Projected Playoff Teams:
Longview, Mesquite, Tyler Lee, North Mesquite

Vitals:

    
     Many fans around the state and in Longview especially, wondered how the Lobos would fare in 2006 after graduating most of their key players from their immensely talented, but underachieving 2005 squad.  With a young and largely unproven squad, all Longview did was run the table in one of the toughest districts in the state and nearly upset a tremendous Garland team in the second round of the playoffs. 

    Longview returns 50 lettermen, 3 All-District players and at least 9 players with starting experience.  The Lobo offense will be lead by a trio of talented backs.  FB Mark Johnson will probably carry most of the load, but Johnny Garrett and Jonathan Oliver will get plenty of carries as well.  The Lobo defense should be very strong with the return of 5 players with starting experience.  Former RB Jazmon Moon made the transition to LB in the spring and showed some promise.  This district is always a dogfight, but Longview certainly has the tools to come out on top once again.

     The Mesquite Skeeters enter the year ranked right behind Longview in the Preseason Top 25 and have a great chance at winning the district.  Like Longview, Mesquite was very young last year, but still put together a very nice season.  The Skeeters hope to keep star QB Kelly Page healthy long enough to see just how good they are.  Last fall, Mesquite nearly beat both Longview and Lee without Page, so it will be very interesting to see how they do if/when they have him for their key district battles.  Mesquite is loaded with talent and great coaching and if they can develop some consistency in both personnel and play, they will be extremely tough to beat.

     Normally, one would think that the #10 and #11 ranked teams in the state would finish no worse than second in their own district, but this district is far from normal.  Tyler Lee happens to have enough talent to upend both Longview and Mesquite in their quest for the district crown.  The Red Raiders will feature what should be the best offensive line in the state; 4 All-District linemen return thanks, in part, to Ralston Dews’ transfer from North Shore.  Also returning for Lee are two very dangerous backs, Jamal Mitchell and Jaszman Mitchell.  As talented as they are, Lee is picked third because they lost considerably more to graduation than Mesquite or Longview and both teams gave the Red Raiders fits last year.

    The district’s final playoff spot is going to come down to John Tyler and North Mesquite.  This is a tough one to call because both teams are capable of beating anyone in the district, but we’re going to go with North Mesquite based on their returning players.  The Stallions return 40 lettermen and 3 All-District players, which includes two of their top returning rushers and one of the best receiving tandems in the state; LaNear Sampson and Daymond Patterson.  Granted, NMHS has to play better defense to be a serious contender, but they have the talent and experience to improve.

     Yet another illustration of this district’s strength is the fact that a team like John Tyler could actually finish 5^th.  It’s nearly incomprehensible, but considering Cujo’s key personnel losses and the other teams’ stockpile of proven talent, it’s hard to rank TJT much higher.  RB Romonte Hampton, OL/DL Adren Dorsey, and LB Derrick Choice will certainly have their say in the matter, and the Lions do have plenty of talent in the program, so it wouldn’t surprise anyone no matter how high they finish in the district race.

    You’ve got to feel for Mesquite Horn.  Of all the districts to be aligned to, they had to draw this one.  Though they did come close to beating Tyler Lee last year and they are capable of pulling off an upset along the way, it will be very tough for them to get into the playoff hunt.