Vitals:

    The Lee Ganders return one of the most experienced teams in the state, if not the most experienced.  In all, 18 starters return on offense and defense from a 7-4 team a year ago.  Despite the experience, Lee appears lower to start the season because they lack playoff experience outside of the first two rounds.   Lee’s had talented teams in the past, but have gone down before reaching the later regional phase of the post-season.  They share a playoff history very similar to another program in the Greater Houston area, Humble, and that is part of what is keeping them lower in these rankings.

    The coveted Gander QB role will fall to senior Josh Jones and/or senior Octavio Torres.  Seniors Jarvis Moore and Desarian Cartwright lead a talented ground game.  Senior Kelvin Craft and senior Michael Mahan are proven playmakers downfield.  The top returning player on defense is senior DT J.T. Cleveland (6’1 273).  Also, senior DL Anthony Gray is an all-district talent.  Senior Reggie Butler and junior Thomas Bates lead a talented secondary.

    Head coach Dick Olin has made key additions to the coaching staff this fall, most notably bringing in Jermaine Alfred and Scott Joseph.  Alfred was a top QB for the Ganders in the mid-90s, and brings experience as a player to the table.  Joseph was brought in to coordinate the defense.  Joseph has been the architect of top ranked defenses at Hightower and Westbury.  Lee's best season in recent memory came in 1997 when the Ganders went 11-2 with Ell Roberson as the QB.  Lee hasn't advanced beyond the first round since Drew Tate was on campus in 2002.  Baytown Lee is a program that’s usually been good, but not great, and it will be interesting to see if this is the group to breakthrough and take Lee to a new level.

The Bottom Line:

2007 Schedule

Strengths:

Weaknesses:

Forecast:

Overall Experience,
Very Potent Offense-
can run and pass effectively

Unproven defense adjusting
to new scheme,
Depth

Favorite in district,
Could emerge as a Region 3 contender if they put things together

Top Players: