Keep going east. Past Mesquite. Past Mobile City. Past Fate. You'll find it.

"Most people have never heard of it," quarterback Richard Morrison said. "Guys in Garland will ask me where I play, and I'll say, 'Royse City.' And they'll say, 'Where's that?'

"I have to tell them that you just keep going past Rockwall, and there it is."

There it is, past where scenic views of Lake Ray Hubbard turn into open fields: Royse City, Texas, estimated population 9,700. It's a small town with a big secret: Royse City football has established itself into a 3A powerhouse, but the program continues to go unnoticed.

Royse City finished the 2006 regular season with a 9-1 record, advancing to the state quarterfinals before falling to eventual champion Texarkana Liberty-Eylau. In 2004, eventual champion Abilene Wylie knocked out Royse City in the state semifinals.

"It's hard to say why people don't think about us," linebacker Oscar Hernandez said. "Maybe it's because we're out of town, maybe it's because we're a smaller school."

According to University Interscholastic League figures, Royse City has an enrollment of 829.5 students, putting it at the higher end of Class 3A, which tops out at 949 students. But compared with 5A teams such as Plano East, which boasts 5,652 students, and 4A mainstay Highland Park and its 1,957 students, Royse City is a dwarf.

MIKE STONE/Special Contributor

Coach Rodney Webb, holding a blocking dummy for running back Trevor White, says being a small-town program helps keep the players grounded.

For years, Celina has been the local household name in 3A-others football, shrouding Royse City, currently No. 2 behind Celina in the SportsDay 3A-others rankings, even further.

But Royse City coach Rodney Webb sees it differently.

"The advantage is that it keeps your kids a little more grounded," Webb said. "We don't have to worry too much about seeing your names and pictures in the newspapers and getting big-headed."

Webb knows what can happen when his team's ego gets inflated.

After Royse City's successful 7-on-7 season, Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine ranked it the state's fourth-best team in 3A. It was a rare bit of publicity for Webb's squad, but there were unintended consequences.

"It was right after that that we went and played in a small-school 7-on-7 tournament," Webb said. "We lost two of first three games and went home."

Three games into this season, Royse City is undefeated. Led by Morrison, its offense is scoring 46.3 points per game, while the defense is allowing 16.7. Yet Webb says that because of Royse City's location and size, it is underappreciated.

"In all honesty, we're all in it for recognition," Webb said. "For anyone to say that recognition is not important to them is lying."

Morrison, the area's 3A passing leader, said that Royse City has embraced the underdog role.

"I kind of like it," Morrison said. "Everyone's paying attention to Celina or the other big 3A schools, and then we jump up and surprise them. It's the element of surprise that we have."

Small-town Royse City is trying to establish itself as a big-time program. But Hernandez, the linebacker, said that the program is focused on its performance rather than how it is perceived.

"It's not up to us what people think of us," Hernandez said. "If they want to respect us, that's great. If they don't, we'll make them respect us by winning.

"You get people's attention when you win."

If so, then heads may start turning eastward.

ON A ROLL

With QB Richard Morrison leading the way, Royse City is 3-0 and ranked No. 2 in SportsDay's 3A-others area rankings. A closer look:

vs. Kaufman (49-14)

Morrison threw for 255 yards and four TDs

vs. Terrell (41-27)

Morrison threw for 286 yards and three TDs, ran for one TD

at Canton (49-9)

Morrison threw for 484 yards and five TDs passing, ran for one TD

Royse City (3-0) at Sanger (2-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday