District 10-3A Division II Helmets

District 10-3A Division II

Our Picks

1. Hooks 2. DeKalb 3. Paul Pewitt 4. New Boston 5. Redwater 6. Prairiland 7. Chisum

HOOKS HORNETS

COACH: Chris Birdwell (9th season, 51-38)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 416-368-4

STADIUM: Hornet Stadium, 601 East Avenue, Hooks 75561

2022 RESULTS: 9-3/6-0 district

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 22/6 offense, 9 defense

LETTERMEN LOST: 10

OFFENSE: Spread

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: RB Keyshawn Walls (6-1, 210) … WR Jatavious Johnson (6-3, 185) … QB Michael Baysinger (5-11, 180) … QB Ripkin Birdwell (6-0, 190) … RB Dontravious Coulter (5-7, 180)

DEFENSE: 3-4

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DB Jatavious Johnson … DB Michael Baysinger … LB Logan Baker (6-2, 190) … LB Dontravious Coulter … DL Carlos Patino (5-11, 235) … DL Aiden Ashmiore (5-10, 180) … DB Carveion Johnson (5-11, 170) … DL Daniel Godfrey (6-2, 235).

2023 OUTLOOK: The Hornets should be able to score on anyone with the return of Walls (1,901 yards, 22 TD; 2 receiving TD), Johnson (53 xatches, 751 yards, 9 TD), Baysinger (130 of 206, 1,900 yards, 21 TD; 2 interceptions) and Coulter (49 carries, 330 yards, 2 TD). The defense should more than hold up its end of the bargain with Johnson (70 tackles), Baysinger (62 tackles), Birdwell (148 tackles, 11 TFL, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries), Baker (119 tackles, 12 TFL), Coulter (107 tackles, 10 TFL, 5 fumble recoveries) and Godfrey (72 tackles, 6 sacks, 16 TFL) returning on that side of the ball.

DEKALB BEARS

COACH: Troy Zeringue (First season)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 464-430-30

STADIUM: Bear Stadium, 200 Southwest Neighbors Street, De Kalb 75559

2022 RESULTS: 9-3/5-1 district

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 14/6 offense, 6 defense

LETTERMEN LOST: 11

OFFENSE: Spread

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: RB Winky Williams (6-2, 185) … OL Tanner Hawkins (6-3, 300)

DEFENSE: 10-1

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DL Hayes Murphy (6-1, 220)

2023 OUTLOOK: Zeringue has been at the school for a decade, but takes over as a rookie head coach. He inherits a nine-win team with playoff experience, and should get help from a 6-3 junior varsity squad.

PAUL PEWITT BRAHMAS

COACH: Cedrick Dorsey (Third season, 8-13)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 470-341-13

STADIUM: Brahmas Stadium, 1330 U.S. Highway 67, Omaha 75571

2022 RESULTS: 2-8/2-4 district

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 14/7 offense, 8 defense

LETTERMEN LOST: 7

OFFENSE: Slot-T

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: OL Braylyn Nix (6-3, 290) … ATH Champ Bailey (5-7, 150) … OL KC Watson (6-2, 215) … RB Kei’drick Hawkins (5-11,210) … OL Joseph Browne (6-2, 315).

DEFENSE: 3-4

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES:DL Bralyn Nix … DL J.D. Smith (5-8, 160) … LB Keidrick Hawkins

2023 OUTLOOK: The Brahmas have been to the playoffs 16 straight seasons. They are more athletic this season, but lack depth, according to coach Dorsey. Nix helped pave the way for the Bulls to average 400 yards and 37.6 points per game, and when Paul Pewitt passed no one got past Nix (he allowed no sacks). Hawkins (56 carries, 394 yards, 7 TDs; 40 tackles) should handle the bulk of the ground game carries, and the defense brings back DL Smith (34 tackles, 8 TFL, 2.5 sacks) along with Nix and Brown.

