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District 7-4A Division II

OUR PICKS

1. Gilmer 2. Pleasant Grove 3. Van 3. Spring Hill 4. North Lamar 5. Pittsburg

Gilmer Buckeyes

COACH: Alan Metzel (5th season, 52-8 at Gilmer)

ALL-TIME: 748-401-39

STADIUM: Jeff Traylor Stadium, 308 North Bradford Street, Gilmer, 75644

2023 RESULTS: 13-3 Class 4A Division II state champion

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 46/11

LETTERMEN LOST: 24

OFFENSE: Spread

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: WR Brendan Webb, Sr., 6-0, 179 … QB Cadon Tennison, Sr., 5-10, 183 … OL Lucas Cano, Sr., 6-3, 285 … K Brayden Pate, Sr., 5-7, 175 … WR Geramiah Noble, Sr., 5-10, 177 … WR Mykah Easley, Sr., 6-4, 179 … FB Grayson Bates, Sr., 6-1, 208 … RB Trill Butler, Sr., 5-10, 173 … OL Chance Walker, Jr., 5-9, 290 … OL Aidan Summers, Sr., 5-10, 240 … QB Brady McCown, Sr., 6-2, 200

DEFENSE: 4-2-5

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DB Brendan Webb, Sr., 6-0, 179 … DB Cadon Tennison, Sr., 5-10, 183 … DL Tyler Hagler, Jr., 6-0, 315 … DL Trey Lee, Jr., 6-2, 230 … DL Davion King, So., 6-2, 255 … LB Geramiah Noble, Sr., 5-10, 177 … DB Mykah Easley, Sr., 6-4, 179 … LB Grayson Bates, Sr., 6-1, 208 … DB Trill Butler, Sr., 5-10, 173 … DL/LB Jet Bates, Jr., 6-2, 210 … DL Alex Guillen, Sr., 5-9, 200

2024 Outlook: Gilmer broke through for its fourth football state championship during a resurgent 2023 season that snapped a nine-year drought and concluded with a thrilling 28-26 title game win against Bellville at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium on December 15. The Buckeyes will now aim for back-to-back crowns for the first time in program history in 2024. Gilmer plans to lean on a balanced offense that features quarterback Cadon Tennison (180 completions, 2,703 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, 95 carries, 573 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns), receivers Brendan Webb (60 receptions, 886 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns, and four rushing touchdowns), Geramiah Noble (35 receptions, 566 yards, and four touchdowns) and Mykah Easley, backfield threats Grayson Bates and Trill Butler, and linemen Lucas Cano (92 percent grade and 19 pancakes), Chance Walker and Aidan Summers. The Buckeyes expect to slow down opponents with defensive backs Easley (50 tackles, three pass breakups, and two interceptions), Webb (49 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and one recovered fumble), Butler (45 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two pass breakups) and Tennison, lineman Tyler Hagler (58 tackles, 25 quarterback pressures, 15 tackles for loss, and three sacks), Alex Guillen (46 tackles and seven quarterback pressures), Davion King (44 tackles, five quarterback pressures, and three tackles for loss) and Trey Lee (26 tackles, 10 quarterback pressures, and five tackles for loss), linebackers Noble (51 tackles, and two tackles for loss) and Grayson Bates (30 tackles, and three tackles for loss), and two-position threat Jet Bates (30 tackles and three tackles for loss). The team’s special teams unit will be boosted by kicker Brayden Pate (97 of 100 PAT attempts, 11 of 11 field goal attempts, long field goal of 36 yards, and won three games with kicks).

Pleasant Grove Hawks

COACH: Josh Gibson (11th season, 102-35 at Pleasant Grove)

ALL-TIME: 251-207-1

STADIUM: Hawk Stadium, 5406 McKnight Road, Texarkana, 75503

2023 RESULTS: 12-1 regional semifinalist

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 18/4

LETTERMEN LOST: 23

OFFENSE: Multiple-Pro Style

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: TE Lance Jackson, Sr., 6-6, 263 … WR Jaidun Scales, Jr., 6-0, 175 … G Jaden Withered, So., 6-5, 283 … RB Nick Bells, Jr., 5-9, 165 … TE Jaylon Foster, Jr., 5-11, 220 … C KJ Greer, Jr., 6-4, 320 … OT Jayden Mathis, Jr., 6-3, 265 … QB Walker Wright, Jr., 5-11, 175 … OT Kolton Lybrand, Sr., 5-10, 235

