The Lake Highlands High School Wildcat football team will take the field for the first game of the regular season this Thursday.

Christian Rhodes Photo courtesy of Mike Duhon Photography.

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One of three Thursday night games scheduled for this season, the Wildcats will take the Wildcat-Ram field at 7 p.m. Aug. 28 against the Forney Jackrabbits. Tickets can be purchased on the Richardson ISD brushfire page.

The Wildcats are coming off their second consecutive UIL District 7-6A Championship under Head Coach Cory Campbell. On offense, Campbell will look to senior running back and four-star recruit Christian Rhodes, who committed to SMU in February, to lead the charge. Last season, Rhodes ran for 1,377 yards and 14 touchdowns. 

Highland Park transfer quarterback Chuck Smith will lead the offense behind a front line anchored by junior offensive lineman Mason Bush, who was highlighted in the summer issue of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebackers Aaden Little and Jeremiah Jones, alongside safety Lloyd Wyatt, will bring veteran leadership to an imposing unit in the middle of the field.

However, the Jackrabbits aren’t lacking for star power themselves. Aside from four-star recruit and Notre Dame commit Javian Osborne’s prowess on the ground, Forney boasts a three-star quarterback in Nelson Peterson, who threw for 2,298 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior last season. He has a reliable receiving target in Texas Tech commit Imari Jehiel, and a strong offensive line led by three-star IOL Jordan Carroway. 

The Dallas Morning News has picked Forney to win in a close 28-25 game. Neighbors unable to make it to the Boneyard Thursday night can watch the action for free on YouTube.

Lake Highlands’ next matchup will come against North Garland on Sept. 5.