Cedar Hill Longhorns – 304-324-15 overall / 10-10 in playoff games

2008 Record: 12-2 (6-0 in 7-5A) Class 5A Division II State Quarterfinalists

• Bi-District Round: Beat Plano West 52-49 (3OT)
• Area Round: Beat Southlake Carroll 37-18
• Regional Round: Beat Mansfield 41-35
• State Quarterfinal Round: Lost to Wylie 31-21

Head Coach: Joey McGuire (44-19 record overall as a head coach / 44-19 in Seventh season at Cedar Hill)

Interview with Cedar Hill Head Football Coach Joey McGuire:

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Lettermen Returning: 30 / Letterman Lost: 58
Starters Returning: 7 on Offense, 5 on Defense

Key Losses: Thomas Ashcraft (Texas), Darious Thomas (Wisconsin), Tyler Washington (UNT)

Players to Watch: LB Aaron Benson (Texas Verbal Commit, Sr., 6′1, 210), K Eduardo Camara (Arkansas Verbal Commit, Sr., 5′10, 165), QB Driphus Jackson (Jr., 6′1, 185), RB Ben Malena (Texas A&M Verbal Commit, Sr., 5′10, 201), DB Elisha Olabode (Sr., 5′11, 180), OG Adam Shead (Oklahoma Verbal Commit, Sr., 6′5, 310)

CSR Outlook from Thomas D. Lee: To adequately describe the job that Joey McGuire has done at Cedar Hill would take hundreds of pages. Before he took over, Cedar Hill had made the playoffs seven times in school history and lost every game. Since McGuire took over, Cedar Hill has become a perennial playoff participant since making the playoffs in 2005 for the first time since moving up to Class 5A. In the last three postseasons, Cedar Hill has a 10-2 record including the 2006 Class 5A Division II State Championship and an appearance in the 2008 Class 5A Division II State Quarterfinals. In some preseason polls, Cedar Hill is the third ranked team in Texas. Given all the talent they have, it’s certainly understandable that fans are hopeful they can bring home a second state title to Longhorn Land in four years. The offense is led by future Texas A&M RB Ben Malena who is returning for his third year as a starting running back and is the kind of workhouse coaches dream about. Junior QB Driphus Jackson returns as the signal caller with a year of experience under his belt. Jackson also is a straight-A student who can draw upon his intelligence, poise and leadership that are all well beyond his years. Fans will have to say goodbye to current Texas Longhorn Thomas Ashcraft, who was one of the highest rated recruits in the state, but future Oklahoma Sooner OL Adam Shead returns to anchor a line that will see the return of three strong contributors. The Longhorn defense will be led by LB Aaron Benson, a future Texas Longhorn, and DB Elisha Olabode who has received offers from a myriad of Division I schools including Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana Tech, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, SMU, Tulsa and Wisconsin.

CSR Outlook from Longhorn Play-by-play Broadcaster Bill Howard: When talking North Texas high school football in the current decade, the tired and often overused axiom “They don’t rebuild, they reload” has been a phrase reserved for only a few revered programs. But apparently the elite fraternity that includes Southlake Carroll, Euless Trinity, Hebron, Highland Park, Celina (and arguably one or two other schools) may have a new applicant for membership. Coach Joey McGuire’s Cedar Hill Longhorns may be more talented than their successful predecessors. The Longhorn’s will again rely on a ball control time-consuming offense that will surely rank near the top of the State’s 5A rushing statistics. But what should differ from last season are the Longhorns big-play capabilities in the passing game. With a full season and spring practice under his belt Junior QB Driphus Jackson promises to be even more dangerous than before. With a core of young, speedy wide receivers, the Longhorn offense could remind opponents of the 2006 Division 2 State Champions that featured do-everything QB Will Cole and current Big 12 receivers Dez Briscoe (Kansas) and Romie Blaylock (Baylor). If the Cedar Hill offense of 2009 can resemble that ‘06 group, then the Longhorns will certainly have no trouble putting up points. Opponents may find that scoring on Cedar Hill’s defense in ‘09 will be more difficult than last season. Coach Joey McGuire has suggested that the Longhorns will make a change from last year’s 4-3 read and react philosophy to a more attacking scheme this season, with more emphasis on creating turnovers. This plan fits right into the strengths of Senior Linebacker Aaron Benson (verbally committed to University of Texas). Benson, whom many consider a strong pre-season candidate as the State’s Defensive Player of the Year, should be able to use his speed and athleticism to create game changing big plays for a Longhorn defense that is already loaded with talent. In addition, the kicking game is primed to be strength for the Longhorns throughout the year. Place kicker Eduardo Camara (verbally committed to the University of Arkansas) is openly regarded by Coach McGuire as one of the top kickers in the United States. With field goal range to 55 yards and consistent kick-offs deep into opponent’s end zones, Camara can be a difference maker in close games. So for Cedar Hill football 2009 a lock for a fifth consecutive playoff appearance and a legitimate shot at their second State title in the last four years is on the horizon. Cedar Hill certainly continues to have the weapons. And from all indications Joey McGuire appears ready to reload.