High School Sports

3: The number of new stadiums these four schools have opened in the past three years. Herrington Field (Brook Hill), Mewbourne Stadium (All Saints) and later this season, Grace Community will unveil Cougar Stadium later this season.

Grace Community Cougars

Coach: Mike Maddox

*2007 Record: 7-2

Returning Starters

Offense: 4

Defense: 3

The System

Offense: Spread

Defense: 50

* -- not eligible for postseason last year because of provisional status.

What To Expect

The Grace Community Cougars are aiming to qualify for the playoffs -- for the first time in school history. It's not as dire as it sounds. This year is the first time Grace football is eligible for postseason play. Coach Maddox says this should motivate his team to be even better this season. The Cougars return eight seniors and all are expected to play significant minutes, some of them on both sides of the ball. Grace was supposed to be play its home opener at the Cougar's new stadium, but construction delays have pushed that back. The team is currently practicing at T.K. Gorman with its first "home" game now slated for Oct. 17 against Dallas Christian.

The X-Factor

Kyle Childress, WR/DB: Grace head coach Mike Maddox calls Kyle Childress "a big-play man." Last year the junior finished with 10 total touchdowns (7 of them receiving) and caught 32 passes for 526 yards.

"He can throw the ball a little and a is a really good receiver," Maddox says of Childress. "Kyle is one I would definitely bring out there."

Childress made the ET football honor roll a few times last year, but his biggest game may have been against Muenster Sacred Heart when Childress scored twice, catching a 24-yard touchdown pass and racing 12 yards on an end-around for the eventual game winner.

The senior expects to be even more of a factor this season, playing in an offense that he "loves."

"It's definitely a receivers offense, but we are also working a lot with our running backs this year and we are going to rely on them (also)," Childress said.

Coach: Jim Klaczak

2007 Record: 6-4 (TAPPS Div. IV Regional finalist)

The System

Offense: I-Option

Defense: 3-5

What To Expect

The Brook Hill Guard like the old way of doing things, and it works. Good old-fashioned smash-mouth football helped Brook Hill notch six victories last year. The team also rushed over 3,000 yards, the majority of which were gained by freshman tailback Julius Johnson. Using Klaczak's option attack, Johnson amassed 2,399 yards on the ground with 29 touchdowns. He went over the 200-yard mark in six of Brook Hill's 10 games. Brook Hill is moving up to Division III this year, and will challenge the likes of Dallas Lutheran and Garland Christian for District 2 supremacy.

The X-Factor

Julius Johnson, WR

Freshman tailbacks usually are playing on the freshmen or junior varsity teams. Well, Johnson put together a season that would rival most ball carriers in the state. He rushed for 2,399 yards and scored 29 touchdowns. He averaged over 10 yards per carry. For him to better that this year would take quite an effort as Brook Hill returns with a few more playmakers as it tries to enjoy the same amount of success in Division III as it did in Division IV.

Coach: Mark Ackerman

2007 Record: 3-7

Returning Starters

Offense: 7

Defense: 7

The System

Offense: Spread

Defense: 40

What To Expect

The Trojans enter the season with the same difficulty as most of the teams in TAPPS District -- lack of numbers. All Saints will suit up 23 players for the 2008 season. Ten of those players are either freshmen or sophomores. That puts health at a premium.

"Our issue in the past has been a numbers game," said head coach Mark Ackerman. "I think if we can stay healthy, we'll be good. I just came back from our district meeting and most of the teams are between 22-27 guys."

Coach: Reggie Wilson

2007 Record: 1-9 (1-4 in district)

Returning Starters

Offense: 8

Defense: 6

The System

Offense: Spread

Defense: Multiple

What To Expect

The old way is over at TKG. By old, the Crusaders mean its traditional Wing-T power rushing game. The Crusaders, under head coach Reggie Wilson, began phasing in a more pass-happy, spread offense last year.

"We are trying to spread it out just a little bit. We've been in tight the last few years and it just seems like it's not working as good as it had in the past."

The Crusaders battled through injuries and mistakes last season as it adjusted to the new offense. Wilson believes new quarterback Alex Ferguson gives TKG more versatility in the spread because of his speed.

TKG was hit hard by injuries last year (16 players missed games). The Crusaders expects to improve on that win total, thanks to its offense and more defensive-minded philosophy.

"This team is built around defense this year. If the other can't score we can't lose. Every good player we have is on defense."

TKG will play the likes of Big Sandy, West Rusk, Union Grove and Lovelady in pre-district play. These games will be key to prepare TKG for the rigors of District 2, which is headed up by defending TAPPS Division II finalist, Dallas Christian. In fact, TKG is the only team in District 2 that did not make the playoffs last year. Wilson and Co. look to change that this season.

The X-Factor

Kevin Navetta, RB: Navetta rushed for 869 yards and scored seven touchdowns last season while also catching 32 passes for 506 yards and three touchdowns. He was the main bright spot on a difficult season and TKG is expecting even more this year as Wilson said Navetta will not be coming to the sidelines very much.

"Everything we got pretty much goes through him on offense. We are playing him both ways, so he is going to have to be in pretty good shape," Wilson said. "Where he goes, we go; it's been like that the last couple years."