District Preview: 13-AAAA

District 13-4A could be one of the strongest 4A districts in the state. In 2008 Sulphur Springs won the 4A division II state championship and Longview made it to the 4A division I state finals. The district also features perennial East Texas powers Texas High and Marshall. Three of the four playoff teams from a year ago won at least one playoff game. With Longview, Texas High and Sulphur Springs all loaded with talent, the district will be extremely competitive again in 2009.

13-4A Pre-season Predictions:

Longview Lobos: Coming off of last year’s playoff run that took the Lobos all the way to the state finals, Longview is picked by many to win its first state title since 1937. Coach John King returns 12 starters including a number of D1 prospects from last year’s playoff team. On offense, quarterback Aaron Johnson, runningback Tyler McCray and receiver Carey Fortson will lead a very balanced offensive attack for the Lobos. And on defense, defensive linemen Bubba Vactor and Jeremiah Farley will anchor a talented Lobo defense. Longview rolled through district 13 in 2008 and the Lobos are the favorite to win the district again. But, to get back to the state championship game Longview will have to run the gauntlet of a very tough region II that includes teams like Denison, Dallas Carter, Waco Midway and Highland Park.

Texas High Tigers: The Tigers went 9-2 in 2008 including 5-1 in district. However, the highly anticipated district showdown with Longview did not go well for the Tigers. The Lobos jumped on the Tigers early and rolled to a 41-7 victory. There is no question that Coach Barry Norton has September 25th circled on the calendar as the Tigers will play host to the Lobos and will be looking for a little revenge. The Tigers return 9 starters from last year’s team including quarterback and Oklahoma State commit Nathan Sorenson. Sorenson’s favorite target from last year, Cobi Hamilton, has moved on to the collegiate level. But, wide receiver Montrae Williams will try to pick up the slack. Big offensive lineman Ben Jackson will be charged with the task of keeping Sorenson on his feet. Texas High will be looking ahead and trying to reel in the Lobos while at the same time looking behind them and trying to hold off a talented Sulphur Springs team for the second spot.

Sulphur Springs Wildcats: Ask Wildcats’ head coach Greg Owens what was the hardest thing about winning the first state championship in school history and he might tell you just getting out of his own district. The Wildcats went 14-2 and captured the 4A division II state championship in 2008. The Cats’ only losses came to district foes Texas High and Longview. Sulphur Springs also needed a shootout victory over Marshall (57-36) and a nail-biter over Hallsville (28-24) just to secure a playoff spot. Once in the playoffs the Wildcats put up gaudy offensive numbers in route to the state championship. The offense will have to replace dynamic quarterback Tyrik Rollison (Auburn) and runningback Ryan Young (Air Force). But the offense returns plenty of talent including a huge offensive line led by Beau Carpenter, Mason Y’Barbo and Alex Peek. The defense is loaded as well with Texas commit Bryant Jackson in the secondary and Texas Tech commit Kedrick Dial on the defensive line. The Wildcats will once again be a playoff team in 2009.

Marshall Mavericks: The Mavericks were back in the postseason in 2008 for the fourth time in five years. Marshall was 3-3 in district in 2008 with the three losses all coming against the other three playoff teams in the district. If the Mavericks are going to overtake any of those three teams they will need the services of linebacker Aaron Franklin. Franklin is one of the most highly recruited linebackers in the state despite missing his entire junior season with torn ligaments in his knee. At 6’1” and 210 pounds Franklin has legitimate 4.5 speed in the forty and runs a sub 22 second 200 meter. Having a healthy Franklin back should help the Mavericks improve on a defense that surrendered 27 points a game last year. Marshall should have enough to make the playoffs and could challenge for the third spot in the district.

Hallsville Bobcats: Coach David Plunk’s Bobcats were 2-3 in district and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. But there were some bright spots for the Bobcats beginning with a defense that led the district in points allowed. Hallsville also played very competitive games against Longview and Sulphur Springs, losing 21-7 and 28-24 respectively. But, with the fewest returning starters of any team in the district (7) it may be difficult to improve on last year’s five wins. Look for more of the same from Hallsville this year: a five win season and a fifth place finish in the district.

