7-5A Division II Football District

[Ace]

Texas High's stretch of game against Liberty Christian, Midlothian Heritage and Fayetteville is against teams that went a combined 39-1 last year.     I don't think I have ever seen a better record among 3 teams on a non-district schedule.   I realize that does not make it the toughest schedule (that distinction may go to SOC), but it is certainly is an interesting scheduling "quirk".    

Coach Stanford expects to have strong team.  He wants his team to be challenged by strong opponents in order to be ready when playoff time rolls around.  In my opinion, that is smart scheduling no matter what the non-district record turns out to be. 

[nacdragon07]

16 hours ago, Ace said:

Texas High's stretch of game against Liberty Christian, Midlothian Heritage and Fayetteville is against teams that went a combined 39-1 last year.     I don't think I have ever seen a better record among 3 teams on a non-district schedule.   I realize that does not make it the toughest schedule (that distinction may go to SOC), but it is certainly is an interesting scheduling "quirk".    

Coach Stanford expects to have strong team.  He wants his team to be challenged by strong opponents in order to be ready when playoff time rolls around.  In my opinion, that is smart scheduling no matter what the non-district record turns out to be. 

i figured they were up to something with this type of schedule. I'm sorry i still think they will beat Heritage.  from what i saw when they played Marshall. there was no way they should have won that game. Marshall had them beat. i just don't see the  hype. I don't know much about fayetteville but i will say this Texas Football is way different, Bryant found that out when they came to longview. 

[Mavchamp]

The game wasn't flashy....we didn't get too cute with things. Very vanilla. But got some good looks at several players.

Some of my observations:

POSITIVES

1. The running game should be pretty dang good.

Semaj Gatson will be back for his senior season...he had 812 yards and 8 TD's last year in spite of the Mavs using s large stable of RB's. He's elusive and quick....lots of finesse.

Landon Jones had 600 yards and 11 TD's last season as a sophomore and he is a MAN-CHILD. He's not finesse....he just runs over you. He's BIGGER and STRONGER than he was last season. Guy should be a BEAST on short yardage.

Isaiah Bush will also be back for his senior season. He had 500 yards last year with a couple of scores. He's just another body a defense has to worry about. Another speedster too. He's put on about 25 lbs from last season.

2. The offensive line is intact and SHOULD be improved

The Mavs have 5 returning on the OL. They have 12 games under their belt from last season....and it looks like we've gained some beef over the offseason. The success of the offense will be directly tied to these guys. They had flashes of brilliance last season in some games....but laid some eggs in a couple too (Mount Pleasant, Texas High)

Eric Perkins will anchor things as he's getting some D1 looks headed into his junior year.

3. WR Corps is young, but has some experience from last season

Raijon Sims will return for his senior season at WR. He was the #1 target last season for Slone with 510 yards and 5 TDs. He will need to step up for a more diverse offense in a WR corps that will be very young this season.

Gatson and Jones...in spite of being primary RB's.... also combined for 300 yards receiving last season. That's likely to increase in 2024 as the Mavs look to spread the ball out a little more.

TONS of potential with at WR with senior Judson Illingworth and Sophomore Tyler Johnigan who lit it up on the Freshman team last year. J. Sparks is back in football after taking last season off. He will be a Sophomore.

4. Most of the defense returns

The Maverick defense was no doubt the strength of the team last year. Most of the squad will return in 2024. They will need another stellar season in the secondary with Texas High, Mount Pleasant, and Whitehouse all expected to be "pass-happy" again this year.

Bryon Williams
Brandon Richardson
Kaden Rogers
Jayden Cooks
Trayvon Tucker

SIZE AND SPEED on the defensive line. Haven't seen the Mavs be this big in many moons (2018-ish).

5. Numbers and depth

The Maverick varsity roster got crazy small in 2022. It rebounded some in 2023...but still wasn't back to normal. Thanks to two freshman teams moving up.... the JV and varsity rosters should be much deeper and it appears Marshall is getting back to normal levels. MJHS participation continues to grow as they field two 8th grade teams and two 7th grade. I've been told they have enough to have a third team in both grades. So the numbers at MHS should continue to increase after a brief dip.

---------------------

Points of concern

1. Offensive line

I listed this as a positive...but this knife cuts both ways. The OL was a little inconsistent last season. They would have great games one week....and struggle mightily in others. Poor OL play was the culprit to the shocking loss to MP last season (17-7).... a game in which a porous Tiger defense all but shut the Mavs down most of the game. Another egg was laid against Texas High. The were very good in the first round of the playoffs Vs Denison...but struggled in the second round (particularly in the second half) of the Midlothian Heritage game. They will need to learn consistency.... especially in QB protection, which was a MAJOR struggle last year.

