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.

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By J.J. Smith. After experiencing a 1-9 rebuilding year in 2009, head coach Greg Strahm’s Royse City Bulldogs welcome back 16 starters and 21 lettermen from last year’s team tonight against the Mesquite Poteet Pirates at 7:30 pm in the opening game for both teams at Bulldogs Stadium in Royse City.

This will be the first game for new Pirates head coach Randy Jackson, who previously ran a successful program at Lone Oak, with an 84-37 record.

This will also be the first game for the Bulldogs as a member of District 13-4A, after the UIL realigned numerous districts last Spring, including District 10-4A, in which Royse City previously played with Rockwall and Rockwall-Heath.

The Bulldogs must now travel extensively to Texarkana and Sherman, playing the likes of Denison and Sulphur Springs, which both made the playoffs last year.

Royse City is expected to be led by quarterback Taylor Corbin, who last year threw for 2,120 yards and 15 touchdowns, and wide receiver Kristopher Smith, who caught 54 passes for 802 yards and 7 TDs.

Leading the defense should be linebackers Ryon Phillips (89 tackles, 3 sacks), Ryan Perry (87 tackles) and J.R. Arredondo (80 tackles).

Last year Poteet had a winless season in 10 games in District 15-4A. They return 11 starters, but will play many underclassmen.

Both teams are expected to improve considerably over last year. The Bulldogs are considered a possible playoff team by some high school sports writers.

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Bulldog Devin Bryant caught three of his TD strikes for 39, 63 and 46 yards. He caught five total passes for 167 yards.

Corbin completed 18 of 34 passes for 291 yards and one interception. He scored on a one-yard run.

Jonathan Burns also caught a Corbin TD pass for 23 yards and Kristopher Smith caught another for 10 yards.    

With Ryan Fedric also rushing for 107 yards on only nine carries, the Bulldogs scored four touchdowns in a row in the first half, took a commanding 35-14 halftime lead and never looked back.

Fedric scored on 57 and 41-yard runs.

The Bulldogs gained 311 yards passing and 165 rushing for a total of 476 yards.

Turner totalled 388 yards, including 212 yards passing.

SCORING:

Royse City       13      22     13     7       55

Turner                 7        7     12     7       33

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The football game we’ve all been waiting for all season long for all the marbles in District 10-4A will be played this Friday at 7:30 pm when the state’s sixth-ranked 4A school, pre-season favorite and perennial district champion Highland Park (8-1, 6-0) play defending champion Rockwall-Heath (7-2, 5-1) at Highland Park.

The Hawks have overcome the loss last year of such standouts and now college players as Kendial Lawrence (Missouri), Austin Moss (Arkansas), Everett Gilbert (Montana State) and Drew Hollingshead (Houston).

Led by senior quarterback Kevin Rodgers, who’s completed 136 of 218 passes for 2,024 yards, 12 TDs and only five interceptions, the Hawks only losses came in their opening game against District 9-4A co-leader Sherman (8-1), 40-31,  plus to 10-4A rival Carrollton Newman Smith (7-2, 5-1), 28-14.

Other Hawks standouts have been offensive lineman and Oklahoma recruit Austin Woods, running backs Dorian Lawry and Jesse Irokwe, receivers Cameron Wilson and Ryan Peterson, kicker Trevor Pinkston and defenders Drew Baxter and Armondo Villa.

The high-scoring Scots only loss came against Class 5A power Coppell (8-1) early in the season, 41-20.

Led by quarterback Luke Woodley, who’s completed 182 of 251 passes for 2841 yards (fourth highest in the N. TX Area), 30 TDs and only four interceptions,  they have been undefeated in District 10-4A play since, exceeding 50 points in each of its six victories.

The Scots have the no. 2 Area 4-A offense, averaging 500 yards per game.

Scot receiver Chris Hipps is the leading receiver in Class 4-A with 61 catches for 1162 yards and 15 TDs.