Pine Tree Pirates: Not much went right for the Pirates in 2008. Pine Tree was 2-8 overall and 0-6 in district. New coach Huey Chancellor will look to get the Pirates back in the playoffs for the first time since 2001. Coach Chancellor has ten returning starters with which to work his magic. Mark Malone and Dominique Webb could share the running duties and Tyler Kids will handle the quarterback position. On defense, Steven Hawkins should be solid up front and Evan Kokenzie will move from defensive back to outside linebacker. The Pirates have an uphill battle to get into the playoffs in such a loaded district. But with 114 wins in his 14 seasons at Bellville, Coach Chancellor brings a winning resume to Pine Tree. Better days may be ahead for the Pirates.

Mount Pleasant Tigers: The Tigers have not won more than 6 games in a season since 1997. And with only eight starters returning from last year’s 3-7 team, the trend may not end anytime soon. To make matters worse, the Tigers lost their two best players on offense (WR – Roman Hurndon and QB Terrell Howard) and their two best players on defense (LB – Tevin Elliott and DL Tremaine Elliott) to graduation. It could be a long season for the Tigers.

Predicted Order of Finish for 13-4A:
1. Longview Lobos
2. Texarkana Texas High Tigers
3. Sulphur Springs Wildcats
4. Marshall Mavericks
5. Hallsville Bobcats
6. Longview Pine Tree Pirates
7. Mount Pleasant Tigers

Longview #49 on RivalsHigh 100

The Longview Lobos are #49 on rivalshigh.com's list of the top 100 high school teams in the nation.

Rivals High 100

The Lobos are the #1 ranked 4A team in Texas.

Kickoff Classics from Around the State

Here is a list of some of the early season "Classics" in Texas:

Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic
Tyler – Rose Stadium - September 3-5
Gilmer vs. Rains - Thursday, September 3 - 7:30 pm
Lufkin vs. John Tyler - Friday, September 4 - 7:30 pm
Longview vs. Tyler Lee - Saturday, September 5 - 7:30 pm

Texas Football Classic
San Antonio- Alamodome - August 27-29
Floresville vs. SA Fox Tech - Thursday, August 27 - 7:30 pm
Boerne Champion vs. Midlothian - Friday, August 28 - 7:30 pm
Katy Mayde Creek vs. Brenham - Saturday, August 29 - Noon
Odessa Permian vs. Duncanville - Saturday, August 29 - 3:45 pm
SA East Central vs. Cibolo Steele - Saturday, August 29 - 7:30 pm

Verizon Wireless High School Kickoff Classic
Houston - Reliant Stadium - August 29th
Pearland vs. Kingwood - Saturday, August 29 - 1:00 pm
College Park vs. Madison - Saturday, August 29 - 4:00 pm

Champions Classic
Abilene – Shotwelll Stadium - August 27-29
Abilene Christian vs. NW Missouri - Thursday, August 27 - 7:00 pm
Abilene Cooper vs. O.D. Wyatt - Friday, August 28 - 7:30 pm
Abilene High vs. Dunbarr - Saturday, August 29 - 11:00 am
Jim Ned vs. Merkel - Saturday, Aug. 29 - 7:30 pm

Tom Landry Classic
Dallas – SMU’s Ford Stadium - August 29th
Southlake Carroll vs. Plano West - Saturday, August 29 - 4:30 pm
Red Oak vs. Highland Park - Saturday, August 29 - 7:30 pm

Tyler Classic
Tyler - All Saints - August 27-29
T.K. Gorman vs. Big Sandy - Thursday, August 27 - 7:30 pm
Brook Hill vs. Hawkins - Friday, August 28 - 7:30 pm
ASES vs. The Highlands - Saturday, August 29 - 2:00 pm
Grace vs. Eustace - Saturday, August 29 - 7:30 pm

Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series
Dallas, TX - The New Texas Stadium - September 7th
Euless Trinity vs. Bingham (UT) - Monday, September 7 - 10:30 am
Colleyville Heritage vs. Irving Macarthur - Monday, September 7 - 1:30 pm
Mansfield Timberview vs. Mansfield Summit - Monday, September 7 - 4:30 pm
Klein Oak vs. Notre Dame (CA) - Monday, September 7 - 7:30 pm

Longview News Journal's 2009 East Texas Dream Team

The Longview New Journal has announced the 2009 East Texas Dream Team:

