10-3A still one of the state’s best

Submitted by Cameron1 on

Next month, everyone is going to be in full, blow-out football mode with the release of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and TheOldCoach’s Friday Night Football magazines. Way back at the end of 2016, I released my own personal pre-season top 20. If you happened to miss that, here they are:

 

1. Yoakum, 2. Cameron Yoe. 3. Hallettsville, 4. Mineola, 5. Teague, 6. Rockdale, 7. Malakoff, 8. Wall, 9. Brock, 10. Grandview, 11. Jefferson, 12. Franklin, 13. Edna, 14. Whitesboro, 15. Goliad, 16. Pottsboro, 17. Woodville, 18. Farmersville, 19. Coldspring, T20. Howe, Sunnyvale, Littlefield, Muleshoe.

 

These rankings are based on last season’s success, returning starters, and tradition.

 

This week, I want to dig a little deeper and come out with my official 10-3A projections before the release of the publications. Before we dive in, let me first say that this is usually a very difficult district, and quite possibly the deepest and best in the state. That will not be changing in 2017.

 

1. Cameron Yoe (11-3/5-1; State Quarterfinalist)

# of seniors lost: 16 of 46

# of all-district players lost: 2 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 5 1st team defense

# of all-district players returning: Offensive Newcomer; 4 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 6 2nd team defense

 

The Yoemen are going to be talented enough to compete for a district championship, regional title, and another state championship this season. Defense always comes first for the Yoemen, so how good the defensive line is should decide just how good this team can be this season.

 

2. Rockdale (11-2/6-0; Regional Semifinalist)

# of seniors lost: 18 of 46

# of all-district players lost: Offensive MVP; 5 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 3 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

# of all-district players returning: MVP; Defensive MVP; 2 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 4 1st team defense; 3 2nd team defense

 

The Tigers are undoubtedly losing some good talent off of last year’s squad, but the cupboard is fare from bare. Jaqualyn Crawford will be one of the state’s most explosive players in the state as a return specialist and receiver. Finding a quarterback is what Coach Miller and crew have to be focusing on. They may have a good answer.

 

3. Franklin (8-3/4-2; Bi-District Finalist)

# of seniors lost: 14 of 34

# of all-district players lost: 2 1st team offense; 2 2nd team offense; 3 1st team defense; 4 2nd team defense

# of all-district players returning: 3 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 2 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

 

If there is a team that can beat either Cameron or Rockdale, it’s going to be Franklin. Coach Hendrix always has his Lions ready to compete with the state’s best, and only lost to those two by a combined 10 points in 2016.

 

4. McGregor (4-6/2-5)

# of seniors lost: 11 of 40 (Maxpreps)

# of all-district players lost: 4 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense;

# of all-district players returning: 2 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 3 2nd team defense

 

My pick for the final spot out of the district is McGregor. It will not be a easy road by any stretch as the Bulldogs are losing their head coach, Tim Seward, to administration. Seward was the head man since 2006. We will see how Judd Thrash, who spent the last three years as defensive coordinator at Colleyville Heritage, can do in hist first go-around as a head coach.

 

5. Troy (5-6/3-3; Bi-District Finalist)

# of seniors lost: 19 of 44

# of all-district players lost: 3 1st team offense; 3 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

# of all-district players returning: Defensive Newcomer; 1 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 3 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

 

6. Little River Academy (4-6/1-5)

# of seniors lost: 15 of 33

# of all-district players lost: 2 1st team offense; 1 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense

# of all-district players returning: 1 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 2 2nd team defense

 

7. Jarrell (1-9/0-6)

# of seniors lost: 17 of 35

# of all-district players lost: 2 2nd team offense; 1 1st team defense; 1 2nd team defense

# of all-district players returning: NONE

 

Out of all the final three times, Troy has tradition on their side. The Trojans expect to be in the playoffs. I didn’t pick them to make it in 2016, so they could prove me wrong two years in a row. The Bees always seem to have a little sting, while Jarrell is just in the wrong district for football.