Under the Microscope: 5A DI District 4
Cover Photo Via @CHHS_FOOTBALL On Twitter
DFW Offseason - Week Three
It’s week three of our offseason previews and we have a talent rich district today! 5A DI District 4 is loaded with skilled athletes. Every team in this district made the playoffs a year ago including a pair of teams that did it at the 6A level. Let’s go under the microscope on which teams make up the new 5A DI District 4.
Burleson Centennial Spartans
Burleson Centennial went 10-2 in 2019 following an 11-2 season in 2018. Centennial is moving up to DI from DII where they played in the same district as Aledo. The Spartans have a combined 21-4 record over the last two years with Aledo handing them half of those losses. Quarterback Hank Meyer comes back for his senior season as he tries to lead Centennial to a third straight 10-win season.
Colleyville Heritage Panthers
Colleyville Heritage bounced back last season, going 9-5 before being eliminated by eventual state finalist Denton Ryan in the playoffs. Heritage lost district games to Ryan and Birdville before facing both teams in the playoffs where they avenged the Birdville loss. Heritage started 1-2 after a tough non-district schedule pitted it against 6A powers Southlake Carroll and Euless Trinity. The Panthers are in a deeper district this year though. The Panthers return receiver Josh Dobbins and running back Isaac Shabay this season and will need both to be productive as they attempt to navigate a tough district schedule.
Mansfield Legacy Broncos
Mansfield Legacy went just 4-7 last season and lost to Frisco Lone Star in the opening round of the playoffs. Legacy made the playoffs after winning four straight games to end the season against Dallas ISD schools. The Broncos won’t have that luxury in a deeper district this season. Four-star defensive end and Notre Dame commit David Abiara will need help from his teammates if Legacy wants to make the playoffs in 2020.
Mansfield Summit Jaguars
Mansfield Summit finished 7-4 in 2019 after a first-round exit against Lake Highlands. The Jaguars move down to 5A DI after being in 6A a year ago. Summit lost three straight games to end the season after a 7-1 start to the season. The Jags defeated DeSoto in district play before the slide and should be prepared for 5A competition after playing in a tough 6A district last year. It will help that Summit returns wide out Hal Presley for his senior season. Presley is drawing strong interest from coach Joey McGuire and the Baylor Bears along with a slew of other schools. Three-star offensive tackle Jacoby Jackson also has a Baylor offer and is back to protect the quarterback.
Midlothian Panthers
Midlothian went 8-3 in 2019, one of those losses included a heartbreaking overtime defeat at the hands of Aledo and a two-point loss to Burleson Centennial in district. The Panthers were competitive in every game, including a first-round playoff loss to South Oak Cliff. Midlothian will push the best teams in this district.
Birdville Hawks
Birdville went 9-4 after a 12-2 season in 2018. The Hawks lost to Colleyville Heritage in the playoffs after beating the Panthers in district play. They’ll miss quarterback Stone Earle and running back Laderrious Mixon but return talent along the offensive line to protect the new quarterback. Birdville also returns tight end Connor Welsh to give the new quarterback a reliable target to throw to in 2020.
Richland Rebels
Richland moved down to 5A after spending the last few seasons in 6A. The Rebels went just 4-7 last season and will have their hands full again as they adjust to a ew district in 5A. Safety C.J. Baskerville is considered a lean to sign with Oklahoma State and returns for his senior season. The Rebels lost to Arlington in the first round of the playoffs a year ago.
Red Oak Hawks
Football is fun again at Red Oak. The Hawks followed a 9-2 season in 2018 with an 11-2 record in 2019 behind head coach Chris Ross. Red Oak fell to Aledo in the playoffs, but quarterback Josh Ervin is back for his senior season. He’ll have a familiar target in tight end La’Kelsey Johnson. The defense returns plenty of talent as well. Linebacker Jackson Bailey has offers from Arizona and SMU while three-star cornerback Darius Jackson has offers from Kansas State and Missouri.
Player to Watch
My player to watch in 5A DI District 4 is Mansfield Summit wide receiver Hal Presley. Summit will rely heavily on the talents of Presley to make plays in order to make the playoffs among this field of talented teams. Presley has offers from Texas, TCU, Oklahoma State, and others. Baylor, California and Ole Miss are showing the strongest interest in Presley, according to 247sports.com.
Team to Watch
My team to watch in 5A DI District 4 is the Red Oak Hawks. Red Oak has strung together two good seasons and has a chance to finish the second leg of back-to-back 10-win seasons if they can get to 10 wins this season. The Hawks are in a tougher district but have the talent to make it happen.