Projected Playoff Teams:
Carroll, Grapevine, Heritage, Northwest

Vitals:

    
     Due to Southlake Carroll’s incredible dominance, the rest of District 5-5A often gets overlooked.  For example, most people probably didn’t even notice that Colleyville Heritage went four rounds deep in the playoffs.  Most people probably also missed the fact that Grapevine was seconds away from beating DeSoto, who also went four rounds deep themselves.  That being said, while the top three in the district are very strong, the rest of the teams have a long way to go before they are a real threat outside of the district.

    Obviously, Southlake Carroll is the favorite to win district.  Not only are the Dragons are 50-0 in 5A regular season games, but they also return the most overall lettermen, the most starters, and the most returning All-District players of any team in the district.  Carroll will be inexperienced on defense, but their offense should be nothing short of outstanding.  The Dragons return 8 full-time offensive starters including QB Riley Dodge, RB Tre’ Newton, and WR Blake Cantu who form the most dangerous offensive trio in the state.  Even with a brand new coaching staff, Carroll shouldn’t have much trouble rolling through district play.

    The real question in this district race is who will finish second?  Colleyville Heritage rode an explosive offense all the way to the state quarterfinals a year ago, but the vast majority of their key players won’t return this fall.  Grapevine, who narrowly lost to Colleyville Heritage in the final week of the season, returns most of their key players.  Because of that, the Mustangs are our pick to take second place behind Carroll. 

    Grapevine will be lead by QB Matt Harbin, RB Kale Gelles, and FB/LB Logan Mullins.  WR’s Bryan Houk and Ethan Davis also return to give Harbin a couple of quality, experienced downfield targets.  The same could be said for nearly every team in the district, but Grapevine must improve defensively in order to advance in the postseason; last season the Mustangs gave up 30 ppg.

    Colleyville Heritage also has a great chance to compete for the runner-up spot in 5-5A.  Although they lost their top three offensive performers (Russell, Johnson, Walker), they do return three receivers with at least two TD’s, their top two DB’s in Eddie Foster and Taylor Hightower, and they also return Jr. RB Bryan Head, who had a strong sophomore season.  QB Tyler Little could be the next in the line of outstanding Panther QB’s.

    Beyond the top three, the district picture is less clear.  Of the remaining teams, the Justin Northwest Texans look to be the best bet to claim the final playoff spot.  The Texans return two first team All-District players in RB Drew Ashley and CB Ricky Broxton and they’ve proven to be pretty consistent over the past few years.

    Richland and FW Haltom are two teams to keep an eye on.  Richland returns 4 All-District players and 28 lettermen including star LB Victor Jones.  However, the Rebels didn’t come within 17 points of any of the district’s 2006 playoff teams.  Haltom may be the real darkhorse and will be lead by one of the district’s top returning performers, RB Lance Dunbar.  Dunbar accounted for nearly 1,800 yards of total offense as a Junior and could be the difference between Haltom making the playoffs or missing out for the seventh year in a row.

    Keller and Keller Central have the most work to do of any of the teams in the district.  Both will be fielding very young and unproven squads and will need significant contributions from their sub-varsity teams.