Class 5A is deeper than ever, but can anyone topple the dynasties?

Photo by Darice Farris

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Randy Allen has been around the block a couple of times.

To wit: the longtime Highland Park coach has a chance to reach a handful of lofty career milestones in 2019, including his 500thcareer game — he’d be the fourth Texas coach ever to accomplish that feat – and his 400thcareer win — he’d be the third.

So you can trust the fedora-topped icon when he says: it’s never been harder to play in Class 5A.

“I’ve never played anybody with more talent than Manvel, and Shadow Creek was similar,” Allen said. “Temple was very talented, too. From that standpoint, I think the level of competition and talent in 5A has been improving. It just continues to get tougher.”

That’s not to say anyone’s been able to stop Allen’s Scots — after all, those three teams he name-checked were the three teams he vanquished in their run to the last three 5A Division I state titles. And HP is still the king of the Division I, as the preseason pick to become just the fifth program to win four straight titles.

But the depth of the class, in both divisions, is particularly astounding. Texas Footballcounts no fewer than 12 teams in Division I with truly strong title chances, and a similar crop of contenders in Division II.

Allen — who briefly considered retirement before the 2018 season — wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s enjoyable to have teams that can compete at this high level at this point in my career,” Allen said. “My whole objective is to give them the best chance to be successful. As long as I take care of them, that’s the joy I get out of coaching.”

 

DIVISION I

Is the fourth time the charm for Denton Ryan? After three consecutive seasons of being kept from the title game by Highland Park, the Raiders could have their strongest squad yet, welcoming back 13 starters including blue-chip athlete Drew Sanders, who could be the best player on both sides of the ball. Coach Dave Henigan thinks continuity is their biggest strength; is it enough to finally break through to their first title game since 2010?

The Raiders’ biggest early challenge may come from within its own district in the form of Birdville, which should have no shortage of firepower with 2,700-yard passer Stone Earle and 2,000-yard rusher Laderrious Mixon. Grapevine also lurks in District 4, complete with their own power duo in quarterback Austin Alexander and running back Caleb Texada. And don’t count out Joe Willis’ Colleyville Heritage squad, either.

Elsewhere in Region I, Lubbock Coronado’s newfound strength may be on the defensive side, led by a pair of talented junior linebackers Izaiah Kelley and Charlie Robinson. And consider Texas Footballintrigued by Azle — coach Devon Dorris’ squad is coming off a breakout season with most key pieces intact, most notably dual-threat quarterback Drey Owen.

Highland Park’s navigation of Region II will depend largely on something the Scots haven’t been known for: superstars. Quarterback Chandler Morris and defensive end Prince Dorbah are among the state’s top 2020 recruits, which adds an interesting wrinkle to the usually greater-than-the-sum-of-their-parts Scots.

“We’ve had some recruited players, but probably Chandler and Prince have gotten more notice earlier because they had great junior years,” Allen said. “It’s about team goals being more important than individual goals. That’s how you blend the team together.”

If the Scots are to make a semifinal, they’ll have to navigate the state’s deepest and toughest region — Region II harbors four of Texas Football’s top 10, and ten of the top 25. 

Frisco Lone Star feels like they’ve been on the cusp of something big for years, and maybe 2019 is it, especially if receiver Marvin Mims continues his ascent. After coming agonizingly close to knocking off the defending champs, John Tyler returns recharged and reloaded — the name to know is Kitan Crawford, a versatile athlete who can be a homerun threat or a lockdown corner. And while Lufkin doesn’t begin the year atop the rankings like it did last year, coach Todd Quick’s Panthers are a decided threat with speed to burn.

That’s not to mention perennial athlete factory Lancaster, 2017 champion College Station, dangerous and experienced Mansfield Timberview, and Mesquite Poteet, which boasts one of the state’s best running backs in Seth McGowan. Region II is a hornet’s nest, if you couldn’t tell.

Things aren’t much easier in Region III, which features a blend of teams on the rise, annual contenders and breakout candidates. Topping Texas Football’s mind is Richmond Foster, who transformed from also-ran to powerhouse late in 2018. Coach Shaun McDowell’s team seemingly has it all — a stalwart defense led by monster tackle Chidozie Nwankwo; a quality signal-caller in Ryan Stubblefield; an enormous offensive line anchored by 300-pound junior Reuben Fatheree.

That said, they’ll have to go through Alvin Shadow Creek, who went from literal varsity non-existence to a state finalist in the span of a year. There are holes to fill, especially offensively, but the Sharks return star defensive back Xavian Alford and buckets of swagger.

Cedar Park suffered its first sub 10-win season since 2009 last season; don’t expect a repeat of that, especially with quarterback Ryder Hernandez back in the mix. Port Arthur Memorial could be on the verge of a breakthrough campaign in coach Brian Morgan’s second season. And while Angleton and Hutto have major gaps to fill, you doubt coaches like Ryan Roark and Brad LaPlante at your own peril.

Which brings us to Region IV, and a year after it seemed as wide-open as it gets, it feels like a clear favorite has been established. San Antonio Wagner’s high-powered Flexbone attack — which led all 11-man teams in Texas in scoring last year — returns with 2,000-yard rusher L.J. Butler back in the fold, not to mention what should be an improved defense. The Thunderbirds surprised folks in 2018; they won’t sneak up on anyone this year.

