ESD CanAlsoforanotherseekschanceSPCcrowninside:Hillcrestkeepmomentum?, PAGE 4 Jesuit looks to keep rolling, PAGE 5 Parish chases fourth title, PAGE 7 September 2022 | prestonhollowpeople.com @phollowpeople | @peoplenewspapers MCGATHEYCHRISPHOTO:2022 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW FLYING HIGH FROM LEFT: Blair Brennan, Patrick Burke, and Justin McCray are key returnees from ESD’s historic 10-win season in 2021.
2C | September 2022 prestonhollowpeople.com
prestonhollowpeople.com September 2022 | 3C MemberConvenientFDIC Locations Throughout Texas | www.veritexbank .com ©2022 Veritex Community Bank At Veritex Community Bank, we are cheering on our local football programs! With hard work, dedication to truth and integrity, and love for the game, we know you’ll do great. VERITEX BANK AND YOU TOUCHDOWN
Hillcrest has posted three consec utive winning seasons but hasn’t won a postseason game since 2006. So, while the progress is clear for the Panthers, so is the hunger for a squad that closed last season by win ning five of its last six regular-season games.“We’re looking to take that next step,” fifth-year head coach Jacob Ramon said. “We’ve lost some games because of our youth, and now that youth is more matured.” Returning to postseason play could be challenging as Hillcrest navigates a 10-team district that in cludes defending Class 5A Division II state champion South Oak Cliff. However, Ramon is optimistic the pieces are in place to make an other run despite the loss of starting quarterback and team leader Carter Sido to graduation. Several of the team’s top play makers will see time on both sides of scrimmage, including Reggie Wil liams, who will line up in multiple positions. He scored 10 offensive touchdowns last season while also posting five interceptions as a safety. “Reggie has to have a lot of touches for us to be successful,” Ra monFour-yearsaid.
*
NOTABLE: District 6-5A Division II is split into two five-team divisions, necessitating two crossover games to determine likely playoff seeds. 25 Frisco Emerson 7 p.m. 2 Carrollton Ranchview 7:30 p.m. 9 at Gainesville 7:30 p.m. 16 Wilmer-Hutchins 7:30 p.m. 23 Thomas Jefferson* 7:30 p.m. 30 at Seagoville* 7:30 p.m. 13 Woodrow Wilson* 7 p.m. 20 Conrad* 7 p.m. 28 District seeding game* 7:30 p.m. 4 District seeding game* 7:30 p.m. — District 6-5A, Division II game Hillcrest’s Reggie Williams kicksecondary,inoffensivelastcontributionsmadeseasoninthebackfield,thedefensiveandasareturner. CHRIS MCGATHEY)
November
10763Football.PrestonRoad • BenchmarkBank.com214.377.0960
October
Williams, Hillcrest Ready for Breakthrough Season
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
4C | September 2022 prestonhollowpeople.com
SCHEDULE August
Benchmark Bank is a loud and proud supporter of Texas High School
varsity starter Brady Gibson also returns (after tally ing 116 tackles last year) along side Ford Morris as linebacker. Dy namic speedster Jaden Hodge and sure-footed kicker Reed Malphurs alsoThereturn.quarterback spot could be a work in progress. Carter Smith and Luke Monter could split time during non-district play, with Williams see ing some snaps, too. The offensive and defensive lines should be solid with Gil Garza, Clar ence Sanders, Prophet Hishaw, and Duncanville transfer Trevor Cabell.
