The big favorite in the region is not any secret and it is a team that has had some very big success at the 4A levvel before moving up to 5A for a couple years. Not only was Denton Guyer successful at the 5A level, they were a few plays away from winning a state championship against Cibolo Steele. The Wildcats have stacked the deck in terms of non-district opposition for a potential run at another State Championship appearance. Opening the season against a very promising 5A squad in Cedar Hill will push the Wildcats to the limit. The very next week, Guyer and quarterback Jerrod Heard will be up against Colleyville Heritage and Elite 11 participant Cody Thomas.
Speaking of schedules, the team that really challenged itself is Wichita Falls Rider. The Raiders open up with Abilene Cooper and Denton Ryan before facing an Amarillo squad that is really looking to wreck havoc on the region after, like Guyer, falling into the 4A ranks. And by the time district play rolls around, Amarillo would have already faced two of the region's top teams and the Stephenville Yellow Jackets, who are considered to be the top team in Class 3A.
The region may run through Denton Guyer, Wichita Falls Rider, Amarillo and Wolfforth Frenship before is all said and done, but the region also has its fair share of darkhorses and star athletes roaming the gridiron. Teams such as Everman, Waco, Birdville, FW Southwest and EP Chapin are those teams looking to make the move up the food chain. FW Southwest includes one of the top QB-WR combos in the state in Wesley Harris and Robbie Rhodes.
In terns of indiviual players to watch in the region offensively, EP Hanks WR Patrick Pettis, Granbury WR Briley Wood and FW Dunbar RB Stepfawn Hughes.
The big stars on defense include Waco University DT Ben Hughes, FW Arlington Heights DT A'Shawn Robinson and Denton Guyer DB John Schelleci. The region has plenty of hidden gems on teams that are lurking in the radar screen. For example EP Chapin with LB Max Flores and DT Gabriel Hernandez are a pair of players that have the ability to cmpete at the next level. Aledo, which will still be very good despite losing some of their top stars, will have LB Gunner Johnson and DB Shea Wood. |
1 |
Denton Guyer |
2 |
Wichita Falls Rider |
3 |
Amarillo |
4 |
Wolfforth Frenship |
5 |
Aledo |
6 |
Everman |
7 |
Waco |
8 |
Birdville |
9 |
FW Southwest |
10 |
EP Chapin |
11 |
Canyon Randall |
12 |
Lake Dallas |
13 |
Granbury |
14 |
EP Del Valle |
15 |
Canutillo |
|