Offense:
Quarterback - Darian Godfrey - Gilmer
Runningback - Traylon Shead - Cayuga
Runningback - Tyler McCray - Longview
Runningback - Ted Burns - Pittsburg
Receiver - Chris Jones - Daingerfield
Receiver - Trey Metoyer - Whitehouse
Receiver - Quinn Trimble - Lufkin
Tight End - Trevor Murphy - Carthage
Offensive Line - Gerron Anthony - John Tyler
Offensive Line - Beau Carpenter - Sulphur Springs
Offensive Line - Kendrick Henderson - Carthage
Offensive Line - Bryce Redman - Longview
Offensive Line - Jaylyn Turner - Winona
Kicker - Ryan Bustin - Kilgore
Return Specialist - Der'rikk Thompson - Troup

Defense:
Defensive Line - Ashton Dorsey - John Tyler
Defensive Line - Jeremiah Farley - Longview
Defensive Line - Clarence Lee - Jefferson
Defensive Line - Deshun Williams - Carthage
Linebacker - Blake Roberts - Tyler Lee
Linebacker - Chris Weaver - Longview
Linebacker - Mikey Wilson - Gilmer
Defensive Back - Carrington Byndom - Lufkin
Defensive Back - Alonte' Darden - Longview
Defensive Back - Montrae Williams - Texas High
Defensive Back - Bryant Jackson - Sulphur Springs
Utility Player - Lavocheya Cooper - Arp
Punter - Collin Bradley - Hallsville

Northeast Texas Preseason Rankings

Everybody and their mother has preseason and weekly rankings nowadays. My opinion is no less important than anybody else's (or their mother's). So, I will give you my rankings for 2A - 4A in Northeast Texas starting with the preseason and continuing weekly until the playoffs. If you don't agree, I guess you can make up your own rankings?

4A Top 10
1. Longview
2. Texas High
3. Sulphur Springs
4. Whitehouse
5. Marshall
6. Kilgore
7. Lindale
8. Nacogdoches
9. Jacksonville
10. Hallsville

3A Top 20

1. Gilmer

2. Carthage

3. Van

4. Tatum

5. Mexia

6. Pleasant Grove

7. Liberty Eylau

8. Pittsburg

9. New Boston

10. Paris

11. Palestine

12. Tyler - Chapel Hill

13. Gladewater

14. Diboll

15. Crockett

16. Spring Hill

17. North Lamar

18. Canton

19. Rusk

20. Kaufman

2A Top 20

1. Daingerfield

2. Arp

3. Paul Pewitt

4. Jefferson

5. Lone Oak

6. Corrigan Camden

7. White Oak

8. Caddo Mills

9. Winnsboro

10. Harmony

11. Franklin

12. Troup

13. Prairiland

14. Kerens

15. Hearne

16. Hughes Springs

17. West Rusk

18. Frankston

19. Elysian Fields

20. New Diana

Big Frank Hits The Airwaves

I am proud to announce that I will be doing a weekly show with Randy Shortnacy covering East Texas High School Football. This is perfect since I have a great face for radio. Randy is a native East Texan who has been in broadcasting for 18 years. Randy is also the author of his own blog Short's Sports Corner.

Randy shares my desire to help promote the players, coaches and fans of the great football programs here in East Texas. I hope through this radio show we can help draw more attention to the teams we all love to follow during the season. Over the next few weeks Randy and I will be previewing East Texas teams as we lead up to the start of the football season. The shows will be available at TheOldCoach.com.

Thanks to Randy Shortnacy, Matt Stepp and The Old Coach for this opportunity.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rshort

Area Scrimmages

Two-a-days start for most schools on August 3rd while others start August 10th. The following is a list of upcoming area scrimmages.

8/15/09
Tatum @ Daingerfield (7:00pm)
Troup @ Gladewater (9:00am)
Brownsboro @ Rusk (9:00am)
Paris Chisum @ Hughes Springs (10:00am)
Henderson @ Sulphur Springs (TBA)
Chapel Hill @ Wills Point (TBA)
Jefferson @ Liberty Eylau (TBA)
Mt. Vernon @ Paul Pewitt (TBA)
Kaufman @ Spring Hill (TBA)
Lindale @ Palestine (8:00am)
Pine Tree @ Corsicana (TBA)
Harmony @ Hawkins (TBA)
Paris @ Gainesville (TBA)
Whitesboro @ Commerce (TBA)
Garrison @ Shelbyville (10:00am)
Center @ Newton (5:00pm)
Mabank @ Mineola (TBA)
Pleasant Grove @ Linden-Kildare (TBA)

