District 5-4A DII
Sunnyvale
Caddo Mills
Farmersville
Nevada Community
Dallas Roosevelt
Dallas Lincoln
Will Sunnyvale Win a Two-Horse Race Again?
There are three tiers in District 8-4A Division II from last year that will most likely play out the same way in 2019.
In the first tier are Sunnyvale and Caddo Mills. They finished first and second, respectively, in district and were the only teams to finish with both winning records in district and winning records overall.
Sunnyvale finished 9-1, suffering its only loss in the first round of the playoffs to Gilmer. The Raiders will be led by quarterback Tripp McAda ,who led them to a 7-on-7 state championship in College Station during the summer. Winning the 7-on-7 state title usually bodes well for those teams the following fall high school season. Along with McAda and his 40 total TDs a year ago, running back Emmanuel Arinze is back to build on his 2018 campaign and 12 other starters from last year's team.
Caddo Mills struggled early last year, going 2-2 before a 4-1 record in district play. Tyler Townley is back at quarterback to lead the Foxes' offense after racking up more than 2,100 total yards and 26 touchdowns. Caddo Mills brings back 14 starters from a year ago and 21 lettermen overall, looking to continue its upward trend.
In the middle tier will be a three-way battle for the final two playoff spots between Farmersville, Nevada Community and Dallas Roosevelt.
Farmersville makes a jump into the playoff picture bringing back 14 starters from last year's young team and having 23 lettermen back overall. Farmersville will need wins over Nevada Community and Roosevelt to make that leap this year.
Nevada Community makes it back to the playoffs thanks to having 25 lettermen and 11 starters back from last year's team, led by two-way starter Kannon Morrow, who was all-district on both sides of the ball.
Unfortunately, that leaves Roosevelt on the outside looking in as it only brings back 10 lettermen from a year ago. Roosevelt is unproven at quarterback coming into the year, which could make it challenging to get the ball to its playmakers.
VYPE Preseason Awards
MVP: QB/LB Tripp McAda, Sunnyvale
Offensive MVP: QB Tyler Towney, Caddo Mills
Defensive MVP: LB Devin Sterling, Sunnyvale
Breakout Player of the Year: RB Jacquez Simpson, Farmersville
Sleeper Team: Nevada Community
