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Making History: Red Oak Football looks to continue dominance
For the first time in Red Oak's history, the football team has started their season with an undefeated 5-0 overall record (3-0 in district). As the team gears up for another week of play, VYPE DFW takes a look at their season so far and what fans can expect for the rest of their regular schedule:
So Far
The Hawks have been forceful on the field all season long. Led by the likes of Chris Martinez Jr (who has averaged nearly 91 rushing yards per game), Taz Williams Jr (who has averaged nearly 91 receiving yards per game), Reggie Moody, Brayden Robinson, Dylan Gayton, and others, the offense has been able to score early and often against their opponents. With a tough defense led by Zachary Smith, Mehki Williams (who has averaged nearly 10 tackles per game), Kaiden Bates, Dammeriax Jackson II, Kamauryn Morgan, Torrall Stocker Jr, and others, the team has been able to put up a wall that their opponents have had a difficult time breaking through.
This season, the team opened up play with a hard-fought battle against The Colony in which the Hawks came out with a 19-16 victory. In their home opener, the team shut out Arlington Seguin 28-0 to close out non-district play. Opening district play on the road, the team defeated Temple's Lake Belton in a 38-34 battle before hosting Killeen Ellison for a 49-18 victory. Last week, the team hit the road to Killeen where they battled to secure a 17-14 victory against Shoemaker.
What's Ahead
This week, Red Oak is prepared to hose Waco (1-5, 0-4) in the Hawks' fourth district game of the season. The team can be expected to showcase immense strategy and talent in front of their fans. Focused and ready to put their sixth victory of the season on their record, the team will look to continue their dominance on Friday night. However, the team should remain focused on the remainder of their schedule as they prepare for the rest of their schedule.
In the coming weeks, Red Oak fans can expect the team to put up fights against their opponents-- the toughest left being a home game against Killeen on October 20th and the regular season finisher against Midlothian also in front of a home crowd on November 3rd.
Fans can expect this team to continue on this trailblazing, history-making run throughout the rest of the season; ready to take down anyone who stands in their way of postseason play. Catch the team in action on Friday at home against Waco. Kick-off is slated for 7 p.m.
Recruit Scoop: Red Oak’s Williams is future of Texas HS receiving
With the evolution of today’s game, the wide receiver position has become a must-need for all college and NFL teams. One high school athlete looks the part to be the next big thing.
The Dallas-Fort Worth area over the years has produced many talented collegiate and pro athletes at the wide receiver position and it seem’s that the next great is upon us.
Class of 2025 Red Oak wide receiver Tax Williams Jr., has become one of the top prospects in the country with 43 total offers.
“I started playing football when I was about 5 years old,” he said. “My Dad had just signed me up and I didn’t really know much about the game. I went to the first practice and just fell in love with it immediately. Meeting new people creating new friends and wearing those little league uniforms to school on Fridays, I just loved it."
The love for the game continued to grow as the young Williams grew older playing multiple positions.
“I used to play running back and quarterback when I was younger, really playing every position I could,” he said.
Though Williams was an elite athlete at RB and QB, it took one coach's advice to help him find his true position.
"Going into middle school, one of my coaches told me to switch from running back to wide receiver because of the way the game was changing at the time,” Williams said. “I made the switch in junior high but I was still raw at the position. I started training with Margin Hooks in 8th grade, which really helped me develop as a wide receiver and learn more about the position. It’s just gone up from there.”
Hooks is one of the best receiver trainers in the state, training names like Evan Stewart (A&M), Johntay Cooks (Texas), Jordan Hudson (TCU) and Jalen Hale (Alabama). After training with Hooks, it didn’t take Williams long to become one of the top WR prospects in the country by his sophomore year.
Williams picked up his first D1 offer from Texas A&M in August of last year and since then has picked up 42 more from the likes of Alabama, Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Florida, Miami, LSU, Michigan and more.
So what’s the recruiting process been like for Williams so far?
“The process has been great so far, meeting all the coaches on the staffs and touring the facilities. It’s just been great to grow those bonds and relationships with the coaches early on in my high school career.”
Williams mentioned he plans on visiting Ohio State, Pitt, Michigan, Florida, Miami, Penn State and some other schools he has already visited before this Fall.
Along with going through recruitment, the media attention one receives as a high-level recruit can be chaotic to say the least, but Williams focuses on the grind enjoying the process while still working his craft.
“I really have just seen all my hard work pay off,” he said. “Seeing all the attention and rankings from the recruiting sites is great but really I try to stay focused on the work, grinding to be the best wide receiver in the country and not worry about what’s written online about me.”
Williams has been on the grind this offseason working on his top-end speed, reading coverages and working on his quick-twitch muscles.
With his junior season approaching quickly, Williams is locked in and ready to show out for his teammates and school.
“I just want double my productive from last year showing up to every game playing the best I can and help the team win,” Williams said. “To be able to play and represent Red Oak is amazing. We’ve had a lot of great players come through here who set the foundation and standard here. Now it’s my teammates and it's time to try and push the program further.”
Taz Williams Jr. had his coming out party his sophomore year, expect his junior year to solidify his spot as a top player in the country.