Teams to watch: North Forney Falcons

North Forney coach Randy Jackson has moved around a lot over the years. After building Mesquite Poteet into a power from 2010-2012, he went to Plano East for a single year before spending 2014-2016 at Grapevine. He was hired at North Forney (4-0) in February. While Jackson has been a part of a lot of success as a head coach at seven different schools, he hasn’t had many opportunities to build long-term relationships with younger athletes and watch them develop as they move up through his program. That is, until he was reunited with North Forney’s Colby Suits. Suits, who was a ball boy in fifth grade for Jackson at Poteet, is now a senior quarterback – and a pretty good one – for the Falcons. “I’ve known him for a long time and it’s pretty neat to see him grow up into a young man,” Jackson said. “It just means so much. Usually you have to stay somewhere a longtime to see kids grow up like that. Colby is the first kid I think who I knew as a fifth grader, so it makes it even more special.” A lot as changed since those days, as Suits now captains the Falcons’ offensive attack. He committed to Louisiana Monroe in July and has already accounted for 1,240 total yards and 21 touchdowns through four games. Suits was a key part of North Forney’s thrilling 70-65 win over Wylie East to open District 15-5A play last week as he tallied a ridiculous 10 touchdowns – five rushing, four passing and one receiving – to lead the Falcons to just their third district win since 2014. North Forney started 3-0 with wins over Mt. Pleasant, Carrollton Creekview and Dallas Spruce last season, but went on to finish 1-6 in district play. The win over Wylie East shows how far the team has come in just a few months under Jackson. “Man, the proof has to be in the pudding,” Jackson said. “If you’re 0-1 in district just like they were before you got here, some of that doubt might start creeping in. But I’m grateful for that win and now we have something to build on.” [caption id="attachment_33355" align="alignright" width="350"] Photo by Jim Klenke[/caption] While knocking off Wylie East was a big step in the right direction, the Falcons will face their biggest test to date when they travel to take on Highland Park – the defending Class 5A Division I state champions. The Scots defeated North Forney 66-7 last season, so the Falcons are motivated to show they’re a different team this time around. “66-7 needs to be in their minds, but just in the little corner of the rearview mirror,” Jackson said. “If it was me and I had been beat 66-7, I would sure have something to prove – I guarantee you.” The Falcons certainly have the talented needed to compete for a playoff spot in District 15-5A with Suits, running back Calvin Ribera (684 yards, 9 TDs) and wide receivers Jordan Carroll (431 yards, 6 TDs), Jackson Ennels (222 yards, 5 TDs) and UTSA commit Corey Mayfield Jr. leading the way. But as explosive as the offense is (62.5 ppg), Jackson knows his team has to improve defensively against Highland Park and down the road this season. “I think it cuts your lifespan down if you win games 70-65 too many times,” Jackson said. “Bottom line is we can’t rely on just outscoring everybody each week. We have to shore some things up defensively if we’re really going to be relevant.” The Falcons have had just one winning season since starting varsity play in 2010, and the team’s next win will secure at least a .500 finish in the regular season. If they can improve defensively, Jackson likes the team’s chances this year. “We have as much talent as any team I’ve ever coached – we can be pretty good,” Jackson said. “If we can catch lightning in a bottle, stay injury free and start being more disciplined, we have a chance to get into the playoffs and be a pretty good football team.”

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