District 15-5A Division I figures to be a slugfest between Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial and Corpus Christi Flour Bluff, but the sleeper in the region could be newcomer San Antonio Harlan — the Hawks put together a scintillating inaugural season and, with 17 starters back including star quarterback Kannon Williams, they could be ready for their close-up.

Mission Veterans Memorial remains the Valley’s best hope for a breakthrough, but replacing Mr. Texas Football recipient Landry Gilpin will be a chore.

 

DIVISION II

There’s a tendency to view the Aledo Bearcats, from year to year, as monolithic: powerful, overwhelming, uniform. That’s probably because the result is often the same — the Bearcats have appeared in the state championship game eight times in the last ten seasons, winning seven of them.

But while Texas Footballpredicts yet another Aledo title, we’re also intrigued by what appears to be a brave new Bearcats world in 2019.

Yes, most of the stars of last year’s state championship squad return, including all-everything running back Jase McClellan, emerging quarterback Jake Bishop and breakout receiver JoJo Earle. But look closer: the Bearcats will need to rebuild an offensive line that overwhelmed opponents last year; they’ll need to rebuild a fearsome front seven; and, oh yeah, they’ll have to do it with a new-ish coach in Tim Buchanan, who returns after a stint as AISD athletic director.

Make no mistake: Aledo is the overwhelming favorite to bring home a record ninth title. But don’t expect the same old Bearcats squad.

Region I of 5A Division II looks wide-open from the outset, but Texas Footballidentifies three clear favorites to get through: Lubbock-Cooper, Wichita Falls Rider, and Justin Northwest.

The argument for Cooper is easy to make: the return of Isaiah Johnson, who set a school record with 25 rushing touchdowns despite missing four games, gives the Pirates perhaps the region’s most talented rusher. For Rider, it’s Jacob Rodriguez, who dazzled as a sophomore quarterback in guiding the Raiders to a stunning state semifinal appearance (and, by the way, there’s a fun little bit of mad scientist in Rider coach Marc Bindel). For Northwest, it’s the defense, where linebacker Cooper McDonald is a name to know.

Cooper begins as a slight favorite, but the October 18 showdown when the Pirates visit district bunkmate Rider will be telling.

If anyone outside of those three is to crash the Region I party, El Paso Parkland seems most likely, though Canyon Randall, Wichita Falls and El Paso Andress feel like intriguing spoilers.

Region II will go through Aledo, but it remains tantalizingly deep and exceptionally well-coached — between Tim Buchanan at Aledo, Sam Harrell at Ennis, Chris Ross at Red Oak and Hal Wasson at Corsicana, you’d be hard-pressed to find a group of state champion coaches like that anywhere else.

Frisco Reedy could be the chief challenger to the Aledo dynasty, especially if the defense led by linebacker Will Harbour is as advertised. South Oak Cliff will have its usual bevy of stars, headlined by maybe Division II’s finest secondary with Jonathan Davis and Courtline Flowers. And Burleson Centennial, fresh off a breakout year, could pose plenty of problems with small-but-mighty running back Jaylon Jackson back to tote the mail.

The power nexus of Division II remains Region III, comprising a staggering five of Texas Football’s top seven teams.

“Fort Bend Marshall isn’t going to get any slower,” Huntsville coach Rodney Southern said. “Marshall’s going to be even better. A&M Consolidated’s going to be better. I think Lamar Consoldiated is a sleeper. I think our region is going to be the toughest one in the state again.”

He ain’t lying. Fort Bend Marshall, fresh off its run to the state title game, returns absolutely loaded with running back Devon Achane and quarterback Malik Hornsby back. Marshall, under new coach Jake Griedl, could take a huge step forward thanks to its physical identity. Manvel is still Manvel, even after its first non-10-win season since 2009. A&M Consolidated could be ready for a leap in coach Lee Fedora’s third year. It goes on and on and on.

As for Southern’s Huntsville squad, after buzzing to a 12-2 mark and within a whisker of a state semifinal last season, there’s plenty to like about this team again — a ferocious defense led by defensive end Briceon Hayes, and the return of all-state candidate (and coach’s kid) Matthew Southern to trigger the attack.

That rumbling you hear is the waking of a sleeping giant out in the Piney Woods.

“People are excited about football again in Huntsville,” coach Rodney Southern said. “This group of kids is pretty unique — they’ve won at every level, and know the standard is pretty high. They don’t know anything but winning, and that’s what makes it fun as a coach.”

Region IV has a familiar frontrunner in Corpus Christi Calallen, which will boast both a savvy Wing-T triggerman in Jarrett Garza and a bruising defense led by tackle Marcus Wiser and linebacker Riggs Barrett.

It’s hard to see anyone toppling coach Phil Danaher’s Wildcats, but the most likely challengers look like Kerrville Tivy — and their duo of QBs in Cole Miears and Trapper Pannell — and Port Lavaca Calhoun — you’ve never seen the double-slot offense run like it is with quarterback Conner Kestler and fullback Steve Johnson.

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