A NEW SET OF CHALLENGERS
MANVEL A STATE FAVORITE AGAIN, BUT DISTRICT COULD BE TOUGHEST HURDLE
District 20-5A
Magnolia should be able to keep its momentum, which includes consecutive 10win seasons. Wide receiver Michael Woods, an SMU verbal commitment, is arguably the district’s most exciting player, while former wideout Reese Mason moves under center. Magnolia West (13 returning starters) and Brenham (12) could make the race interesting. Two programs start new eras with former Spring coach Sam Parker now at Tomball Memorial and Kevin Flanigan now at Tomball.
District 21-5A
The rise of New Caney’s football teams made this nineteam district more interesting last season. New Caney Porter started 7-0 in veteran coach Jim Holley’s first year at the helm, beating heavy district favorite Crosby – the preseason favorite again this year — en route to its first playoff appearance, and New Caney shared the district title with Crosby, then won its first playoff game in its first postseason trip in 13 years.
District 22-5A
New Baytown Lee coach Tim Finn will try to lead the Ganders to more than two wins for the first time since 2012. Livingston will try to ride big-play receiver Christian Mitchell to the playoffs. Otherwise, Port Arthur Memorial, Port Neches-Groves and Vidor will run the show. But no team returns as much talent as Memorial with SMU commitment and quarterback Keitha Jones and Louisiana Tech pledge and running back Elijah Hines.
District 23-5A
Once again Manvel could be Houston’s best bet to lift a state title in 2017 regardless of classification. But Marshall will absolutely have a say in the matter. The Buffs narrowly missed a regional semifinal last year and return 18 starters. Elkins has only missed the playoffs once since 2009. Willowridge made the playoffs for the first time in seven years — one of the city’s best stories last year. Texas City is another team looking for a reprieve.
District 24-5A
New Madison head coach Damian Judge comes over from George Ranch, but should be in good shape as the Marlins have lost just one district game over the previous three seasons. They have their go-to player in wide receiver DeShawn Willliams. Waltrip might be the best challenger to the title, especially with a defense that returns eight starters. The most returning experience is at Austin — nine on offense and eight on defense.
District 27-5A
This far-flung district features programs from Victoria and Port Lavaca to Richmond and Rosenberg, and a Region IV playoff path, making it more of a mystery than other Houston area districts, and the district prognosis is mysterious, too. How will Angleton’s B.J. Foster, who’s verbally committed to Texas, perform in his return from a knee injury? Can Foster keep up its torrid scoring pace after sending 10 players to college? Will Lamar Consolidated ever be the same again?