Houston's Top 25 -- No. 23 Fort Bend Travis

Talk about making a statement. In 2008, that is exactly what the Travis Tigers did in their first year of varsity football.

Leading the impactful start was Travis coach of Randy Cunningham who knows a thing or two about coaching high school football. Cunningham has been around for 28 years and has called Travis home for the past three seasons, building the program from the ground floor.

The school is so new that an alumni base does not yet exist. This past May, Travis graduated its first class with the Seniors of 2009.

Based on the results on the football field in 2008, good times are ahead in Tiger Country.

Cunningham's first varsity squad not only suited up, they competed and advanced to the Class 5A playoffs in their first taste of the Friday Night Lights. The Tigers lost their first-round matchup to Dickinson, which went three rounds deep before a loss to eventual state champion Katy.

After a season opening heart breaking 23-20 loss to Morton Ranch, Travis dealt with suspended games due to Hurricane Ike and promptly reeled off six consecutive wins. In five of those victories during the streak, the stingy Tiger defense allowed 14 points or less.

While Travis is hit with some key off-season departures due to graduation like quarterback Alex Bynum and losing their entire defensive front, the young program has talent ready to step up in 2009.

Top recruits include safety Chad Moncure along with offensive lineman Madisson Milner and Alex Brown. They'll be joined by returning running back Jamal Branch, who rushed for 460 yards and four touchdowns in 2008. Michael Warren moves over to handle the quarterbacking duties after spending 2008 as a wide receiver.

Linebacker's Earl Smith, Justin Thurman and Connor Yorloff will lead a Travis defense ready to build on its 2008 numbers.

“We have six returning starters on offense and four starters coming back on defense,” coach Cunningham said. “That group will give us good leadership going into the 2009 season. Key players will need to step up for us to be the team that we want to be. The key to our success will be our class and character.

Prediction: Back in Playoffs in Year Two.
Key Losses: QB Alex Bynum
Fun Facts: The school is named after Texas pioneer William B. Travis