DFW Area's Top 10 Football Teams in Class 4A-3A

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CLASS 4A-3A

1. Argyle

COACH

Todd Rodgers

2014 RECORD

15-1

RETURNING STARTERS

7 offense, 5 defense

THE RUNDOWN

Argyle keeps rolling along, ranked No. 2 in the state in the preseason Associated Press poll (behind state champion Navasota). The loss of Nick Ralston (2,771 yards, 46 TDs rushing) will be substantial, but so is losing four starting offensive linemen. Rodgers said players have been developing in the pipeline (Argyle’s JV team has gone 10-0 the past few seasons), so the line’s inexperience isn’t a crisis. The offense will be powered by former defensive stars: Dane Ledford moves from FS to QB, and Taylor Sweatt slides from LB to RB. Argyle’s receiving corps is top-notch, with TE and Clemson pledge J.C. Chalk and WRs Drew Estrada and Gage McCook. Defensively, the team returns nearly its entire defensive front, including Air Force pledge David Bearden (6-1, 250).

NOTABLE

Rodgers admits not many would have moved Sweatt, the defensive MVP in last year’s final. “But that’s a void for us,” Rodgers said. “We certainly want to put a dynamic player at that position.” Sweatt is a state qualifier in the discus and a member of Argyle’s sprint relays in the spring.

2. Kennedale

COACH

Richard Barrett

2014 RECORD

12-1

RETURNING STARTERS

5 offense, 6 defense

THE RUNDOWN

It’s going to take a team effort to match the production of graduating RB and San Diego State signee Juwan Washington, who left the Kennedale program as a 5,000-yard rusher. “With a guy like that, you can’t replace him,” Barrett said. “We’re going to have to come together as a team and do what we do with our system.” To help, Barrett did a little rearranging since the spring, moving OLB Kaiser McGlothen to QB (his first time ever at the position) and moving projected QB Quardraiz Wadley to tailback. Fullback Dailyn Wells is expected to get 18 to 20 carries a game. Junior LB Baron Browning missed most of last season because of injury, but will be a big contributor. A Baylor pledge, Browning is considered a Top 50 recruit nationally from the Class of 2017.

NOTABLE

Barrett is high on McGlothen, Wadley and Wells, but all three seniors are unproven in their current roles. McGlothen has never thrown a pass in a game, while Wadley and Wells combined for 26 carries in 2014.

3. Celina

COACH

Bill Elliott

2014 RECORD

12-3

RETURNING STARTERS

7 offense, 5 defense

THE RUNDOWN

After a run to the Class 4A Division II semifinals, there’s thought that Celina can repeat the process, despite the graduation of four-year starting QB Nathan Elliott (who signed with North Carolina). “It’s great whenever you play that long,” coach Bill Elliott said. “We’re certainly trying to build off that, especially with the kids that we have coming back.” The offense will focus on senior RB Jarren Alexander, who averaged 9.21 yards per carry while rushing for 1,427 yards and 10 touchdowns, and a deep group of returning receivers. A backup QB last season, junior Conner Pingleton has been impressive throughout the spring and summer in the starting role. LB Shane Gerths (100 tackles, five sacks) reminds Elliott of former Celina star Caleb Lavey, the ex-Oklahoma State linebacker.

NOTABLE

A season-ending 67-14 loss to Gilmer didn’t leave a bad taste, Elliott said. “By gosh, if you were going to tell me that we’d be in the semifinals again, I’d love to get another shot at them.”

4. Sunnyvale

COACH

John Settle

2014 RECORD

10-1

RETURNING STARTERS

7 offense, 6 defense

THE RUNDOWN

For the past few seasons, Sunnyvale has been on the verge of a breakout. It hasn’t happened yet, at least not completely. In 2014, after a flawless regular season, Sunnyvale couldn’t secure its first playoff win in school history, allowing 26 fourth-quarter points in a bi-district loss to Whitesboro. “I try not to talk with the kids about it,” Settle said. “We try to keep it one game at a time. But obviously, we want to win Game 11 right now. That’s our focus.” To do so, Settle said the team must improve defensively, specifically against the run. Whitesboro rushed for 413 yards in the playoff loss. Offensively, the team is ready for another prolific season, returning its two top WRs — all-state senior Lawson Ayo and junior Cash Goodhart — and its QB tandem, Patrick Spera and Caleb McDill.

NOTABLE

Expect Sunnyvale to continue its recently developed commitment to its running game, especially behind returning OTs Jim Threet and Wade Cookston. Four players — all current defensive starters — will rotate at tailback.

5. Pilot Point

COACH

Rob Best

2014 RECORD

10-3

RETURNING STARTERS

6 offense, 6 defense

THE RUNDOWN

After its deepest playoff run since winning a state title in 2009, Pilot Point was on the verge of something special before allowing a last-minute, go-ahead score against Mineola in the 3A Division I Region II semis. Mineola would go on to advance to the state title game. “It’s a little bit like unfinished business,” Best said. Senior DaCoven Bailey (35 TDs, nearly 2,300 yards rushing and receiving) will be in the spotlight, but the team has other talented skill players, such as WR RyLee Hellman. The development of new QB Hunter Balderas will be critical. He had a good summer, leading Pilot Point to a 5-1 record at the 7 on 7 state tournament. Honorable mention all-state C Tyrone Bruce will be one of the team’s few two-way players, also lining up at NG.

NOTABLE

With Bailey, Best said they’ve tried to mimic how Argyle used Ian Sadler two seasons ago: at RB, WR, slot, wildcat QB, in motion, etc. “He’s a weapon,” Best said.

