman Smith (2-7, 2-4) scoreless for three quarters, but in the fourth allowed 16 points which turned a potential rout into a close game.

Al Lasker caught both fourth quarter touchdowns to lead the late charge, but Newman Smith failed to recover a desperation onside kick with less than a minute remaining.

For more stories, scores and photos, visit the Sports page at www.rockwallrocks.com.

Final funeral arrangements announced for Bobby Graves

 

Bobby Graves

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Final funeral arrangements have now been announced for Heath resident Bobby Graves by his family.

A viewing and visitation with his family and friends will be  Sunday, Nov. 2, from 2-4 pm, at Resthaven Funeral Home, 2500 State Hwy. 66 East, Rockwall 75087. Resthaven is just a mile or two East of Downtown Rockwall on Highway 66.

A Sunday evening viewing had been announced and posted yesterday but caused too many conflicts for family and friends coming from many locations.

The funeral will be this Monday, Nov. 3, at 10 am, at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. Pastor Steve Stroope is supervising the funeral services. Pastor Stroope was among the first people to visit the Graves family after the tragic news of Bobby’s death was received.

For more information, also visit the Home page at www.rockwallrocks.com. We expect to be posting additional details about his life, plus photos of Bobby and his family soon.

Heath entrepreneur businessman Bobby Graves dies in hunting accident

Bobby Graves

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With deep sadness, we report the tragic death yesterday of young entrepreneur businessman Bobby Graves of Heath.

Bobby was well-known and well-liked throughout the community, owned several businesses and employed over 30 people.

Although details are still sketchy, Bobby was apparently killed yesterday afternoon in a hunting accident at his cattle ranch in Rains County , when he apparently fell near a creek and his gun discharged. Since he was alone at the time, no one actually knows the details. When he did not respond to numerous cell phone calls from his business associates, his ranch hands began searching for him, found his empty truck and then his body.

In just his mid-30s, Bobby was a loving husband and father who owned several businesses, including a mortgage company, a concert lighting and medical equipment firm. He also raised a large herd of cattle on his farm.

Bobby leaves behind his wife, Shelle Graves, two teenage step-daughters, two daughters – ages 12 and 8 – plus their 6-year-old son. The children all attend public schools in Heath.  read more

For final funeral arrangement details, see the additional blog entry: “Final funeral arrangements announced for Bobby Graves.”

Rockwall-Heath moves up to 4th in Class 4A-District 10 Area football rankings

After rallying to beat Richardson Pearce Friday night, 55-49, the Rockwall Heath Hawks (8-0) moved from fifth to fourth place in the Dallas Morning News Class 4A-District 10 Area football rankings.

Rockwall-Heath is averaging 41 points and 464.8 yards against District 10-4A opponents.

Royse City stayed in 12th place, after barely losing to top-ranked Highland Park, 48-45.

The rankings are:

Rk. Team W-L Pts Pvs.
1. Highland Park 8-0 120 1
2. Everman 8-0 114 2
3. Carter 8-0 108 4
4. Rockwall-Heath 8-0 102 5
5. Ennis 7-1 92 3
6. Lincoln 3-4* 84 7
7. Waxahachie 6-2 83 8
8. Lake Dallas 6-2 82 6
9. Denton Ryan 6-2 73 9
10. FW Dunbar 7-1 66 10
11. Forney 7-1 56 11
12. Royse City 5-3 52 12
13. Denton Guyer 6-2 48 13
14. The Colony 6-2 35 17
15. West Mesquite 5-4 34 NR
T16. South Oak Cliff 5-3 22 14
T16. Lancaster 4-4 22 15
18. Birdville 6-2 19 NR
19. FW Southwest 5-3 12 20
20. McKinney 4-4 11 NR

*Lincoln forfeited four games for using an ineligible player.
Dropped out: No. 16 Corsicana, No. 18 Frisco Centennial, No. 19 Pinkston

For more sports scores, stories and photos, visit the Sports page at http://www.rockwallrocks.com

Rockwall HCA rips Dallas Covenant, 58-20

By Jeff Mateer

TAPPS No. 1 ranked Heritage Christian Academy defeated district rival Dallas Covenant School 58 to 20 this past Saturday.