2. QUARTERBACK

Replacing a guy like Collier Slone is really tough. Slone was Mr. Dependable when it came to game management. He was a master at being a field general without being flashy. His games Vs. Whitehouse in 2022 and 2023 were both highlights....but he also put on clinics Vs Pine Tree and Nac when needed.  Who takes his place?

Looks like a three man race

Alton Henderson will be a Junior and has quick release. Short passing game looked pretty sharp in the scrimmage. Struggled with accuracy on long passes. However.... his scrambling ability was very appealing. He is quick and elusive. Having a mobile QB is huge with this offense.

Kyler Thompson will be a Junior. He had a some strong throws in the scrimmage. Not as mobile as Henderson but had more success on the long pass.

Bryce Alexander is an All-District pitcher in baseball so he has arm strength. He had some good passes on the night that were dropped by his WRs.


3. KICKING GAME

Didn't see much action. Only 1 PAT attempt on the night and it was missed. One kickoff on the night too...and it came down at the 10...so no endzone kicks. This area of the game is VERY important. Hope they work it out.

----------------

OVERALL

Defense looked pretty good on the night. Had some great stops Vs the running game. Some very good stops in the secondary. Hard hitting. Fast. BIG.

Offense was inconsistent especially in the passing game. Running game looked solid between Gatson, Jones, Bush, and Hill.

WR's had some drops that should have been caught. but had some nice grabs too.

QB play was inconsistent... but we had a lot of rotating going on. Some strong arms. But Henderson had some great moves with his legs, which is something of a fresh look for the Mavs in a while.

Great spring.

7 on 7 next

GO MAVS GO!!!!

See ya'll in September

[Mavchamp]

Radio guys said the score was 1-0 White team, but I counted 2-0.

 

[Mavchamp]

Another phase of Maverick Stadium is done. 

More to come. Stay tuned!

[Meeks4Prez]

4 hours ago, Mavchamp said:

Another phase of Maverick Stadium is done. 

More to come. Stay tuned!

please keep me updated with this! also is there a thread for this?

[Mavchamp]

 

[budmanmpfan]

Mount Pleasant might have one of the top o-lines in the state. Took first in the qualifying tournament in Lindale. 

Gonna be tough for some d-lineman this coming season.

[Mavchamp]

 

[bordertown]

On 5/2/2024 at 8:36 AM, nacdragon07 said:

i figured they were up to something with this type of schedule. I'm sorry i still think they will beat Heritage.  from what i saw when they played Marshall. there was no way they should have won that game. Marshall had them beat. i just don't see the  hype. I don't know much about fayetteville but i will say this Texas Football is way different, Bryant found that out when they came to longview. 

Fayetteville will be a tough game. Football in NW Arkansas is at a high caliber. Also the game will be played under NFHS rules.

 

 

[Mavchamp]

1 hour ago, bordertown said:

Fayetteville will be a tough game. Football in NW Arkansas is at a high caliber. Also the game will be played under NFHS rules.

Will be a fantastic game.  THS has several intriguing non-district games.  

[MattStepp]

15 hours ago, Mavchamp said:

Will be a fantastic game.  THS has several intriguing non-district games.  

I think you can tell by Texas High's schedule that internally they feel like they are going to be a contender therefore they need to upgrade the non-district slate.....depth isn't a real strong suit for the Tigers and thats my big concern

[bordertown]

On 6/18/2024 at 10:35 AM, MattStepp said:

I think you can tell by Texas High's schedule that internally they feel like they are going to be a contender therefore they need to upgrade the non-district slate.....depth isn't a real strong suit for the Tigers and thats my big concern

Not sure I agree with the need to upgrade non-district slate comment. Texas High played Frisco Lone Star & Colleyville Heritage last year. Both are 5A top 20 programs. Their combined records last year (excluding losses to Texas High) were 22-2. They played a 6A team and a cream puff in Benton. I believe Benton was the best available to fill out a 10 week schedule. Similarly, I feel both Liberty Christian and Fayetteville were games Texas High could find to fill the schedule. If I recall, Tigers were going to play a Waco area team initially and ended up with Fayetteville. They were lucky to find two competitive teams. It is a biennial issue for the Tigers due to geography and the neighboring state realign on opposite annual cycles.

