When looking through Class 3A Region III, one thing that is very noticeable is that there are a solid five to six teams that could be considered as a front runner for a bid into the state championship game and even win the title. Some of those teams include Carthage, La Marque, Coldspring-Oakhurst, Navasota, Waco La Vega and West Orange-Stark. That said, there are also a few teams considered as a legitimate darkhorse that could very well leap frog the front runners and do the same. Teams like Houston Yates, West Columbia, Robinson, China Spring and Huffman-Hargrave are just of those that fit the mold of a dark horse.
For the Carthage Bulldogs and La Marque Cougars, getting back to the state championship game after getting bounced in the later rounds in 2011 would be icing on the cake. And although La Marque dropped down into the Class 3A ranks, one may think they would possibly be lurking through the Division I brackets along with Carthage. The chance of that happening is actually quite slim. Out of five schools in 24-3A, the Cougars are third in enrollment, which drops them into the Division II brackets. And if things go the way history has gone in the last few years, La Marque and Coldspring-Oakhurst could very possibly meet not once but twice in the 2012 season.
Class 3A Region III has its fair share of promising and high profile players. Carthage DT Isaiah Golden and West Orange-Stark DE Trayvon Blanchard are probably two of the most widely known college prospects making their home in the region. Looking through the defensive side of the ball, players like Navasota DE Jake Bauer are just chomping at the bit to strip the ball and quarterbacks from moving forward. In 2011, Bauer stopped his opposition almost three dozen times and nailed a quarterback 13 times. Rockdale's James David, who collected nearly 120 tackles last season, may be the region's best linebacker before the dust settles and clears on the 2012 football season. Other players to note watch on thedefensive side includes Huffman Hargrave DB Austin Williams, China Springs LB Rashaad Miller and West Columbia DB Willias Johnson.
Over on the offensive side of the ball, a pair of virtually unknown quarterbacks in Robinson's Carson Earp and Carthage's junior signal caller Blake Bogenschutz could be in for a monster year. The two combined for 6,266 yards and 65 touchdowns in 2011. With improved teams, the sky is the limit to what to expect in 2012. If the running game fits the proper style, look for a solid year from Houston Yates RB Arthur Lockett and Fairfield's Andre Welch. Some sleepers on offense to watch includes Huffman Hargrave QB Preston Townley, Navasota WR Austin Collins and West Orange-Stark TE Jamarcus Rhodes. |
1 |
Carthage |
2 |
La Marque |
3 |
Coldspring-Oakhurst |
4 |
Navasota |
5 |
Waco La Vega |
6 |
West Orange-Stark |
7 |
Houston Yates |
8 |
West Columbia |
9 |
Robinson |
10 |
China Spring |
11 |
Huffman-Hargrave |
12 |
Bridge City |
13 |
Palestine |
14 |
Jasper |
15 |
Sweeny |
|
