In the 63rd edition of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine, the Rockdale Tigers are picked to finish fifth in 11-3A-I this fall, putting the Blue-and-Gold right outside of the playoff picture with a group of teams that Texas Football insider Matt Stepp referred to as the “headline district in Central Texas,” in an article earlier this spring.
The publication has Milam County rival Cameron grabbing the fourth and final playoff spot and Academy, an emerging power that has benefited from Temple-area growth, finishing third.
Lorena, reigning district and Class 3A-I state champion, is picked to finish as the runner-up while Franklin, who won the Class 3A-II state title this past December before the latest UIL realignment brought the Lions up a classification, is pegged to take the district crown. Troy is picked to finished sixth and McGregor is slated to place seventh.
Pre-season Most Valuable Players, picked by the TF staff, are Franklin’s Bryson Washington on offense, who verbally committed to Baylor earlier this summer. Academy linebacker Lane Ward was selected as the Pre-season Defensive Most Valuable Player.
In Texas Football’s notes about the Blue-and-Gold describe them as a team with “solid, experienced skill players like Robert Owens leading the charge,” and that their defense will be led by Cruz San Migel, who was the team leader in tackles last season, and Isaiah Sauls, who brings the speed of a secondary player and a high IQ to the Tiger defensive line.
The magazine also says that “four very good football teams will emerge from District 11 and Rockdale aims to be one of those teams.”
Rockdale has nine starters returning on offense and 10 coming back on defense and had a playoff year in 2021. The Tigers fell to top-ranked Columbus in the opening round.
Texas Football said that Rockdale’s “Players to Watch” are Blaydn Barcak, San Migel, Cade Pantaleon, Wyatt Windham, Owens, Lane Rickman, Gerren Marrero, Kemar Spencer, Tim Grice, Jose Aboytes, Riley Spears, Chad David, Sauls and incoming freshman De’Andre Nunn, who broke a 25-year old school record in the high jump formerly held by University of Houston alum Blade Bassler this past spring.
SEASON—The Tigers begin practice for the 2022 season on Monday, Aug 1., and have their first scrimmage of the year at Tiger Stadium on Friday, Aug. 12, with Class 4A Jarrell.
RHS opens their season on Aug. 26, in Teague.
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