 

[MattStepp]

7 hours ago, bordertown said:

Not sure I agree with the need to upgrade non-district slate comment. Texas High played Frisco Lone Star & Colleyville Heritage last year. Both are 5A top 20 programs. Their combined records last year (excluding losses to Texas High) were 22-2. They played a 6A team and a cream puff in Benton. I believe Benton was the best available to fill out a 10 week schedule. Similarly, I feel both Liberty Christian and Fayetteville were games Texas High could find to fill the schedule. If I recall, Tigers were going to play a Waco area team initially and ended up with Fayetteville. They were lucky to find two competitive teams. It is a biennial issue for the Tigers due to geography and the neighboring state realign on opposite annual cycles.

 

In talking to Coach Stanford pre-realignment he told me he felt like this team had the potential to play with just about anyone, I know he talked to SOC about playing if they were not in the same region....I'm not sure he takes the Liberty Christian or Fayetteville games unless he felt really good about this team.....JMO

 

Edited June 25 by MattStepp

[Tex85]

2 hours ago, MattStepp said:

In talking to Coach Stanford pre-realignment he told me he felt like this team had the potential to play with just about anyone, I know he talked to SOC about playing if they were not in the same region....I'm not sure he takes the Liberty Christian or Fayetteville games unless he felt really good about this team.....JMO

 

Agree that i think he feels good about his team there's a lot of talent there for the next couple of years but i also think he'd rather not have to take his team on a 4 1/2- 5  hour bus ride up to northwest Arkansas to find an opponent. Too many options in DFW for one of those teams to want to do a home and home with Texas High. Most of the schools within 2-3 hours of Txk are either already playing them or too small to want to. Wouldn't mind seeing Bryant Ark on the schedule in future years think they make sense size wise and distance.

[bordertown]

4 hours ago, MattStepp said:

In talking to Coach Stanford pre-realignment he told me he felt like this team had the potential to play with just about anyone, I know he talked to SOC about playing if they were not in the same region....I'm not sure he takes the Liberty Christian or Fayetteville games unless he felt really good about this team.....JMO

 

My point is I believe he felt the same about prior years scheduling of Lone Star and Colleyville Heritage, which were high caliber opponents. I believe it has been Stanford’s philosophy to schedule high level playoff contenders in pre-district so his teams understand the level of play in the 3rd season. 

[MattStepp]

19 minutes ago, bordertown said:

My point is I believe he felt the same about prior years scheduling of Lone Star and Colleyville Heritage, which were high caliber opponents. I believe it has been Stanford’s philosophy to schedule high level playoff contenders in pre-district so his teams understand the level of play in the 3rd season. 

high caliber yes but based on my discussions with him in January I got the impression he wanted to take it to another level with the non-district slate

[Mavchamp]

 

[Mavchamp]

Approved tonight by the MISD school board:

New home concession stand and restrooms on the east end of the stadium. 
Food truck park on home side 
renovate visitor concessions & restrooms
Repair and replace seating home and visitor side 
renovate area under stadium on visitors side 
Wrought iron fence around facility

Work will start at the end of the 2024 season and be completed in time for the 2025 season. 

[Mavchamp]

DCTF has the district finishing:

1.  Texas High
2.  Whitehouse
3.  Marshall
4.  Mount Pleasant
5.  Nacogdoches
6.  Hallsville
7.  Jacksonville

What do you think they got right?  got wrong?

[Mavchamp]

Coming to Maverick Stadium for 2025. 

[Eagleborn]

1 hour ago, Mavchamp said:

Coming to Maverick Stadium for 2025. 

Food truck court is pretty cool sounding. Some schools don’t even allow groups to pregame tailgate because it takes away from concessions. 

[Mavchamp]

2 hours ago, Mavchamp said:

DCTF has the district finishing:

1.  Texas High
2.  Whitehouse
3.  Marshall
4.  Mount Pleasant
5.  Nacogdoches
6.  Hallsville
7.  Jacksonville

What do you think they got right?  got wrong?

IMHO.....

What they got right......

1.  Texas High as the district champion.  They have won it every year since they dropped down to Div II.....hard to pick against them knowing that.  Oh....and they're loaded too.  Can WH and Marshall test them?  Perhaps.....but they will be heavy favorites in both games.

2.  Jacksonville in last place.  The Indians have struggled for a long time... and it's hard to imagine that's going to change moving back up to 5A.  The only W's I see them getting this season is against much smaller inferior teams in the non-district portion of the schedule.

3.  MP as the #4.  Their inexplicable loss to PT last season still baffles me.  PT is gone....and I don't see Hallsville, Nac, or Jax upsetting them....UNLESS.....UNLESS.... the Tiger offense struggles without their QB leader from the last couple of seasons.  He made them GO.  They may struggle without him.  But I think they pull it together.

Meh.....

I think WH and Marshall are somewhat interchangeable for the 2/3 spot.  But Marshall has beat WH 5 of the last 6 years.  The Mav's success Vs. the Wildcats has been mostly thanks to their offense.  WH has traditionally struggled defensively against Marshall.....giving up 30 or more points in all 4 Mav wins.  

