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District 10-2A Division I

Our picks

1. Beckville 2. Big Sandy 3. Harleton 4. Elysian Fields 5. Hawkins 6. Union Grove 7. Waskom 8. Ore City

Beckville Bearcats

COACH: Cody Ross (sixth season, 44-17, 45-36)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 401-451-20

2023 RESULTS: 10-2

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 14/8

LETTERMEN LOST: 14

OFFENSE: Power Spread

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: RB/DB Aiden Harris, SR., 6’0, 166, RB/LB Jorden Prince, JR., 6’0, 170, WR JT Smith, SR., 6’6, 190, TE/LB Tyson Oden, SR., 6’2, 200, QB Braxton Bullock, JR., 6’3, 195, RB Rudy Watts, SO., 5’10, 160, OL/DL Mason Dyer, SR., 6’1, 170, OL/DL Grayson Shivers, 5’10, 190, OL/DL Canaan Schmidtz, SR., 6’3, 200

DEFENSE: 4-3

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DL Devan Koger, JR., 6’2, 215, S Grayson Hicks, JR., 5’10, 165, LB Dillon Koger, SO., 5’10, 170, OL Trace Chamness, SR., 6’2 240, DB Aiden Brantley, SR., 5’10, 140, DB Jordan Mojica, JR., 5’10, 170

2024 OUTLOOK: After a stellar run of regular season success the last three seasons, Beckville will have their hands full in trying to repeat last season’s 10 win total. The Bearcats will look very different this season after graduating generational talent J’Koby Williams and the loss of nearly all of the offensive and defensive line starters. Beckville will have playmakers such as Aiden Harris and Jorden Prince along with 6’6 wide receiver JT Smith who will get a lot more looks this season as the Bearcats will look to air it out more this season. It will be a patchwork line on both sides of the ball but Beckville has enough talent to vie for a fourth-straight district title.

Big Sandy Wildcats

COACH: Brian Pullman (one season, 3-7)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 446-496-19

2023 RESULTS: 3-7

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 12/11

LETTERMEN LOST: 6

OFFENSE: Spread

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: TE Logan Brown, SR., 6’1, 205, OL Brennon Ference, JR., 6’0, 240, QB Kayden Smith, SR., 6’1, 190, FB/LB Landen Hartman, JR., 6’0, 205, RB Malijah Francis, SR., 5’10, 180, WR Ky’Marie Fountain, SR., 155

DEFENSE: 3-4

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: LB Zachary Murry, SO., 5’10, 175, LB Layden Hartman, SR., 5’11, 180, DL Dylan Gallaher, JR., 6’0, 245, DL Ayden Akin, SR., 6’1, 195

2024 OUTLOOK: Big Sandy is looking to build off a 3-7 mark last season and rely on their interior strength to set the tone. Kayden Smith (1,676 yards passing, 15 touchdowns) is back for his second year behind center and will look to get the ball in the hands of running back Malijah Francis and wide receiver Logan Brown. In a year where the district title is up for grabs the Wildcats could be in the mix for a playoff spot.

Harleton Wildcats

COACH: Kyle Little (sixth season, 34-23)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 321-351-6

2023 RESULTS: 7-4

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 17/10

LETTERMEN LOST: 9

OFFENSE: Pro

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: OL, Noel Fajardo, SR., 5’10, 220, TE Landon Johnson, SR., 6’2, 210, ATH Alijah Johnson, JR., 6’0, 175, RB Gage Shirts, SR., 5’8, 165, RB Izayah Farris, JR. 5’9, 165, FB Tyler Lowe, SR., 5’8, 175

DEFENSE: 3-3

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: LB Tyler Crossley, SR., 6’2, 200, DB Kayden Skaggs, JR., 5’10, 165, LB Alex Holt, JR., 5’8, 165, DE Bryan Taylor, SO., 5’10, 175,

2024 OUTLOOK: Harleton is coming off a 7-4 season and after finishing in second place in district last season and Beckville possibly coming back to the pack, this could be the Wildcats’ year. Coach Kyle Little is in his sixth season as head coach and his team will mask their lack of speed and athleticism with sheer size and power. Senior Gage Shirts will anchor the offense while Harleton figures out who will be taking the snaps behind center. Junior Alijah Johnson will be getting the ball in both the passing and running and is expected to make plays for the Wildcats.

Elysian Fields Yellowjackets

COACH: Justin Crow (third season, 4-16)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 405-299-18

2023 RESULTS: 2-8

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 15/17

LETTERMEN LOST: 5

OFFENSE: Gun-T

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: WR Brandon Kennedy, JR. 5’10, 165, QB Brody Parker, SR., 5’11, 180, OL Kendall Trost, SR., 6’1 235, OL Landon Lawless, JR., 5’11, 205, OL/DL Jamarion Johnson, JR., 6’2, 240,

DEFENSE: 3-4

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: LB Collin Caudle, SR., 5’7, 155, DE Deuante Harrison JR., 6’1, 225, K Daniel West, JR., 5’8, 160

2024 OUTLOOK: After a tough 2-8 season last year Elysian Fields was moved down from 3A to 2A and are looking for a bounce back year. The Yellowjackets will also benefit from returning their entire offensive line who will look to protect senior dual-threat quarterback Brody Parker (672 yards, five touchdown passes, 419 rushing yards, two scores). Parker will look to get the ball to leading receiver Brandon Kennedy (33 receptions, 550 yards, five touchdowns). Junior Deuntae Harrison, Trevor Riddle and Collin Caudle will anchor the defense this season for Elysian Fields.

