It's finally here. After a lot of worry and wonder, the big schools are ready to kick off their delayed seasons. For this week, we'll be breaking down three 6A schools at a time going through 3-6A through 11-6A in three installments.
Previewing 6-6A
Graphic created by Stephen Peters
This district seems to be a district of straight chalk. Meaning, the teams that made it the playoffs last year - Marcus, Lewisville, Hebron and Flower Mound - could easily get back. This district is headlined by the strong quarterback play from Garrett Nussmeier (Marcus; signed with LSU), Taylen Green (Lewisville; signed with Boise State) and Carson Harris (Hebron; signed with Lamar).
One would expect those three to be playoff contenders again, but the fourth spot will be a toss up between Flower Mound and Coppell. Flower Mound only has eight starters returning last year while Coppell is looking to get back to the playoffs after missing out on them for the first time since 2011.
Projected 2020 Playoff Teams:
Marcus
Lewisville
Hebron
Coppell
Previewing 7-6A
Graphic created by Stephen Peters
7-6A could shape up in 2020 to be what 9-6A was in 2019, where chaos ruled the day. Up was down and left was right in that district last year.
There are a lot of new pieces together as the Irving schools meet the Richardson schools. Out of this new grouping, Jesuit looks like the clear-cut favorite, after a surprising run to the Regional Finals in 2019.
With four teams in this district that didn't win more than two games last year, there is a lot of unknown.
Projected 2020 Playoff Teams:
Jesuit
Lake Highlands
Pearce
Richardson
Previewing 8-6A
Graphic created by Stephen Peters
The Arlington schools move away from some of the Fort Worth schools and join with the two Grand Prairie schools in what seems like a very top-heavy district. Five teams - Arlington, Bowie, Lamar, Martin and South Grand Prairie - made the playoffs last year and will be vying for those four coveted spots this year.
Arlington and Arlington Martin both made the regional semis last year and return 16 and 11 starters, respectively. The other three each bring back 12 starters, so the schools are loaded.
Expect this to be a knockdown-drag-em-out district in 2020.
Projected 2020 Playoff Teams:
Martin
Arlington
South Grand Prairie
Lamar
Tomball senior CJ Sampson lifts the 6A Division II State MVP award toward the crowd and his teammates in celebrationMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
Catcher Hopkins (right) poses with Sampson (left), both biting into their newly earned gold medalsMatthew Ogle (VYPE)