Winona @ Beckville (TBA)

Jasper/Crockett @ Jacksonville (TBA)

Coldspring @ Woodville (TBA)

Lovelady @ Centerville (8:00am)

Arp @ Harleton (10:00am)

Gilmer @ Atlanta (TBA)

Groveton @ Grapeland (TBA)

Waskom @ Union Grove (10:00am)

Teague @ Palestine Westwood (6:00pm)

Tenaha @ Sabine (10:00am)
Joaquin @ Big Sandy (TBA)

Cushing @ Timpson (10:00am)

Maud/Hooks @ Clarksville (6:00pm)

Dekalb @ New Diana (10:00am)

Winnsboro @ Van (9:00am)

Canton @ Farmersville (10:00am)

8/20/09
Gladewater @ Sabine (5:00pm)
Rusk @ Crockett (5:00pm)
Bullard @ White Oak (7:30pm)
Arp @ Chapel Hill (7:00pm)
Atlanta @ Jefferson (TBA)
Mt. Vernon @ North Lamar (TBA)
Spring Hill @ Pine Tree (TBA)
Harmony @ Quitman (5:00pm)
Palestine @ Henderson (TBA)
Whitesboro @ Paris (TBA)
Prairiland @ Mineola (TBA)
Hughes Springs @ Paul Pewitt (5:00pm)
Linden-Kildare @ Dekalb (TBA)

Carlisle/Shelbyville @ Beckville (TBA)

Troup @ Van (TBA)

Cushing @ Lovelady (5:00pm)

Teague @ Kerens (6:00pm)
Ore City vs. New Diana at Pine Tree (5:00pm)

Diboll @ Tatum (TBA)

8/21/09
Carthage @ Whitehouse (TBA)
Mt. Pleasant @ Kilgore (7:30pm)
Daingerfield @ Wills Point (10:00am)
Marshall @ Liberty Eylau (4:00pm)
Longview @ John Tyler (5:00pm)
Nacogdoches @ Beaumont Ozen (TBA)
Palestine @ Henderson (TBA)
Hallsville @ Lindale (7:00pm)
Garrison @ Groveton (5:00pm)
San Augustine @ Center (5:00pm)

Newton @ Coldspring (7:00pm)

Grapeland @ Leon (TBA)

Big Sandy @ Union Grove (5:00pm)

Joaquin @ Frankston (TBA)

Timpson/Maud @ Redwater (5:30pm)

Clarksville/Idabel @ Detroit (6:00pm)

8/22/09

Jacksonville @ Pine Tree/Spring Hill (TBA)

Aaron Johnson racking up the offers

Longview quarterback Aaron Johnson has been racking up the offers. At last count no less than five D1 schools have extended Johnson an offer. Houston, Kansas State, TCU, Northwestern and Stanford have already offered. But Johnson is reportedly garnering interest from Oklahoma, Texas and Florida as well. And while the three big boys have not yet offered it may only be a matter of time.

http://stanford.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=89543

Pewitt's D.J. Burleson out for the year

Paul Pewitt's all-state fullback will miss the upcoming football season with a torn ACL. In 2008 Burleson ran for over 1800 yards and 31 touchdowns on 296 carries in Pewitt's Slot T offense. Tevondrick Finley is the most likely candidate to fill the starting fullback position for the Brahmas. Finley was expected to play mostly defensive tackle this year before taking over for Burleson in 2010. Finley may now pull double duty for the Brahmas.

Other players who may be expected to pick up the slack are runningbacks Jerry Braddock and Jerome Whetstone. Also, expect youngster Sedrick Johnson to see some time on offense as well. Even without Burleson the Brahmas should still be the prohibitive favorite to win district 12AA with the only serious threat coming from Prairiland.

The Old Coach

I am very proud to announce that I am joining the team at http://theoldcoach.rivals.com/. I will be covering East Texas High School football and submitting articles and photos to the website. In my opinion, theoldcoach.com is the best website covering Texas High School football on a statewide basis. I hope that through my efforts I can help promote the great players, coaches, and fans of East Texas High School football and bring better coverage to East Texas. I will continue to operate this blog, so please continue to visit this site as I will be posting frequent updates, game analysis, and photos during the season. I want to thank The Old Coach for this opportunity and I am looking forward to covering the upcoming football season.

--Doug Reeder