Despite the loss, rebuilding and improving Royse City (0-4, 0-7) did make it closer than expected by rolling up 490 yards total offense, including 438 yards passing by Bulldog quarterback Taylor Corbin.

Rockwall-Heath (5-2, 3-1) generated 488 yards total offense, behind Hawks quarterback Kevin Rodgers, who passed for two touchdowns and rushed for one more. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 316 yards and rushed eight times for 68 yards.

Cameron Wilson was Rodgers’ favorite target, grabbing seven passes for 135 yards and two TDs on 26 and 22 yard completions.

Hawks Tyler Harding caught five passes for 74 yards, Ryan Peterson four for 63 yards and Clark Pope three for 40 yards.

Running back Jesse Irokwe also returned to action, rushing 20 times for 78 yards and one TD.

Bulldog quarterback Corbin had a huge game, completing 27 of 46 passes for 438 yards, 2 TDs and no interceptions.

Kristopher Smith grabbed 10 of his passes for 174 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown. Ryan Fedric caught six for 133 yards, including a 46-yard TD, plus rushed seven times for 28 yards and another TD.

In other District 10-4A action Friday night, Highland Park destroyed Carrollton Turner, 70-7; and Carrollton Newman Smith clobbered Greenville, 56-28.

Next Friday Rockwall-Heath plays at Richardson Pearce, Royse City travels to Highland Park and Rockwall plays at Carrollton’s Newman Smith.

District 10-4A standings currently show Highland Park in the lead at 5-0;  Rockwall-Heath, Newman Smith and Richardson Pearce tied at 4-1; Rockwall 2-3, Greenville 1-4, plus Royse City and Carrollton Turner each at 0-5.

Only four teams will make the playoffs. Each team has three division games left. All teams except the bottom two still have a chance to make the playoffs. 

SCORING:

Royse City                       3      7      0    14    24

Rockwall-Heath            7      3     14     7    31

ROYS – Sterling Mullen 27 FG

RKHTH – Kevin Rodgers 1 run (Trevor Pinkston kick)

RKHTH – Pinkston 31 FG

ROYS – Ryan Fedric 3 run (Mullen kick)

RKHTH – Cameron Wilson 22 pass from Rodgers (Pinkston kick)

RKHTH – Wilson 26 pass from Rodgers (Pinkston kick)

RKHTH – Jesse Irokwe 2 run (Pinkston kick)

ROYS – Fedric 46 pass from Taylor Korbin Taylor (Mullen kick)

ROYS – Christopher Smith 9 pass from Taylor (Mullen kick)

By J.J. Smith. Scoring touchdowns on its first six possessions, Rockwall-Heath scored more points in the first half against I-30 Cross-town Classic rival Rockwall than it has in any complete game this season, and the 13th-ranked Hawks clobbered the seventh-ranked Yellow Jackets 55-38 last night at Wilkerson-Sanders stadium, winning the inaugural Congressman Ralph Hall trophy.

Behind the rushing of junior running back Dorian Lawry, who rushed 24 times for 227 yards and five TDs, including 29 and 44-yard runs, Heath (4-1, 2-0) scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and led 21-0 before Rockwall finally scored its first TD.

Heath’s offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage all night. It also protected senior quarterback Kevin Rodgers so well that he was able to complete 13 of 16 passes for 233 yards and three TDs, including long strikes to Tyler Harding for 25 yards, Cameron Wilson for 38 yards and Ryan Peterson for 48 yards.

The Hawks only real mistakes were penalties which hampered them during the second half. They had seven total penalties for 50 yards.

The Yellow Jackets offense had a pretty good night of their own, rolling up 443 yards of total offense, behind Josh Broach’s 24 carries for 121 yards and three TDs, including a 35-yard run and 29-yard pass play from San Dieto State recruit QB Adam Dingwell.

Dingwell completed 14 of 21 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, including an exciting 69-yard pass play to Will Beasley to end the scoring for the night. 

But the Yellow Jackets defense had a very difficult time all night, giving up 550 yards of total offense to the Hawks.

The game began well for them, when they stuffed running back Jesse Irokwe with a one-yard loss, but four plays later Heath scored its first TD on Lawry’s 12-yard run and it went downhill from there.

Harding then hauled in his 29-yard pass from Rodgers and Lawry added his 29-yard TD run. Then Broach scored Rockwall’s first TD on an exciting 35-yard run, but Heath already led 21-7 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Hawks scored three more TDs, when Wilson and Peterson scored on their long pass plays and Lawry added his third TD on a seven-yard run. Broach scored twice for the Yellow Jackets, but the score was 41-21 at the half.

In  the second half, Rockwall actually outscored the Hawks, 17-14,  but it just wasn’t enough. Yellow Jacket kicker Ted Gates kicked a 29-yard field goal to open the scoring. But the Hawks answered with Lawry’s seven-yard TD run.

Rockwall’s Del Myles electrified the crowd to begin the fourth quarter scoring with a 56-yard run, injecting some hope in the Rockwall crowd. But now behind 48-32, Lawry ran 44 yards for his and the Hawks last score to take the wind out of the Yellow Jackets’ faint hopes. 

Rockwall’s last score came on Beasley’s 69-yard pass from Dingwell. 

Heath has now won four straight games after a season opening loss to a tough 4-1 Sherman, and appears to be ready to defend its District 10-4A championship crown.

