MaxPreps 2012 Texas high school football playoff previews

It's getting down to the best of the best in Texas, and MaxPreps breaks down some of the must-see playoff brackets in the Lone Star State. Be sure to visit our MaxPreps Texas football playoff brackets.

Texas 5A-I State Championships

Bracket: link

Top Seed: Coppell (10-0). The Cowboys defense has given up an average of 8.2 points a game and allows only 210 yards a game. Playing with a heavy heart after the tragic loss of Jacob Logan, the Cowboys are looking more and more focused than ever.

Our Pick: Allen (9-1). History hasn't been kind to the Eagles in terms of recent playoff history, but the Eagles are the most battle-tested team in the state at the 5A level, playing eight great teams including Coppell and Southlake Carroll.

Next in line: North Shore (Houston) (9-1). Quarterback Micah Thomas and the Mustangs went through a challenging test against La Porte and Deer Park in the final two weeks of the season and have wins against Port Arthur Memorial and Alvin Manvel.

Sleeper: The Woodlands (7-3). The Highlanders faced one of the more challenging schedules in the state which included Dallas Skyline, Katy, Lufkin and A&M Consolidated. If the Highlanders can get past middle rounds, which could include Allen and a potential rematch with Allen, the chances of title game appearance look very bright.

Defending champion: Carroll (Southlake) (9-1). The Dragons appear to be in the hunt for a another run at the state championship, but the target is rather large and the road back to that goal is filled with a mass of challenges ahead.

Comment: There is no shortage of powerhouse programs and state championship-quality teams in the 5A-I championship bracket. It is probably the nation's deepest and most-loaded playoff bracket and could have plenty of surprises in store.

Texas 5A-II State Championships

Bracket: link

Top Seed: Steele (Cibolo) (10-0). The Knights, outside of the Lake Travis Cavaliers, have been perhaps the state's most consistent team over the last few years. Led defensively by Texas-bound defensive back Erik Huhn and Oklahoma State-bound defensive back Jordan Sterns, the Knights look to continue and maintain their stay at the top.

Our Pick: Katy (10-0). The Tigers have everything that is needed be a state championship squad: a dangerous offense, sharp defense and a championship-caliber coaching staff. Getting through its own region will be a challenge, but if it does, the big prize could be Katy's for the taking.

Next in line: Lake Travis (Austin) (9-1). The Cavaliers look to add to their record five straight state titles with a sixth-straight. Experience in big games and in a must-win atmosphere gives coach Hank Carter's squad a very big edge.

Sleeper: Cooper (Abilene) (8-2). Led by quarterback Lorenzo Joe and defensive back Fred Lawrence, the Cougars come in with a resume of games that featured Wichita Falls Rider, Cedar Park and Abilene. Narrow losses to Abilene and Midland Lee could be the motivation the Cougars need as they make their way into the postseason.

Defending champion: Dekaney (Houston) (6-3). The Wildcats are minus star rusher Trey Williams, who is now at Texas A&M, and play Lufkin in the first round. Providing they advance, the Wildcats would draw the winner of Pflugerville vs. Lake Travis.

Comment: Much like their 5A-I counterparts, there are plenty of teams in the 5A-II bracket that could waltz in and take the title by storm. It is one of the top brackets in the country. The story of the bracket could be told through the Region III portion.

Texas 4A-I State Championships

Bracket: link

Top Seed: Dawson (Pearland) (10-0). The Eagles enter the postseason undefeated and have running back James White, who is looking to add on to his 1,697 rushing yards with a state championship trophy.

Our Pick: Leander (9-1). The Lions' drop from 5A to 4A this season has been a very big benefit. The defense has allowed just 7.1 points per game. Its only blemish on the schedule is a 14-10 loss to Cedar Park in September.

Next in line: Tyler (9-1). Tyler comes into the postseason with a hard-fought win against Whitehouse and should be favored to win through the state semifinals, should it get that far. Quarterback Greg Ward has thrown for 2,468 yards and 29 touchdown this season.

Sleeper: Sherman (8-2). The Bearcats have been a very dangerous offensive team in 2012 with quarterback Dru Smith leading the way. Smith has thrown for 3,426 yards and 35 touchdowns. Mid-to-late round battles with Frisco Centennial and a rematch with Highland Park loom large for their chances.

Defending champion: Lake Travis (Austin) (9-1). The Cavaliers are now playing as a Class 5A member and are placed in the 5A-II bracket.

Comment: With Lake Travis now in Class 5A, the door has been swung wide open. But that door will have plenty of teams looking to slam it shut in the title game. There are at least five teams that could be a shoo-in for a title, which makes for a very entertaining playoff season.

Texas 4A-II State Championships

Bracket: link

Top Seed: Cedar Park (8-2). The offseason coaching change has done very little to slow down the Timberwolves and with Leander Rouse in the playoffs, Cedar Park finds itself in the 4A-II bracket.

