2010 VarsityKansas football team preview: Rose Hill Rockets

Published August 20 at 2:15 p.m. | Last updated August 20 at 2:20 p.m.

Coach

Greg Slade

13th season

72-51

“I feel like we do have that potential, but potential doesn’t win football games.”

At a glance

Last season: 10-2

Projected 2010 record: 8-1

Make playoffs: Yes

Best skill players

Player: Ht., Wt., Pos., Yr. Derrick Decker: 6-5, 205, QB-S, Jr.

LaQua Mayes: 5-8, 170, RB-CB, Sr.

Jared Vaughan: 5-10, 180, RB-LB, Sr.

Cody Carlson: 5-7, 155, LB, Jr.

Best linemen

Player: Ht., Wt., Pos., Yr.

Brady Foltz: 6-4, 294, OG-DE, Sr.

Brandon Walther: 6-2, 265, OT-DT, Sr.

Zach Cleveland: 6-3, 240, C-DL, Sr.

Tyler Long: 6-1, 175, TE-DE, Sr.

Watch out for

Brady Foltz OL-DL

LaQua Mayes RB-CB

Cody Carlson LB

Jared Vaughan RB-LB

Brandon Walther OL-DL

LaQua Mayes on his team

What Rose Hill does well: “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.”

What it has to improve: “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.”

2010 Schedule

Date; Opponent; Time; 2009

Sept. 3; at Buhler; 7 p.m.; DNP

Sept. 10; Collegiate; 7 p.m.; DNP

Sept. 17; at Andale; 7 p.m.; L, 26-15

Sept. 24; Pratt; 7 p.m.; DNP

Oct. 1; Winfield; 7 p.m.; DNP

Oct. 8; at Mulvane; 7 p.m.; W, 48-28

Oct. 15; Augusta; 7 p.m.; W, 49-0

Oct. 22; at Circle; 7 p.m.; W, 13-0

Oct. 28; at El Dorado; 7 p.m.; DNP

Our breakdown

Rose Hill is untested, with six returning starters, but don’t let that fool you. This team is talented. The Rockets return three players with nearly 3,000 combined rushing yards. Mayes, a 2009 All-Metro selection, returns after rushing for nearly 2,000 yards. Vaughan returns and Decker will take over at quarterback. While Decker’s passing needs to improve, he’s so athletic and big that he also is a threat to run. And these backs are running behind one of the area’s top linemen in Walther and Foltz, who has made an oral commitment to TCU. 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.

-- Joanna Chadwick