Cass County Football Preview 2025

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Football season is on the horizon.

Friday night lights are ready to burn with the exception of a few Thursday night thrillers as well.

Atlanta Head Coach Tyler Morton is in year four of his tenure and looks to continue an upwards climb with the Rabbits. Atlanta has made the playoffs in three season under Morton.

For Queen City, Head Coach David Wilbanks is looking forward to a better year with his players in year two of the playbook.

Linden-Kildare has a new athletic director but he’s not new to the area. L-K Head Coach Dillon Surratt has roots in Linden and looks to lead the Tigers back to where the program used to be.

Atlanta – 8-3A DI

Atlanta has made the playoffs three years consecutively under head coach Tyler Morton and looks to return again this season.

This year Dave Campell’s Texas Football staff has picked the Rabbits to finish third in district play behind Jefferson and Liberty-Eylau.

The Rabbs return 25 letterman which includes five starters on offense and six starters on defense.

Players to watch are: WR Jayden Riley, WR/DE C.J. Whaley, RB Marshawn Woodberry, DL Kameron Williams, WR/DB Deandre Simmons, DB Kayden Linwood, DE Dailen Collins, DL/OL Jaylen Finley, DB T.J. Rainey, LB Eli Mitchell, OL Nate Hernandez, QB Evan Mitchell, OL Landon Johnson, OL Charles Tyson, OL Landon Harper, QB Huntley Fisher, LB Layne Wellington and DB Kason Byrd.

Atlanta will play 10 games consecutively before its off week for the second year in a row.

Per the schedule, the Rabbits travel to Pleasant Grove for a Thursday night battle on Aug. 28, hosts Hooks on Sept. 5, travels to New Boston on Sept. 12, and welcomes Mount Vernon on Sept. 19.

Atlanta open district play with a road trip to White Oak on Sept. 26, hosts Jefferson on Oct. 3, plays at Sabine on Oct. 10, hosts L-E on Oct. 17, travels to Tatum on Oct. 24 and closes the regular season schedule with a home game against Gladewater on Oct. 31.

All Rabbit games are scheduled at 7 p.m. this season.

*** September 19 will be a packed night as The Atlanta Education Foundation will have its annual event on the same night as Homecoming. Atlanta’s Athletics Hall of Fame will induct three more members into the coveted hall on Oct. 3 and Senior Night is on Oct. 31. ***

Queen City – 10-3A D II

Queen City is looking to get back into the playoffs this year and second-year Head Coach David Wilbanks looks to prove Dave Campbell’s seventh place finish in district play wrong.

The Bulldogs return 15 lettermen and nine starters on each side of the ball.

Players to watch are: OL/DL David Jackson, RB Jason Joffray, OL/DL Levi Byrum, OL/DL Kordell Federick, WR Daketrick Smith, WR/DB Derell Sewell, TE/LB Trenton Belk, OL/DL Justin Pankey, QB/DB Malaki Richardson, DB D.J. Henson and TE/LB Chris Brown.

QC will play 10 games consecutively before its off week just like Atlanta.

The Bulldogs are in one of the toughest districts in 3A DII yet again and kick off the regular season with two straight home games against Grace Community on Aug. 29 and Harleton on Sept. 5.

QC hits the road for three consecutive road games as they visit Elysian Fields on Sept. 12, White Oak on Sept. 19 and Hooks, for its first district game, on Sept. 26.

On Oct. 3, the Bulldogs welcome Hughes Springs, then travel to Daingerfield on Oct. 9, hosts New Boston on Oct. 17, travels to Redwater on Oct. 24 and hosts DeKalb on Oct. 31.

All of the Bulldogs’ games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. kickoffs.

*** Queen City celebrates Homecoming on Sept. 5, Little Bulldog Night on Oct. 3 and Senior Night on Oct. 31. ***

Linden-Kildare – 9-2A DII

Linden-Kildare battled through adversity last year and has put it all behind them as they look to the future with a new athletic director at the helm.

Dillon Surratt was named L-K’s AD and head football coach in December of 2024 and has coached at Atlanta, New Boston, Queen City and most recently Liberty-Eylau. This is his first year as a head football coach and AD.

He now brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to a program who desires to get back to where L-K football used to be.

The Tigers are picked to finish last by Dave Campell’s Texas Football staff but Coach Surratt and the Tigers are out to prove them wrong.

L-K returns six starters on offense and five on defense and the players to watch are: QB Keegan Salers, OL Kayson Liles, WR Chance Kirkland, RB/WR Breckin Wells, RB/WR Jakory Love, WR/LB Maddox Hankins and WR Kevin Chavez.

Linden-Kildare’s regular season starts with an away Thursday game against Paul Pewitt on Aug. 28 and is followed up with a home game versus Colmesneil on Sept. 5.

Both of those games begin at 7 p.m. The Tigers travel to Hughes Springs on Sept.12 with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff time and take on Tenaha at home in another Thursday night scuffle on Sept. 18. That game kicks off at 7 p.m.

L-K begins district play at Celeste on Sept. 26, hosts Cumby on Oct. 3, has a BYE week Oct. 10, visits Detroit on Oct. 17, welcomes Clarksville on Oct. 24, travels to James Bowie on Oct. 31 and finishes up the regular season slate at home versus Maud on Nov. 7.

All district games are scheduled for 7 p.m. *** L-K celebrates Homecoming on Sept. 5 and Senior Night on Nov. 7. ***