Our Pick: Cedar Park. The Timberwolves have had their challenges in a district that many would call the SEC of Texas high school football. All four of their non-district contests were against Class 5A playoff teams.

Next in line: Whitehouse (9-1). The Wildcats is led by junior quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has thrown for 3,061 yards and 37 touchdowns this season. Mahomes is the son of former Major League pitcher Pat Mahomes, who played with the Minnesota Twins, New York Mets and four other teams over a span of 11 seasons.

Sleeper: Frenship (Wolfforth) (9-1). The Tigers' potential road through Region I may seem like a breeze, but shall they get to the regional final, a potential date with Under Armour All-American wide receiver Robbie Rhodes and Fort Worth Southwest could be a date with destiny. Once in the late rounds, anything is possible.

Defending champion: Aledo (9-1). The Bearcats, minus record-breaking rusher Johnathan Gray, are playing in the 4A-I bracket and plays their first-round game against Cleburne.

Comment: Although it appears to be Cedar Park's title to lose, across the board, the 4A-II bracket appears to be among the more enticing and appealing brackets in the state. There is no shortage of teams that have a proven resume in any of the four regions. The question is whether or not the favorites will be standing at the end.

Texas 3A-I State Championships

Bracket: link.

Top Seed: Stephenville (8-1). The Yellow Jackets have been penciled in as the 3A-I state champion since February, when the 2012-14 district realignment was unveiled. Strangely, despite being the favorite, some could suggest the road may have been easier for the Yellow Jackets in the 4A-II bracket this season.

Our Pick: Carthage (8-2). The Bulldogs, much like Stephenville, have seen their challenges through the season, which is highlighted by a narrow two-point loss to 4A Whitehouse on Sept.28. Junior quarterback Blake Bogenshutz has thrown for 2,136 yards and 30 touchdowns on the season. Sophomore Brian Bolton has six interceptions for the Bulldog defense.

Next in line: El Campo (10-0). The Ricebirds are a heavy favorite to get through the Region IV portion of the bracket. Once in the deep rounds, El Campo could find itself in prime position for a state title opportunity.

Sleeper: Gainesville (10-0). The Leopards are probably the quietest 10-0 team in the state. Providing they continue their run, they will be considerable underdogs once they face teams like Kilgore, Stephenville and Abilene Wylie. Once in the late rounds, anything is possible.

Defending champion: Chapel Hill (Tyler) (3-7). The Bulldogs failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing with a 2-4 record in what many call the "District of Doom."

Comment: In layman's terms, the 3A-I title is Stephenville's title to lose, but they will get some company at the top very quickly with Abilene Wylie, Kilgore, El Campo and Carthage as potential opponents in the future. It will be very surprising if a favorite or heavyweight is not crowned as a state champion in mid-December.

Texas 3A-II State Championships

Bracket: link

Top Seed: La Marque (9-1). Much like Stephenville, the ink has been wet since February for the Cougars in terms of a state championship appearance when they were formally announced as a 3A member for the next two seasons. Rest assured, the challenges for Mike Jackson's squad is in the rearview mirror.

Our Pick: West Orange-Stark (Orange) (9-0). The Mustangs' defense has been lights-out during the season with seven shutouts in 10 regular-season games. A future date with La Marque, Navasota or Coldspring-Oakhurst is a very possible outlook. Get past one of those three, then the view is much clearer for West Orange-Stark.

Next in line: Navasota (10-0). The Rattlers are on a roll with a perfect record, but they are in 3A-II's most loaded and competitive region. Getting past La Marque and West Orange-Stark will be a challenge but it is nothing new to the Rattlers. Navasota has faced and dismantled six very solid playoff teams in three different classes this season.

Sleeper: Celina (8-2). With the weight and attention squarely on what is going down in the Region III portion of the 3A-II bracket, the Celina Bobcats suddenly could see themselves as a very big sleeper in the state title picture. Led by Texas-bound lineman Jake Raulerson and sophomore quarterback Nathan Elliott, the Bobcats are in prime position to seize the moment.

Defending champion: Wimberley (6-3). The Texans open the playoffs with a contest on the road against La Vernia in the Region IV bracket.

Comment: The bulk of the title contenders reside in Region III, which means the chances of a team from the other regions to come in for the steal is pretty high depending on which teams advance that deep. Keeping an eye on how much the Region III teams beat each other up will be a focus of the postseason.

Texas 2A-I State Championships

Bracket: link

Top Seed: Cameron Yoe (Cameron) (10-0). The Yoemen have been building from the ground up the past couple seasons and it has resulted in a perfect 10-0 record in 2012. Led by quarterback Jason Kopriva, the Yoemen are averaging 38.3 points a game this season.

Our Pick: New Boston (10-0). The Lions of New Boston have been a tough train to stop with Damien Haskins in the backfield. Haskins has collected a mind-blowing 2,700 yards with 46 touchdowns.

Next in line: Hallettsville (10-0). The Brahmas will most likely have to go through Cameron Yoe to get to the state semifinals and state championship game. Hallettsville took out last season's state finalist Hempstead in the regular season finale by a 22-19 score.

