Editor’s Note: This is the fourth of a five-part series that will preview the area’s district races for the upcoming high school football season. Rankings are based on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine’s pre-season forecast. In Wednesday’s Daily Progress look for a report on the Brook Hill Guard, along with the rest of the TAPPS Division III, District 2 teams.
By Jay Neal
sports@jacksonvilleprogress.com
ALTO — Not that there was anything wrong with 2008’s 8-4 (5-1 in district) edition of the Mean Sting; however, bigger and better things are predicted from this group of Alto gridiron charges.
With most all the starters back from a year ago, 14 to be exact, including junior quarterback Javonte Jones, there is good reason to foresee Alto — a Division I quarterfinalist last season — and Cayuga — a Division I state finalist — fighting for the top spot in the league standings once again.
Jones scored 10 touchdowns last year and along with running back Datrin Moore, Yellowjacket backers should be on their feet cheering a great deal when autumn rolls around.
Head coach Keith Gardner’s returnees not only include the entire offensive line, but a couple of linebackers capable of making big hits — Malcio Houston and Rhett Gresham.
Cayuga Wildcats
Cayuga is home of the Traylon Shead show. Shead, a 6-foot-3, 210 pounder is a can’t-miss Division I prospect at running back and may even wind up as the top all-time rusher in Texas before his days at Cayuga are done.
The Wildcats also have a pretty nifty wide receiver, Malcome Kennedy (47 catches for 763 yards last year), who along with wide receiver Caleb Summerville should make for some sleepless nights for defensive coordinators who have the unpleasant task of having to develop a scheme to slow the potent Wildcat offense down.
Grapeland Sandies
The Sandies are coming off a 9-3 campaign in which they made it as far as the Division I area final.
Twelve starters, plus some members of a junior varsity group that went 7-1, should have Grapeland still playing come December once again.
Ta’Coyus Walker is the big man in Grapeland. He hauled in 54 catches for just over 900 yards in 2008, while scoring 10 times as a wide receiver. He is a two-way starter (defensive back).
Overton Mustangs
Nineteen starters return for Overton, a team that went 4-6, 2-4 inside the loop, in 2008. Telvin Darden moves over to receiver from the quarterback slot — Peyton Crawford should get the nod under center for head coach Ty Robinson’s Ponies.
Defensively Overton should be able to get the job done with the likes of Scott Osborn (103 tackles last year) around, along with John Michael Flory who had over 100 stops as well.
Price Carlisle Indians
With only seven players back off a 22-man roster from a year ago, it could be a long year for the Tribe (6-4, 3-3).
The Carlisle junior varsity team went 8-2 last year, so help may be close by, although short on varsity experience in this very brutal district.
Tailback Erik Hernandez is the offensive playmaker, having picked up 467 yards rushing last year and scoring five touchdowns.
Cushing Wildcats
The old crystal ball says the ‘Cats should exceed last year’s 2-7 mark due to the return of eight starters on defense, but are still a ways away from being a playoff contender.
Kelon Fitzgerald carries the offense from his running back spot, having gained 450 yards on 65 totes in ‘08.
Defensively, Hunter Kessinger (defensive back) anchors things for Cushing.
Malakoff Cross Roads Bobcats
Cross Roads (1-9,0-6) has tasted victory just seven times in the past four years and that trend is not expected to drastically improve in 2009.
The good news is, 20 lettermen are back, including 14 starters, for head coach Chancz Johnson. Players of note are defensive back Andrew Giles (40 tackles, five sacks) and Craig Ramsey who brought down nearly 80 opponents last season.
