2011 Football preview: Rose Hill Rockets
- 2011 High School football preview: Heights' Matt Reed
- 2011 Football preview: Carroll's Zeke Palmer
- 2011 Football preview: Cheney Cardinals
- 2011 Football preview: Wichita Northwest Grizzlies
- 2011 Football preview: Wichita North Redskins
- 2011 Football preview: Valley Center Hornets
- 2011 Football preview: Goddard Lions
- 2011 Football preview: Clearwater Indians
- 2011 Football preview: Kapaun Mount Carmel Crusaders
- 2011 Football preview: Wichita East Blue Aces
- 2011 Football preview: Andover Central Jaguars
- 2011 Football preview: Independent Panthers
- 2011 Football preview: Maize Eagles
- 2011 Football preview: Mulvane Wildcats
- 2011 Football preview: Wichita Southeast Buffaloes
- 2011 Football preview: Circle Thunderbirds
- 2011 Football preview: Derby Panthers
- 2011 Football preview: Trinity Academy Knights
- 2011 Football preview: Augusta Orioles
- 2011 Football preview: Maize South Mavericks
- 2011 Football preview: Campus Colts
- 2011 Football preview: Wichita South Titans
- 2011 Football preview: Carroll Golden Eagles
- 2011 Football preview: Collegiate Spartans
- 2011 Football preview: Andover Trojans
- 2011 Football preview: El Dorado Wildcats
- 2011 Football preview: Wichita West Pioneers
- 2011 Football preview: Garden Plain Owls
- 2011 Football preview: Andale Indians
- 2011 Football preview: Newton Railers
- 2011 Football preview: Wichita Heights Falcons
Multimedia
The Wichita Eagle and VarsityKansas gear up for the 2011 high school football season by presenting in-depth previews for 30 area teams. Look for new schools daily through Aug. 20.
COACH
Greg Slade
14th season
79-54
“I think this year will be a little different because we’ll be a little more balanced on both the offensive and defensive side.”
AT A GLANCE
Last season: 7-3, reached first round of 4A playoffs
Last five seasons: 36-17
Projected 2011 playoff team? Yes
BEST SKILL PLAYERS
| Player | Ht. | Wt. | Pos | Yr |
| Derrick Decker | 6-5 | 215 | QB-S | Sr. |
| Caleb Braddy | 6-0 | 180 | WR-CB | Sr. |
| Hunter Lewis | 5-10 | 180 | RB-LB | Sr. |
| Cody Carlson | 5-8 | 175 | LB | Sr. |
BEST LINEMEN
| Player | Ht. | Wt. | Pos | Yr |
| Kyle Anderson | 6-4 | 210 | TE-DE | Sr. |
| Parker Whitney | 6-3 | 275 | OG-DT | Sr. |
| Cody Walther | 6-3 | 250 | OG-DT | Jr. |
| Austin Shaffer | 6-2 | 210 | OT-DE | Sr. |
CODY CARLSON ON HIS TEAM
What Rose Hill does well: “I feel like we do good both ways because we have a lot of experience on both sides. Experience helps (young players) know they are supposed to do this then, and how to react to different plays on different sides. If you know what you’re supposed to do when a play comes up, it helps a lot.”
What has to improve: “I feel like our pass defense could definitely improve and it has. It’s where we’ve been looking to improve on the long pass and the short pass.”
2011 SCHEDULE
| Date | Opponent | Time | 2010 |
| Sept. 2 | Buhler | 7 p.m. | L,35-10 |
| Sept. 9 | at Collegiate | 7 p.m. | L,28-15 |
| Sept. 16 | Andale | 7 p.m. | W,31-8 |
| Sept. 23 | at Pratt | 7 p.m. | W,70-0 |
| Sept. 30 | at Winfield | 7 p.m. | W,42-7 |
| Oct. 7 | Mulvane | 7 p.m. | W,56-24 |
| Oct. 14 | at Augusta | 7 p.m. | W,56-21 |
| Oct. 21 | Circle | 7 p.m. | W,35-13 |
| Oct. 27 | El Dorado | 7 p.m. | W,68-0 |
OUR BREAKDOWN
The Rockets’ first three games are brutal, and as much as Slade wants to win all three, he’s more concerned with the rest of the season. “We have to take from that and build, regardless of what our record is, and you have to make it better,” he said. While Rose Hill graduated outstanding talents in Brady Foltz (Texas Christian), LaQua Mayes and Brandon Walther, the talent is more balanced than in 2010.
Carlson, 2010’s leading tackler, wreaks havoc defensively and is one of two returning starters at linebacker. The Rockets have depth on the defensive line and Decker is a strong defensive back. The offense starts with Decker, but he’s got help in Lewis and Jonny Pearson, who both had time at running back last season.
_ Joanna Chadwick