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So, you've read about our favorites and checked out projected playoff brackets (Div I, Div II)...now we tell you about teams that won less than seven games, but have the firepower to improve this year and potentially be surprise successes. * In alphabetical order (2005 record in parentheses) Clear Creek (3-7)...the Wildcats barely made the playoffs, but gained valuable experience in playing two playoff games after a bi-district win over Deer Park. Creek has some very talented skill players. Junior QB Neal Warden is one of the rising talents in Region 3. Receivers Jeremy Brooks and Taylor Echols should form a dangerous perimeter threat as Creek looks to put up a better record. DeSoto (6-4)...Talent is never a problem in this program. The Eagles ride the talented backfield duo of Adrian Abner and Cyrus Gray this season. Senior LB Von Miller is a very good player. DeSoto lost by three against Plano in bi-district last season. This program has talent that must be respected. Fort Bend Dulles (4-5)...Cotton Turner is one of the best players in the Houston area that many probably don't know about. The Vikings should definitely be in the mix for a playoff spot, and possibly contend for district when all is said and done. Garland Sachse (6-4)...Sachse fizzled out in district after warming up in non-district with a solid record. The Mustangs are led by two proven talents in junior RB Brandon Mondy and senior LB Korey Williams. Houston Stratford (4-6)...QB Andrew Luck is one of the top junior prospects in the state, and could lift the Spartans to the playoffs this year, if they build off of a solid effort last year. Senior RB Brandon Carlin flanks Luck and senior LB Jake Huggins leads the defense. Katy Cinco Ranch (4-5)...the Cougars were the second best team in 19-5A by the end of the regular season, and will look to get back into the playoffs in 2006. Senior QB JJ McDermott takes over full-time and senior RB Garrett Forward adds balance. The defense should be solid now that the Cougars enter the second season under a new scheme that worked pretty well last year. Midland Lee (4-6)...The Rebels finished 2005 with a losing record for just the third time in 20 seasons. Lee will try and get back to winning football this season. Talented junior RB Jasper McKee will play a big role in putting Lee in a position to contend in district along with fellow junior Kyle Logsdon (DB). Seniors Gabe Garcia (LB) and Cody Rogers (DB) add more experience. Odessa Permian (5-5)...the Panthers finished two games out of the playoffs last year, but could put up a winning record and get that playoff feeling back in year two under head coach Darren Allman and staff. Senior Bront Bird (WR), senior Robert Murray (DB) and junior DB Andrew Amoyah are three of the top Permian players in 2006. PA Memorial (2-5)...if the Titans buy into new head coach Ronnie Thompson's principles, this is a very talented team who could really improve on their mark from last year if they commit to playing team football. More than enough experience returns for this team to improve greatly if they play together. Round Rock Stony Point (3-7)...Coach Craig Chessher is gradually building this program to respectability. Stony Point showed well in district, and only finished a game out of the playoff race with a 3-4 mark. A good core of returning experience is back this year in the form of RB Cameron Bell, WR Trey Cox and DB Trevin Wade. SA Churchill (4-5)...we've yet to see what the Chargers can do with a healthy Fanuzzi for an entire season, but this could be the year. Churchill proved they could hang with some of the best in their 14-10 win over Smithson Valley last year. SA Marshall (6-4)...the Rams return a lot of experienced players, and are a definite threat to crash the party at the top of this district after finishing fourth last year. Senior QB Jon Escamilla and senior RB Tyrone Wells lead the offense. Marshall returns strong senior experience overall. Tyler Lee (4-6)...Lee had its first losing season since 1996 last year after injuries, a prime time TV game gone bad and the ominous defending state champion target shook up the program. However, Lee now reloads with a talented team, and don't be surprised to see them come out swinging in 2006.
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