MCKINNEY – McKinney North (5-4, 3-3 in District 104A) defensive back Grant Michalak had three interceptions and broke up a last -second Rockwall (3-6, 2-4) touchdown attempt in a 22-14 win Friday that kept the Bulldogs in full control of their playoff fate.

Beat Wylie next week and North will be guaranteed its first postseason appearance since 2006.

“Our defense played really well,” said Mike Fecci, North head coach. “It’s the second week in-a-row we’ve done that. Championship defense and what a great ballgame. Grant Michalak had three interceptions; what can you say about that? Grant played well.”

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In this video interview, Yellowjackets Defensive Coordinator Dave Norris and free-safety Zach Farrow tell sports reporter J.J. Smith what they plan to do to ensure a victory in this non-conference rivalry.

ROCKWALL – The Area’s ninth-ranked Rockwall Yellowjackets will open their 2011 football season tonight when they host the Naaman Forest Rangers in the second game of the second annual “Ralph Hall Honor Before Victory Classic” at 7:30 pm at Wilkerson-Sanders stadium.

Rockwall-Heath won the first game of the Classic last night, defeating West Mesquite, 19-7.

According to Rockwall’s Head Coach and RISD Athletic Director Scott Smith, Naaman Forest will pose a challenge. Rockwall (6-5 last year) defeated the Rangers (2-8 last year) in both teams’ opening game in 2010, but it was close, 35-28.

Naaman Forest is coached by former Rockwall head coach and RISD Athletic Director Mark Elam.

“We have a fine group of kids to work with,” said Coach Smith. “We had a good scrimmage last week and have had real good two-a-days.”

“During these non-district games we’re looking especially for new players to step up,” he added. “Most of the improvement takes place between the scrimmage and first game and then the second game.”

“Some kids will play both ways, on defense and offense.”

He said by the time the Yellowjackets play highly-ranked,  District 10-4A defending champion Highland Park in their fourth game, “is when we’ll really need to be humming and pulling all together.”

The Yellowjackets will employ a 4-2-5 defense and are returning six starters on defense.

“Junior linebacker Jared Farrow (5’8,” 185 lbs) should make some big plays on defense,” said Coach Smith. He also expects big things from junior linebacker Garrett Fikes (5′ 8,” 170 lbs.), a tri-captain.

On offense, senior quarterback Wesley Davis (6’5,” 190 lb) and senior wide receiver Coan Calabrese (5’7,” 145 lbs.) are also co-captains, expected to be team leaders.

“Wesley is a fine young man, good leader and a joy to work with,” said Coach Smith. He was converted to quarterback this year.

Senior center Colin Way and offensive guard Garrett Lilly (6’2,” 265 lbs) should be among the team’s best players.

Senior running backs Baylor Black (6′ 0,” 180 lbs.) and Alex Ntchobo (5′ 9,” 165 lbs.) should provide good depth at running back.

Last year the Yellowjackets finished in second place in District 10-4A with a 5-2 record. This year they are expected to be just as good, if not better.

“We’re anxious to play now and see where we’re at,” said Coach Smith.

By J.J. Smith (no relation)

By J.J. Smith. By defeating Richardson Pearce last Friday night, 42-35, the Rockwall Yellowjackets football team qualified for Bi-District playoff action this Friday night at 7:30 pm against former District 10-4A foe Carrollton Newman-Smith at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco.

The 6-4 Yellowjackets finished in second place in District 10-4A with a 5-2 record, behind undefeated Highland Park.

The N-S Trojans completed their regular season at 5-5 and 4-3, good for fourth place in District 9-4A.

Advance tickets of $8 for adults and $5 for students are on sale through 4 pm Thursday at Rockwall High School, Williams and Utley middle schools and the RISD Athletic Office. All tickets sold at Pizza Hut Park will be $10 per person.

Parking at the stadium will be free for this event. Rockwall parking will be in the Blue Lots east of the stadium (the visitors’ side) and in the Red Lots west of the stadium (home side). Rockwall fans will sit on the visitors’ side.

By J.J. Smith (Collin Way photo). In Friday night football action, behind the 25-30 passing of quarterback Alan Reed – for four touchdowns and 371 yards – the Rockwall Yellow Jackets rallied to nip Wylie East there, 42-38.

Quarterback Taylor Corbin rushed for two touchdowns and passed for two more as the Royse City Bulldogs overwhelmed winless Greenville at home, 49-14.

Rockwall-Heath lost its fourth game in a row, this time to former 5A school Wylie, 35-21. The Hawks didn’t score an offensive TD until the fourth quarter, after returning a kickoff and interception for scores earlier.

First place Rowlett, in District 10-5A, beat North Garland Thursday night, 17-10, behind the rushing of Treyvon Green, who ran for 120 yards and two TDs.

With the playoffs looming and just two games left in the regular season for each team to play, Rockwall (3-2, 4-4) is now locked in a four-way tie for second place in District 10-4A, behind undefeated Highland Park (5-0, 8-0), which has clinched the playoffs.

Other teams tied with the Yellow Jackets are Wylie (3-2, 5-3), McKinney North (3-2, 5-3) and Richardson Pearce (3-2, 4-4).

Only the top four teams in the eight-team district advance to the playoffs.

Rockwall needs at least one more victory to advance in their remaining games against McKinney North at home and Richardson Pearce away.

Friday’s loss by Heath (1-4, 4-4) knocked them out of playoff contention. Victories over Highland Park and Wylie East (0-5, 2-6) will assure them of a winning season record.