Sleeper: Newton (10-0). Hard to see a 10-0 team as a sleeper, but given that there are six teams in the 2A-I bracket with perfect records, the Eagles find themselves in that role. Averaging 52.3 points a game is a rather eye-popping stat to observe. If the Eagles continue that trend, they very well may end up in Cowboys Stadium just days shy of Christmas.

Defending champion: Melissa (8-2). Melissa has moved up to Class 3A and will face Wilmer-Hutchins in the first round of the 3A-II bracket.

Comment: The 2A-I bracket with six undefeated teams and five more with just one loss could be a very good treat to watch. Region II with New Boston, Pottsboro, Callisburg, Daingerfield, Tatum and Godley holds the key to a potential state title appearance.

Texas 2A-II State Championships

Bracket: link

Top Seed: Refugio (10-0). Probably the most controversial and most talked-about undefeated team in the state outside of the 5A level, the Refugio Bobcats are at it again with high scores and stellar defense. This year, the Bobcats may be better but they will be in for a big challenge as the postseason grows longer.

Our Pick: East Bernard (10-0). The Brahmas of East Bernard, led by TCU commit Ty Slanina and junior Grant Aschenbeck, should be the one opponent in the lower half of the 2A-II bracket that gives Refugio a run for its money. The Brahmas took out last year's 2A-I state finalist Hempstead 44-8 in September and have outscored opponents by an average of nearly 40 points a game.

Next in line: Centerville (10-0). Much like Easternard and Refugio, the Centerville Tigers have been dominating on both sides of the ball. The Tigers will likely have a third-round date with undefeated Hughes Springs. The question is whether or not the Tigers can pull off the major surprise against Eats Bernard or Refugio in the state semifinals, providing they get that far.

Sleeper: Nocona (10-0). The Tigers have been a pleasant surprise in the 2A-II scene this season, exceeding the expectations of many prognosticators. Led by senior running back Tate Fenoglio, who has 1,757 yards and 17 touchdowns to his credit, Tigers could be a team to watch late in the playoffs.

Defending Champion: Refugio (10-0). The Bobcats are led by junior quarterback Travis Quintanilla and open the playoffs next week against the winner of Rogers (8-2) vs. Hitchcock (7-3).

Comment: For all intensive purposes, the eyeball test would lead many to think that the 2A-II bracket is Refugio's bracket to lose. While that may be true, the Bobcats could be facing a number of challenges this season as the higher quality opponents could have a better grasp of how to play them.

Texas 1A-I State Championships

Bracket: link

Top Seed: Mason (10-0). The Mason Punchers are looking to repeat as the state champion and an undefeated 10-0 record is a step in the right direction.

Our Pick: Mason. The Punchers are averaging nearly 50 points a game and have held opponents to single digits five times this season.

Next in line: Mart (8-2). The only blemishes on the schedule for the Panthers are against playoff teams in Dallas St Mark's and Rogers. A deep run in Region III is expected of Rusty Nail's squad. Of Mart's eight wins, six are against playoff teams.

Sleeper: Stratford (9-1). The Elks could be team to watch, providing they can get past the test of the Anson/Windthorst winner as well as last year's state finalist Stamford and Seymour in its own region.

Defending Champion: Mason (10-0). The Punchers open up their playoff road against the winner of the Three Rivers vs. Santa Maria contest next week.

Comment: The 1A-I state championship comes down to Mason's performance late in the playoffs, but the more interesting side of the bracket could be the Region I portion, with the main bulk of Class 1A's legendary programs.

Texas 1A-II State Championships

Bracket: link

Top Seed: Munday (10-0). The Munday Moguls are looking to return to the state championship game with a different result from last season against Tenaha. The Moguls are led by quarterback and SMU commit Dee Paul.

Our Pick: Munday. The Moguls have been unstoppable this season with an average score of 58.3 to 8.5. The defense has pitched a total of four shutouts and has wins over playoff teams such as Windthorst, Stamford, Albany and Holliday in non-district play.

Next in line: Wellington (10-0). Led by junior quarterback Klark Ashmore, who has thrown for 1,720 yards and 25 touchdowns on the 2012 season, the Skyrockets could be the team that presents the Munday Moguls with the greatest challenge in the later rounds.

Sleeper: D'Hanis (10-0). The Cowboys come into the playoffs with an average of nearly 39 points a game offensively and should be the favorite to come out of Region IV. A very weak Region III could also give the Cowboys a golden opportunity to seize the spotlight.

Defending champion: Tenaha (6-4). The Tigers open the playoff season next week against the winner of the Overton vs. Wortham contest.

Comment: The Moguls are the overwhelming favorite to take the state title, but the bulk of the action may not begin until the second round when the district champions all get their first chances at playoff intensity. Keeping an eye on the Region IV district champions will be the key to the playoffs in 1A-II from a non-Munday perspective.