Editor's Note: "Inside The 25" counts down the '08 preseason top 25 rankings in all five 11-man classifications, taking a closer look at each team in the rankings, starting from No. 25 and working down to the No. 1 teams in each classification.
CLASS 5A's #20: Arlington Bowie
2007 Preseason Ranking/Final Ranking: NR/9
2007 Final Record/Playoff Finish: 12-2/DI state quarterfinalists
Why They're Ranked: Admittedly, we're a year behind with this Bowie program. Not ranking the Volunteers last summer proved a noticeable oversight; the team was returning 15 starters from a breakout 2006 season, but perhaps getting grouped in district with DeSoto and Cedar Hill (the defending champs) scared us off. Either way, we don't plan to duplicate our mistake. Bowie checks in 20th overall partly because of returning star power (DB Dexter Linton and QB Christian Matthews are both Kansas commits), but mostly because coach Kenny Perry has established a system that has vaulted Bowie to tops in Arlington ISD five-team 5A contingent. Perry, a former assistant to the dean of AISD, Lamar's Eddy Peach, clearly learned well from the master. He's 19-6 in two years at Bowie, and only a TD separated Bowie from Euless Trinity last year in the playoffs, while Bowie last season also handed Cedar Hill its first loss in its last 20 games. It's safe to say success breeds success, and with interest in Bowie football at an all-time high (with students and the community), Bowie might become a permanent resident of the rankings.
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