Projected Playoff Teams:
Montwood, Coronado, Franklin, Americas

Vitals:

    
     Although the 2006 1-5A champions, EP Coronado, weren’t able to duplicate the playoff success of the ’05 Franklin team, the district still provided a competitive and intriguing district race.  Ultimately, the district was decided by a thrilling late October contest between Coronado and Montwood, which Coronado would go on to win by a score of 40-38.  Montwood and Coronado finished with 7-1 district records and three teams (Americas, Hanks, and Franklin) finished with identical 5-3 records.   As competitive as the district was last year, this year’s race could be even tighter with Socorro, El Dorado, and Bel Air all returning quite a bit from young teams last fall.

    The Montwood Rams enter 2007 as the favorites to take the 1-5A crown.  Led by returning First Team All-District RB Josh Flores (5’10 185) and All-District wideouts, Jason Donaldson and Julio Lopez, the Rams look to have a very potent offense.  If David Reza turns out to be the dual-threat some expect him to be, the Ram offense could be nearly unstoppable.  Although they’ll have to replace most of their defense, they shouldn’t see too much of a drop off since they’ll be brining in players from a dominant JV squad.

     Montwood’s main competition should come from either the defending district champs, Coronado, or from traditional power EP Franklin.  Coronado returns two of the district’s best receivers in Mauricio Cheda (6’5 195) and Coleman Gibbs and they also have one of the best backfields with two-time All-District FB/LB Diego Davila and RB Will Williams.  The T-birds will have to rebuild their O-line and they’ll need Adam Furman to step up as the new QB, but if they can do that, they could very well repeat as district champs.

     Last fall, the Franklin Cougars missed the playoffs for the second time in the school’s 12 year football history.  If they’re to get back to their winning ways, they’ll have to do it with a new coaching staff led by former Chapin Head Coach, Daren Walker.  The defense should be outstanding once again, but the offense will have to improve greatly if Franklin is to compete.  QB Billy Hayes returns to lead the Franklin offense after showing some promise down the stretch.

     The battle for the fourth and final playoff spot in 1-5A could be among the most heated in the entire state.  Americas has 7 defensive starters back from last year’s 6-5 squad; El Dorado returns just about everyone; Bel Air returns more All-District players than any other team; and Socorro returns most of their O-line and defensive front seven.  Even Hanks, although they lost all of their key contributors, could be in the mix after finishing 6-5 last year.  It’s hard to pick a favorite to come out of that group, but Americas looks like the safest pick.  Socorro and El Dorado have the potential to really throw a wrench in things and pull off an upset or two along the way.