District 10-6A Football Breakdown: Longview, Rockwall Heath & Royce City's Playoff Push

Few districts in East DFW generate as much late-season uncertainty as 10-6A, and this year figures to be no different. Last season, four playoff spots weren't decided until the final two weeks — and the same six teams are back to sort it out again.

Longview enters as the clear favorite. Head coach John King, a Hall of Honor inductee who has battled cancer and built a program that consistently produces Division I talent, has another loaded roster. Quarterback Shawnee Him was a first-team all-district selection last year, throwing for 22 touchdowns while adding a dual-threat dimension. His top target, four-star wide receiver Jaden Harden, continues a run of elite pass-catchers at Longview — following in the footsteps of Jalen Hale, who went on to make an impact at Georgia Tech.

Rockwall Heath comes in at number two. Running back Carter Prosper Neal was the engine of that offense last season, especially during stretches when the quarterback situation was unsettled. With Holland Jones having transferred across town to Rockwall, Neal is now the unquestioned centerpiece. A new head coach — a former Arkansas quarterback — takes over after Rodney Webb's retirement, bringing a younger perspective to the program.

North Forney slots in third. The Falcons lost quarterback Legend Baye to graduation, but Cam Johnson is expected to step into that role. The optimistic read is that a more cohesive system under third-year head coach Shavers could actually improve the team's consistency — something that was noticeably lacking in 2024, when the offense ran hot and cold throughout the season.

Royce City is the district's most intriguing storyline. The program has never made the playoffs, but the talent level has been building, particularly at the receiver position. The concern last year was that a brutal late-season schedule wore the team down mentally. With those younger pass-catchers now a year older and more experienced, the expectation is that Royce City is finally ready to take that next step and earn a postseason berth for the first time.

Rounding out the projected standings: Rockwall at five, Forney at six, Tyler Legacy at seven, and Mesquite — with new head coach Boone arriving from Newman Smith — at eight.