Hawkins Hawks

COACH: Bill Cowley (first season)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 438-386-24

2023 RESULTS: 2-8

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 20/14

LETTERMEN LOST: 8

OFFENSE: 11 Personnel

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: RB Josiah Welch, SR., 5’10, 175, QB Eli Smith, SO., 5’11, 190, WR Brayden Givens, JR., 6’4 180, OL Julien Griffin, 6’7, 350, WR Coby Latta, SR., 6’2, 170, FB Troy Conley, SR., 6’1, 205

DEFENSE: 4-3

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DL Isley Jackson, SR., LB Juan Juarez SR., DL Cameron Johnson, SR., RB Springer Crouch, SO.,

2024 Outlook: Bill Cowley takes over a Hawkins program for his endeavor as a head coach and inherits a team that has nowhere to go up but up following a 2-8 season. Hawkins will return with 14 starters including running back Josiah Welch who rushed for 1,475 yards last season. Sophomore quarterback Eli Smith threw for 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Hawkins will have one of the biggest linemen in the entire UIL in junior Julien Griffin who stands at 6-foot-7 and weighs in at 350 pounds. Hawkins is the last team prior to Beckville’s run of three-straight district titles to win a district title.

Union Grove Lions

COACH: Kyle Adams (first season)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 387-517-23

2023 RESULTS: 4-6

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 23/18

LETTERMEN LOST: 3

OFFENSE: Spread

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: QB Jace Roberts, SR., 6’4, 190, WR Judson George, SR., 5’8, 170, WR Wrigley Roberts, JR., 6’0, 160, OL Gaige Polen, SR., 5’10, 245

DEFENSE: Split

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: LB Cooper Carter, JR., 5’9, 170, DL Kayden Day, SR., 6’0, 190, OLB Jacob Griffin, SR., 6’4, 200, DL Dalton Hawkins, JR., 6’0, 270, DB Hudson Wrightman, SO., 5’10, 160, DE Morgan Mayhan, SR., 6’4, 190, DL Alston Mullins, SR., 5’9 175,

2024 OUTLOOK: Union Grove won their first four games of the 2023 season but closed the season going winless in district play. This year the Lions return 18 starters and lost just three players from last season’s team and look to be amongst the top teams in District 10-2A Division I. Jace Roberts returns to lead the team after throwing for 823 yards and eight touchdowns and rushing for 800 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Lions took some tough bumps in the road last season and are hopeful all the experience they gained last season paid dividends.

Waskom Wildcats

COACH: Wade Lawson (first season, 64-35)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 656-374-25

2023 RESULTS: 3-7

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 9/9

LETTERMEN LOST: 5

OFFENSE: Pistol/Flexbone

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: FB Nate Espy, JR., 5’11, 195, RB Joe Irving, JR., 5’10, 175, OT Harley Martin, SR., 6’3, 218, OL Kalob Mann, JR., 6’1, 270, QB Chris Hernandez, JR., 5’8, 145, TE Jayden Minor, JR. 5’11, 170

DEFENSE: 4-3

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: CB Kelton Williams, SR., 5’8, 150, DB Montez Thompson, SO., 5’9, 165, LB Bubba Jones, JR., 5’8, 155

2024 OUTLOOK: First-year Waskom Coach Wade Lawson is looking to bring the success he had at Joaquin (64-35) to a Wildcats program that is moving down from 3A Division II to 2A Division I. Waskom returns a lot of talent and speed in the skilled positions led by two-way star Nate Espy who rushed for 1,205 yards and 14 touchdowns on offense while combining for 88 tackles on defense. Lawson traditionally likes to run the ball and play a very physical style and if the Wildcats can stay healthy for the most part, expect Waskom to be in the mix for a playoff spot.

Ore City Rebels

COACH: Jeremy Kubiak (first season)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 287-336-9

2023 RESULTS: 5-5

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 16/12

LETTERMEN LOST: 8

OFFENSE: Spread

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: QB Gage Cavanaugh, SR., 6’0, 185, WR Kyler Rowe, 6’3, 180, RB Angel Velasquez, JR., 6’0, 180,

DEFENSE: 4-3

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: Slayden Wright, SR., 5’9, 195, DB Aydin Thomas, SR., 5’8, 160, LB Don Veasley, JR., 5’8, 250,

2024 OUTLOOK: Ore City had a three-game turnaround from the previous season and made the playoffs last season. In Jeremy Kubiak’s first season as head coach, he’s looking to lead the Rebels back to the postseason. Senior quarterback Gage Cavanaugh (1,000 yards passing and 13 touchdowns) led the Rebels with 17 touchdowns and also rushed for 650 yards last season. Ore City will have the services of Slayden Wright who returns after missing the majority of the season after being in a car accident. Angel Velasquez will get his share of carries and will look to ease the burden off of Cavanaugh who also plays safety on defense. The Rebels have the experience, talent and size to make a run at a district title this season.