Local Interest

Though the Ford Panthers had an 8-4 record last season and won a playoff game, this season could be much more difficult, as coach Todd Wallace has lost 19 seniors.

Things can only improve for Rains High School and head football coach Derek Smith as the Wildcats try to rebound from a 1-19 record over the past two years.

Consecutive playoff appearances for the Heath High School football team is proof enough that coach Mickey Moss’ Hawks can compete at both the 4A and the 5A level. But Heath will look to do more than make the playoffs in 2013.

New head coach Rodney Webb wants to do something in Rockwall that hasn’t been done in over 20 years - win a playoff game.

According to a report from the Greenville Herald-Banner, Governor Rick Perry has just announced that a new business will be taking over an empty Greenville plant, and be receiving some financial funding from the Texas government to help close the deal.

After consecutive 0-10 seasons, Greenville High School brought back local legend Marvin Sedberry to guide the football program back to winning ways. Last season was another winless one, but this could be the year that the Lions break their consecutive loss streak.

Head coach Mart Graham and the Mount Pleasant Tigers are looking to improve on their recent success with their first playoff victory in six years.

The Wildcats enter the 2013 season loaded at almost every skill position, but there are still some spots that head coach Greg Owens will need to fill.

It's only August, but in Cooper, the local buzz about the Bulldogs is building. 

Much of the attention in District 8-2A is on defending champion Clarksville and up-and-coming Cooper. But don't forget about Edgewood, a strong contender for the district title.

Clarksville is the defending district champion, but lost a lot of talent to graduation. Only three defensive starters return.

The Commerce Tigers got their first playoff victory in over 10 years in 2012. Head coach Scott Wells recognizes the expectations that come with success and is cautiously optimistic about this season.

Farmersville High School's head coach Sammy Burnett will try to build on last year's success of a 6-5 season and a playoff appearance.

Coming off a disappointing 2012 season, head coach Steve Sumrow's Caddo Mills team returns with a heavily loaded senior class this year.

Rivercrest High School's football team will rely on a pair of juniors to lead the way in 2012.

Alba-Golden High School seems stuck in the middle of District 8-2A Division 2.

They’re not baby birds, but no one’s going to mistake this year’s Eagles team for old buzzards.

Chisum High's football program has been needing a guy like new head coach Bo Wasurick for a while.

The Leonard Tigers hope that 13 returning starters will push the team into the playoffs again.

First-year coach Alex Richters hopes to bring back winning ways to Prairiland.

The Mount Vernon Tigers look to continue their success after a bounce-back 2012.

Winnsboro coach Steve Pinnell is closing in on 100 career wins. But chances are, he’s less concerned with that milestone and more concerned with the fact that his Red Raiders will have no offensive starters returning from last year’s district-champion team.

Lone Oak High School has three offensive and five defensive starters returning from a team that barely missed the playoffs last year.

Trenton High School enters its second season of varsity football following an absence from the sport. Last year’s obligatory rebuilding campaign was a predictably rough one, with the Tigers managing a single non-district win against nine losses.

Coach Kevin Wiggins is entering his fourth season as Blue Ridge head coach. After a disappointing 2012, Wiggins will need some of his younger players to be playmakers for the Tigers this year.

Coach Travis Smith and the Wolves will look to make another improvement in a program that has gotten better every season since a 2-8 record in 2010.

As last year's regional semifinalist and this year's district favorite, it goes without question that the Warriors of Honey Grove have high expectations for the 2013 season.

New coach Brad Pierson hopes to still be playing on Thanksgiving Day.

Celeste High School looks to have one "devil" of a season in 2013.

The Eagles' coach enters his third season with a new set of challenges.