2019 Prep Football Preview: Thorndale hopes to unseat Holland in District 13-2A DI

District 13-2A, Division I

Favorite

Holland welcomes back 17 starters from a squad that didn’t lose a district contest a year ago, and the Hornets look primed for a lengthy playoff run.

Preseason MVP

Brady Shelton does a little bit of everything for defending district champion Holland. A year ago, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior led the team in tackles and also scored a team-high 19 touchdowns while earning the district’s MVP award.

Games to watch

Thrall at Milano, Sept. 27: A one-point home loss in this game a year ago kept Thrall home for the playoffs.

Thorndale at Holland, Oct. 4: Thorndale looks like the primary threat to the Hornets in the district, and the Bulldogs want some vengeance for last year’s wrenching one-point home loss.

Thrall at Thorndale, Oct. 11: It’s always a family affair when these two longtime rivals separated by just six miles of Texas 79 asphalt get together.

Predicted order of finish:

1. Holland

2. Thorndale

3. Hearne

4. Thrall

5. Milano

6. Rosebud-Lott

7. Marlin

SCOUTING AREA TEAMS

THORNDALE

Coach: Scott Hawkins (45-50 overall, 18-24 at Thorndale, fourth season)

2018: 8-2 (5-1 district)

Postseason: Lost to Refugio 49-14 in area round

Starters returning: 6 offense, 7 defense

Players to watch

RB/LB Jagger Rubio, sr., 6-1, 215

OL/LB Corby Preusse, sr., 6-0, 198

ATH Michael Herzog, jr., 6-2, 200

OL/DL Mason Liles, sr., 5-10, 225

2018 stats

Averaged 35.1 PPG, allowed 16.8 PPG

Trending: a three-year look

2018: 8-2 (1-1 postseason)

2017: 5-7 (1-1)

2016: 4-7 (0-1)

Overall: 17-16 (2-3)

FYI

Expect a heavy dose of Rubio in Thorndale’s slot-T offense, especially with the graduation of workhorse tailback Luke Leschber and quarterback Scott Guzman. Rubio rumbled for 987 yards a year ago and may just double that number in the Bulldogs’ run-heavy offense. … The offensive line looks like a team strength. Preusse led the team in pancake blocks a year ago, Liles moves from tackle to guard, and returning center Jacob Pedroza makes all the calls. All three earned first-team, all-district honors a year ago. … It will be hard to miss Herzog, since the big junior with 4.5 speed will rarely leave the field. Last year, he had six interceptions, returned two kicks for touchdowns and led the team in receptions. Oh, and he also punts and kicks.

THRALL

Coach: Jason Cole (35-21, sixth season)

2018: 3-7 (2-4 district)

Postseason: None

Starters returning: n/a

Players to watch

QB/LB Caden Leschber, sr., 6-1, 195

RB/LB Braeden West, sr., 6-0, 185

OL/LB Drew Ball, sr., 6-0, 230

WR/DB Garrett Crabb, jr., 5-7, 160

2018 stats

Averaged 14.7 PPG, allowed 29.7 PPG

Trending: a three-year look

2018: 3-7

2017: 9-3 (1-1 postseason)

2016: 10-2 (1-1)

Overall: 22-12 (2-2)

FYI

After four consecutive winning seasons, Thrall suffered its first losing mark under Cole. … The Tigers lose plenty and welcome back just one player — defensive back Crabb — who earned a first- or second-team, all-district selection a year ago. … Leschber will play a key role on both sides of the ball. A year ago, he earned honorable mention all-district accolades as both a quarterback and inside linebacker.

— Thomas Jones