District 9-4A DI
Midlothian Heritage
Crandall
Athens
Mabank
Waxahachie Life
Quinlan Ford
How Far Can Midlothian Heritage Go in 2019?
The stars are aligning for Midlothian Heritage in 2019 to make another run through district and a deep run through the playoffs. For the last two years, Midlothian Heritage has gone undefeated in district play only to be bounced in the regional semifinals - by Kennedale in 2017 and Carthage in overtime in 2018.
Lee Wiginton has seen his team go a combined 23-3 the last two seasons but 2019 is as good a team as ever to break through and make it to State with 11 starters and 22 lettermen returning. He'll have three-star senior wideout Jay Wilkerson - 1,287 receiving yards and 19 TDs - and junior running back Cullen Stone - 471 yards and four scores - back to carry the load for an offense that will have to figure out will lead them at quarterback.
Crandall will be light in returning starters with just eight, but have a number of two-ways players back to provide veteran leadership and easily secure a playoff spot for coach Zack Hudson. Calon Davis is the workhorse on the defensive line and will continue to cause chaos up the middle for a defense that will be the strong suit of this year's team.
The offense will be the unit to carry coach Zach Harrel's Athens team in 2019 as it returns eight starters from a year ago. The biggest question mark will be the defense that only has two coming back from last year's squad that gave up 41.5 points a game, which included giving up more than 50 three times (one being a 68-point performance by Heritage).
Mabank is a team slowly trending up each and every year since 2014 and with 17 starters returning from Zack Hudson's team last year, it's possible Mabank gets that all-important second or third win in district to make the playoffs. The swing game will most likely be against Waxahachie Life on October 25.
VYPE Preseason Awards
MVP: WR Jay Wilkerson, Midlothian Heritage
Offensive MVP: RB Nathan Sims, Athens
Defensive MVP: LB Konner Jones, Midlothian Heritage
Breakout Player of the Year: WR Tony Evans, Waxahachie Life
Sleeper Team: Mabank