Royse City (2-2, 2-6) is in fourth place in District 13-4A and in playoff contention. A victory over either Mt. Pleasant (1-3, 1-7) next week there or Sulphur Springs (3-1, 6-2) at home in two weeks should allow the Bulldogs to make the playoffs.

Rowlett (4-1, 7-1) has clinched the playoffs and has a good chance to win District 10-5A. They must beat McKinney Boyd (4-1, 6-2) and winless Garland Lakeview Centennial (0-5, 0-8) in their final two games to do it.

Other local Friday night scores:

District 15-4A – Terrell (2-2, 4-4) lost to West Mesquite, 45-20; and Forney (1-5, 2-6) lost to Red Oak, 35-7.

District 13-3A – North Forney (1-7) lost to Ferris, 41-8.

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By J.J. Smith. A community-wide tailgate party prior to the “I-30 Classic”  football game between Rockwall and Heath High Schools Oct .15 has been organized for the second year in a row by several local businesses.

The pre-game party will last from 5:30 pm until kick-off at 7:30 p.m at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium. Food is available for purchase from Soulman’s Barbeque for $5 per person. All proceeds benefit the football booster clubs of both schools.

The cross-town football game between the two schools marks the second year of a new Rockwall-Heath tradition, the I-30 Classic “Battle for the Ralph Hall Trophy,” presented to the game winner to hold for one year.

Heath won the game last year, 55-38.

“Rockwall has always been a community linked to tradition, and Friday night football is one of our community’s most unifying,” said Randy Hudson, founder and president of Hudson Financial Group, one of the two primary event sponsors.

“Given our town’s two schools – the Rockwall Jackets and the Heath Hawks – are competing for the District 10-4A title, it is now even more important to have an event the entire Rockwall-Heath community can enjoy together.”

“The Ralph Hall Trophy is another way to help bring the two schools together to foster a lively community spirit, as well as give a nod to Congressman Ralph Hall, one of our most respected and decorated citizens,” said Jimmy Dale, owner of Baker Brothers Plumbing, the event’s other primary sponsor.

Additional event sponsors and contributors include Greg Beauchamp and Lake Pointe Church, Lakeside Chevrolet, Rockwall Sports and Lakeside Living Magazine.

For information, call 972-754-2302.

Dallas Morning News. HIGHLAND PARK – Highland Park receiver Dalton Stagner had five catches for 188 yards and three touchdowns as the Scots escaped with a 37-30 victory over Rockwall on Friday at Highlander Stadium.

All three of Stagner’s touchdowns came in the first half, when Highland Park jumped out to a 30-16 lead. He scored on receptions of 52, 72 and 39 yards to finish the half with 179 receiving yards.

Rockwall’s defense stiffened in the second half, holding Highland Park to 84 yards and one touchdown, a 12-yard run by quarterback Jake Howeth. That score gave HP a seemingly safe 37-16 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Rockwall kept battling.

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By J.J. Smith. Yellow Jacket junior quarterback Alan Reed completed two 21-yard touchdown passes early in the third quarter to sophomore running back Spencer Edwards and senior tight end Reed Loftis to break open a close game and Rockwall (1-2) earned its first win of the season last night, 41-29, over the Royse City Bulldogs (0-3) in a non-district game at Rockwall’s Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium.

Royse City is now in District 13-4A, after the recent UIL re-alignment.

Reed again led the Yellow Jackets to victory, completing 13 or 16 passes for 167 yards and rushing 16 for 57 yards.

In a game that Rockwall was favored to win, Royse City actually led at halftime, 15-14, behind the running of senior Jonathan Burns, who scored from the one and nine yard lines. Sean Pollock also kicked a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter.

Senior Josh Broach ran 48 yards and Darian Moseley 21 yards for Rockwall’s TDs. Broach surprisingly only ran five times during the night for 60 total yards. Moseley did most of the work, rushing 17 times for 85 yards.

But in the second half, Reed’s two TD passes put the Yellow Jackets ahead to stay, 27-15. Kicker Ted Gates nailed his second of three PATs, as well.

In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs came back strong, scoring twice to make a game of it. Junior quarterback Taylor Corbin connected on TD strikes of 33 yards to junior Oscar Crosby and 25 yards to junior Torrell McQueen.

Corbin completed 20 of 26 passes for 292 yards in another strong showing, plus rushed 21 times for 65 yards. McQueen caught six passes for 69 yards and Crosby five for 82 yards on the night. Senior Elijah Moody also caught five for 72 yards. Receiver Kris Smith did not play.

But Rockwall also scored twice in the final period, highlighted by Spencer Edwards’s 45-yard run. Edwards totaled 79 yards rushing on four carries and caught seven passes for 76 yards. Reed Loftis also caught five for 79 yards.

Statistically, the teams finished almost even. Both teams had 21 first downs. Rockwall outgained the Bulldogs 463-415 total yards. The Yellow Jackets relied more on their ground game, rushing for 296 yards, whereas the Bulldogs relied more on the air, with 292 passing yards.

There were no turnovers and only a few short yardage penalties. Royse City punted three times and the Yellow Jackets twice.

Rockwall will now take a week off to prepare for its first district game Sept. 24 against mighty Highland Park, which squeaked by Sherman, 43-42, last night in Sherman.

Royse City will take on Frisco Liberty in its annual Homecoming game Sept. 17 at 7:30 pm at Bulldog Stadium.