The Eagles were led by Senior Noah Ward, who caught two touchdown passes and returned a fumble recovery 77 yards for another score.

Senior Zach Read completed 8 of 13 passes for 233 yards, throwing for 4 touchdowns.

HCA’s defense created 6 turnovers, including two interceptions a piece by Read and Josh Peschell and fumble recoveries by Ward and Travis Arterburn.

HCA (7-1) travels to Waxahachie next Friday to take on the Waxahachie Eagle Advantage Academy (5-3) in a non-district game.

For more sports scores, stories and photos, visit the Sports page at http://www.rockwallrocks.com.

Rockwall-Heath stays unbeaten, barely escapes with 55-49 overtime victory over Richardson Pearce

Rockwall-Heath running back Kendial Lawrence rushed for 306 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner in overtime, as the unbeaten Hawks (8-0, 5-0) escaped with a victory in overtime Friday night in a wild one over Richardson Pearce (3-5, 2-3), 55-49, in District 10-4A action at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium in Rockwall.

Hawks kicker Brad Howse kicked an 18-yard field goal to tie the score in regulation time, setting the stage for Lawrence’s two-yard plunge to win the game. He also kicked a 34-yard field goal and connected on five of five PATs.

Hawk running back Everett Gilbert also scored three touchdowns, plus a two-point conversion, while rushing for 179 yards on 13 carries. He also caught four passes for 79 yards.

Although the Hawks took a commanding 17-6 first quarter lead and increased it to 24-6 early in the second quarter, J.J. Pearce stormed back with 21 unanswered points and led 27-24 midway through the third quarter.

Pearce was led by quarterback Caleb Lewis, who completed 24 of 40 passes for 422 yards and six touchdowns; Blake Jumonville, who caught five passes for 161 yards and three TDS; plus Michael Webb, who caught 9 passes for 75 yards.

Gilbert then scored on 43 and 29 yard runs to put the Hawks back in front, 38-27.

Not to be outdone, Pearce rallied for 20 more points, while Rockwall-Heath scored only seven, on Gilbert’s third TD run for 15 yards.

With the score tied 46-46 in the fourth quarter, both teams then traded field goals, setting the stage for the overtime. Pearce’s Michael Hunnicut kicked a long 45-yarder to take a brief 49-46 lead.

Rockwall-Heath (8-0, 5-0) finished the night by generating 650 yards of total offense, rushing for 466 total yards.

Quarterback Drew Hollingshead completed 9 of 14 passes for 187 yards and one TD, a 62-yard pass to Matt Bielski in the second quarter. Bielski caught three passes during the game for 94 yards.

For more local sports scores, stories and photos, please visit the Sports page at http://www.rockwallrocks.com.

Royse City nearly defeats No. 1 ranked Highland Park in wild shootout, 48-45

Royse City quarterback Richard Morrison generated 500 yards of total offense, scoring two TDs and passing for four more, as the Bulldogs nearly upset the area’s top-ranked 4A and undefeated Highland Park Scots, 48-45, Friday night at Highland Park.

In the wild shootout, both teams combined for 1,000 yards of total offense and 50 first downs.

Ahead 28-7 two minutes into the second quarter, it appeared that Royse City (5-3, 3-2) was well on its way to upsetting Highland Park (8-0, 5-0), until the Scots found their composure and scored 39 straight, unanswered points during the second and third quarters, taking a 46-28 lead.

Royse City stormed back with 15 straight of their own points during the third and fourth quarters, but it wasn’t quite enough to win.

Morrison shocked the Scots crowd on the first Bulldog offensive series when he threw a 65-yard touchdown bomb to Justin Jacobs, barely one minute into the game. Then he surprised Scots fans again on the next series with a 30-yard pass to Jacobs and another 30-yarder for a TD to Devin Bryant.

The two scores marked the first time all season that Highland Park had not scored first in a game, and left the Scots down 14-0.

University of Arizona recruit Morrison finished the game with 209 yards rushing on 16 carries, and 291 yards passing, completing 16 of 31, with one interception.

Jacobs grabbed six passes for 144 yards and two TDs.

