magazine came out recently. I’ve been reading it for as long as I can remember. It reminds me of my older brother’s Boy Scout Handbook that told you everything you ever needed to know from how to put up a pup tent to start a fire.
The first thing I did when I got the magazine was turn as quickly as I could to page 314 to check out where Tiger Nation was predicted to finish in the District 11-3A D1 standings.
I used to like Dave Campbell but Dave did not show much love for Tigerland this year. I’m thinking the bromance is over—Dave and I are breaking up.
Big Blue is picked dead last out of six teams. Here’s the scoop: Franklin is picked number one and that’s no surprise, they are ranked third in the state. Dave likes our neighbors Little River-Academy for second place and rival Cameron for third.
Side note on the school across the river: they have a new head football coach who is a former Texas Longhorn and the former defensive coordinator for DeSoto High School where he was part of two state championship teams (2022 and 2023). No doubt Coach Aaron Babino is a great hire but there will be a learning curve for this new head coach, so I would not take the bell to that part of the county just yet.
Texas Football likes Troy for the number four slot, McGregor for fifth and then your Rockdale Tigers for sixth. I guess we have something to prove even before the shoulder pads have been passed out.
We will miss three-year starter Blaydn Barcak but look forward to Greyson Williams being under center. Expect De’Andre Stephens to continue to grow and have a big year on both sides of the ball along with Brody Willard, AJ Sandoval, Reaghan Jackson and Stephen Goodrich.
Athletic director and head football coach Hunter Hamrick is in his second year leading the Tigers and he has surrounded himself with savvy coaches. I would be surprised if we don’t play way bigger than what the football world thinks.
And, for a quick reminder, we were 3-8 in 2023 and 2-4 in district play and we did make the playoffs. —ka— Moving onto what they are saying about Thorndale, I hope the airbags are working because the news is not that much better.
The football world thinks the Bulldogs who failed to win a game last year (0-10 overall, 0-6 in district) will come in fifth place in District 14-2A D1.
A fifth-place finish out of six is not much to post on Facebook about but it would be an improvement for Coach John Kovar’s squad.
If the math works out Mason would come in first, Holland second, Johnson City third, San Saba fourth, Thorndale fifth and Harper sixth.
Expect the usual suspects like Jayden Clawson, Noah Crabtree, Gunner Ferguson and Braden Pickel to have something to say where this typically winning program finishes at the end of the season.
Go Bulldogs! —ka— It looks like the Milano Eagles will finish in the middle of the pack in District 13-2A D2.
The Eagles had a great start last year but it got rough as the season progressed.
Former Rockdale Tiger and head football coach Nick Moorehead is the nicest guy you could ever meet, but I guess Dave Campbell does not give credit for things like that. Too bad because that should have been good for a bump or two in the predicted standings.
The experts like Granger for a first place finish with Burton coming in at second, Somerville in third, Iola at fourth, then Milano, Bartlett in sixth, Snook in seventh and McDade last.
Milano has some ballers that play hard like Andres Ruelas, Gerald Dykes, Anthony Valdez. I would look for these Eagles to win some games that others think they will lose and go further than anticipated. Coach Moorehead’s team finished 4-6 and 1-4 in district.
Those are your sports fun facts of the week.
BLEEDING BLUE AND GOLD
KEN ANSELL
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.