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Sulphur Springs' Wyatt Watson (9) races down the field after catching a pass during a game against Mount Pleasant last season. Watson was named a player to watch on the Wildcats by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
Sulphur Springs' Wyatt Watson (9) races down the field after catching a pass during a game against Mount Pleasant last season. Watson was named a player to watch on the Wildcats by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. -
Sulphur Springs' Vincent Johnson (77) gets into his stance during the Wildcats' Bi-District Playoff Game against Dallas Carter last season. Johnson was noted as a player to watch on the Wildcats this coming season.
Sulphur Springs' Vincent Johnson (77) gets into his stance during the Wildcats' Bi-District Playoff Game against Dallas Carter last season. Johnson was noted as a player to watch on the Wildcats this coming season. -
Como-Pickton's Jorge Garcia (56) records a tackle during a game against Rivercrest last season. Garcia was one of six Eagles named as a player to watch by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
Como-Pickton's Jorge Garcia (56) records a tackle during a game against Rivercrest last season. Garcia was one of six Eagles named as a player to watch by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. -
Cumby's Chett Vaughan (4) hands off the ball to Dakari Johnson (11) during a game against Tyler All Saints last season. Both Vaughan and Johnson were tabbed as players to watch on the Cumby Trojans.
Cumby's Chett Vaughan (4) hands off the ball to Dakari Johnson (11) during a game against Tyler All Saints last season. Both Vaughan and Johnson were tabbed as players to watch on the Cumby Trojans. -
Sulphur Springs' Skyler Lewis (6) celebrates following a touchdown reception during a game against Hallsville last season. Lewis, incoming senior, was named a player to watch for the Wildcats.
Sulphur Springs' Skyler Lewis (6) celebrates following a touchdown reception during a game against Hallsville last season. Lewis, incoming senior, was named a player to watch for the Wildcats. -
Como-Pickton's Julian Rodriguez (5) looks for space to run during a game against Detroit last season. Rodriguez was one of six players tabbed as a player to watch on the Como-Pickton Eagles.
Como-Pickton's Julian Rodriguez (5) looks for space to run during a game against Detroit last season. Rodriguez was one of six players tabbed as a player to watch on the Como-Pickton Eagles. -
Cumby's Gunner Campbell (22) returns a kickoff during a game against Tom Bean last season. Campbell was named a player to watch on the Cumby Trojans for the upcoming season. Photos by DJ Spencer
Cumby's Gunner Campbell (22) returns a kickoff during a game against Tom Bean last season. Campbell was named a player to watch on the Cumby Trojans for the upcoming season. Photos by DJ Spencer
CARROLLTON — Each summer, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football, affectionally known as “the Bible of Texas Football,” releases a preview magazine, predicting how the high school, college, and pro football teams of Texas will do each year. While the pro and college teams get focus, the main focus is the over 1,500 high school football teams in the state.
The magazine predicts the placements for each team in each district, how many players and starters for each team return, and previous records. Additionally, players to watch, top juniors, top sophomores, and other key prospects from each team are named, and a brief summary for how each teams’ seasons look to play out are given.
The three Hopkins County football teams — the Sulphur Springs Wildcats, Como-Pickton Eagles, and Cumby Trojans — each had different projections and comments for the upcoming season.
Here is what the magazine had to say for each team
SULPHUR SPRINGS WILDCATS
The Sulphur Springs Wildcats are picked to finish fifth out of seven teams in District 7-4A/D1. Full rankings for the district in order are:
1. Frisco Panther Creek
2. Celina
3. Lake Dallas
4. Aubrey
5. Sulphur Springs
6. Paris
7. Nevada Community
The Wildcats are slated to return six starters on both offense and defense. Tabbed as players to watch include: Nathan Andrews, Ty Bybee, Andres Certa, Jaxson Haire, Deuce Hall, Grayson Hardy, Vincent Johnson, Skyler Lewis, Aiden McCarroll, Alex McCormick, Kaden Mitchell, Jeff Stevenson, Lauren Vaughn and Wyatt Watson.
“Lewis is among the most dynamic wide receivers in East Texas, while Johnson impressed as a sophomore. Mitchell played wide receiver a year ago, but now moves to quarterback,” the magazine states. “Keep an eye on Hall, who led the freshmen team to a district title. Andrews and Vaughn were both First-Team All-District picks a year ago.”
The Wildcats are coming off an 8-2 season in 2023, where they finished second in district and qualified for the playoffs for the second straight season. They will look to extend their playoff streak to three years in a row and outperform their projection to miss the playoffs.
COMO-PICKTON EAGLES
The Como-Pickton Eagles were picked seventh out of seven teams in District 9-2A/D1.
Full rankings for the district, in order, are:
1. Honey Grove
2. Cooper
3. Alba-Golden
4. Pewitt
5. Rivercrest
6. Quinlan Boles
7. Como-Pickton
The Eagles are set to return eight starters on both offense and defense. Players who were named as players to watch include: Sean Carpenter, Jorge Garcia, Baelin Gillis, Manny Martinez, Dane Oud and Julian Rodriguez.
“The offense never got on track in 2023, failing to light up the scoreboard in half of the team’s games,” the magazine states. “Martinez and Rodriguez are seniors to watch, but juniors Carpenter, Garcia, Gillis, and Oud need to grow quickly into roles on both sides of the ball.”
The Eagles went just 1-9 in 2023, failing to win a district game. They will look to improve upon last season’s results and outperform their low projections.
CUMBY TROJANS
The Cumby Trojans were tabbed fourth out of seven teams in District 9-2A/D2. Full rankings in order are as follows:
1. Celeste
2. Simms Bowie
3. Maud
4. Cumby
5. Linden-Kildare
6. Clarksville
7. Detroit
The Trojans are returning nine starters on both offense and defense this season. Named as players to watch are: Braylon Boggs, Jaxon Hudson, Jackson Petty, and Chett Vaughan. Dakari Johnson and Chayton Vaughan are tabbed top juniors.
Channing Herman was named a top sophomore. Other prospects to watch include: Gunner Campbell, Robert Goode, Jusber Nena, Jarred Patterson, Jorge Reyes, Osvaldo Ruiz and Kolby Vandiver.
“New Head Coach Ronnie Green gets the big chair in a promotion from defensive coordinator; he’s got head-coaching experience at Cooper and Como-Pickton. Chett Vaughan is back under center to head up the offense, and Boggs and Chayton Vaughan should provide solid weapons,” the magazine states. “Big things are expected from Hudson and Petty up front on both lines.”
The Trojans are coming off a 3-7 season in 2023, where they managed to sneak into the playoffs as the fourth place team. They will look to make the playoffs again, live up to their playoff expectation, and look to outperform their projection.
Each Hopkins County team will be looking for quality results in 2024. They will also use these projections as motivation to do better this upcoming season.