QUICK FACTS 2021 RECORD: 7-4 (5-3 in district)
September
(PHOTO:
Healthy Rangers Seeking Repeat in Expanded District 7-6A
Versatile playmaker Jake Musso tallied 723 all-purpose yards and scored six touchdowns last season for Jesuit. (PHOTO: ROB GRAHAM)
QUICK
prestonhollowpeople.com September 2022 | 5C Service. Experience. Knowledge. Elliott & Elliott understands the complete real estate process. From start to finish of each transaction, their clients speak of their detailed professionalism, dedicated customer service, and market knowledge. Curt Elliott 214.675.8353 Paige Elliott 214.478.9544 Becky Nelson 214.507.0680 Amy Anderson 713.530.2236 Pamela Krueger 214.680.5556 elliott.daveperrymiller.com
September
After all, the new District 7-6A will feature Jesuit playing the same teams, with one notable exception — the addition of perennial Class 5A power and neighborhood rival Highland“FamiliarityPark. with the district is good,” Jesuit head coach Brandon Hickman said. “Adding Highland Park to the mix makes it more in triguing. That element adds a little fun.”Charlie Schmidt should take over as the starting quarterback for the prolific Jesuit offense after play ing a reserve role on last year’s 10-2 team that fell to Denton Guyer in the area round of the playoffs. He likely will split time early in the season with 6-foot-6 senior Will Greenwood.“Hegotinto some games last year and did a good job,” Hick man said of Schmidt, who’s also a lacrosse standout. “He has a very strong arm, but he’s more of a dual threat. That should open up our offense more.” Two-way star Robert Fitz gerald is gone to Northwestern University. However, Jake Mus so was among the team leaders in rushing and receiving last season. He’s back along with Cameron Martin, who missed the end of the 2021 campaign with a knee injury.On defense, tackle Jameson Kemp, linebacker Grant Peters, and safety Logan Thompson are key re turnees for a unit that posted three shutouts during a nine-game midseason winning streak. FACTS 2020 RECORD: 10-2 (7-0 in district) Jesuit’s 10 wins last season matched its best total since joining the UIL in 2004. The Rangers also claimed their fourth district title.
Jesuit won a district title despite losing 14 starters to injury at some point during last season. Even with significant graduation losses, better health should have the Rangers in the hunt for a repeat.
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
NOTABLE:
SCHEDULE August 26 Hebron 7 p.m. 2 at Rockwall 7:30 p.m. 9 Richardson Pearce* 7 p.m. 16 at Lake Highlands* 7 p.m. 23 Irving* 7 p.m. 30 at Highland Park* 7 p.m. October 14 Richardson Berkner* 7 p.m. 20 at Irving Nimitz* 7 p.m. 28 Irving MacArthur* 7 p.m. November 3 at Richardson* 7 p.m. * — District 7-6A game
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
ESD capped the season with a loss to Houston Kinkaid 42-17 in the conference ti tle game, giving an experienced roster plenty of motivation to go one step further this fall. “It was sad coming off a heartbreaking loss like that,” senior quarterback Patrick Burke said. “We want to get back there and win it this Repeatingtime.”that feat will be challenging, es pecially since the Eagles won’t be sneaking up on the rest of the SPC 4A division this time. “The bar has been raised now,” Williams said. “The focus is at that championship lev el. To do what we did last year is going to take more effort.” Still, ESD looks equipped to make an other run behind a high-powered offense that returns 10 starters after averaging 41 points per game a year ago. Burke, who will begin his third season as the starter, passed for more than 2,000 yards with 30 touchdowns and just five intercep tions. He also led the Eagles in rushing with 708 yards and 10 scores, gaining more than seven yards per attempt.
6C | September 2022 prestonhollowpeople.com
Richard Williams can’t remember the last time he was part of a team that went through the regular season unde feated, as a coach or even a player. So, the Episcopal School of Dallas head coach was stunned when the Eagles were perfect against their SPC rivals last season — not because his team wasn’t capable, but since he knows the difficulty of such a feat.
“There’s an air of confidence that expe rienced quarterbacks have, and he has that,” Williams said. “He’s going to be a better thrower and make wiser decisions. His lead ership of the offense is going to grow expo nentially as the season goes along.”
EAGLES LOOK TO SOAR BACK TO TITLE CONTENTION
The ESD defense must replace a pair of linemen who signed with Division I col lege programs, including Chase Kennedy (Utah) and Jaden Robinson (New Mexi co State). That leaves strong tackler Justin McCray to anchor the line from his tackle spot alongside Hunt Sands. In addition to utilizing a handful of two-way players, Williams expects some younger players to play more prominent roles, such as running back Jackson Pen nington and speedster Jordan Hutchinson, who also plays basketball. Plus, the non-district schedule received an upgrade, with games against local ri val Trinity Christian, TAPPS powerhouse Grapevine Faith, and public-school foe Gladewater Sabine leading into the fourgame conference slate. “I’m so excited because they are tough teams,” Williams said. “We’ve got some tests before we head into conference. That’s what we want.”
