The first local high school football game is still 49 days away (Frankston at Brook Hill, but who’s counting), but the official “start” to the high school football season has arrived.
The annual Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine has been released, and with it comes its predictions for the seven football playing squads in the Dogwood Circle.
If DCTF has it right, then fans from Palestine, Frankston, Cayuga and Oakwood should make playoffs arrangements, while Westwood, Elkhart and Grapeland may fall short.
PALESTINE (2011: 7-4, 4-1)
The Wildcats went from a 2-8 squad to a playoff team in 2011, and if DCTF has its predictions right, Palestine will make another leap in 2012 to district champions.
Behind a load of returning talent like running backs Darrius Stephens and Jadarrius Beasley, wide out Paul Barksdale and defensive lineman Walter Sheridan, the staff at DCTF predicts Palestine to finish ahead of Fairfield and Rusk as the trio of 19-3A playoff teams.
The magazine tabs Rusk running back Chaston Bent, who ran for almost 1,500 yards last year, as the preseason Offensive MVP for the district, while Fairfield safety Cooper Cole is tabbed as the Defensive MVP.
Also, while the Wildcats didn’t make the cut in the magazine’s preseason top-25, they’ll have early chances to prove their mettle. Two of Palestine’s non-district opponents — Waco La Vega and Chapel Hill — are ranked ninth and 11th, respectively.
WESTWOOD (2011: 3-7, 2-3)
According to Texas Football, the Panthers’ move down to Class 2A won’t result in a playoff trip in its first year.
That may be as much about the district in which Westwood plays as anything else.
The Panthers are tabbed to finish fourth in the new District 11-2A, Division I, behind preseason No. 8 Crockett, Teague and 2011 regional semifinalist Franklin.
The Panthers return only seven starters from 2011, a team that won three games after going winless in 2010.
Keke Hicks (almost 1,000 total yards in 2011) will again pace the Panther offense, while Dra Ross (68 tackles, three sacks in ’11) will lead the defense.
Franklin’s Darrius Floyd and Crockett’s Devin Chambers earned the district’s preseason Offensive and Defensive MVP honors, respectively, from the magazine.
ELKHART (2011: 4-6, 1-4)
For new Elkhart head coach/athletic director Sam Wells, his first season in Elkhart may be a rough one according to the magazine.
The Elks were picked to finish last in 11-2A, Division I, despite returning 19 starters from a year ago.
Jeffrey Wilson and Jacob Cheatham should lead the Elkhart offense, while players like Nolan Watson and Luke Hollingsworth will pace the Elkhart defense.
Expect Wells’ record of success to also play some role in the team’s play.
FRANKSTON (2011: 4-7, 3-2)
The loss of Wells — which occurred after the printing of this year’s magazine — shouldn’t hamper the Indians, who are picked third in the new District 10-2A, Division II by DCTF.
Under new coach Matt Nally, who was Wells’ offensive coordinator the last two seasons, Frankston returns eight starters from last year’s playoff team.
The squad has to replace two Division I players in Treston Coleman and Michael Warren, but expect Caleb Williams, Tye Griffin and Ozzie Buckner, among others, to help fill that void.
The teams top player, however, is yet another D-I prospect in lineman Dustin House, who earned preseason Offensive MVP honors from the magazine.
Arp’s Michael Roberson was tabbed as the Defensive MVP.
CAYUGA (2011: 4-6, 2-3)
If Texas Football has it right, the Cayuga Wildcats’ playoff hiatus will only last one season.
The Wildcats are picked second in the new, widespread District 6-A, Division I, behind only Italy.
Much of the reason for the optimism rests on a player on each side of the ball: D’onte Jackson on offense and Don Holly on defense.
Jackson ran for almost 1,200 yards as a junior in 2011, while Holly is garnering legitimate Division I interest after a junior year in which he tallied 87 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions.
Holly is tabbed as the district’s preseason Defensive MVP, while the offensive honor goes to Italy’s Ryheem Walker.
GRAPELAND (2011: 4-7, 3-2)
According to the magazine, the Sandiettes will be the first team out of the playoff picture in the new 10-A, Division I.
With two preseason top-10 teams atop the new league — San Augustine at No. 3 and Alto at No. 10 — Texas Football sees West Sabine edging Grapeland for the final playoff position.
GHS coach Jerry Richards will again rely on the playmaking ability of Patrick Walker, who accounted for more than 1,000 total yards in 2011 and whom Richards calls a “game-changer” in the magazine.
Defensively, junior Demetri Walker will be back to lead the defense after leading the squad in tackles as a sophomore.
West Sabine quarterback Desmond Lacey was tabbed the district’s Offensive MVP, while T‘Aundra Taylor of San Augustine earned the Defensive MVP nod.
OAKWOOD (2011: 11-1, 3-0)
Texas Football tabs the Panthers as six-man, Division I’s No. 8 team in its preseason poll, and it’s easy to see why.
