Texas: Euless Trinity Seeks Repeat in 5A

Steve Lineweaver's Trojans enter 2008 as the favorite to win its third title in four years; Plano, Southlake Carroll, Galena Park North Shore, and Odessa Permian expect to figure in title race.

By Scott Hansen

MaxPreps.com

Can Euless Trinity and Katy repeat their feat in 2008 on the ‘Road to Reliant’ as 5A-Division I and 5A-Division II state champions?

Trinity (15-1 record in 2007, 7-0 district record, District 5-5A), on paper, appears loaded to do so. The Trojans are one point away from aiming for their fourth straight state title if it wasn’t for a 22-21 playoff loss to Southlake Carroll in 2006. Including the 2005 and 2007 5A-I state titles, the Trojans have compiled a 40-3 mark over the past three seasons.

Five starters return on offense, including quarterback Denarius McGhee (1,706 passing yards, 14 TDs; 6 rushing TDs). The returning starters do not include Nebraska commit Dontrayveous Robinson (885 rushing yards, 17 TDs), who comes off an injury-riddled 2007. Cameron Graves (6-1, 265) and Chuck Davenport (6-0, 290) lead the offensive line.

Linebacker Earnest Norman (126 tackles, 3 INTs) was the District 7-5A Defensive Most Valuable Player last season and is verbally committed to attend Kansas. Norman is one of six starters back on defense, including fellow Kansas commit Prinz Kande.

Cornerback Eryon Barnett (48 tackles, 3 INTs) is committed to Texas. Siosaia Tuipulotu (78 tackles), another Division I prospect, is the space-eater on the defensive line.

Katy (16-0, 7-0, 17-5A) loses 15 first team All-District performers from 2007, most notably quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and running back Aundre Dean from its 16-0 team. A reloading project is in order for the Tigers, but defensive lineman Micah Marks (50 tackles, 1 sack) returns from his All-District performance as a junior.

Defensive back Andrew Harrell (66 tackles, 2 INTs) returns in the secondary for Katy. Expect senior Parker Ray to take over the signal calling duties from Mitchell after throwing nine passes as a junior.

Plano (13-2, 6-1, 8-5A) might have enough tools in the shed to make a serious run at Trinity after losing to the Trojans by just three in the playoffs in 2007. Not only is sensational Rex Burkhead (1,768 rushing yards, 28 TDs; 523 receiving yards, 3 TDs) back for the Wildcats, quarterback Carson Meger (3,342 passing yards, 23 TDs; 4 rushing TDs) and wide receiver Kris Lott (1,127 receiving yards, 9 TDs) return.

Southlake Carroll (11-2, 7-0, 6-5A) will be strong once again. Quarterback Kyle Padron (340 passing yards, 2 TDs) inherits the pass-heavy attack for the Dragons from Riley Dodge. Defensive end Brayden Burnett (32 tackles, 9.5 sacks) leads the defense. Junior defensive end Jackson Richards (24 tackles, 2 sacks) has a bright future.

Galena Park North Shore (14-1, 7-0, 21-5A) looks to have a huge advantage on the defensive side of the football in 2008. Defensive tackle Thad Randle is committed to Nebraska and linebacker Daniel Salinas (142 tackles) look to set the tone. Safeties Eric Ruben (2 INTs) and junior Alton Denby (2 INTs) also return for the Mustangs. Running back DeAundre Jones (1,132 rushing yards, 11 TDs) leads the North Shore offense.

Odessa Permian (12-1, 5-0, 2-5A) got its “Mojo” back in 2007. Offensive lineman Garrett Porter (6-5, 310) is the only First Team All-District performer on offense returning and is committed to Texas. Running back Sherard Ray (408 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and wide receiver Ryan Rumbaugh (710 receiving yards, 4 TDs) are experienced and will help break in a new quarterback. Linebacker Jerome Leija (101 tackles, 1 INT) leads the defense.

Spring Westfield (10-3, 6-0, 13-5A) has a proud tradition and is looking to expand on it in 2008. Junior quarterback Jacoby Walker (1,286 passing yards, 20 TDs) has plenty of weapons in his arsenal, including wide receivers Barry Ford (325 receiving yards, 9 TDs), Ja-Mes Morgan (283 receiving yards, 5 TDs), and Adam Watson (252 yards, 5 TDs). Center Jonathan Jones leads the offensive line and linebacker Terre’ Camille (42 tackles) leads the defense.

