Royse City — Last season the Royse City Bulldogs kicked off their season with what you might call ‘graduation dehydration’.  In just their second season as a Class 4A high school football program, in one of the most respected districts in the state, they were also trying to make adjustments after losing 34 seniors to graduation.   But there was never an excuse heard, or a discouraging remark made, just another season of hard work that eventually paid off in the end.

The Bulldogs ended their 2009 season with a 1-9 record, but that lone win came in the last game of the season.  Hard work and positive attitudes prevailed as the Bulldogs hammered a hapless Carrollton R.L. Turner team with a 55-23 defeat in that final game.  Now that season is tucked away and a new season has arrived.  With hard work in the off season and even more positive attitudes, along with 8 offensive and 8 defensive starters returning for a much more promising season in 2010.

With the new season and the new team, come a new district and a new schedule. That schedule will commence at 7:30 this Friday night at Royse City ISD Stadium as the Bulldogs will take on the Mesquite Poteet Pirates for the first time ever.

This is a realignment year and that means the Bulldogs have shifted their focus from the confines of the concrete jungle of the Dallas/Fort Worth area to East Texas and the Piney Woods Region.  Both areas offer the best of Texas High School Football, but the East Texas district certainly does offer a reprieve from the traffic saturated routes we have grown accustomed to the past couple of seasons.

With the exception of the district games against Denison and Sherman, the Bulldog buses will be headed up and down the Interstate Highway 30 corridor for the next couple of years.

To get you into the Fall spirit of Royse City High School Football, here is a little help for your 2010 season itinerary, beginning this week.  One way mileage and estimated travel time is included for those going to junior varsity, freshmen or the varsity games.  A little helpful hint; you may want to keep a little extra cash in the cookie jar for gas expense for the next few months.

All varsity games begin at 7:30. Since there are multiple JV and Freshmen teams, those starting times can vary, so it would be best to check with your coaches each week for correct kickoff times.

Week zero- August 27- Mesquite Poteet Pirates at Royse City – mileage/travel time -21 miles, 28 minutes.

Projected District 15-4A finish- Ninth

Players to watch-Kicker Stewart McDonnell was 6 of 8 in field goal attempts last season.  His longest was 57 yards. Last year’s quarterback is now a wide receiver, Courtland Cumby.  Leading tackler and linebacker Craig Suits returns along with 6 other defensive starters. Suits had 158 tackles in 2010.

Notable- This is the first time ever that the Royse City Bulldogs football team has played Mesquite Poteet.  This is Coach Randy Jackson’s first season with the Pirates.  He comes from a highly successful program he developed with the Lone Oak Buffaloes.

Week one- September 3, Royse City at Frisco High Raccoons- mileage/travel time- 51 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes

Projected District 9-4A finish- Sixth

Players to watch-  Carlos Harris, junior RB, has great speed.  Harris was named Sophomore of the Year last season. Taylor Lasecki, senior OL, is a potential DI college recruit.

Notable-  The Frisco Racoons is the original high school in Frisco which now supports six high schools due to extreme growth in the past few years.   Frisco High has been on a losing streak as of lately, but this year’s team is expected to stop that drought. Five of the Frisco high schools are in this district.

Week two- September 10-Royse City at Rockwall Yellowjackets- mileage/travel time- 10 miles, 12 minutes

Projected District 10-4A finish- Third

Players to watch- Josh Broach, senior RB, rushed for 1400 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2009. Allen Reed, senior QB, however a quarterback controversy could be brewing. Spencer Edwards, junior All-District DB, is back to help out on a much improved Rockwall defense.

Notable-   Always a pivotal football game for both teams and a rivalry that has lasted over 80 years. The two Rockwall County schools square off again after sharing positions in District 10-4A for the past two seasons. Recently Royse City defeated Rockwall in 2008 and the Yellowjackets defeated the Bulldogs in 2009.  Prior to those meetings, the two teams had not played each other for over 40 years.

Week three- Royse City Homecoming- September 17-Frisco Liberty Redhawks at Royse City- mileage/travel time- 51 miles, 1 hour 10 minutes

Projected District 9-4A finish-  First

Players to watch- This is actually a team to watch.  Senior tailback Jay Ajayi returns after rushing for over 1500 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns in 2009.  Senior wide receiver Cameron Brown is a deep threat in the Redhawks passing game.  Hunter and Ryan Clark are two brothers that return to anchor the offensive line.  Both will be seniors this year after they received All-District honors in 2009.

Notable- This is just the second varsity season for Frisco Liberty.  This is also their second head football coach in their school’s history.  However in 2009, Liberty lost 3 of their first four football games and then went on to be just two points away from advancing to the Class 4A State Quarterfinals.  Nearly every skill position player returns, but the Redhawks took a big hit on defense by graduation. The Royse City Bulldogs will celebrate homecoming this evening.