Running back Dave Frank rushed for 71 yards on only five carries.

Kicker Kollin Padon connected on five of five PATs.

Highland Park’s comeback was led by quarterback Luke Woodley, who completed 20-30 passes for 248 yards, rushed for one touchdown and passed for two more.

Scots Running back Bryan Dickenson rushed 25 times for 201 yards and one TD. He also grabbed eight passes for 77 yards.

Although Royse City lost, the Bulldogs remain in strong contention for a playoff berth.

For more local Sports scores, photos and stories, visit the Sports page at http://www.rockwallrocks.com

Urgent need!…fill this truck with food now for Boles Children’s Home food drive at Toyota of Rockwall

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Please join with thousands of other rockwallrocks.com readers and help us to fill this pickup bed immediately with non-perishable food items to support the food drive for the Boles Children’s Home in Quinlan at Toyota of Rockwall through early November.

The holidays are just around the corner and the 84-year-old Christian home for abused and troubled children, plus pregnant girls and teen mothers in Quinlan, needs our help with donations of non-perishable foods, plus many other items.

Take as many packaged goods and cans of food as you can today to Toyota of Rockwall, located on the I-30 feeder road, just East of the intersection of I-30 and Hwy. 205, where the Luv’s truck stop is located. You can call the dealership at 1-888-891-0356.

Many other items are also needed, including a 15-passenger van, long children’s tables, toddler chairs, infant swings, bath towels, blankets, quilts, TVs with DVD players, automatic defibulators and more!

For details, please read the Boles Children’s Home Wishlist on their website.

Toyota of Rockwall owners Steve and Barbara Jackson say they are anxious to use their new award-winning, environmentally-friendly dealership to help make a difference in the Rockwall County area. The food drive is just one of several efforts they are planning and scheduling.

Rockwall posts big win, beats Carrollton Newman-Smith, 41-6

Quarterback Adam Dingwell completed 11 of 12 passes for 186 yards for two TDs and rushed for another to lead Rockwall to a 41-6 pasting of Carrollton’s Newman-Smith High School last night in District 10-4A action at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium in Rockwall.

Yellow Jackets’ Running back Josh Broach rushed for 56 yards on 11 carries, scoring a 31-yard touchdown, plus caught a 20-yard TD pass from Dingwell.

Running back Jarron White rushed 74 yards on five carries, including a 67-yard run in the second quarter. 

Kicker Grant Gunderson also scored on a 53-yard punt return in the third quarter, kicked two of three extra points and made six tackles for Rockwall (3-5, 2-3).

Newman-Smith dominated time of possession nearly two to one, plus made 18 first downs to the Yellow Jackets’ ten, but they fumbled twice inside Rockwall’s 10- yard line – including a dropped snap from center at the one-yard line.

A blocked field goal and superb defensive play by Rockwall kept Newman-Smith scoreless until the third quarter.

For more Rockwall area sports scores, photos and stories, visit the Sports page at www.rockwallrocks.com.

Rockwall’s HCA wins homecoming game, thumps Lakehill Prep, 68-24

Senior Zach Read intercepts pass and runs for touchdown
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By Jeffrey C. Mateer

Celebrating its homecoming, the Rockwall HCA (Heritage Christian Academy) Eagles opened district play with an impressive 68 to 24 victory over visiting Lakehill Preparatory Academy Friday night.

HCA jumped out to a 24-0 first quarter lead in cruising to its win. HCA was led by senior quarterback Zach Read, who threw for six TD passes, completing 11 of 12 passes for 278 yards. On defense, Read also intercepted two passes, returning one for a TD.

Seniors Josh Peschell, Josh Points and Noah Ward each caught two TD passes, while senior Kevin Prater rushed for two TDs. Sophomore kicker Aaron Mateer rounded out the scoring, converting 7 of 9 PATS for 14 points.

The No. 1 ranked team in TAPPS Six-Ma, HCA (6-1), will return to district action next Saturday, October 25, when the Eagles visit The Covenant School of Dallas (5-2) with a 2 pm kickoff.

For more local sports scores, stories and photos, visit the Sports page at http://www.rockwallrocks.com.