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 #11: Pflugerville
2007 Preseason Ranking/Final Ranking: NR/5
2007 Final Record/Playoff Finish: 12-4/DII state finalists
Why They're Ranked: A senior-laden offense allowed Pflugerville to shock the state for five straight weeks before falling to Katy in the finals. Now, it's up to a senior-laden defense to maintain the momentum. That unit returns eight starters, including a candidate for the top pass rusher in the state, DE Alex Okafor (72 tackles, 5 sacks), as well as a candidate for the Class of 2010, junior DE Tyrus Thompson (6-5, 285). Other returnees who made significant impacts are LBs Dwight Matthews (104 tackles, 3 sacks, INT) and A.J. Reese (61 tackles 1 sack INT). That offense, though, returns only one starter. The good news is that player touched the ball almost every single snap last year. The bad news is it's not a skill player, but center Luke Hurtado. He'll be the leader of a line that will start three other seniors, and that unit will need to solidify quickly, as Pflugerville will likely start sophomores at RB (Sammy Flowers and Julian Ward) and QB (Alex Dean). Expecting to match last year's run to the finals might be too much to ask, but expectations are higher than ever in Pflugerville.
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