I wouldn't be shocked to see Marshall lose to WH....esp on the road.  To say WH historically has a..... "special recipe" of home cooking at Wildcat Stadium is an understatement.  It's become a joke within the district amongst Marshall, MP, Nac, and Texas High fans.  I don't expect that to change this season.

I honestly think Hallsville will be better than Nac this season.  Marginally.  Nac lost their #1 offensive cog in their QB.  The Dragon OL struggled most of the season and they are thin on experience in 2024.  Nac may have trouble moving the ball unless the OC has some tricks up his sleeve.  Nac is never short on athletes.  Hallsville's OL should be better than Nac's and should have a better identity.  Rumor has it they had a move-in RB from Longview which could give them some teeth if true.  When it comes to defense..... both were atrocious last year.  Anything could be seen as an improvement.  Nac gave up 35.7 PPG last season while Hallsville gave up an eye-popping 36.8 PPG.  

My prediction:
1.  Texas High
2.  Marshall
3.  Whitehouse
4.  Mt. Pleasant
5.  Hallsville
6.  Nacogdoches
7.  Jacksonville

 

 

[nacdragon07]

13 hours ago, Mavchamp said:

IMHO.....

What they got right......

1.  Texas High as the district champion.  They have won it every year since they dropped down to Div II.....hard to pick against them knowing that.  Oh....and they're loaded too.  Can WH and Marshall test them?  Perhaps.....but they will be heavy favorites in both games.

2.  Jacksonville in last place.  The Indians have struggled for a long time... and it's hard to imagine that's going to change moving back up to 5A.  The only W's I see them getting this season is against much smaller inferior teams in the non-district portion of the schedule.

3.  MP as the #4.  Their inexplicable loss to PT last season still baffles me.  PT is gone....and I don't see Hallsville, Nac, or Jax upsetting them....UNLESS.....UNLESS.... the Tiger offense struggles without their QB leader from the last couple of seasons.  He made them GO.  They may struggle without him.  But I think they pull it together.

Meh.....

I think WH and Marshall are somewhat interchangeable for the 2/3 spot.  But Marshall has beat WH 5 of the last 6 years.  The Mav's success Vs. the Wildcats has been mostly thanks to their offense.  WH has traditionally struggled defensively against Marshall.....giving up 30 or more points in all 4 Mav wins.  

I wouldn't be shocked to see Marshall lose to WH....esp on the road.  To say WH historically has a..... "special recipe" of home cooking at Wildcat Stadium is an understatement.  It's become a joke within the district amongst Marshall, MP, Nac, and Texas High fans.  I don't expect that to change this season.

I honestly think Hallsville will be better than Nac this season.  Marginally.  Nac lost their #1 offensive cog in their QB.  The Dragon OL struggled most of the season and they are thin on experience in 2024.  Nac may have trouble moving the ball unless the OC has some tricks up his sleeve.  Nac is never short on athletes.  Hallsville's OL should be better than Nac's and should have a better identity.  Rumor has it they had a move-in RB from Longview which could give them some teeth if true.  When it comes to defense..... both were atrocious last year.  Anything could be seen as an improvement.  Nac gave up 35.7 PPG last season while Hallsville gave up an eye-popping 36.8 PPG.  

My prediction:
1.  Texas High
2.  Marshall
3.  Whitehouse
4.  Mt. Pleasant
5.  Hallsville
6.  Nacogdoches
7.  Jacksonville

 

 

I can’t argue with any of this. Especially the whitehouse pick I just don’t see how they are expected to finish ahead of Marshall when they haven’t beaten them in a while.
 

 We’ve also seen in this district  what happens to teams when they’re all talent QB graduates. I expect a little drop for MP but the experienced O line will help though.

 

I do expect Nac to struggle on both sides of the ball due to Losing a lot on both sides. I still think we beat jax I even think we beat hallsville too. The others……… it will take strong disciplined play and I’m not sure Nac is able to do that just yet but give House time he can right the ship it takes time to build a consistent strong program. 

Texas high is the 600 pound gorilla in the room  the question is who has the team to knock them off ? 
 

 

[bordertown]

5 hours ago, nacdragon07 said:

Texas high is the 600 pound gorilla in the room  the question is who has the team to knock them off ? 
 

 

1. They are 16-18 year old kids & kids do stupid things.

2. Girlfriends- the bane of many young men

3. Grades - as hard as coaches preach schoolwork, sometimes it takes a reality check comes into play.

4. Complacency - believing what they read on social media and having a let down.