2019 Class 5A Division II TXHSFB Hipster Picks

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Every year when the summer edition of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football comes out, fans and media alike look at the teams we have at the top of the pre-season rankings to get an idea of who likely makes the trip to Arlington to play for a state title at AT&T Stadium in December.

While the teams ranked highly in the pre-season are there for a good reason, we all know there are always a few mystery guests that pop up with deep playoff runs and sometimes state titles when the season wraps up.  Who are those teams you need to keep an eye on in 2019? We’ve got you covered at DCTF as we bring you our 2019 Hipster Picks to keep in your back pocket as you casually drop them into conversation with your friends from time to time, so once they make that deep run, you can look like a Texas high school football genius.

Fort Worth North Side

The Steers aren’t a state title contender or even a contender for a district title, but don’t be surprised if they put together one of their best seasons in years and contend for their first playoff spot since 1979. Head coach Joseph Turner has slowly built the Steers from a bottom feeder to a competitive outfit. North Side returns nine offensive starters led by QB Isaak Rosales and WR Da’Wain Lofton who might be the most dangerous kick returner in DFW. The Steers should be improved on defense as well with seven returning starters led by Felice Tudela who picked off six passes. Fourth place in 4-5A Division II is there for the taking for North Side, if the Steers can stay healthy in the trenches they could break a nearly forty year playoff drought.

Denton Braswell

It’s the Bengals fourth varsity season and every year Braswell has shown improvement going from zero wins in 2016, to a pair of wins in 2017 and three wins a year ago. This could be the year Cody Moore’s squad breaks through and secures a playoff spot as fourteen starters are back and help from a 10-0 JV team makes for a dangerous recipe in a balanced 7-5A Division II. Denton Braswell finally has the size, speed and depth to compete at the 5A level and with experience at QB in Greyson Thompson and WR Cam Smith leading the way the Bengals have explosiveness. The offensive line has a big-time recruit in Erick Cade, the big key will developing some depth up front and establishing a consistent rushing attack. Eight are back on the defensive side of the ball for Braswell so the Bengals expect to be better on that side as well. 7-5A Division II is a balanced district that features a Reedy squad that took the state by storm last year and always solid Lovejoy and Frisco who made the area playoffs, along with always tough Denison.

Montgomery

The Bears struggled early on last year stumbling out of the gate with an 0-4 record, but they got things together and managed to finish with five district wins and a playoff appearance. The big question mark for John Bolfing’s squad will be their defense that returns just a pair of starters led by LB Leslie Williams who had an impressive 90 tackles as a freshman. That unit will depend on players from a 6-4 JV squad to emerge and try to contain some of the more powerful offenses in 10-5A Division II, most notably Huntsville, A&M Consolidated and Rosenberg Lamar. On the flip side, expect Montgomery’s offense to be extremely potent led by sophomore QB Brock Bolfing and RB Jalen Washington who both were outstanding as freshmen. Six other starters are back so don’t be surprised if Montgomery puts up plenty of points. The key for a surprise run in the playoffs will be the Bears rooting out a spot in the top three of the district as a fourth place finish likely brings about a first round game against powerful Marshall.

Mission Pioneer

The Diamondbacks look to be poised to be the team from the Rio Grande Valley that has the ability to challenge for a deep playoff run in a manageable Region IV at the Division II level. Seven starters return on both sides of the ball from a team that finished in second in district a year ago and posted a 7-4 record and fell in the first round of the playoffs by a single point. QB Eddie Marburger will trigger an extremely powerful passing attack with WR’s Luke Padilla and Lavar Lindo being two targets who will make for a tough matchup. Pioneer’s defense has playmakers at all levels and they got a boost with DB Chismere Mallard who moved in from 6A McAllen after starting ten games a year ago. Don’t be surprised if this is a team that is playing in the third round of the playoffs and possibly beyond if things break right.

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