District A-4 season preview

Coaches’ poll

1. Ringling (9-2)

2. Dibble (8-4)

3. Apache (9-3)

4. Walters (3-7)

(tie) Healdton (8-3)

6. Rush Springs (5-6)

7. Elmore City-Pernell (2-8)

8. Velma Alma (0-10) *-Last year’s records in parentheses. District Favorite: Ringling

Phil Koons takes over at Ringling after the Blue Devils went 9-2 last season. This is Koons' third school since resigning from Tuttle in 2014 where he had coached for 21 seasons, winning two state championships.

Returning stars

*Kyle Foster, QB, Rush Springs: A nifty playmaker for Rush Springs who uses his legs to buy time for his receivers to get open down field. Coach Tim Beard thinks Foster is one of the more underrated quarterbacks in Class A.

*Landon McCracken, QB,

Apache: McCracken leads a powerful offense with nine returning starters for Apache. Last season he threw for more than 2,500 yards and 29 touchdowns.

*Coty Scott, TE/DE, Healdton: A huge target at 6-foot-6 and 235 pounds, the junior is a focal point of the Bulldog's passing game and a towering presence on the defensive line. Big Question: Could coaching changes at other schools open the door for Apache?

Apache returns a majority of its starters from last season and looks poised to have a big year offensively behind quarterback Landon McCracken. Can they capitalize while district favorites Ringling and Dibble adjust to new coaches and new systems?