Dave Campbell’s Texas Football has picked the Lake Highlands High School Wildcats to three-peat as UIL District 7-6A Champions.
Christian Rhodes breaks a tackle against Berkner. Photo courtesy of Mike Duhon Photography.
Released earlier in July, the summer edition of DCTF, known as the “Bible of Texas Football,” provides an annual early preview of professional, collegiate and high school football in the state. This year, the guide projects the Wildcats to finish first in UIL District 7-6a standings.
Aside from projecting Lake Highlands as district champions, the magazine selected Jesuit Dallas, Richardson and Berkner to finish second, third and fourth in district, respectively.
In the preview, senior running back and SMU commit Christian Rhodes was highlighted to lead a relatively “young” offense. Picked by DCTF as the preseason district offensive MVP, Rhodes committed to SMU in February as a four-star prospect rated the 13th best running back in his class by 247 Sports. The 6-foot-1 back ran for 1,377 yards and 14 touchdowns last year.
Junior offensive lineman Mason Bush (6-foot-2, 285 pounds) was also named in the guide as a focal point for the LHHS offense after a strong sophomore campaign. He and the rest of the line will protect Highland Park transfer quarterback Chuck Smith, who threw five touchdown passes in a game against Irving MacArthur in the state 7-on-7 tournament.
Senior leadership will play a large role on the defensive side of the ball for the Wildcats. Linebackers Aaden Little and Jeremiah Jones, alongside safety Lloyd Wyatt, were picked by DCTF to create an “outstanding” defensive zone in the middle of the field.
The team will be led by third-year Head Coach Cory Campbell, who won the district championship in each of his first two seasons. Last season, the team went undefeated in district play and won a shutout first-round playoff matchup against South Grand Prairie before falling to Prosper in the area final.
Season tickets for the 2025 football season have sold out, according to the team’s brushfire page.
