2010 VarsityKansas football highlights: Rose Hill
This preview is part of a series of high school football previews by VarsityKansas reporters. Look for new previews daily.
All Wichita-area schools will be previewed in The Wichita Eagle on Saturday, Aug. 21. The previews will include photos and video on VarsityKansas.com.
ROSE HILL
Coach: Greg Slade, 13th season
Top linemen
OG-DE Brady Foltz 6-4 294 Sr.
OT-DT Brandon Walther 6-2 265 Sr.
C-DL Zach Cleveland 6-3 240 Sr.
TE-DE Tyler Long 6-1 175 Sr.
Top skill players
QB-S Derrick Decker 6-5 205 Jr.
RB-CB LaQua Mayes 5-8 170 Sr.
RB-LB Jared Vaughan 5-10 180 Sr.
LB Cody Carlson 5-7 155 Jr.
2010 schedule
All games start at 7 p.m.
Sept. 3 at Buhler
Sept. 10 Wichita Collegiate
Sept. 17 at Andale
Sept. 24 Pratt
Oct. 1 Winfield
Oct. 8 at Mulvane
Oct. 15 Augusta
Oct. 22 at Circle
Oct. 28 at El Dorado
Projected 2010 record: 8-1
Playoff berth: Yes
Last season: 10-2
Breakdown: Rose Hill is untested, only returning six starters, four on defense. Don't let that fool you. There's too many talented players on this team to overlook the Rockets. They return three players with nearly 3,000 combined rushing yards. RB LaQua Mayes, a 2009 All-Metro selection, returns after rushing for nearly 2,000 yards. Jared Vaughan is back, as well, and Derrick Decker will take over at quarterback. While Decker's passing needs to improve, he's so athletic and big that he is as much a threat in the backfield as Mayes. And these backs are running behind one of the area's top lineman in Brady Foltz, a TCU commitment, as well as Brandon Walther.
While the offense, which averaged 36.2 points last season, will get most of the attention, Rose Hill's defense is speedy and hard-hitting.
RB LaQua Mayes breaks down the Rockets
What do the Rockets do well?
"We'll know each other. What I mean is we hang out with each other outside of school a lot. We'll have that team chemistry. We'll know each other's moves. That's important because for you to win games, you have to have team chemistry and play as a team and not as an individual. It's good to know what each other is thinking."
What do the Rockets need to improve on?
"I think that we all play around a little too much. We have the talent there. We work hard when it's time to work hard, but sometimes we play around a little too much. Just goofing off."
Coach Greg Slade: "Offensively I feel like we're going to look to run the ball early. One of the things we've been continuing to work on is our passing game. As that develops, I feel we'll have the ability to do both. I think that will help.
"... I would think that, going into the season, we're going to be untested, and after we play Buhler, Collegiate and Andale, we're going to know where we're at. I feel like we do have that potential, but potential doesn't win football games. "