Local Football Preview

The year 2020 was one to forget.

The COVID-19 pandemic completely changed the course of high school athletics among many other things.

Spring sports were canceled across the state and no one knew if football would be played at all as the new school year approached.

The University Interscholastic League (UIL), which governs high school sports in Texas, had a decision to make.

There was talk of moving football season to the spring of 2021, but the UIL decided to proceed with caution and start the football season as usual.

One big difference would be that the larger school districts across the state would start later than the smaller classifications.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines were put in place by the UIL and schools to combat spreading the coronavirus among players and fans.

The virus affected many teams as cancellations or forfeits became the norm. Team numbers were shredded as players had to sit out due to quarantine or having COVID.

Atlanta – 6-3A Division 1

The Rabbits had a rough season last year but finished district play with a 3-3 record and made the playoffs.

Injuries and COVID quarantining didn’t help the Rabbs’ campaign plus they were without junior running back Keith Kinney for half of the season’s beginning.

Kinney came on strong upon his return to the field and finished with 598 rushing yards.

Veteran Head Coach and AD Matt McClure took an administrative job within Atlanta ISD as the 2020- 2021 school year came to a close and the school district hired another veteran coach in David Plunk to take over the reins of the Rabbit Express.

Atlanta has 26 lettermen returning plus nine offensive and three defensive starters returning.

The JV football team is coming off of a 9-1 season and with both junior high football teams going undefeated last year look for plenty of support from freshman and sophomores on the varsity team as needed.

Players to watch: RB Keith Kinney, LB De’Korian Parker, WR Cooper McClure, DB Matthew Cauley, OL Jaden Wells, WR/DB Kameron Dickerson, WR Stacy Darty, RB La’Randion Dowden, TE Ashton Harper, OL Brennan Gaston, OL Ty Blizzard, OL Isaiah Harrison, K Daniel Hernandez and OL Caden Walker.

Atlanta was picked by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football to finish third in district behind Gladewater and Tatum.

The Rabbs begin the season at Daingerfield Aug. 27, will host Paul Pewitt Sept. 3, will travel to Gilmer Sept. 10 and will host Liberty-Eylau on Homecoming night Sept. 17.

District play begins Sept. 24, as the Rabbits host White Oak (Hall of Fame Ceremony). Atlanta travels to Sabine Oct. 1, hosts Gladewater Oct. 8, travels to Tatum Oct. 15, hosts New Boston Oct. 22 (Senior Night), and closes out the regular season schedule Nov. 5 at Jefferson.

All games are slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Queen City – 11-3A Division 2

The Bulldogs won five out of six games to begin last season and literally missed the playoffs by 21 points.

Head Coach/AD Eric Droddy and staff will miss key contributors Damir Rascoe, Justin Lance and Kieran Droddy who graduated but have 13 lettermen returning.

Although QC only has three returning starters on both sides of the football the coaching staff believes the youthful and talented roster can lead the Bulldogs into the playoff picture.

Players to watch: OL Aaron Jones, RB Jeremiah Drayton, DL Mason Stringer, QB Clint Wiley, WR Quiyon Ellison, WR/DB Manasseh Drayton, Kaden Fincher, Delvon Federick, Rylee Green and Ke’idie Harrison.

Queen City begins the season at Linden-Kildare Aug. 27, in another installment of the Cass County Clash, travels to Union Grove Sept. 3, celebrates Homecoming Sept. 10, against Quitman and finishes up its pre-district schedule against Frankston at home Sept. 17 (Military Appreciation).

District play begins Sept. 24, as the Bulldogs host Elysian Fields (Little Bulldogs). QC travels to New Diana Oct. 1, hosts Ore City Oct 8 (Breast Cancer Awareness), travels to Waskom Oct. 15, hosts Hughes Springs on Senior Night Oct. 22, and finishes the regular season schedule at Harleton Nov.5.

All games are slated to begin at 7:30 p.m.

Linden-Kildare – 9-2A Division 1

The Tigers had a rough season last year. No matter what Linden-Kildare faced both on the field and off the team battled each and every time they laced up.

The Tigers have 16 lettermen returning and five starters returning on each side of the football.

Kyle Freeman was hired as the new HC/AD near the beginning of 2021.

Freeman has been coaching for 25 years, six of those as head coach, and is both a national champion in shot put for Angelo State University and a former NFL player.

Players to watch: DE/OL Jackson Lee, RB Jay Birmingham, FB/LB Taeshun Mitchell and DB Trevarious Patterson.

L-K begins the season with the Cass County Clash meeting against county rival Queen City Aug. 27, travels to Clarksville Sept. 3, travels to DeKalb Sept. 10 and finishes up its pre-district schedule with a home game against James Bowie Sept. 17.

District play begins Sept. 24, as the Tigers travel to Hawkins. L-K hosts Union Grove Sept. 30, travels to Beckville Oct. 15, hosts Big Sandy for Homecoming Oct. 22, travels to Frankston Oct. 28 and hosts Carlisle (Senior Night) Nov. 5.

All games are slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. except for two games.

The Thursday, Sept. 30, matchup against Union Grove and the Oct. 28, game against Frankston both begin at 7 p.m. per the schedule posted.

*As in any case, especially during this pandemic, check out school websites or Facebook pages for changes to games ahead of time. The Journal-Sun will report the same as we gather information.