If Highland Park wins the game, they will become the outright District 10-4A champion.

If Heath wins, there would be a three-way tie for first place, if Newman Smith beats powerful Richardson Pearce (6-3, 4-2) Friday night.

Regardless of who wins and loses, these four teams from District 10-4A will advance to the playoffs. Only four can progress into post-season play.

Rockwall (4-5, 2-4) will try to stop its three-game losing streak Friday night as it closes out its disappointing season at Greenville (5-4, 2-4).

Royse City (0-9, 0-6) will complete its rebuilding year by attempting to win its first game of the season at Carrollton’s winless R.L. Turner (0-9, 0-6).

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Trojan quarterback Aldo Quiroga only completed ten of fourteen passes but six went for touchdowns as they rolled to a 41-7 halftime lead.

Bulldogs’ quarterback Taylor Corbin completed 17 of 31 passes for 221 yards, including five to Kristopher Smith for 104 yards and one 26-yard TD, plus three to Ryan Fedric for 22 yards and one four-yard TD.

Sterling Mullen also kicked a 27-yard field goal for the Bulldogs.

SCORING:

N-S             13      28      7     7       55

R C               0        7       3     7       17

NS – Terrell Wilson 57 pass from Aldo Quiroga (Philippe Ichter kick)

NS – Braxton Bearden 6 pass from Quiroga (kick failed)

NS – Wilson 29 pass from Quiroga (Ichter kick)

NS – Wilson 18 run (Ichter kick)

ROYS – Kristopher Smith 26 pass from Taylor Corbin (Sterling Mullen kick)

NS – Al Lasker 6 pass from Quiroga (Ichter kick)

NS – Zach Fleming 5 pass from Quiroga (Ichter kick)

NS – Lasker 22 pass from Quiroga (Ichter kick)

ROYS – Mullen 27 FG

NS – Leon Makonbe 10 pass from Tripp Abbot (Ichter kick)

ROYS – Ryan Fedric 4 pass from Taylor (Mullen kick)

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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)

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First Greenville’s do-everything quarterback Alton Dennis, who rushed for 257 yards, scored their first touchdown on an 83-yard run. Then he threw for two more scores with 39 and 15-yard passes to Jarvis Bruner and Dijoun  Sheppard.

Royse City (0-6, 0-3) scored again when Fedric caught a 12-yard pass from Taylor Corbin, but Greenville (4-2, 2-1)  scored 10 points in the final three minutes of the half to take command, 31-14.

In the fourth quarter, Corbin connected twice with Kristopher Smith for 20 and seven-yard touchdowns, but Greenville added two TDs as well with a 46-yard Coby Johnson punt return and a 1-yard run by Dakeiston Williams.

Fedric had a big night for the Bulldogs, rushing for 122 yards on 19 carries and catching five passes for 38 yards. Smith grabbed six throws for 92 yards and Devin Bryant caught five passes for 51 yards.

Corbin connected on 20 of 33 passes for 210 yards and one interception for the Bulldogs.

In other District 10-4A action Thursday night, Rockwall clobbered Carrollton Turner, 49-7. Friday night, Highland Park outscored Richardson Pearce, 51-44; and Carrollton Newman Smith surprised Rockwall-Heath ,28-14.  

SCORING:

Greenville          7    24      0    14       45

Royse City         7       7     7       7       28

ROYS – Ryan Fedric 1 run (Sterling Mullen kick)

GRE – Alton Dennis 83 run (Ryan Wilhelm kick)

GRE – Jarvis Bruner 39 pass from Dennis (Wilhelm kick)

GRE – Dijoun Sheppard 15 pass from Dennis (Wilhelm kick)

ROYS – Fedric 12 pass from Taylor Corbin (Mullen kick)

GRE – Dakeiston Williams 6 run (Wilhelm kick)

GRE – Wilhelm 28 FG

ROYS – Kristopher Smith 20 pass from Corbin (Mullen kick)

GRE – Coby Johnson 46 punt return (Wilhelm kick)

GRE – Williams 1 run (Wilhelm kick)

ROYS – Smith 7 pass from Corbin (Mullen kick)

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Broach scored on runs of 5, 53 and 53 yards.

