This year's Texas High School Football Associated Press Top Ten Poll is unusual in the fact that it doesn't seem that unusual.
In what typically seems to be an AP Top Ten Poll tradition, they usually pull out some surprises that appear to have been mailed in from the planet Pluto. This year the picks actually seem to have been made by common earthlings that have half a football brain.
Hard to be picky at all with this years' selections, but here's my comments:
Class 5A - Many seem to be high on the Grapevine Mustangs this year, but I'll take a wait and see attitude. Grapevine does have 14 returnees, but only 6 on the defensive side, and therein lies the problem. The Mustangs gave up an average of 30 points a game last year including 56 to Coppell and 41 to Haltom. They did improve during the season, but the lack of defense reared it's ugly head again in a 48-42 playoff loss to Desoto. Can't see ranking them ahead of Desoto, Longview, Abilene and Mesquite, among others.
Class 4A - Can't argue with the picks.
Class 3A - 3A looks good too, but I'm surprised China Spring didn't receive votes. They have 14 starters back from an 8-3 team that includes the QB Eskew to WR Hicks connection.
Class 2A - Altair Rice seems a little low to me.
Class 1A - Everyone seems to be on the Bremond Tigers bandwagon this year. I think they'll be a fine team, but a #4 ranking seems way out of line. Yes they return 16 starters, but this was a 5-6 team last year and I see them as no better than the third place team in their own district. District foe Chilton is the reigning state champ and even though they return only 5 starters don't underestimate the heart of a champion, while Normangee also returns 16 starters from a 7-3 team, including the Mullinnix twins at QB and RB.
Associated Press Top Ten Poll
http://www.txprepsfootball.com.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=348
No comments:
Post a Comment