The possibilities that a state champion for Class 1A Division I could come from either Region III or Region IV are very good for 2012. After all, there is the reigning state champion Mason Punchers sitting in as the favorite in Region IV and then there is Mart, San Augustine and Alto sitting atop the polls looking to grab a piece of the championship pie. As always, in every region, there are some teams that figure to be right in the thick of the race looking to create their own flavored championship desert. Some of these teans include Big Sandy, Shiner, Ganado, Three Rivers and Price Carlisle.
Among the things to look for when scouring the regions is the big playmaker. Mason's all state, do everything rusher Rio Schmidt is back and could be back in the mix for more than double his 2011 production and very well could have the Punchers knocking on the door for a repeat. San Augustine, dropping in from Class 2A to the Class 1A level has plenty of reason to be optimistic about in 2012. The Wolves to return a mouth watering 17 total starters from its 2011 squad including T'Aundra Taylor, who will be a major threat on the ground and through the air. Mart has their own pair of playmakers and both could be a fixture in the Texas HS Football scene for each of the next three seasons. Quarterback DeNarian Thomas and linebacker Collin Nail could provide the Panthers the necessary one-two punch on both sides of the ball to give the championship hardware for the sixth time and for the second time on three seasons.
The region has its own fair share of potential break out players lurking the sidelines and the gridiron trying to make a name of their own and their respective teams. Price Carlisle's Gunner Baker is back as the team's signal caller and he will be looking to get the Indians past the regional semis in 2012, that could be easier said than done over the course of the season. If Price Carlisle is at or nnear the top of the food chain, Baker is the reason why. The Brackettville Tigers have a new coach but that won't stop Danoel Falcon from wrecking havoc on the defensive side of the ball. With over 100 tackles in 2011, Falcon will be aiming for higher goals and that could spell trouble for district foes such as Junction and Harper, which could help Brackettville back over the .500 mark and find the Tigers going a couple rounds deep.
When looking at the schedule from within the region, on of the more noticeable observation is the stock-piling of quality heavweight opponents by Mart and Mason. For the Punchers, the test is on with an opening week home game against Winters followed by a three game road stretch that includes Goldthwaite and Comfort before finishing off non-district play at home against San Saba. Mart has a three week stretch in Weeks 4 to 6 that includes Rogers and Goldthwaite on the road before closing out district play at home against Chilton. If there are a pair of district games that wets the appetite, look in Week 9 when Price Carlisle faces off against Big Sandy and Ganado challenges the Shiner Comanches.
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REGION III |
1 |
Mart |
2 |
San Augustine |
3 |
Alto |
4 |
Big Sandy |
5 |
Bosqueville |
6 |
Price Carlisle |
7 |
West Sabine |
8 |
Valley Mills |
REGION IV |
1 |
Mason |
2 |
Shiner |
3 |
Ganado |
4 |
Thorndale |
5 |
Three Rivers |
6 |
Weimar |
7 |
Brackettville |
8 |
Flatonia |
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