If Rockwall’s defense can toughen up, the Yellow Jackets still stand a good chance of either yet winning the District crown or at least making the playoffs. Only four teams will make the cut, however, and besides the Hawks, at least three other 10-4A teams appear capable this year of making it into the post-season.

Pre-season favorite Highland Park (4-1, 2-0)) continued their winning ways last night, blasting Greenville (3-2, 0-2), 59-12; Carrollton’s Newman Smith (3-2, 1-1) crushed Turner (0-5, 0-2), 48-6; and J.J. Pearce (4-1, 2-0)  beat up rebuilding Royse City (0-5, 0-2), 55-14 in Richardson.

Rockwall will continue District play Thursday night, 7:30 pm, against Turner in Carrollton’s Standridge Stadium.

Friday night Rockwall-Heath will play Newman Smith at Standridge, also at 7:30 pm.

Royse City will seek their first victory when they play at home against Greenville Friday night at 7:30 pm.

The District 10-4A match was never really in doubt.

The Hawks (3-) led 17-0 at the end of the third quarter, and after Lawry scored on an 11-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter, they quickly increased their lead to 24-0.

Lawry rushed for 97 yards on the night and senior running back Jesse Irokwe rushed for 55 yards. Six Heath receivers caught passes from Rodgers, including Ryan Peterson and Cameron Wilson who each grabbed four.

The Hawks defense used a variety of blitzes to contain the Lions speedy offense and quarterback Alton Dennis, who gained only nine total yards rushing. Greenville (3-1) rushed and passed for 310 yards of total offense, well below their season average.

Scoring on it’s second play from scrimmage, Heath jumped to a 7-0 first quarter lead. On it’s second possession, the Hawks upped the lead to 10-0 on a 24-yard field goal by Trevor Pinkston.

Ryan Peterson caught a 35-yard pass from Rodgers in the second quarter, stretching the haltime lead to 17-0.

Four more touchdowns were scored in the final quarter after Greenville’s offense came alive for two TDs, but was matched by the Hawks two more scores.

The Lions’ Dakeiston Williams rushed for 131 yards on 15 carries, including a fourth-quarter TD on a 55-yard run.

In other District 10-4A games, Highland Park rolled over Carrollton Newman Smith, 56-35, and Richardson Pearce destroyed Carrollton R.L. Turner, 75-25.

Next Friday, Rockwall-Heath will host Rockwall in their huge cross-town rivalry game at Wilkerson Sanders Stadium at 7:30 pm.

After the Hawks (0-1) led 17-7 at the half and Heath’s defense had limited the Bearcats (1-1) to just 17 yards rushing and two first downs in the first half, Sherman came roaring back with 20 straight points in the third quarter, on 50 and 29-yard Carter TD strikes.

Then, with Sherman leading 21-17, Heath fumbled a punt snap from center and Bearcat defender J.J. Floyd ran the ball in for a 13-yard TD, extending the lead to 28-17.

Sophomore running back Darian Lawry then electified the crowd with a 99-yard kickoff return, and scored again on an 11-yard burst with just 4:45 left to push Heath ahead, 31-28.

But Sherman was not to be denied, moving the length of the field for Cater’s go-ahead touchdown and the victory.

In the second half, Lawry replaced Heath running back Jesse Irokwe, who had scored two TDs and rushed for 95 yards in the first half. No details are available why Irokwe did not play in the second half.

Heath outgained the Bearcats with 447 total yards in total offense – 216 passing and 211 rushing - compared to Sherman’s 232.

Heath’s Kevin Rodgers completed 16 of 35 passes for 216 yards and one interception in his first complete game as the Hawks’ starting quarterback. He also rushed 12 t imes for 42 yards.

Four Hawk receivers caught passes, led by Ryan Peterson with 5 receptions for 47 yards and Tyler Harding with four for 54 yards. Clark Pope caught three passes for 45 yards and Irokwe one for 40 yards.

Besides Irokwe’s 95  rushing yards on 13 carries, Lawry gained 63 yards on 10 carries and Sebastian Gill on carry for 11 yards.

Carter ended the night with 16 completions on 22 attempts to six different receivers for 169 yards. He was also the leading Bearcat rusher with 54 yards on 17 carries. Nathan James also gained nine yards on six carries.

The Hawks next and first home game will be Sept. 11 at 7:30 pm vs. Arlington Seguin (0-2), which lost last night to Wylie, 42-27, and Burleson on opening night, 31-20.

In non-conference action last night involving other District 10-4A teams, Rockwall rallied in the last two minutes against Rowlett and won 31-28, Highland Park romped over Frisco Liberty, 42-14, and Richardson Pearce lost to Denton Ryan, 64-36.

TOTALS:

ROCKWALL-HEATH                  7   10      7     7           31

SHERMAN                                     0      7   20   13           40

Scoring:

RKHTH – Jesse Irokwe 3 run (Brad Dunavant kick)

RKHTH – Irokwe run (Dunavant kick)

SHER – Madison Carter 1 run (Eric Hosek kick)

RKHTH – Trevor Pinkston 22 FG

SHER – Greg Jackson 50 pass from Carter (kick failed)

SHER – Jackson 29 pass from Carter (Hosek kick)

SHER – J.J. Floyd 13 fumble return (Hosek kick)

RKHTH – Darian Lawry 99 kickoff return (Pinkston kick)

RKHTH – Lawry 11 run (Pinkston kick)

SHER – Carter 3 run (run failed)

SHER – Geoff Hooker 75 interception return (Hosek kick)