Projected Playoff Teams:
Pearland, Brazoswood, Ball, Clear Creek

Vitals:

    
     It no doubt seems odd that a team losing 4,638 total yards and 48 touchdowns worth of production on offense would be considered any kind of favorite to start a season.  However, that’s the position Pearland finds itself in this season due in large part to the fact most of their defense returns.  The offense will not be completely void of talent or experience.  Talented junior Kasey Carrier (5’7 160) takes over for UT-bound Foswhitt Whittaker in the backfield.  Carrier averaged 8 yards per carry in varsity spot duty last year.  Junior WR Kevin Miller was the top receiver for Pearland last season.  Senior TE Kevin Davis (6’4 245) and senior OL Brian Thomas (6’4 255) lead the push up front.  Defensively, the Oilers are stacked.  Senior LB Gary Robertson and senior DB Nick Saenz highlight Pearland’s strength on this side of the ball.  Senior DE Bernard Obi anchors the line.  Junior DB Jarrad Stewart is another one of the talented young crop that contributed as a sophomore.  Despite heavy losses to graduation, the cupboard is obviously far from bare at Pearland.

    The Brazoswood Bucs were one of the state’s pleasant surprises last season when they reeled off an 11-2 record overall.  It was the program’s best season since the 70s.  The Lake Jackson community showed out in force to support the Bucs last season, and it would appear Coach Dean DeAtley has things going in the right direction.  All-district senior RB Yobes Walker (6’0 195) spearheads the attack on offense once again.  Walker is a classic I-style back who can be a real workhorse for his team.  Junior all-purpose talent Kendel Brown (5’10 160) is also back.  Brown has very good speed and quickness.  Senior WR-DB Ryan Austin is another talented two-way player for the Bucs.  Senior OL Jon Arthur returns up front to help pave the way for Walker.  Senior LB Andrew Leeuwen is the best returning player on defense.  It looks like the Bucs definitely return the pieces to build on last season’s success, and we’ll find out a little bit more about where this program is going based on what they do this time around.

    Galveston Ball, like Pearland and Brazoswood, also has a nice core of experience to build around this season.  Senior DB Mike Littleton is one of the most gifted DBs in the state.  Senior RB Eddie Brown led the team in rushing last season, and provides stability in the backfield.  Also, all-purpose senior (WR-DB-RB) Kevin Matthews returns.  Along with Littleton, senior DE Milton Sampson is a leader on defense.  Sampson earned 1^st team all-district honors last season.  Senior DT Terrell Nichols (6’3 270) adds size and experience up front.  The Tors should definitely earn one of the four playoff spots. 

    Clear Creek should also be in the playoff mix again despite not returning as much as the top three teams in the district.  Talented senior QB Neal Warden does return.  Warden is a three-year starter at QB.  Senior DL Paul Vaughn is the best returning player on defense. 

    Clear Lake and Clear Brook finished a game out of the playoff race last season, and could play a spoiler role this time around if they can improve on last year’s mark.  Senior fullback Michael Grant is Clear Lake’s top returning player.  Clear Brook’s senior OLB Julio Sanchez is a favorite to earn post-season honors again this season.  Sanchez was a first team all-district selection in 2006.  Alvin will be hard pressed to turn the tide from their last place finish a year ago without much in the way of returning experience.  However, now that four teams go to the playoffs, it’s not wise to completely write off any teams chances in the smaller six and seven team districts.  Pearland, Brazoswood and Galveston Ball look like definite playoff teams and the fourth spot is less clear.  Brook, Lake and Creek appear primed to fight that one out.