Rockwall-Heath vs Highland Park in District 10-4A championship game this Friday night

The football game we’ve all been waiting for all season long for all the marbles in District 10-4A will be played this Friday at 7:30 pm when the state’s sixth-ranked 4A school, pre-season favorite and perennial district champion Highland Park (8-1, 6-0) play defending champion Rockwall-Heath (7-2, 5-1) at Highland Park.

The Hawks have overcome the loss last year of such standouts and now college players as Kendial Lawrence (Missouri), Austin Moss (Arkansas), Everett Gilbert (Montana State) and Drew Hollingshead (Houston).

Led by senior quarterback Kevin Rodgers, who’s completed 136 of 218 passes for 2,024 yards, 12 TDs and only five interceptions, the Hawks only losses came in their opening game against District 9-4A co-leader Sherman (8-1), 40-31,  plus to 10-4A rival Carrollton Newman Smith (7-2, 5-1), 28-14.

Other Hawks standouts have been offensive lineman and Oklahoma recruit Austin Woods, running backs Dorian Lawry and Jesse Irokwe, receivers Cameron Wilson and Ryan Peterson, kicker Trevor Pinkston and defenders Drew Baxter and Armondo Villa.

The high-scoring Scots only loss came against Class 5A power Coppell (8-1) early in the season, 41-20.

Led by quarterback Luke Woodley, who’s completed 182 of 251 passes for 2841 yards (fourth highest in the N. TX Area), 30 TDs and only four interceptions,  they have been undefeated in District 10-4A play since, exceeding 50 points in each of its six victories.

The Scots have the no. 2 Area 4-A offense, averaging 500 yards per game.

Scot receiver Chris Hipps is the leading receiver in Class 4-A with 61 catches for 1162 yards and 15 TDs.

If Highland Park wins the game, they will become the outright District 10-4A champion.

If Heath wins, there would be a three-way tie for first place, if Newman Smith beats powerful Richardson Pearce (6-3, 4-2) Friday night.

Regardless of who wins and loses, these four teams from District 10-4A will advance to the playoffs. Only four can progress into post-season play.

Rockwall (4-5, 2-4) will try to stop its three-game losing streak Friday night as it closes out its disappointing season at Greenville (5-4, 2-4).

Royse City (0-9, 0-6) will complete its rebuilding year by attempting to win its first game of the season at Carrollton’s winless R.L. Turner (0-9, 0-6).

Rockwall-Heath scores 21 straight points in second half to win homecoming game over Royse City, 31-24

Although the 10-10 halftime score was close, Rockwall-Heath scored 21 straight points in the second half behind the passing and running of quarterback Kevin Rodgers and won their homecoming game, 31-24, in a District 10-4A offensive show against neighboring Royse City Friday night at Rockwall.

Despite the loss, rebuilding and improving Royse City (0-4, 0-7) did make it closer than expected by rolling up 490 yards total offense, including 438 yards passing by Bulldog quarterback Taylor Corbin.

Click here to read the rest of the story at TheRockwallNews.com.

Greenville scores 21 straight points, blasts Royse City, 45-28

After Royse City grabbed an early 7-0 lead on a 1-yard run by Ryan Fedric on the game’s opening drive, Greenville scored 21 straight points on three touchdowns and PATs and never looked  back, blasting the rebuilding Bulldogs, 45 to 28, Friday night in a 10-4A District game at Royse City Stadium.

Click here to read the story at TheRockwallNews.com.

Royce City crushed in home opener by Frisco Wakeland, 45-6

Royse City’s Ryan Fedric scored a touchdown on a 51-yard run during the third quarter but that was about the only excitement the Bulldogs could muster in their home opener Friday night as Frisco Wakeland crushed the Bulldogs, 58-6.

Click here to read the complete story in TheRockwallNews.com.

Royse City loses opener to Atlanta, 27-26, when two point conversion run fails

A two-yard run for a two-point conversion was stopped short by Atlanta’s defense after Royse City’s Ryan Fedric’s six-yard TD run and the Bulldogs lost their first game of the season in a hard-fought game Friday night, 27-26, in Atlanta.

Click here to read the complete story at www.TheRockwallNews.com.

Turnovers costly as Royse City loses playoff game to undefeated Dennison, 41-24

Turnovers cost the Royse City Bulldogs dearly Friday night as undefeated Dennison (11-0) scored two touchdowns on fumble recoveries, plus intercepted two of Royse City (7-4) quarterback Richard Morrison’s passes, and beat the Bulldogs, 41-24, at SMU’s Ford Stadium.