6. Ferris

COACH

Aaron Emeyabbi

2014 RECORD

4-7

RETURNING STARTERS

8 offense, 11 defense

THE RUNDOWN

With a slew of starters back from a playoff qualifier, hopes are high in Ferris that if the team gets the right playoff draw, it could be playing deep into the 2015 playoffs. The things will separate Ferris from the rest of its district (4-4A Div. II) will be replacing four offensive linemen and do-everything QB Javaughn Thurmon (3,200 yards total offense, 35 TDs). Emeyabbi has a prospect for the latter role, however: incoming 6-3 freshman QB Dylan Wright. “He’s a freak,” Emeyabbi said. “He’s the baddest kid I’ve ever coached in my life, I’ll tell you that.” If Wright isn’t ready for the starting job, sophomore Riley ***an will do the task. RB Israel Delgadillo is “a big brick house,” according to Emeyabbi. Delgadillo set the school’s bench press record over the summer.

NOTABLE

While Ferris did graduate a few standout defenders, including the district’s defensive MVP Derrick Walker, 11 players return who were starters at some point, including SS Chuy Gutierrez (92 tackles).

7. Sanger

COACH

Chuck Galbreath

2014 RECORD

9-3

RETURNING STARTERS

5 offense, 5 defense

THE RUNDOWN

Sanger limped into the playoffs last season, missing its all-state senior RB Tre’von Jackson and senior QB Brandon Mann because of injuries. But there was a silver lining. With freshman QB C.J. Jackson and sophomore reserve RB Peyton Howard in their stead, Sanger won its first playoff game since 2006. “I don’t know if there was a whole lot of expectations for us to win that,” Galbreath said. “It’s been big for our confidence.” Moving into the starting lineup in Week 6, Howard rushed for 625 yards and 11 TDs, earning first-team all-district honors. Howard is also part of a stiff spine down the middle of Sanger’s defense, lining up at safety along with three-year starter Grant Carter. MLB Jarrod Huther, the district’s defensive MVP, is a four-year starter (110 tackles, three sacks).

NOTABLE

Galbreath, a former assistant at Denton Ryan under Joey Florence, said that Jackson (5-10, 160) is a dual-threat option along the lines of former Ryan greats James Battle and Justin Willis.

8. Carrollton Ranchview

COACH

Terry Smith

2014 RECORD

9-3

RETURNING STARTERS

5 offense, 6 defense

THE RUNDOWN

A sign of where Ranchview’s expectations have risen is how the team responded to last season’s bi-district win over Alvarado. Despite it being the first playoff win in program history, the atmosphere was rather subdued. “They expected to win that game,” Smith said. While there will be a leadership vacuum after the graduation of QB Keidrien Wadley (Tulsa) and WR/DB Raghib Ismail (TCU walk-on), numbers are up throughout the program. Filling Wadley’s shoes will be the biggest challenge, Smith said. There’s a four-way battle for that position between senior D’Quad Waheed, juniors Jason Parker and Javon McInnis, and sophomore Jarod Hall. Linebacker is a strength, with Darius Heath (148 tackles) and Dayo Odeyingbo (younger brother of Cistercian star RB and Vanderbilt signee Dare Odeyingbo).

NOTABLE

Running back is the deepest position on the roster, with Heath, Darion Carter and Sarodorick Thompson in the mix. Thompson (6-1, 185) scored a 42-yard touchdown against Pinkston on his second varsity carry.


9. Lincoln

COACH

John Towels III

2014 RECORD

5-6

RETURNING STARTERS

7 offense, 5 defense

THE RUNDOWN

Towels didn’t have much of a warmup last year, hired to take over the program a few months before the start of the season. Sophomore Keiontay Coleman will be called on to replace graduating two-year starting QB Trevon Donnell. With Lincoln returning enough skill players to be a dangerous offense, Towels said that Coleman’s job will be to “dish the ball and not make mistakes.” Coleman has several quality targets at WR: juniors Robert Craddock and Tyrone Williams and junior Devodric Bynum. The trio combined for 14 TDs last season. Defensively, Lincoln will move from a 3-4 to a 4-2-5, taking advantage of its speed. Senior CB Cameron Henderson had 5 INTs last season, and all-district SS Jeremiah Espinoza will chase sideline to sideline.

NOTABLE

Towels’ goal is to get Lincoln back to its glory days, when it made the 2004 state final under coach Reginald Samples. Lincoln has made 16 straight playoff trips, but hasn’t gone past the second round since 2004.

10. Kaufman

COACH

Craig Barker

2014 RECORD

5-7

RETURNING STARTERS

6 offense, 9 defense

THE RUNDOWN

Barker came late to Kaufman, hired in May 2014 from Garrison. Having players familiar with Barker’s schemes and a full offseason program under their belts has been huge, he said. “The kids came in ready to go. It’s a big difference from Year One to Year Two,” Barker said. There will be four or five players who will play significant roles on both sides of the ball for the area finalists, including WR/DB Jefferson Fritz (an honorable mention all-state selection in 2014 with 113 tackles and three INTs), and brothers Dru and Dre Prox. With 22 seniors, this could be Kaufman’s year to break out in a difficult 4A Division I Region I. “I feel like we are making progress,” Barker said. “We want to play football in December.”

NOTABLE

Fritz was a possible starter at QB in the spring, but senior Austin Gomez — a JV starter last season — has performed well over the summer and in the opening weeks of practice.

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Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/hig...f6dce4ee88d149