All totaled, the Yellow Jackets (3-1) rushed for 364 yards, including a 13-yard scoring run by quarterback Adam Dingwell.

Royse City (0-4) scored in the first quarter when Kristopher Smith caught a 28-yard pass from Taylor Corbin but the Bulldogs didn’t score again until late in the fourth quarter on a 14-yard run by Lewis Mapps and Corbin’s 1-yard run.

In other District 10-4A games, Rockwall-Heath ran past Greenville, 38-12; Highland Park rolled over Carrollton Newman Smith, 56-35; and Richardson Pearce destroyed Carrollton R.L. Turner, 75-25.

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

Royse City will travel to play at Richardson Pearce Friday night at 7:30 pm.

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It didn’t help that Royse City fumbled five times and lost three.

After Mt. Pleasant scored a tying TD on a Whitaker three-yard run, they broke open the game with two more long TD runs of 52 yards by Benny Blaize and 61 yards by Whitaker.  

After a 34-yard Bulldog field goal by Sterling Mullen had narrowed the score to 21-10, Whitaker broke loose again for a 61-yard TD run. A two point conversion pass play after two failed kicks by Mt. Pleasant made the score 28-10.

The Bulldogs’ Jonathan Burns grabbed a 22-yard pass from Taylor Corbin with five seconds left in the half and the PAT made the score 28-17 at halftime, but Mt. Pleasant’s defense held Royse City scoreless in the second half while their offense scored one more TD and PAT. 

Corbin led Royse City’s offense with 217 yards passing on 17 of 25 attempts, plus gained 58 yards rushing. Kristopher Smith grabbed eight passes for 159 yards.

Fedric carried six times for 72 yards and Corey Nixon carried seven times for 28 yards.

Royse City had 369 yards total offense compared to 474 yard for Mt. Pleasant.

Royse City opens District 10-4A action Sept. 25 when they host the area’s 10th-ranked Rockwall at 7:30 pm.

In other action involving District teams this week, Richardson Pearce (2-1) blasted Richardson 43-21 Thursday night and Rockwall-Heath (2-1) held off Hillcrest 10-6 Friday night.

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Royse City (0-2) which was limited to 196 total yards total offense, while Wakeland rolled up 547 yards.

Bulldog quarterback Taylor Corbin only completed 9 of 19 passes for 48 yards, plus had two interceptions. 

Wakeland (2-0) quarterback Tyler Kirkindoll threw for 431 yards and two TDs on 25 of 35 pass completions. He also scored Wakeland’s first touchdown on a four-yard run in the first quarter. 

His 64-yard pass to Alex Bateman early in the second quarter gave Wakeland a commanding 17-0 lead. He also hit Thomas Craig on a 24-yard pass to close out the scoring late in the fourth quarter.

David Robason added a pair of TDs on runs of 46 and four yards.

Joey Swanner returned the second half kickoff 76 yards for the other Wakeland score.

FRISCO WAKELAND             10      21        7      7     58

ROYSE CITY                                  0       0       6      0        6

SCORING:

FWAKE – Zach Paul 26 FG

FWAKE – Tyler Kirkindoll 4 run (Paul kick)

FWAKE – Alex Bateman 64 pass from Kirkindoll (Paul kick)

FWAKE – David Robason 46 run (Paul kick)

FWAKE – Robason 4 run (Paul kick)

FWAKE – Joey Swanner 76 kickoff return (Paul kick)

ROYS – Ryan Fedric 51 run (kick blocked)

FWAKE – Thomas Craig 24 pass from Kirkindoll (Paul kick)

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