Week four- September 24- First District 13-4A game- Royse City at Texarkana Texas High Tigers- mileage/travel time- 148 miles, 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Projected District 13-4A finish- First

Players to watch- Senior Kody Sutton RB and Junior Travis Turner RB spell trouble for any team, as the tandem tailbacks should replace the void left by Quarterback Nathan Sorenson (Oklahoma State).  Add an experienced offensive line and several defensive starters returning and the Tigers are expected to have a firm grip on that District 13-4A trophy.  The Bulldogs from Royse City may have other plans for that trophy as this could be the game that determines the championship.  You can expect the Bulldogs to have plans to pry that trophy loose from the Tiger’s grip.

Notable- Texarkana Texas High is the largest school in the district (1989 students) and their 2009 season ended in the Area Championship round at Royse City ISD Stadium against the Waxahachie Indians.  It is feasible that those two schools could match up again this year.   Even though this is a straight shot from Royse City to Texarkana on IH 30, it is still a long trip, so for safety’s sake, allow plenty of time to get to the stadium. By the way, Grimm Stadium in Texarkana is one of the historical high school football stadiums in the state, so arrive early, if possible, and enjoy the evening.

Week five- October 1- Open Week- However… Brownsboro, District 17-3A and Van Alstyne from District 10-3A will be playing that Thursday night, September 30 at Royse City ISD Stadium. Both teams are expected to contend for their district championships and Royse City has been selected as the venue for that pre-district matchup. The Bulldogs will not be playing that week, but there will be a game to keep the season from skipping a beat.

Week six- October 8- Denison Yellowjackets at Royse City- mileage/travel time- 68 miles- 1 hour and 29 minutes

Projected District 13-4A finish- Fourth

Players to watch- The Denison offensive line, Elijah Butler junior RB and senior quarterback Tyler McLaren.  Three year starting linebacker Stacy Goldston also returns.

Notable- Following a 25-3 run over the past two years and a State Semi-Finalist run in 2009, the Yellowjackets have been decimated by graduation at practically every position.  However, Denison is a football factory and new and talented players are expected to fill the graduation void.

Week seven- October 15- Royse City at Sherman Bearcats- mileage/travel time- 66 miles- 1 hour and 21 minutes

Projected District 13-4A finish-   second

Players to watch- Zac Whitfield, senior RB, rushed for nearly 1100 yards and 14 touchdowns on just 105 carries. Thor Long, senior QB, a transfer that could become a DI college prospect. Wider receiver Nathan James returns as a quick and hard to defend receiver.  Defensively the Bearcats are young.

Notable- Sherman’s head football coach is Gary Kinne, formally of Canton.  Sherman is one of the oldest football programs in the state and their storied rivalry with Denison dates back 111 years.  Some think that this could be Sherman’s year to excel, however last season’s 8-3 record was not so bad.

Week 8- October 22- Greenville Lions at Royse City- mileage/travel time- 19 miles, 21 minutes

Projected District 13-4A finish-  Sixth

Players to watch- Junior QB Jeffro Davis, senior WR Devonte Green, senior DB Cobbie Johnson, senior LB Tristain Farley, Alfred Champion senior RB and Lajorian Harris senior RB.

Notable- Greenville’s new head football coach is Chawn Cooper.  Coach Cooper comes from an assistant position at a very successful program at Caddo Mills High School. Coach Cooper may be the consistency that the Lion football program needs.  He has lived in the district for several years and has served as an assistant at Greenville in the 1990’s. The Lions took a hit from graduation, but return a very talented core of players that have speed.  Lack of size may be of concern.

Week 9- October 29- Royse City at Mount Pleasant Tigers- mileage/travel time- 89 miles, 1 hour and 29 minutes. 

Projected District 13-4A finish- Seventh

Players to watch- Bennie Blaze senior RB and Cannon Carter senior RB, Sam Redfearn senior TE and senior DL Roman Miller

Notable- Several school hired new football coaches in the realignment year and Mount Pleasant was one of those schools.  Mart Graham has been an assistant on the Mount Pleasant staff for four years and it is expected that he will stick with the running game that has been so successful for the Tigers.  Mount Pleasant lost a lot of talent to graduation, but with returning running backs with names like Blaze and Cannon, you can’t go wrong.

Week 10- November 5- Sulphur Springs Wildcats at Royse City- mileage/travel time- 50 miles, 50 minutes

Projected District 13-4A finish- Third

Players to watch-   Kody Chester senior RB and junior quarterback Justin Owens return to give the Wildcats a leg up on the talented skill positions. Depth at running back is a plus for the Wildcats as speedy junior Dadrian Smith returns.  The Wildcats are also deep at the defensive secondary positions as Tylan Harris and Sherard Timmons return.

Notable- Just two years removed from a Class 4A State Championship, those freshmen and sophomores have now grown up to take the Wildcat’s reigns.  Also, Sulphur Springs did play until the State Quarterfinals last season.  Expect the Wildcats to be a ‘Championship Contender’ and this final game at Royse City ISD Stadium could have very strong playoff implications for both teams. This is also Senior Parent Night in Royse City.