The Eagles have earned three SPC crowns in their history, most recently in 2014, but never in the large-school classifi cation. Could this be the year that changes? “That experience goes a really long way,” McCray said. “If we get there this year, we will be ready to win it.”
SCHEDULE August 26 at Trinity Christian 7 p.m. September 2 Argyle Liberty 7 p.m. 9 at Grapevine Faith 7:30 p.m. 16 Trinity Leadership 7 p.m. 24 Gladewater Sabine^ 7 p.m. 30 Houston Episcopal* 7 p.m. October 14 at Houston Kinkaid* 7 p.m. 21 Houston St. John’s* 7 p.m. 28 at St. Mark’s* 7 p.m. * — SPC Class 4A game ^ — at The Star in Frisco
QUICK FACTS 2021 RECORD: 10-1 NOTABLE: ESD’s loss to Houston Kinkaid in the SPC 4A title game came three weeks after the Eagles topped the Falcons 31-21 during the regular season.
TOP: Returning dual-threat quarterback Patrick Burke will again lead a high-powered offensive attack for ESD. BOTTOM: Two-way standout Collin Nicholson was a versatile offensive weapon last year for ESD and played linebacker. (PHOTOS: ROB GRAHAM) It was comingsadoff
Several other playmakers also are back, including receiver Blair Brennan, who was Burke’s top target with 41 catches for 671 yards and eight touchdowns. Two-way standout Collin Nicholson accounted for more than 600 all-purpose yards and six offensive scores as a sophomore while also seeing significant action at linebacker. Teddy Sparrow provides a weapon as a tight end, while the offensive line again should be solid with the return of Andrew Chairuangdej, Jackson Bloomfield, and Will Searcy.
Patricktime.andgetWelossheartbreakingalikethat.wanttobacktherewinitthisBurke
Anderson, Panthers Chasing Fourth Straight TAPPS Title
Now Head Coach, Ross Has Greater Aspirations for Longhorns
SCHEDULE August 26 Aledo 7 p.m.
SCHEDULE August 25 Frisco Heritage 7 p.m. September 2 at Waco 7 p.m. 9 at Mans. Timberview* 7 p.m. 16 Molina* 7:30 p.m. 23 at Sunset* 7:30 p.m. 30 Richland* 7:30 p.m. October 6 at Bryan Adams* 7 p.m. 20 Carr. R.L. Turner* 7 p.m. 28 at Newman Smith* 7:30 p.m. November 4 Birdville* 7:30 p.m. * — District 5-5A, Division I game
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers As Parish Episcopal seeks to con tinue its dominance with a fourth con secutive state championship in TAPPS Division I, how will the Panthers re place Andrew Paul’s 2,800 yards and 45 touchdowns?Thatquestion might become irrele vant given the returning and new talent for Parish, which has amassed an over all 34-3 record during its three-year ti tle run.“Every year is a different team,” Parish head coach Daniel Novakov said. “These guys want to make their own legacy.” With sensational tailback Paul now at the University of Georgia, the offen sive focus will shift squarely to sopho more quarterback Sawyer Anderson, who passed for 2,961 yards and 32 touch downs as a freshman. The Panthers aver aged 47.1 points per game. “Last year, he did an outstanding job, but there was a ton of pressure on him,” Novakov said. “Now he’s much more comfortable and confident. He knows what to Anderson’sexpect.”deep receiving corps will be led by returnees Cedric Mays and Chase Burton, plus Highland Park transfer Hutch Crow. Standout defenders Dan iel Demery and Tre Williams also will see targets on offense. The defense returns several starters, including the dynamic Demery (who is verbally commit ted to Ole Miss) and versatile Wil liams, along with Cooper Mailand, Seth Scott, James Cave, Bryson Blackmore, Dylan Davis, and Ian Ussery. Plus, the Panthers will add two blue-chip trans fers to their front seven in Caleb Mitch ell-Irving (DeSoto) and Parker Meese (PlanoParishPrestonwood).willbechallenged early by a brutal non-district schedule that in cludes perennial powerhouses South Oak Cliff, Aledo, China Spring, and Austin LBJ.
QUICK FACTS 2021 RECORD: 6-5 (5-3 in district) NOTABLE: The Longhorns have not won a playoff game since 2000 and have not earned back-to-back winning seasons since 1991.
