George Ranch, Ridge Point and C.E. King try to take success to the next classification.
George Ranch, Ridge Point and C.E. King are among Houston-area teams moving up to the deluxe classification in the state.
Now they are looking for a piece of the Class 6A pie — but could end up with pie in the face.
All three schools did well in their 5A farewells, with George Ranch capturing the 5A Division I crown, but the speed at which teams adjust depends on circumstances, and how well they fit with the new neighbors.
“We keep the same expectations,” Ridge Point coach Brett Sniffin said. “We call ourselves a school of scholars and champions, so we want to win championships.
“The first one to win is a district championship and that’s what we’re aiming for.”
A whole different world
The Longhorns rolled up that hill. They are the area’s only program that can say they accomplished all they could at the lower level, going 16-0 en route to last year’s 5A title, including a 56-0 victory over Mansfield Lake Ridge in the final.
They were 41-3 the last three seasons combined.
“We did a great job in 5A and finished on a high note, so we’re ready for the 6A challenge,” George Ranch coach Ricky Tullos said. “Our ultimate goal is to win another state championship, and we’ll try to do it at a different classification.”
But 6A is a whole different world.
Lake Travis claimed five consecutive state championships in 4A (current 5A) from 2007 to 2011 and then lost in the first round of the 5A (current 6A) playoffs in 2012. Closer to home, Summer Creek went 22-2 combined in its last two seasons of 4A play but has not made the playoffs since.
George Ranch was the largest school in its former district, but it is the smallest in 23-6A, which includes Pearland.
“Our pre-district the last two years has been all 6A teams and we’ve had great numbers from day one, so there won’t be a whole lot of difference for us,” Tullos said. “We’re going to continue to prepare and play football the way we always have.”
Building on success
Ridge Point wasn’t as prepared to exit the 5A kitchen. It was cooking up success, with a trip to the regional semifinals in 2014 and state semifinals last year.
Now it will share the postseason stove with the likes of North Shore and Katy.
“I definitely would have liked one more shot at it, but our numbers are what they are and we’ll play where the UIL puts us,” Sniffin said.
University Interscholastic League realignment put Ridge Point in a friendlier place.
District 20-6A is all Fort Bend ISD, with eight schools roughly the same size, with enrollments ranging from 2,231 to 2,497.
Ridge Point, with 2,349 students, is the third-largest.
“These kids have competed against each other since middle school on up, so they know each other,” Sniffin said. “It’s not any different for the kids.
“It’s like playing back in seventh grade, but now they’re playing a little bit bigger.”
C.E. King hopes it isn’t burned by the bigger boys.
The Panthers’ district includes reigning 6A Division I champion North Shore, which, with an enrollment of 4,619 students, has more than King (2,1965) and fellow 5A call-up Goose Creek Memorial (2,213) combined.
Complicating matters, they are transitioning with no returning starters on offense.
“If I had last year’s team (with Texas A&M signee Trayveon Williams), I wouldn’t worry about it,” C.E. King coach Don Price said.
No excuses
The Panthers went 19-5 the last two years, earning a district title in 2014.
To keep up with that success in 6A, Price says they must continue growing the program along with the numbers.
“If you’re going to compete at that level, you’ve got to get with the Joneses facilities-wise, staffing-wise and all that,” he said. “It all comes into play. So we’re a little bit behind the eight ball … but there are no excuses. We’ll do the best we can.”
And just like “The Jeffersons” — ain’t nothing wrong with that.