The Panthers lost only one starter from last year’s regional semifinal team, and return game-breakers Bryson Randle and Damiyne Durham.
Randle ran for more than 1,200 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2011, while the do-it-all Durham accounted for just under 1,400 total yards.
The Panthers — who the magazine tabs to win the new District 16 — also took both of the preseason MVP honors, with Randle earning the offensive nod and linebacker Christian Brummett getting the defensive honors.
Local Sports
H.S. Football: Texas Football magazine picks Palestine, 3 others for playoffs
- Local Sports
-
-
H.S. Athletics: Holden named new Cayuga ISD athletic director
It took just over a month for Cayuga ISD to find their new athletic director.
In a school board meeting Monday, the Cayuga school board hired current CHS assistant coach Russell Holden as its new athletic director and head football coach.
Holden, who has been on the staff at Cayuga for five years, will replace Greg Jenkins, who after three years at the helm is leaving for Tenaha. -
Middle School Athletics: Palestine selects March, April 'Character Athletes'
The Palestine Junior High girls athletic program released their Character Athletes of the Month for both March and April recently.
Eighth graders Annalise Meyers (March) and Josie Soehnge (April), and seventh graders Madison Oliva (March) and Ashley Middleton were honored with the awards, which go to student athletes that lead not only on the field or court, but also in the classroom. -
H.S. Softball Playoffs: Grapeland scores early and often in semifinal clincher
Just like in game one, the Grapeland Sandiettes jumped out to a big lead during Saturday's decisive Game 3 against the Joaquin.
The only difference is this time the Sandiettes never let off the gas on their way to a dominant 12-2 win over the Lady Rams in the do-or-die regional semifinal game.
With the win, Grapeland moves on to its third regional final in four years, where they will take on Beckville. It’s the third-straight year the teams will meet in the postseason. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Elkhart eases past Warren in Game 2
After needing three games to end its first two playoff series this postseason, the Elkhart baseball team made sure it didn’t happen a third time.
The Elks — who are seeking a second-straight trip to the state tournament — rolled past Warren Saturday, 6-0, at Lufkin’s Morris Franks Park. The win came a night after Elkhart topped the Warriors, 5-1, to open the series on Friday. -
H.S. Softball Playoffs: Grapeland, Joaquin split games Friday
It was a tale of two games during Friday's Regional Semifinal between the Grapeland Sandiettes and Joaquin Lady Rams. The Sandiettes and Lady Rams combined for 22 runs in the Sandiettes 12-10 win in Game 1.
Game 2 was a much different as the teams wouldn't combine for 20 hits, or even 10 runs as the Lady Rams picked up a 4-2 win.
-
H.S. Football: Palestine's Owens leads strong class of area recruits
Palestine junior Jarrell Owens hasn’t ever played a significant down in a game for the Wildcats at linebacker in his football career.
Yet, the position is obviously where his future lies.
Owens is one of a handful of area juniors drawing significant college interest, and the Palestine running back/linebacker already holds an official offer from Texas Tech University. -
H.S. Baseball Playoffs: Harleton shuts down Cayuga in regional quarterfinal
In an as-expected pitcher’s duel, it took only one off inning to cost Cayuga and ace Chantz Holland.
Holland gave up four hits and hit a batter in the top of the third inning, and Harleton turned that into four runs — the only runs of the game — as Harleton topped Cayuga, 4-0, here at the Lindale ISD Baseball and Softball Complex in regional quarterfinal action. -
H.S. Baseball: Patchwork lineup still working for Cayuga
The Cayuga baseball team that will take the field tonight against Harleton in the regional quarterfinals doesn’t look a lot like the Cayuga team that rolled through district play earlier this season.
Injuries have hampered the look of the Wildcat lineup, but Cayuga still finds itself into the playoffs’ third round for yet another season. -
H.S. Softball: Grapeland going strong into regional semifinals
It’s been relatively easy-going so far in the state softball playoffs for the Grapeland softball team.
The Sandiettes have lost only once so far in the playoffs, and that came thanks a forfeit in the area round against Avery, when Grapeland decided not to play rather than play without missing members at the state golf tournament. -
Local Roundup: Cayuga's Hughes named 19-A MVP
After a stellar regular season that saw them capture a district title, then a solid playoff run that ended with a regional quarterfinal loss to Grapeland, the Cayuga softball team showed well on the District 19-A all-district teams.
Cayuga star freshman pitcher Kimberly Hughes capped her stellar year by earning the district’s Most Valuable Player award. Joining Hughes in earning superlative honors was her battery-mate Maci Poland, who was named the league’s Defensive MVP. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
H.S. Athletics: Holden named new Cayuga ISD athletic director
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case
Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore
Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage
Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro
First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge
Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister
Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office
New Xbox One Entertainment Console Unveiled