QUICK FACTS 2021 RECORD: 12-1 (7-0 in district) NOTABLE: Parish’s four publicschool opponents on the schedule combined for a 58-3 record last year, and two won UIL state titles.
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers After his offense led W.T. White to its highest-scoring season in pro gram history, Kenchee Ross was eager to continue the upward trajectory. So, when coach Tony Johnson left for Copperas Cove, Ross earned the opportunity to take over a team that made consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in more than four decades.The Longhorns return several starters from a team that averaged 42.4 points per game before a threegame losing streak to end the season, culminating in a bi-district defeat against Denton Ryan. “I’m pleased with where we are at. We’ve got some solid players,” said Ross, a former longtime assistant at perennial power Lancaster. “I think we’re right there on the verge of tak ing the next step.”
Dual-threat quarterback Jaydyn Sisk assumed the starting role last season and threw for more than 1,200 yards with 13 touchdowns. Although several other top-skill players gradu ated, Justin Joof can line up at multi ple spots on both sides of scrimmage.
Tyler Norris anchors a physical of fensive line that offers depth in the trenches.Ondefense, WTW will incorpo rate a 3-4 formation to build on the development it showed last season when it limited five opponents to 12 or fewer Amongpoints.the standouts are sopho more linebacker Markavious Justice, plus defensive backs J’Coi Ware — who grabbed seven interceptions a year ago — and hard-hitting Gabe Jones.“I’m a confident guy, but the confi dence is earned,” Ross said. “We need to put in the work to be successful. We’ve got to kick the door down.”
prestonhollowpeople.com September 2022 | 7C
Senior W.T.forstarteryardsforJaydynquarterbackSiskthrewmorethan1,200asapart-timelastseasonaplayoffteamatWhite.
(PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
September 2 at Houston Episcopal 7 p.m. 9 at Austin LBJ 7 p.m. 16 South Oak Cliff 7 p.m. 23 China Spring 7 p.m. October 7 Bishop Lynch* 7 p.m. 1 at San Antonio Cornerstone 7 p.m. 21 Fort Worth Nolan* 7 p.m. 28 at Trinity Christian* 7 p.m. November 4 at Plano Prestonwood* 7 p.m. * — TAPPS district game Senior speedster Daniel Demery is a significant contributor on Parish’s offense, defense, and special teams. (PHOTO: WILEY WILLIAMS)
Last season, St. Mark’s secured its first winning season since 2017. And the Lions have had a full year to build a sol id foundation in head coach Harry Fla That leaves reason for optimism, even if upward mobility might seem difficult among the larger schools in the SPC, where St. Mark’s hasn’t won a crown
QUICK FACTS 2021 RECORD: 5-4 NOTABLE: Last fall, two-sport star Niles Harvey became the first 1,000-yard rusher for St. Mark’s in several seasons. He also scored 13 touchdowns.
It’s been nice to have some stability and continuity through an Harry Flaherty Promising defensive lineman Henry Estes started every game as a freshman for St. Mark’s last season. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
“Our guys gave a great effort last year, learning a new system in a hurry,” said Fla herty, who arrived at St. Mark’s last sum mer. “It’s been nice to have some stability and continuity through an offseason.” The Lions won all four non-confer ence games last season but stumbled to a 1-4 mark in divisional play when they al lowed more than 40 points per game. St. Mark’s must replace some play makers from last season’s roster. However, quarterback Asher Wilburn returns after taking most of the snaps last season. He’s one of three quarterbacks on the roster and the most likely starter. His top target could be Blake Malouf, who caught 34 passes for 550 yards and five scores a year ago. Sophomore running back Russell Higgins also will be a threat after seeing limited action in 2021 as a freshman.Thedefense has more experience, too, led by linebacker Keats Leffel, linemen Grant Warnecke and Henry Estes, and cornerback Hudson Bloom. “We played a lot of young guys last year,” Flaherty said. “We tried to get people as much experience as possible, and we feel that’s going to pay off in the long run.”
By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
prestonhollowpeople.com LACY SCHULTZ lacyschultz@dpmre.com214.455.0476 lacyschultz.com My history and market knowledge produce successful home transactions every time! Dave Perry-Miller Real Estate aandme! More Experienced St. Mark’s Looks to Move Up in Tough SPC
SCHEDULE August 26 FW Country Day 7 p.m. September 2 at Cistercian 7 p.m. 9 at The Woodlands Cooper 7 p.m. 16 Frisco Legacy 7 p.m. 23 Coram Deo 7 p.m. 30 at Houston St. John’s* 7 p.m. October 7 Houston Kinkaid* 7 p.m. 14 at Houston Episcopal* 7 p.m. 21 at Greenhill 7 p.m. 28 ESD* 7 p.m. * — SPC Class 4A game
prestonhollowpeople.com September 2022 | 9C
10C | September 2022 prestonhollowpeople.com Westwood Wealth Management Transformation for Generations We are proud to have helped create lasting legacies for families and individuals, foundations, nonpro ts, endowments, corporate and public retirement plans. westwoodgroup.com Let’s Start a Conversation. 200 Crescent Court, Suite 1200 Dallas, Texas 75201 T 214.756.6900
Tony Banks also sees the potential for major improvement from a defensive unit led by hard-hitting linebacker Josh Titans and safety Kenny Zhao. QUICK FACTS 2021 RECORD: 0-8 NOTABLE: The Hornets have not beaten a Texas opponent since topping The Woodlands Cooper in the 2017 regular-season finale.
Brandon Polk is one of the top returning receivers for a Greenhill offense that had more than 2,000 yards through the air last season. (PHOTO: CHRIS MCGATHEY)
Greenhill showed progress last season. Now it’s time for the next phase of its rebuild — winning games. The Hornets haven’t done that since 2019, but with more depth and experience on the roster, a break through could be imminent.
Rebuilding Hornets Look to Return to Winning Ways By Todd Jorgenson People Newspapers
Greenhill’s average margin of de feat last season was 36.3 points. How ever, the offense scored 26.7 points per game in its final three contests, compared to an average of just seven points in four games prior. “We did make some strides, especially offen sively,” said third-year head coach Tony Banks, a former NFL quarter back. “Those guys are more confident, and their body language is so much better. There’s nothing like a win to see their hard work pay off.” The graduation of quarterback Bennett Broaddus leaves the coach’s son to inherit the starting spot. An thony Banks is a 6-foot-4 sophomore with a strong arm and quick feet. “We’ve got to keep him upright and keep him healthy,” Tony Banks said. “He’s got to go through a learn ing process and a learning curve. He knows the playbook better than any one on the team. That allows us to fo cus on other areas.” Help should come from capa ble returnees at the skill positions in the pro-style offense, including Win ston Black, Aaron John son, Jaden Watt, and Zain Crumedy. Greenhill has more size and sea soning on the offensive line, which should help a rushing game that sput tered a year ago.
SeptemberSCHEDULE 2 at Coram Deo 7 p.m. 9 Covenant 7 p.m. 16 The Woodlands Cooper* 7 p.m. 23 at FW Country Day* 7 p.m. 30 Houston Christian* 7 p.m. October 7 at FW Trinity Valley* 7 p.m. 14 at Arlington Oakridge* 7 p.m. 21 St. Mark’s 7 p.m. 28 Cistercian* 7 p.m. * — SPC Class 3A game We’ve got to keep him upright and keep Tonyhealthy.himBanks
prestonhollowpeople.com September 2022 | 11C Catch play-by-planethe Book a curated day trip to this season’s hottest A&M and UT Austin football games. Your journey to this season’s biggest matchups just got the JSX treatment. A Game Day trip includes roundtrip crowd-free flights on JSX, transfers to/from the game, and valet parking for the day at Dallas Love Field. You bring the game ticket, we’ll provide the touchdowns, all starting from just $599* roundtrip. September 10 September 24 October 1 Alabama vs UT UT vs Texas Tech A&M vs Mississippi and many more... Fly to: Austin, TX Fly to: Lubbock, TX Fly to: Starkville, MS *Terms and conditions apply. Ticket to game not included, JSX.COM/GAMEDAY BOOK TODAY
POLITICAL AD PAID FOR BY MORGAN MEYER FOR TEXAS, 3838 OAK LAWN AVENUE, SUITE 400, DALLAS, TX 75219 REPRESENTATIVE Wishing you a winning football season from the Meyer family. “We’re on your team!”