Cypress Ridge (11-2, 7-0, 15-5A) has quarterback Russell Shepard (1,525 rushing yards, 18 TDs; 595 passing yards, 8 TDs), an LSU commit, ready to run the Rams offense. Running back Hasan Lipscomb (1,190 rushing yards, 20 TDs) is another home run threat in the backfield. Offensive lineman Keenan Flax (6-4, 265) was an All-District performer in 2007. Linebacker Princeton Jackson (90 tackles) is the leader of the defense.

Abilene (13-2, 4-1, 3-5A) had a resurgent 2007, thanks in part to the “Hit Man” Chris Williams (77 tackles, 9 sacks). Williams and the Eagles knocked Southlake Carroll out of the Division II playoffs last season. Quarterback Stephen Warren (706 passing yards, 6 TDs) returns, as does running back Zach Bass (483 rushing yards, 8 TDs). Abilene ducked Permian in district action unlike last season. In the season opener, the Eagles face Glades Central of Belle Glade, Fla.

San Antonio Warren (10-2, 7-1, 28-5A) has major Division I prospect Joseph Bonugli (109 tackles, 6 INTs) patrolling the secondary. Fellow safety Tyler Smith (72 tackles, 1 INT) joins Bonugli. Defensive tackle Calvin Howell (34 tackles) is committed to Texas and is the top player up front for a defense that allowed just over 10 points per game. Athlete Anthony Johnson is expected to play quarterback in 2008 for the Warriors after an All-District showing at wide receiver last season.

Pflugerville (12-4, 4-3, 25-5A) is expected to emerge out of a difficult district that includes Austin Westlake, Austin High, and Austin Bowie. Defensive end Alex Okafor (72 tackles, 5 sacks) is staying close to home to attend Texas. On the other side of Okafor stands defensive end I.K. Enemkpali (54 tackles, 2 sacks). Linebacker A.J. Reese (61 tackles) makes plays behind Okafor and Enemkpali. Defensive tackle Tyrus Thompson (35 tackles, 10 for loss) is getting a lot of hype entering his junior season. Defense will be the key for the Panthers.

Arlington Bowie and Garland Naaman Forest enter the season as darkhorses in 5A.

When Arlington Bowie (12-2, 6-1, 4-5A) quarterback Christian Matthews (2,806 passing yards, 26 TDs; 629 rushing yards, 9 TDs; committed to Kansas) is running the show for the Volunteers, anything is possible. Linebacker Chris Hank (79 tackles) and defensive back Dexter Linton (2 INTs, committed to Kansas) bolster the defense.

Naaman Forest (9-3, 5-2, 10-5A) is expected to be waged in a battle for District 10-5A with rival Garland. Leading the defense for the Rangers will safety Terrence Bullitt (95 tackles, 1 INT, committed to Texas Tech) and linebacker Derrick Schkade (105 tackles). Running back Jonathan Miller (1,884 rushing yards, 25 TDs, committed to Oklahoma), wide receiver John Harris (847 receiving yards, 9 TDs) and converted quarterback Derrick Osborn (344 receiving yards) are all extremely talented.

Dave Campbell Texas Football Top Players

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football named Cypress Falls’ Kolby Gray (3,350 passing yards, 32 TDs; 8 rushing TDs) as the top quarterback in 5A. Gray will be plying his trade in the same district (15-5A) as Shepard of Cypress Ridge.

Joining Plano’s Burkhead as one of the top running backs will be Pasadena Memorial’s Bo Snelson. Snelson (2,163 rushing yards, 31 TDs) averaged 8.1 yards per carry and was named as the District Most Valuable Player in 22-5A as a junior.

El Paso Hanks wide out Ryan Pettis (700 receiving yards, 6 TDs) and Austin High’s Emory Blake (415 receiving yards, 5 TDs in five games) are the top pass catchers in 5A entering the 2008 season.

Tight End James Pearson (466 receiving yards, 6 TDs) of Haltom is one of the most exciting pass catching tight ends in the entire state of Texas.

In the trenches, Permian’s Porter, Cedar Hill’s Thomas Ashcraft (6-5, 290, committed to Texas), Dickinson’s Ivory Wade (6-5, 305, committed to Texas A&M), Hebron’s Joel Gray (6-6, 290, committed to Texas Tech), and Klein Oak’s Clint Naron (6-5, 310, committed to Texas A&M) are the top offensive linemen in 5A according to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

The defensive line is filled with top-notch prospects. San Benito’s Arturo Lopez (163 tackles) is on the list despite his 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. Joining Lopez is three of the most highly-touted prospects you will find in America with Houston Chavez defensive end Michael Brockers (59 tackles, 10 sacks, committed to LSU), Lufkin’s Jamarkus McFarland (67 tackles), and Okafor.

