District 11 5A D2

By Jake Herman Rouse Raiders scored more than 45 points per game en route to an 11-2 record and district championship in 2021. But for the second consecutive season, their playoff hopes were dashed by the buzz saw of Liberty Hill -- who led by just two points entering the fourth quarter but pulled away to eliminate the Raiders 56-33. Only two teams in Rouse’s new district 11-5A D2 finished with winning records last season, meaning that head coach Josh Mann’s 15th season is likely to result in a third consecutive playoff berth. IHSFAN Top Ten Quarterback Mason Shorb said that he and his teammates are determined to exact revenge and achieve playoff success this season. The loss of talented wideouts Jalen Becerra and Troy Oliver will surely be felt -- the two combined for 36 of the team’s 50 receiving touchdowns and nearly two-thirds of the yards Rouse gained through the air. Shorb told IHSFAN he’s looking forward to the challenge of getting the team’s young receivers up to speed. Jr. all-district RB Justin Cannon will help ease the pressure, both as a runner and pass-catcher. The offensive line will rely heavily on district co-OL MVP Alex DeVille.

The Raider defense improved a lot down the stretch last season and will return several key pieces. Alldistrict linebackers Zach LaCombe and Jace Mann combined for over 200 tackles last season and were the team leaders in tackles for loss. That pair of seniors will join Jr. Nico Fisher and Sr. Dash Adames to form a daunting pass rush.

ELGIN

By Jake Herman The Elgin Wildcats could enjoy the opportunity to start fresh in District 11-5A D2 this season. The ‘Cats struggled to score during a winless 2021 campaign but played their best football in late-season losses to rival Bastrop and Connally. Second year head coach Heath Clawson won two state championships as the running backs coach at Aledo and is now looking to bring Elgin back into the postseason for the first time since 2014. Dual-threat QB and three-sport athlete Nathen Lewis could help Elgin turn things around in 2022. The rising junior accounted for seven of the team’s eleven touchdowns a year ago, scoring four through the air and three on the ground. Leading rusher Sebastian Jackson will be a senior this year and will hope to carry momentum from this two-touchdown performance in the team’s season finale. The offensive line will count on the experience of Sr. all-district OL Jackie Williams. Opponents can’t lose track of Sr. WR/DB Justin Strong, who averaged nearly 20 yards per catch proved to be one of the best athletes on the field regardless of matchup. His defensive prowess is even greater, earning last season’s Co-Defensive Newcomer MVP award by leading his team in tackles and interceptions. The 6-foot-1 playmaker racked up 500 receiving yards, earning an all-district nod at both wideout and punter.

Sophomore defensive lineman Dennis Lavigne stepped up last season and earned second team all-district recognition after leading the ‘Cats in quarterback hurries. Jr. LB Derrius Holiday and Sr. LB Cameron Hardy each came on strong during district play -- logging 6 tackles per game and demonstrating their potential to shine in 2022.

By Jake Herman The Pflugerville Panthers got off to a scorching 4-1 start before a series of close losses in district play saw them finish 5-5 and, on the outside, looking in when it came to the postseason. Most of the Panthers’ key offensive contributors will graduate this spring, opening opportunities for younger players to take the torch. Sr. 1st team all-district OL John Sanchez will lead the way up front. Sr. 2nd team all-district RB Jake Iloka could become the focal point of the offense and has improved over his two prior varsity seasons. He and teammate Matthew Tryon Jr. each averaged more than six yards per carry, and each will see increased touches this season. Tryon Jr. will contribute on the defensive line as well. Sr. 1st team all-district DL Victor Osuji took his game to a new level and brought toughness to the Panther defense with 7 tackles for loss and 2 forced fumbles last season. The rest of the unit will be less experienced, apart from Sr. DB Jaquori Sturm and Sr. DB John Lawhorne. Sr. LB Vaunzhe Young will take on a bigger role after a productive junior season as well.

Slated to face new district opponents including Waco University, Belton, and Killeen Chaparral, the Panthers will be a team to watch in District 11-5A D2.

CONNALLY

By Jake Herman The Connally Cougars finished with a 3-7 record in 2021. After notching wins over McCallum and Cedar Creek in September, they dropped six district games in a row before ending their season in the win column at Elgin. 9th year head coach Jason Cecil is developing a talented junior class that could help propel Connally back into the playoff picture. “The class I’m really excited about are these juniors-to-be,” Coach Cecil told IHSFAN. “I really like this group and coming up behind them we have even more young guys to fill these spots.”

With five returning starters on defense, the secondary stands out. Junior defensive back Owen Garcia took home co-defensive newcomer award honors with his impressive play against far more experienced opponents last season. Despite being undersized, Garcia is the team’s fearless tacklers and smartest defenders. Jr. DB Lawrence Doe should take another step forward after being named to the FLX ATX All Super Soph defensive team in 2021. Jr. DL Jaxson Woolridge is a player to watch up front. The Cougars are holding a quarterback competition this spring. Jr. QB Kaden Nguyen filled in after their starter suffered an injury last season, but Sr. Cesar Arizpe and Fr. JaCory Alexander could also factor in. The offensive line should improve in 2022 if it’s able to stay healthy. Jr. OL Leon Nelson has shown great improvement, joining the 6-foot-8 Jr. OL Aiden Newbill to form what could be a powerful one-two punch. Coach Cecil never shies away from a non-district challenge, and the Cougars will have the opportunity to prove themselves against a pair of area playoff teams in Marble Falls and McCallum. With the right contributions from young players, Connally can get over the hump in 2022.