MELISSA — Within the last two years, Melissa has traveled to Crandall, Mesquite Poteet, Denison, Greenville and Terrell for district games.
All of these schools were at least 35 miles away, with Crandall being the furthest at more than 60 miles away on the fastest route. Lovejoy, a 2023 regional finalist, and Princeton were the only close competitors at less than 20 miles each.
After the UIL’s biennial realignment, Melissa is now in a district that makes more geographic sense. District 4-5AII includes Lovejoy, a Frisco Emerson team that advanced to the 5A Division II state semifinal last season and Anna, the 2023 Class 4A Division I state champion.
Located within Collin County, they are all within 20 miles or less of Melissa. The 2024 district schedule means Melissa has less travel time and a chance to redeem its 28-7 loss to Lovejoy in the game that decided last year’s District 7-5AII championship. The change also allows Melissa to rekindle a rivalry with its closest neighbor Anna, which just moved up from Class 4A.
“It will be a big game for Melissa and it will be a big game for Anna,” Melissa coach Matt Nally said Monday during the team’s first day of practice for the upcoming season. “When we scrimmaged them last year, this place was packed. For a scrimmage.”
But Melissa, which moved from Region II to Region I, will have several games to circle on its calendar this year. Some will be in district play and others in the playoffs.
“I personally think 5A Division II is the most competitive conference in Texas,” senior linebacker Colin Craig said. “I think this year’s going to be a toss up with who will win state.”
“There’s nothing quite like 5A Division II,” senior offensive lineman Jake Brown added. “It’s a lot harder than most people realize.”
Nally shares this sentiment, but he welcomes the challenge.
“How cool is it to play [Lovejoy’s] Todd Dodge? How cool is it to play [Emerson’s] Kendall Miller? Todd Rodgers and Argyle?” Nally said. “I think it’s fun. I don’t want it to be a cakewalk or anything like that. I want the best team to win a state championship.”
Maybe this team could do it. Nally said last year’s squad, which lost to state finalist South Oak Cliff 38-30 in the second round of the playoffs, was talented, but this group is superior as a unit.
Melissa lost key contributors like quarterback Trever Ham, four-star defensive lineman Nigel Smith and three-star wide receiver Karson Maynard to graduation, but returned several starters on offense and defense.
Nally said a newcomer on the offensive line is 6-8, 312 pounds and three-star junior Noah Schuback, a transfer from Alabama with eight offers, has shown potential to be the starting quarterback.
Melissa coaches and players feel good about their chances.
“This group’s a little different because we’re so tight-knit,” senior defensive lineman Logan D’Amore said. “We spend a lot of time together.”
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