(Editor's Note: This is part of a series of articles going up this week by the hosts of The Big Friday Night Scoreboard Program covering high school football teams in the KETR listening area. We continue the series with District 6-4A D2.)
District 6-4A D2: Emory Rains, Wills Point
Emory Rains Wildcats: The Wildcats almost never got a streak going in 2016, alternating wins and losses for most of the season outside of both a two-game winning and losing streak. But winning the right games earned them a playoff berth, and they capped off a 5-6 season with a bi-district round loss to Celina. Going from 4-6 to 6-5 to 5-6 in three seasons time, Rains looks to get a step further in 2017 and win a playoff game. Coach Randy Barnes’s squad brings back five defensive and six offensive starters from last season and will rely heavily on their ground attack offensively this season. The Wildcats may end up getting a couple running backs over 1,000 yards this season.
Players to watch: RB Dylon Mosley, LB/RB Michael Dowty, TE Michael Stafford, CB Blane Campbell, QB/DB Judd McCall
Wills Point Tigers: The Tigers came out of nowhere last season to win the district. After an 0-4 start, Wills Point caught fire, winning seven in a row and making it to the area round of the playoffs before falling to Pleasant Grove. Sweeping through the district won’t be so easy for Coach Greg Cranfill and his team in 2017 however. The Tigers bring back a defense with experience, as seven starters return from last year to this year, while the offense brings back six starters. The Tigers have some weapons on offense and can easily make a run towards the district title, but their key game comes at home against Dallas Lincoln on November 3. The winner of that game will probably win the district.
Players to watch: RB/DB Brandon Smith, HB Jacob Moore, LB Bryan Mitchell, WR/DB Demontre Hill, QB Tyler James
Predicted Order of Finish:
1. Dallas Lincoln
2. Wills Point
3. Canton
4. Emory Rains
5. Ferris
6. Dallas Roosevelt
