Texas City loaded with speed

Texas City, which falls between La Marque and Clear Lake outside of Houston, is no stranger to speed.

La Marque High School is known for its tremendous speed on the football field and Clear Lake is home to NASA, where speed originated.

This fall, however, the Stingarees will have some speed of their own. Texas City has reached the state track meet this Spring and their success could spill over to the football field.

Leading the Stingarees track team are footballers Whitney Prevost, Brandon Robinson and Jarvis Carraway.

Texas Tech signee Jarell Routt also runs for the area's best track squad.

"We finally have everyone together and healthy," Texas City coach and athletic director Tim Finn said. "You don't have the opportunity to win a state championship everyday in any sport, so those guys are going for it. We cancelled some of our spring football so those guys could run."

Hopefully, the three underclassmen's speed will translate on the football field.

Robinson (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) returns as the Stings signal-caller and is getting looked at by the likes of Houston, Iowa State and Kansas State.

"Brandon was our starting safety until we moved him to quarterback the last few games," Finn said. "He won the region as a high hurdler and came out of nowhere. He's really maturing and is a real sleeper. He's a great athlete, he'll be a qualifier and he's very in-tune with the game on both sides of the ball."

The Texas City headliner is Carraway, who was an all-district selection and a 1,000-yard rusher as a junior. Carraway's only blemish could be his academic status, which is improving.

"He's got a ways to go, but so did Routt and he's going to make it," Finn said. "When they get that motivation of a scholarship the really buckle down.

"Jarvis is just a stud running back. He can catch out of the backfield and loves to carry the ball. He's a 4.3, 40-yard dash guy with some great moves. He's special."

The 5-foot-10, 200-pound back is getting looks from TCU, Texas Tech and Missouri to date.

While Prevost plays wide-out for Texas City, his future may be in track.

"We are trying to get the ball to Whitney but we just don't throw that much," Finn said. "He is a true trackster, who will get offers in track for sure. He is being groomed to be an incredible sprinter."

Junior-to-be Kristopher Johnston is the future of Texas City. Johnston made the regional track meet in the 400-meters and plays defensive back and receiver on the varsity. His brother currently plays for SMU.