The two TDs proved to be the difference, as Dennison’s Aaron Morrison recovered and returned a fumble 31 yards in the first quarter, and Shalamar Traylor recovered and returned another fumble 25 yards in the fourth quarter.

The Bulldogs had more first downs than Dennison, 22-15, and gained 343 yards total offense, but were unable to stop Dennison’s dynamic duo of running back D.J. Jones and quarterback Jordan Taylor.

Jones scored three touchdowns, on runs of nine yards in the first quarter, 56 yards in the third quarter, plus a 65-yard pass reception in the third quarter, when Dennison took control and led 34-10. Overall he rushed for 180 yards on 22 carries and caught two passes for 68 yards. 

Taylor rushed for 99 yards on 10 carries and completed 9 of 11 passes for 144 yards, including the TD pass to Jones.

Royse City came alive and rallied for two TDs and a two-point PAT in the fourth quarter.

Richard Morrison, who completed 23 of 45 passes for 245 yards, threw a 10-yard touchdown strike to Devin Bryant, plus Frank Dave burst in from one yard out. Justin Jacobs then caught a pass from Morrison for two points.

But time then just ran out for the Bulldogs, after an excellent season.

For more sports scores and stories, see the Sports page at www.rockwallrocks.com

Rockwall-Heath, Royse City, begin playoff action Friday night

Class 4-A playoff action begins this Friday night for two Rockwall County high school football teams.

The Area’s No. 1 ranked Rockwall-Heath (10-0) takes on Frisco Centennial (6-4) at Wylie’s Pirate Stadium, beginning at 7:30 pm. The Hawks are averaging 39.8 points and 414 yards per game.

Beginning at the same time, Royse City (7-3) will play undefeated Dennison (10-0) at SMU’s Ford Stadium. Dennison was the 12th-ranked Class 4A team in the state last week.

Go Hawks and Bulldogs!

Rockwall-Heath now No. 1-ranked Class 4A Area team!

Just as I recommended two days ago, undefeated Rockwall-Heath (10-0, 7-0) is now the no. 1-ranked Classs 4-A team in the Area, according to the Dallas Morning News poll just released!

Led by the Area’s leading rusher and scorer, Kendial Lawrence, the Hawks jumped three spots from fourth to first, replacing the team they beat last Friday night, Highland Park (9-1). The Scots dropped to fourth, behind Everman (10-0) and Dallas Carter (10-0). 

Rounding out the top 10 are Ennis (9-1), Lincoln (5-4), Waxahachie (7-3), Ft. Worth Dunbar (9-1), Forney (9-1) and Denton Guyer (8-2).

Ranked number 11 is Royse City (7-3), which moved up from no. 12.

Playoff action begins this week. For more sports scores, stories and photos, visit the Sports page at www.rockwallrocks.com.

Royse City warms up for playoffs by pounding Carrollton Turner, 48-0

Royse City’s do-everything quarterback and U. of Arizona recruit Richard Morrison threw for two touchdowns in the first half, Kollin Padon kicked two long field goals of 48 and 40 yards in the third quarter, and the Bulldogs warmed up for the playoffs by pounding Carrollton R.L. Turner 48-0 Friday night at Royse City ISD Stadium.

With the game never in doubt, Royse City (7-3, 5-2) ran up 407 yards total offense while limiting winless Turner (0-10, 0-7) to just 179 total yards, including only seven yards rushing.

After rolling up a 38-0 halftime lead, the Bulldogs’ Dylan Duncan took over at quarterback. He completed 4 of 7 passes for 68 yards, including a scoring pass of 24 yards to Keenan Austin in the fourth quarter to end the scoring.

Preparing for next Friday’s first-round playoff match against undefeated Dennison, Royse City spread the scoring around. Six different players scored TDs, besides Austin.

Frank Dave opened the scoring in the first quarter with a three-yard run, a few of his 45 yards on six carries.

Devin Bryant caught a 16-yard pass from Morrison in the first quarter, one of his two catches on the night for 25 yards.

Justin Jacobs grabbed a 14-yard TD strike from Morrison in the second quarter, plus two more passes for a total of 37 yards.

Ryan Fedric, who rushed 10 times for 90 yards, scored near the end of the first half on a four-yard burst.

In the third quarter, Lewis Mapps scored on a 14-yard run, part of his 69 yards on seven carries. 

Kicker Kollin Padon also connected on six of six PATs.

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

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.