DEFENSE: 3-4

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DE Lance Jackson, Sr., 6-6, 263 … FS Jaidun Scales, Jr., 6-0, 175 … DT BJ Rochelle, Sr., 6-0, 260 … DB Jamarion Richardson, Jr., 5-10, 158 … DT/DE Dekori Cranford, So., 6-4, 245 … DE Jaylon Foster, Jr., 5-11, 220 … LB Landon West, Sr., 5-9, 188 … LB Buck Anderson, Jr., 6-0, 190 … FS Walker Wright, Jr., 5-11, 175

2024 Outlook: Pleasant Grove continues to act as one of East Texas’ best football programs, but its 2023 District 7-4A Division II crown in the fall was eventually overshadowed by league mate Gilmer’s Class 4A Division II state championship during the wintertime. The Hawks enjoyed similar success as their league counterpart when they finished on top of the state during the 2017 and 2019 seasons, and need to improve their game to outmatch Gilmer in district and postseason play in 2024. Pleasant Grove’s strong defensive unit will keep the team competitive because it features linemen Lance Jackson (69 tackles, 12 quarterback pressures, seven and a half tackles for loss, three sacks, and three forced fumbles), BJ Rochelle (38 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five and a half sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown), Dekori Cranford and Jaylon Foster, secondary standouts Jaidun Scales (33 tackles and one tackle for loss), Jamarion Richardson and Walker Wright, and linebackers Landon West (59 tackles, five tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and one interception) and Buck Anderson (36 tackles, two tackles for loss, and two sacks). The Hawks will also soar on the offensive side because quarterback Wright (12 completions, 182 passing yards, and three touchdowns) will team up with downfield threats Jackson (20 receptions, 320 yards and seven touchdowns), Scales and Foster, rushing force Nick Bells (86 carries, 708 rushing yards, eight touchdowns, and 8.2 yards per carry), and necessary blockers in lineman Jaden Withered, KJ Greer, Jayden Mathis, and Kolton Lybrand.

Van Vandals

COACH: Jared Moffatt (15th season, 117-48 at Van)

ALL-TIME: 604-362-30

STADIUM: Van Memorial Stadium, 1085 North Maple Avenue, Van, 75790

2023 RESULTS: 8-4 area finalist

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 20/12

LETTERMEN LOST: 19

OFFENSE: Spread

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: QB Jaxon Moffatt, Sr., 5-10, 180 … WR Caden Rowe, Sr., 6-4, 190 … WR Easton Hinch, Sr., 6-0, 165 … RB/WR Austin Moffatt, Sr., 5-7, 165 … C Justus Anderson, Sr., 6-0, 255 … OL Collier Bryant, Jr., 5-9, 260 … WR Blaise Lineberry, Jr., 5-10, 160 … OL Cooper Hullum, Sr., 6-1, 260 … WR Asher Hawkins, Sr., 5-10, 170 … OL Landon Robinson, Jr., 6-1, 290

DEFENSE: Even

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: SS Cade Christensen, Sr., 5-10, 185 … CB Easton Hinch, Sr., 6-0, 165 … CB Blaise Lineberry, Jr., 5-10, 160 … LB Carter Admire, So., 5-9, 170 … LB/DL Foster Rust, Sr., 6-1, 185 … DB Asher Hawkins, Sr., 5-10, 170 … LB Wyatt Dale, Sr., 5-10, 200 … LB Landon Smith, Sr., 5-11, 190 … DL Armando Lozano, Sr., 6-0, 245 … DL Josh Christian, Sr., 5-9, 200