Abilene’s Williams leads the linebacking corps along with Irving MacArthur’s Tariq Allen (123 tackles, 6 sacks, committed to Texas) and Converse Judson’s Chris McAllister (164 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 INT).

Joining Bonugli as ball hawks in the secondary is Clear Creek’s Marcus Davis (47 tackles, 3 INTs, committed to Texas), Wylie’s Daniel Jordan (53 tackles, 7 INTs), and Aldine Eisenhower’s Craig Loston (65 tackles, 3 INTs, committed to Clemson).

Doug Dunn (68 points, team leader in 2007) of Arlington Lamar is the top kicker after setting the Arlington ISD record for field goals and San Antonio Clark’s Adair Campbell (45.4 yards per punt) is regarded as the top punter.

Players to watch in for huge seasons in 5A this season are Tom Wort of New Braunfels (210 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 INTs; committed to Oklahoma), Plano West junior Jackson Jeffcoat (78 tackles, 10 sacks), and Temple junior Lache Seastrunk (1,660 rushing yards, 25 TDs).

Returning 5A District Award Winners

1-5A

Willie Williams, RB, El Paso Coronado (Offensive Newcomer of the Year)

Michael Molina, DE, El Paso Bel Air (Defensive Newcomer of the Year)

2-5A

None

3-5A

Chris Williams, LB, Abilene (Defensive Player of the Year)

4-5A

Stephen Taylor, RB, Mansfield (District Most Valuable Player)

Eric Stephens, RB, Mansfield Timberview (Offensive Player of the Year; dropped to 4A for 2008)

Nelson Akinwande, RB, Mansfield Summit (Sophomore Most Valuable Player)

Christian Spears, DB, Mansfield Timberview (Sophomore Most Valuable Player; dropped to 4A for 2008)

5-5A

Bobby Schneider, LB, Colleyville Heritage (Defensive Player of the Year)

Reggie Wilson, DE, Haltom (Sophomore Most Valuable Player)

6-5A

Collin Ashley, DB, Flower Mound (District Most Valuable Player)

Stephen Hopkins, RB, Flower Mound Marcus (Sophomore Most Valuable Player)

Daniel Noble, DT, Flower Mound Marcus (Sophomore Most Valuable Player)

7-5A

Earnest Norman, LB, Euless Trinity (Defensive Player of the Year)

James Sims, WR, Irving MacArthur (Sophomore Most Valuable Player)

Eddrick Lofton, DB, Irving Nimitz (Sophomore Most Valuable Player)

8-5A

Christian Matthews, QB, Arlington Bowie (Offensive Player of the Year)

Ryan Polite, QB, De Soto (Newcomer of the Year; sophomore in 2008)

Kurtis Green, RB, Arlington (Newcomer of the Year)

Keighan Thetford, LB, Arlington (Newcomer of the Year)

9-5A

Rex Burkhead, RB, Plano (District Most Valuable Player)

Matt Brown, QB, Allen (Offensive Player of the Year; junior in 2008)

Nikita Whitlock, DT, Wylie (Defensive Player of the Year)

Lawrence Williams, QB, Richardson Berkner (Newcomer of the Year)

D’Lyle Washington, RB, Plano East (Newcomer of the Year)

Cheyenne Urban, LB, Allen (Newcomer of the Year)

Preston Wimberley, DL, Richardson Berkner (Newcomer of the Year)

Jake Brendal, DL, Plano East (Newcomer of the Year; sophomore in 2008)

Toby Ball, LB, Wylie (Newcomer of the Year)

10-5A

Austin Moss, LB, South Garland (Defensive Player of the Year; transferred to Rockwall-Heath)

John Harris, WR, Garland Naaman Forest (Newcomer of the Year)

Michael Daniels, DE, Garland Naaman Forest (Newcomer of the Year)

11-5A

Corey Nelson, LB, Dallas Skyline (Newcomer of the Year)

12-5A

Da Da Brown, RB, Tyler Lee (Newcomer of the Year)

13-5A

Lache Seastrunk, RB, Temple (Newcomer of the Year)

14-5A

None

15-5A

Jeffrey Claybon, QB, Lufkin (District Most Valuable Player)

Jamarcus McFarland, DT, Lufkin (Defensive Player of the Year)

Freddie Dotson, RB, Conroe Oak Ridge (Newcomer of the Year)

Brandon Thorton, DE, Conroe (Newcomer of the Year)

16-5A

Jordan Leslie, WR, Tomball (Newcomer of the Year)

17-5A

Russell Shepard, QB, Cypress Ridge (Offensive Player of the Year)

