2016 Region Outlooks: 5A Region I

2015_10_16_FossilRidgeAtRyan_4381The UIL recently realigned the district for the 2016 and 2017 football seasons. Realignment not only changes district races. Regional championships can be decided with new groupings competing once the playoffs begin. We’ll take a closer look at the frontrunners in each region throughout the spring doldrums. Previous Outlooks:6A Region I / 6A Region II / 6A Region III / 6A Region IVClass 5A – Region I Aledo’s dominance in this region is staggering. That could change in 2016 with the addition of Denton Ryan, formerly of the Class 6A ranks. Add in a few up-and-coming programs and the region is as tough as ever, but a few stand out from the crowd. Denton Ryan The Raiders didn’t lose a game in 2015 until Allen High School knocked them off in the Class 6A Division I, Region I Final. Dave Henna’s squad now faces a new challenge: Dethroning Aledo from the Region I perch. The two will enter the season as favorites to represent the region in the state finals. Denton Ryan must replace SMU signee and defensive end Ken McLaurin, but senior Earnest Brown has as much upside and could end up at the FBS level after high school. The top teams in Class 5A can compete in Class 6A, but few people will argue moving down a class is a negative. The road to a state championship improved for the Raiders, at least on paper. Aledo The Bearcats won six of the last seven Region I Division I crowns. That’s an obscene amount of dominance in such a big classification. The road was made tougher with the addition of Denton Ryan, but Steve Wood’s program is still the bully on the block until proven otherwise. The team won’t lack the talent to repeat as Region I champions again in 2016. Offensive lineman Wes Harris a four-star prospect committed to Texas Tech. He’ll be blocking for quarterback Dillon Davis, who is adding an extra dimension to the usual ground-and-pound system used so well in Aledo. Linebacker Rhett Harris will be a leader on a very talented defense. Defensive tackle James Williams showed promise as a sophomore. Colleyville Heritage Watch out for the Panthers. Head coach Joe Willis wants to improve on a 6-5 record from 2015 and he has the momentum to do so in Class 5A. The Panthers were bounced out of the first round by Mansfield at the Class 6A level. Class 5A will better suit the talent level and it instantly makes Willis’ team a contender in Region I. Willis, who won a championship at this level when he was the head man at Cedar Park, is known for a strong running game, a good defense and a battle-tested team with a hard non-district schedule. Quarterback Cam Roane is a three-star recruit and 2018 wide receiver Ke’Von Ahmad will be a perfect target due to his blend of speed and size.

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