2024 Outlook: Van moved from District 8-4A Division II to 7-4A Division II during the biennial UIL realignment event on Feb. 1, and plans to overcome its new journey challenges to continue its active playoff streak this fall. The Vandals have reached all four UIL postseasons since 2020 and participated in the dance in 13 of the 14 seasons since Jared Moffatt took control of their head coaching reins in 2010. An experienced group of returning playmakers will lean on the program’s longtime winning ways to achieve a fifth straight playoff appearance in 2024. Van will be guided by third-year starting quarterback Jaxon Moffatt (1,897 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 659 rushing yards, and nine rushing touchdowns), wide receivers Caden Rowe (41 receptions, 735 yards, and seven touchdowns), Easton Hinch (25 receptions, 353 receiving yards, and three touchdowns), Asher Hawkins (12 receptions, 202 receiving yards, and one touchdown) and Blaise Lineberry, running back and receiver Austin Moffatt (910 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 326 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns), and linemen Justus Anderson, Collier Bryant, Cooper Hullum and Landon Robinson on the offensive side. The other side will be boosted by a secondary that features Cade Christensen (120 tackles and five pass breakups), Hinch (43 tackles, nine pass breakups, and two interceptions), Hawkins and Lineberry, a linebacking crew that includes Carter Admire, Wyatt Dale, Landon Smith and a two-position prospect in Foster Rust that also plays with Armando Lozano and Josh Christian on the defensive line.

Spring Hill Panthers

COACH: Brandon Joslin (3rd season, 5-16 at Spring Hill)

ALL-TIME: 454-376-23

STADIUM: Panther Stadium, 3101 Spring Hill Road, Longview, 75605

2023 RESULTS: 4-7 bi-district finalist

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 7/15

LETTERMEN LOST: 8

OFFENSE: Pistol Flex Bone

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: RB Trevor Allen, Sr., 6-0, 195 … QB Travis Allen, Jr., 6-1, 165 … OL Talan Ferguson, Sr., 6-2, 240 … OL Joshua Otujor, Jr., 6-1, 240 … RB Coleman Stout, Jr., 6-0, 200 … RB Jaxon Copeland, Jr., 6-0, 180 … WR Karson Staley, So., 6-3, 180 … C Cayden Rhodes, Sr., 6-2, 180 … OL Jace Jones, Sr., 6-2, 220 … OL Brady Johnson, Jr., 6-1, 230

DEFENSE: 3-4

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: DL Joshua Otujor, Jr., 6-1, 240 … LB Levi Mackey, Sr., 6-2, 200 … LB Arsh Singh, Sr., 5-10, 185 … LB Hayden Congdon, Sr., 5-10, 185 … S Alex Jacquez, Sr., 6-0, 170 … DL Jace Jones, Sr., 6-2, 220 … LB Cayson Fincher, Jr., 6-1, 190

2024 Outlook: Spring Hill snapped a two-year postseason drought with a run to the Class 4A Division II bi-district round in 2023, and is expected to keep the good times rolling during the upcoming 2024 campaign. The Panthers enter the third season of head coach Brandon Joslin’s tenure with back-to-back playoff aspirations, and plan to lean on a program history that’s on their side. Spring Hill has qualified for consecutive playoff berths five times since 1946. It produced postseason appearance streaks between 1946 and 1947, 1982 and 1983, 2000 and 2004, 2006 and 2007, and 2019 and 2020. The 2024 Panthers will lean on an offensive unit that still features quarterback Travis Allen (833 passing yards, 337 rushing yards, seven passing touchdowns, and four rushing touchdowns), running backs Trevor Allen (1,455 rushing yards, 11.46 yards per carry, 18 rushing touchdowns, five receptions, 103 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, and 132.27 yards per game), Coleman Stout and Jaxon Copeland, linemen Talan Ferguson, Joshua Otujor, Cayden Rhodes, Jace Jones and Brady Johnson, and receiver Karson Staley. The team’s defensive approach will benefit from contributions from linemen Otujor (87 tackles, 70 assisted tackles, 17 solo tackles, seven sacks, and one fumble recovery) and Jace Jones, and linebackers Levi Mackey, Arsh Singh, Hayden Congdon and Cayson Fincher. Alex Jacquez is also expected to suit up for the defense at safety, and has other experience on special teams as a kicker (one field goal made and attempted). Spring Hill’s 2024 roster also features a strong group of experienced upperclassmen that will continue to develop and lead the team’s charge. Rhodes (three defensive interceptions), Trevor Allen, Ferguson, Mackey, Singh, Congdon, Jacquez and Jones will be stellar seniors this fall, while Travis Allen, Otujor, Stout, Copeland, Johnson and Fincher will be juggernaut juniors.

