Keep up with the action all season long: 2014 Frisco High School Football Schedules and Results
If it weren’t for the beginning of the high school football season, August’s blast-furnace heat would be even more unbearable. But as if to pacify our burning bodies with the cooling thoughts of Fall, Frisco ISD football is all set to get underway.
Check out the Lifestyle Frisco 2014 High School Football Preview
Frisco Centennial Vs. Highland Park—Sat. 8/30, 7:00 PM @ SMU’s Ford Stadium
Last year’s 9-4A District Champions come into the 2014 season with some new faces and an entirely reworked district. Picked by many to be in the hunt for the 9-5A crown, a very tough Highland Park Scots’ team should be an excellent test for the Titans.
Ranked 11th by the Dallas Morning News, Centennial has plenty of weapons on both sides of the ball. Key strengths include Texas Tech-bound offensive lineman Trace Ellison and stud WR Devin McCord. One area of concern is who will be responsible in getting the rock to McCord, since last year’s Lifestyle Frisco MVP Kelly Cordova has moved on to the next level.
Highland Park, like Frisco Lone Star, made the jump up two levels in district play—Lone Star from 3A to 5A and Highland Park from 4A to 6A. The Scots were 4A Division I State Semifinalists after running the table in their old district last season. This game will be a fine tune-up for the Titans and could set the tone for their 2014 season.
Frisco High School Vs. North Forney—Fri. 8/29, 7:00 PM @ Frisco ISD Memorial Stadium
The Frisco High Raccoons come into the season as the Dallas Morning News’ No. 11 ranked team. When it comes to the ‘Coons, you can always count on two things under Head Coach Vance Gibson’s tutelage: The Wing-T offense, and a deep playoff run. 2014 should be no different for the Raccoons.
Despite the loss of RB Max Steitle and QB Jake Battaglia, Frisco High still has plenty of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Two-way stud T.J. Keys returns and will be a key receiving option for new QB Geraud Sanders. Grinding out the ground game will be FB Lucas Reynolds—who also excelled a year ago as an All-District defensive lineman.
North Forney missed the playoffs last season and lost their best player, Armani Watts (Texas A&M). Regardless, the Falcons look to have a strong secondary with CB Derrick Mosley (4.3) stepping in to fill the shoes of the departed Watts.
Frisco Heritage @ Richardson—Fri. 8/29, 7:30 PM @ Eagle-Mustang Stadium
The Heritage Coyotes have all the makings of a potential dark horse playoff contender. They return one of the top option-QBs in the area in Malik Walker, and he has plenty of reliable targets with which to throw in WRs Keaton White and Chris Baez. One key for the Coyote’s success this season will be the effectiveness of the ground game, which will be led by speedy RB Kene Nwangwu; and complemented by the fleet-footed Walker.
It’s always dangerous to judge a team based solely on paper, but it certainly appears that the Richardson Eagles will have trouble getting their inexperienced defense to stop a very strong Heritage attack.
Frisco Independence Vs. Princeton— Fri. 8/29, 7:30 PM @ Princeton High
For the Frisco Independence Knights, it’s all about their first Friday Night under the Lights. There really would be no better way to usher in their inaugural football season (and school year) than a win over the Princeton Panthers.
However, this might prove a tall task for the Knights, as the Panthers were area finalists a year ago, and return 11 starters from that playoff squad.
Frisco Liberty @ Denison—Fri. 8/29, 7:30 PM @ Denison High
The Denison Yellowjackets have one of the better defenses in the area. In fact, here may be no other namesake more appropriate than Denison’s moniker; as that is exactly how they attack the ball while on defense—using a wasp’s frenzied speed to swarm in on would-be receivers.
For Liberty, it will be up to QB Udgam Goyal, RB Chris McPhaul and company to establish offensive dominance early in the contest. Goyal must be careful to avoid that dangerous Denison secondary—as one errant pass can quickly become a pick-6.
Frisco Wakeland Vs. Lake Dallas—Fri. 8/29, 7:00 PM @ Toyota Stadium
The Wakeland Wolverines return top running back Brent Altieri, an elite player, but far from the Wolverines’ only weapon.
WR Justice Williams earned All-District honors last year as both a wide receiver and a linebacker. Joining Williams on both sides of the ball is Tanner Euting. He led the team in tackles as a LB last year, and he’ll also use his big body to block as the Wolverines’ starting TE. One question mark for Wakeland is how QB Garrett Schulze—last year’s backup—will handle the duties in a full-time capacity behind center.
The Lake Dallas Falcons, like Wakeland, seem to be in the postseason mix year-in and year-out—this is a big reason why these two teams are ranked 14th and 15th preseason, respectively.
Although they lost one of the best receivers in the state in Josh Jackson (Iowa), the Falcons still boast plenty of weapons. QB Dagan Haehn (2013 5-4A Sophomore of the Year), and WR Garrett Shackleford run the Falcons’ high-powered offense.
Can’t make it to the games this week? No problem, Lifestyle Frisco has got you covered. Follow @TMurrayHowell for scoring updates and check back on Tuesday for a re-cap of all of this week’s hard-hitting action.