District 6-4A Preview & Predictions

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DISTRICT 6-4A

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

Team                        Enrollment/Bracket

1. Birdville                        1,916 DI

2. Saginaw Boswell            1,812 DII

3. FW Dunbar                       786 DI

4. Saginaw                        1,999 DI

5. FW Eastern Hills             1,342

6. Sag. Chisholm Trl.          1,216

7. FW Carter-River.             1,171

8. FW Poly                          1,165

9. FW North Side                 1,520

BIRDVILLE HAWKS

VYPE Power Ranking: No. 19

Coach: Jim Skinner

2011: 8-3 DI bi-district playoff

Returning Starters: 9 Off/3 Def

Game Changers: OL Joas Aguilar, Sr

Returning All-District Players: OL Aguilar, TE Collin Basinger, Sr DL Steven Nelson, Sr; WR Justin Martin, Sr; DB Sam Northey, Jr; OL Juan Perez, Sr; RB Xavier Turner, Jr

Storylines: Birdville is the 6-4A favorite with a plethora of returning offensive starters. The Hawks offense begins with big man Aguilar, a Texas A&M commit, anchoring an impressive offensive line that includes Perez and Colby Wade. They’ll make room for RB Turner, district sophomore of the year, and QB Justin Martin who shifts over from WR. A young defense will need to jell around DL Stephen Nelson.

FW CARTER-RIVERSIDE EAGLES

Coach: James Jefferies

2011: 4-6

Returning Starters: 5 Off/6 Def

Storylines: Recruited DL Michael Rios (6-3, 280) headlines a solid core of returning starters who hope to make a run at a much coveted playoff berth. RB Jordan Pitts (925 yards, 6 TDs) will be a focus on offense. RB Fred Pitts will also get carries.

FW DUNBAR WILDCATS

Coach: Todd Lawson

2011: 6-5 DII bi-district playoffs

Returning Starters: 7 Off/6 Def

Game Changers: WR/ATH Stepfawn Hughes, Jr

Returning All-District Players: WR/ATH Hughes

Storylines: Hughes who earned Newcomer of the Year honors with more than 1,000 total yards and 12 TDs will be the Wildcats’ offensive catalyst. OL James Calvin in a three-year starter. DB Nicholas Johnson and DL Kameron LeQoc will be leaders on defense.

FW EASTERN HILLS HIGHLANDERS

Coach: Tracy Simien

2011: 1-9

Returning Starters: 5 Off/5 Def

Returning All-District Players: WR Brian Rollins, Sr

Storylines: The Highlanders have the work cut out for them in ’11, but positives include the return of WRs Rollins and Jonathan Williams. OL/DL Quenton Jordan will likely contribute on both sides of the ball.

FW NORTH SIDE STEERS

Coach: Andy Mills

2011: 2-8

Returning Starters: 4 Off/2 Def

Storylines: The Steers will be best up front with OLs Isaac Sanchez and mammoth Everardo Rodriguez blocking. RB/DB Isaiah Quigley is perhaps North Side’s best playmaker even as a sophomore.

FW POLYTECHNIC PARROTS

Coach: Othell Robinson

2011: 3-7

Returning Starters: 8 Off/1 Def           

Returning All-District Players: RB Javonte Adams, So; DL Ray Bars, Sr; P Ernan Torres, Sr

Storylines: Coach Robinson and his staff will look to offense in Poly’s move up to 4A. The Parrots bring back experience on offense including speedy RB Adams who gained 750 yards and scored 7 TDs as 12-3A Newcomer of the Year and QB Malik Jones. LB Bars is also back as leading tackler. P Torres will help the Parrots’ defense with field position.

SAGINAW ROUGHRIDERS

Coach: Mike Peters

2011: 1-9

Returning Starters: 7 Off/10 Def

Returning All-District Players: DL Russell Murphy, Sr

Storylines: Seventeen returning starters and a move down from 5A could make Saginaw one of the area’s biggest turnaround stories in ’12.  QB Dalton Wachel is back for his first full season as a starter. Murphy may see more snaps at RB after earning all-district honors on defense in ’12.

SAGINAW BOSWELL PIONEERS

Coach: John Abendschan

2011: 7-5 DII area finals

Returning Starters: 6 OF/8 Def

Returning All-District Players: P Zach Files, Sr; WR Jerrell Fisher, Sr; DL Dominic Hill, So; RB Antoine Stevenson, Jr; LB Tanner Stierwalt, Sr

Storylines: Boswell hopes to extend its school-record playoff streak for a fifth straight year. QB Files passed for more than 2,700 yards and 23 TDs while also earning All-District honors at punter. LB Stierwalt returns as the team’s leading tackler for a defense that also brings back Defensive Newcomer of the Year DL Hill.

SAG. CHISHOLM TRAIL RANGERS

Coach: Randall Hugg

2011: First-year varsity program

Storylines: Coach Hugg brings his experience as an assistant at a highly successful Highland Park program to Chisholm Trail’s first season of varsity play. The Rangers roster will be composed entirely of freshmen and sophomores.