Prosper Eagles vs Rockwall Heath Hawks Preview

Thursday night promises fireworks under the lights as two of North Texas’ premier football programs are set to meet Friday night as the Prosper Eagles travel to take on the Rockwall-Heath Hawks in a highly anticipated non-district matchup.

The Hawks come into the matchup with their trademark high-octane offense, fueled by a strong running game lead by junior Carter Zahm and senior Bryan Ouamba. Heath's two senior receivers Shawn Gary and Issac Zmerzlikar started the season strong, leading the passing attack to an explosive second half resurgence last week. Coach Gary Webb's balanced play calling and relentless tempo will look to apply pressure and turn this game into a track meet from the opening kickoff.

Standing in their way is a talented Prosper squad that is fresh off of an upset of a top 5 ranked team in Austin Westlake. The Eagles will be bringing division I size up front, an aggressive defense and talented skilled positions to Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium on Thursday night. The Hawks will have their hands full defending a three headed receiving attack led by senior pass catchers Dallas Boozer and Lathon Latiolais, along with junior receiver Marcus McCoy. All three receivers combined for over 280 yards and 3 touchdowns, leading the way toward a 27-7 halftime lead last week. Quarterback Braeden Imhoff leads the Eagle offense with efficiency that will test the discipline of the Hawk's defense in the air and on the ground. Imhoff has shown athleticism that can move the chains and create +1 matchups in the run game if left unaccounted for. Running back Bryce Robinson completes the offense as a 3 down, bell cow back with the ability to pound the ball on the ground and finish long runs in the end zone.

What To Watch For : Turnover Margin

In their season openers, both the Heath and Prosper offenses committed 2 turnovers. However, the Eagles' defense successfully forced 2 turnovers, while the Hawks failed to force any. Expect atleast one turnover from each team, as each offense does not shy away from aggressive play calls and pushing the ball down field.

Hawks To Watch : WR Shawn Gary and LB Luke Mitchell

Shawn Gary could be looking at a big night in week two versus a defense in Prosper who struggled to stop the run. Establishing the run early should set the senior pass catcher up for plenty of one on one match ups and play action fakes to exploit the defense. Luke Mitchell will look to continue his impressive defensive efforts from a week ago by playing sideline to sideline and keeping this athletic Prosper offense in check. Slowing down Bryce Robinson will be task number one for Mitchell and may be the "x factor" match up of the game.

This week is another measuring stick for both teams. For Rockwall-Heath, it’s a chance to prove their offensive firepower can hold up against one of the toughest defenses in the region. For Prosper, it’s an opportunity to show that their balance and discipline can withstand the pressure of a shootout.

One thing’s for sure: when the Hawks and Eagles take the field, Texas high school football fans are in for a heavyweight battle. You won't want to miss this high powered match up!