NEW BOSTON LIONS

COACH: Jody Littleton (Second season, 6-6)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 404-500-16

STADIUM: Lion Stadium, Sunset Street and College Street, New Boston, 75570

2022 RESULTS: 6-6/4-2

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 14/6 offense, 8 defense

LETTERMEN LOST: 9

OFFENSE: Pro I

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: ATH Connor Bobbitt (5-10, 15) … QB Xavier Rowden (6-2, 180) … RB Jomar Smith (5-9, 185)

DEFENSE: 4-3

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: Edge Dontae Thompson (6-2, 185) … DB Chris Ganaway (5-11, 150) … Edge Shawn Veals (6-0, 190)DL Eli Walker (6-1, 260) … DL Eli Barrett (5-10, 265).

2023 OUTLOOK: The Lions carved out a 6-6 season under first-year coach Littleton a year ago, earning the team’s first playoff berth since 2014. Another year in the system and good numbers returning on both sides of the ball should keep the Lions trending upward in 2023.

REDWATER DRAGONS

COACH: Brandon Layne (Third season, 7-13)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 160-319-3

STADIUM: Dragon Stadium, 120 Red River Road, Redwater 75573

2022 RESULTS: 4-6/2-4 district

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 17/7 offense, 7 defense

LETTERMEN LOST: 9

OFFENSE: Multiple Pro

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: QB Gavin Carrel (6-2, 218) … WR Marquez Jones (5-10, 158) … OL Nick Yim (5-9, 270)

DEFENSE: 4-3

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: LB Colt Morrow (5-8, 160) … DL Cade Pipes (5-8, 200) … LB Devan Smith (6-0, 210)

2023 OUTLOOK: The Dragons made big strides a year ago in coach Layne’s second season, earning two wins – the first district victories for Redwater since 2018. Redwater is strong up front on both sides of the ball with Pipes (100 tackles, 10 sacks, 29 TFL) leading the defense and Yim anchoring the OL. Look for Jones, a speedster who has a UNT offer, to get the ball in his hands often from the RB and WR spots after scoring six times on 30 catches (597 yards) a year ago.

PRAIRILAND PATRIOTS

COACH: Herb Smith (Second season, 4-6)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 184-313-2

STADIUM: Patriot Stadium, 466 FM 196 South, Pattonville 75468

2022 RESULTS: 4-6/2-4 district

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 14/8 offense, 9 defense

OFFENSE: Slot-T

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: Ol Gavin Nicholas (6-4, 270) … RB Kardadrion Coulter (6-1, 185) … OL Carson Cox (5-9, 260), OL Ty Shannon (5-11, 250)

DEFENSE: 3-3 Stack

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DL Nicholas … DB Coulter … LB Easton Newman

2023 OUTLOOK: The Patriots bring back a ton of experience on the OL and DL, and Coulter is a playmaker on both sides of the ball – finishing with 966 rusing yards and 13 TDs, 14 catches for 263 yards and a TD and adding 38 tackles on the defensive side in 2022. Nicholas (30 tackles, 4 TFL; 30 pancakes) and Newman (47 tackles( are also key holdovers who helped the Patriots win a couple of district games a year ago.

CHISUM MUSTANGS

COACH: Zach Millsap (First season)

ALL-TIME RECORD: 134-197-1

STADIUM: Mustang Stadium, 3250 South Church Street, Paris 75460

2022 RESULTS: 1-9/0-6 district

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 16/9 offense, 10 defense

LETTERMEN LOST: 15

OFFENSE: Slot-T

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: QB Matthew Griffith (5-10, 175) … RB Jimmy Lewis (5-8, 185) … RB J.D. Johnson (6-2, 195) … OL Tucker Johnson (6-2, 265) … OL Chase Chalaire (6-2, 240) … RB Kyle Kelley (5-10, 150)

DEFENSE: Multiple

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DL Johnson … LB Ben Wooters (5-10, 195) … DL Hunter Holland (5-10, 180)

2023 OUTLOOK: First-year coach Millsap said key returning players in the trenches like Johnson and Chalaire should be the key for the Mustangs. Griffith (5 of 13, 44 yards passing) didn’t put the ball in the air much a year ago, but he rushed for 352 yards and 4 TD and has reliable, experienced players in Lewis (112 carries, 524 yards, 2 TD), Johnson (61 carries, 300 yards, 3 TDs; 23 tackles) and Kelley (64 carries, 286 yards, 3 TDs) to help carry the load. Wooters racked up 45 tackles in 2022.