North Lamar Panthers

COACH: Patrick Watkins (1st season, 0-0 at North Lamar)

ALL-TIME: 194-347-7

STADIUM: R. L. Maddox Stadium, 3201 Lewis Lane, Paris, 75462

2023 RESULTS: 5-5

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 20/16

LETTERMEN LOST: 7

OFFENSE: N/A

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: RB Jackson Hoskins, Sr. … RB Cameron Widner, Sr. … WR Connor Brasseux, Sr. … OL Brayden Reynolds, Sr. … OL Trail Wilkins, Sr. … OL Levi McCloure, Sr. … WR Dallas Foster, Jr. … OL Tyler Antonio-Silva, Jr. … RB Jesse Jones, So.

DEFENSE: N/A

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: LB Jackson Hoskins, Sr. … LB Cameron Widner, Sr. … S Connor Brasseux, Sr. … DL Brayden Reynolds, Sr. … DL Trail Wilkins, Sr. … DL Levi McCloure, Sr. … S Dallas Foster, Jr. … DL Tyler Antonio-Silva, Jr. … LB Jesse Jones, So.

2024 Outlook: North Lamar is in the middle of its third-longest playoff drought after it earned 10 of its 11 program playoff berths between 2002 and 2016. The Panthers launched their play for North Lamar ISD in 1970 after Powderly-Reno ISD and Central ISD consolidated, and worked hard for nine straight years to clinch their first playoff spot during the 1979 season. The program then waited 23 years for its second postseason appearance. Fast forward to the present day, North Lamar is trying to snap a lengthy playoff drought and avoid an eight-year absence. The Panthers did show some early 2023 season potential during a 4-1 non-district stretch, but they also struggled down the stretch, finished the year with a .500 record, and missed District 7-4A Division II’s fourth and final playoff spot by one game in the league standings after a 1-4 district record. The program wants to prove that last fall’s disappointing finish was a fluke, so it can make its long-awaited return to the dance in 2024. The team needs to incorporate a number of two-way versatile players into an all-hands-on-deck approach to remain competitive and stay in the hunt this fall. Jackson Hoskins, Cameron Widner and Jesse Jones will suit up at running back and linebacker, Brayden Reynolds, Trail Wilkins, Levi McCloure and Tyler Antonio-Silva will serve as offensive and defensive linemen, and both Connor Brasseux and Dallas Foster will act as a receiver and safety.

Pittsburg Pirates

COACH: Triston Abron (4th season, 8-25 at Pittsburg, 36-35 overall)

ALL-TIME: 500-515-33

STADIUM: Pirate Stadium, 300 North Texas Street, Pittsburg, 75686

2023 RESULTS: 2-8

RETURNING LETTERMEN/STARTERS: 19/15

LETTERMEN LOST: 14

OFFENSE: Spread

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES: RB Jaylen Holloway, Sr., 5-11, 198 … OL Zeke Crane, Sr., 6-0, 245 … OL Kollin Posey, Sr., 6-1, 265 … RB Lane Hall, Jr., 5-8, 180 … QB Kord Johnson, Jr., 6-2, 180 … OL Ty’rell Wilson, Jr., 6-2, 305 … WR Dayle Jones, Jr., 5-11, 150

DEFENSE: 3-4

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES: ILB Jordan Vickers, Sr., 5-7, 180 … DL Ty’rell Wilson, Jr., 6-2, 305 … DB Dayle Jones, Jr., 5-11, 150

2024 Outlook: Pittsburg launched the current four-year tenure of head coach Triston Abron with back-to-back playoff appearances in 2021 and 2022, but it couldn’t extend its multi-year streak during a 2-8 season and a winless 0-5 district campaign in 2023. The experienced leader on the sideline will play a role in the Pirates’ comeback attempt in 2024, but he also needs to work with his athletes on the gridiron to return to the postseason dance this fall. The team’s on-field effort will start with an offensive side that features quarterback Kord Johnson (127 completions, 2,476 passing yards, and 16 touchdowns), running backs Jaylen Holloway (157 carries, 1,020 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, nine receptions, 93 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown) and Lane Hall (64 carries, 338 yards, six touchdowns, and 5.3 yards per carry), receiver Dayle Jones, and linemen Zeke Crane, Kollin Posey, and Ty’rell Wilson. Pittsburg also has to address the offseason lack of depth across its defensive unit. It does have a solid starting point due to the return of inside linebacker Jordan Vickers (92 tackles, 64 solo tackles, 28 assisted tackles, and four tackles for loss), lineman Wilson (11 solo tackles, three assisted tackles, and two tackles for loss), and defensive back Jones this season.