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PREVIEW: Melissa Football debuts new stadium in season opener
After an incredible season last year, the Melissa Cardinals are looking to start their 2023-24 season strong-- this time in a brand new stadium! The Cardinals will host their season opener this week as they look to start what could be another deep playoff run. What can fans expect from Melissa this fall? VYPE DFW dives right in to the program:
REWIND
Facing tough non-district opponents, the Cardinals started their 2022-23 campaign with two losses to Argyle (37-18) and China Spring (42-41). With the ability to regroup and bounce back, the team defeated Royse City (48-24) before entering district play. Going 7-0 in district play and finishing at the top of their district standings with victories over the likes of Crandall (50-22), Terrell (56-21), Denison (54-44), Lucas Lovejoy (36-35), and more, the team eased their way into playoffs.
Once in playoffs, Melissa took down Hallsville (57-20), Ennis (42-38), and Terrell (42-21) before falling to eventual state champion South Oak Cliff (30-16).
LOOKING AHEAD
The team gears up to take on the new season in a brand-new stadium. With athletes like Landen Brandow, Lincoln Dunn, Nigel Smith, Nathan Adejo, Khristian Turner, Jackson Ford, Trever Ham, Gunnar Wilson, Jason Anunobi, and more, the team can be expected to post a strong start to their non-district schedule as they host Argyle on August 25th.
With the determination to make a convincing run toward state, fans can expect this experienced squad to cook with gas this fall. Facing tough non-district opponents will prove to prepare the team for their district schedule against Crandall, Mesquite Poteet, Greenville, and more. With the fire to smoke through their schedule again, there's a good chance we will see another strong playoff push from the Cardinals.
LOOK AHEAD: Melissa Cardinals Football as strong as ever
With summer practices right around the corner and camps already underway or finished, the Melissa Cardinal football program is looking forward to getting their name back out there when it comes to being one of the top teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. VYPE DFW takes a glance into the future and walks fans through what fans can expect from this squad in the fall.
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A Look Back
Melissa football posted an incredible season last year while finishing at the top of their district with an undefeated 6-0 district record. The team even beat out usual district champion Argyle. Despite opening preseason play against tough opponents for tough losses, the Cardinals didn't hesitate to regroup and bounce back- even completing a task that many in the area couldn't do: not only defeat Argyle, but hold the Eagles scoreless.
Through playoffs, Melissa ended the seasons of North Dallas, Midlothian Heritage, and Waco La Vega, before falling to eventual state champions Stephenville in an extremely close, tooth-and-nail 24-21 battle.
Looking Ahead
The team has a lot of strong returners like Nigel Smith, Nathan Adejokun, and Jackson Ford who can be expected to make big names for themselves as they take the field in summer workouts and preseason games. With a team full of strong leadership, it shouldn't come as a surprise when the Cardinals show up strong for their first game of the season.
What To Expect
Another strong playoff push- full stop. The team isn't ready to slow down and no one should expect them to waiver from their goals. Melissa football is on the rise and can be expected to continue to fight for their moment in the spotlight.