18-5A

None

19-5A

Craig Loston, DB, Aldine Eisenhower (Defensive Player of the Year)

20-5A

Kalvin Guyton, RB, Houston Lamar (Offensive Player of the Year)

Charles Simms, RB, Houston Westside (Offensive Player of the Year)

Frank Williams, RB, Houston Westside (Newcomer of the Year)

Mark Cole, RB, Houston Chavez (Newcomer of the Year)

21-5A

Christine Michael, RB, Beaumont West Brook (Offensive Player of the Year)

22-5A

Bo Snelson, RB, Pasadena Memorial (Offensive Player of the Year)

23-5A

Jon Shalala, QB, Fort Bend Kempner (Newcomer of the Year)

Jermaine Longino, RB, Fort Bend Marshall (Newcomer of the Year)

Shaun Lewis, LB, Fort Bend Hightower (Newcomer of the Year)

24-5A

Kasey Carter, QB, Pearland (Offensive Player of the Year)

25-5A

Ryan Swope, RB, Austin Westlake (Offensive Player of the Year)

26-5A

None

27-5A

Chris Johnson, RB, San Antonio East Central (Newcomer of the Year)

Thomas Gray, DT, San Antonio East Central (Newcomer of the Year)

28-5A

Joseph Bonugli, S, San Antonio Warren (Defensive Player of the Year)

29-5A

Rigoberto Mata, LB, Laredo Johnson (Newcomer of the Year; dropped to 4A in 2008)

30-5A

None

31-5A

Osvaldo Cantu, RB, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (Newcomer of the Year)

Domingo Rincon, LB, Harlingen (Newcomer of the Year)

32-5A

Edgar Martinez, LB, Los Fresnos (Defensive Player of the Year)

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 5A Top 25

Rank	Team	2007 Overall	2007 District	Top Player
1	Euless Trinity	15-1	7-0	Earnest Norman, LB
2	Plano	13-2	6-1	Rex Burkhead, RB
3	Southlake Carroll	11-2	7-0	Brayden Burnett, DE
4	Galena Park North Shore	14-1	7-0	Thaddeus Randle, DT
5	Odessa Permian	12-1	5-0	Garrett Porter, OT
6	Spring Westfield	10-3	6-0	Jacoby Walker, QB (Jr.)
7	Cypress Ridge	11-2	7-0	Russell Shepard, QB
8	Abilene	13-2	4-1	Chris Williams, LB
9	Katy	16-0	7-0	Micah Marks, DE
10	San Antonio Warren	10-2	7-1	Joseph Bonugli, S
11	Pflugerville	12-4	4-3	Alex Okafor, DE
12	Beaumont West Brook	10-2	7-0	Christine Michael, RB
13	Round Rock Stony Point	9-3	6-1	Nyk McKissic, QB
14	Allen	10-1	7-0	Steven Terrell, DB
15	Pearland	10-2	6-0	Jarrod Stewart, DB
16	San Antonio Roosevelt	5-5	4-4	Brandon Armstrong, RB (Jr.)
17	Lufkin	9-2	5-0	Jamarcus McFarland, DT
18	Converse Judson	11-5	5-3	Chris McAllister, LB
19	Cypress Falls	9-3	6-1	Kolby Gray, QB
20	Arlington Bowie	12-2	6-1	Clay Matthews, QB
21	Dallas Skyline	12-2	5-0	Corey Nelson, LB (Jr.)
22	San Antonio Southwest	11-1	6-0	Stephen Salinas, RB
23	Aldine Eisenhower	8-4	7-0	Craig Loston, DB
24	Katy Cinco Ranch	5-6	4-3	Adam Hirtz, RB (Jr.)
25	Garland Naaman Forest	9-3	5-2	Jonathan Harris, RB

New to 5A: La Joya Palmview, San Antonio Brandeis, San Antonio Johnson

4A to 5A: Cedar Park Vista Ridge, Copperas Cove, Dickinson, Katy Seven Lakes, Keller Fossil Ridge, League City Clear Springs, McKinney Boyd, New Braunfels, New Caney, Pflugerville Connally, South San Antonio.

Dave Campbell’s 5A Preseason All-State

Offense

QB – Kolby Gray, Cypress Falls

RB – Rex Burkhead, Plano

RB – Bo Snelson, Pasadena Memorial

WR – Ryan Pettis, El Paso Hanks

WR – Emory Blake, Austin High

TE – James Pearson, Haltom

OL – Garrett Porter, Odessa Permian

OL – Thomas Ashcraft, Cedar Hill

OL – Ivory Wade, Dickinson

OL – Joel Gray, Hebron