Projected Playoff Teams:
Leander, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Westwood

Vitals:

    
      Recently, District 14-5A has been one of the best overall districts in the state, top-to-bottom.  Even last season’s last place team, Stony Point, came within a touchdown of beating 5 different playoff teams. 

     Leander is once again the favorite to come out on top in 14-5A.  Steve Gideon’s Lions only return 16 lettermen, but 6 were named to last season’s All-District team and three others played key roles last season and are virtual locks to be All-District this year.  The biggest question mark for Leander is at quarterback, where they have to replace Josh McKinley.  Eric Massoni is most likely to take over at QB and judging by the Lions history of producing quality QB’s, he’s probably going to do just fine.  RB Reggie Hodges and WR LaFon Clark are talented and proven weapons for the Lions’ offensive attack and there’s a good chance All-State DB Blake Gideon will also see some time on offense.  Defensively, Leander returns All-District players at each position as well as uber-talented DB Deon McKinney.

     Cedar Park also has a great chance to compete for the district title.  The Timberwolves have quietly been one of the best teams in Central Texas in the past few years and another district title would go a long way to establishing themselves as a legitimate power.  Cedar Park’s most important returning starter is QB Michael Cochran who is back from a season-ending injury that occurred in Week 5.  Before he went down, Cochran was having a great year and there’s no telling how far the T-Wolves could have gone with him in the lineup.  With 4 All-District defenders returning and a wealth of young talent coming up, Cedar Park has the look of a very dangerous team.

     Pflugerville, aka Dillon High, is usually always in the mix, but last year, the Panthers struggled to a 3-7 record with a very young lineup.  The Panthers return 30 lettermen including a stable of awesome backs.  Marcus Carruth, Greg Nwoko, and Zavier Gooden all showed great ability to run the ball last fall and all three are back.  QB Brandon Wilson also returns, giving Pflugerville a potentially deadly offense.  Pflugerville’s biggest challenge will be improving on defense.  Last year, the Panthers gave up over 28 ppg.

     Following a 2-8 2005 season, Westwood came out of nowhere and rolled to a 9-3 record.  Anthony Wood’s Warriors return 29 lettermen and 3 All-District players.  Jr. QB Tyler Grabarkewitz will take over Westwood’s high-flying offense after playing well in spot duty as a sophomore.  All-District WR Phillip Roush and All-District OL Trevor Marrongelli are also back.  Like Pflugerville, Westwood needs to get better defensively to ensure a playoff spot.  Jr. LB Chase Griesbach returns as the Warriors’ top defender.

     Georgetown and Round Rock McNeil are also capable of making the playoffs, but both teams will be very inexperienced.  Georgetown returns All-District QB Morgan Mickham, DB Maina Musa, and DB Rees Crosby, but doesn’t return any running backs and will be very green on the defensive front seven.

     McNeil returns QB Jake Fenske, who is capable of being the best in the district, and DB Aaron Williams, who is the best in the district.  The Mavs strength is with Williams, Will Kelly and Keyth Talley in the secondary.  Offensively McNeil will have to, almost entirely, rely on former JV players as only 5 lettermen return.

     The last two spots in the district may be occupied by Round Rock and Stony Point, but these aren’t your typical ‘bottom of the district’ teams.  In fact, either or both could make the playoffs.  Round Rock returns 21 lettermen from their 9-4 “Shock the World” tour including star RB Marcus Jackson.  The Dragons will be extremely hard-pressed to replace Jimmie Anderson, James Kirkendoll, and Brent Hotard and since they were just 4-3 in the district with those guys, it’s hard to see how they’ll be any better.

    Stony Point was, without a doubt, the best last place team in the state last year and they could’ve been 7-3 just as easily as they ended up 3-7.  The Tigers have gotten better every year under Craig Chessher even if the record hasn’t reflected that.  RB Ryan Nunn and DL Felix Odigibor are Stony Point’s top returnees.  Expect Stony Point to be in every game they play and don’t be surprised if they throw a huge wrench in the district race.