Top 26 storylines for 2016: No. 18 – Can Canadian win at a bigger level?

[caption id="attachment_24662" align="alignright" width="350"]Photo by Pat Carrigan Photo by Pat Carrigan[/caption] For two years, the Canadian Wildcats put on a show of excellence we just don’t see very often. Consider the numbers: 31-0, 50.6 points per game, and just 9.6 points allowed per game. That is a two-season run of dominance, of sheer pound-for-pound skill, on a rarely paralleled level. If Canadian was returning to shoot for a 2A DI three-peat, enough pieces return that we’d all be wondering if the Wildcats could regroup and pull it off. But we’re faced with a slightly different question. The three-peat is certainly in play, but Canadian finds itself in 3A DII thanks to realignment, and the field is just a little bit trickier, especially considering what the Wildcats lost. First, here’s the company Canadian would be joining if it pulled off the feat. It’s a (mostly complete) list of teams to win three or more straight state titles: 5 - Lake Travis (4A DI & II) 2007-11 4 - Sealy (3A) 1994-1997 4 - Celina (2A DII) 1998-2001 3 - Southlake Carroll (5A DI & DII) 2003-05 3 - Cameron Yoe (2A DI & 3A DI) 2012-14 3 - Allen (5A DI & 6A DI) 2012-14 3 - Aledo (4A DII) 2009-11 3 - Abilene (4A) 1954-56 3 - Midland Lee (5A DI & II) 1998-2000 3 - La Marque (4A & 4A II) 1995-97 3 - Daingerfield (2A DI & II) 2008-10 3 - Carthage (3A DII) 2008-10 3 - Amarillo 1934-36 3 - Waco 1925-27 3 - Big Sandy 1973-75 I concede a few teams may have slipped through my research, but still, that’s rarified air. It’s not easy to do, and lots of teams that were good enough to do it fell short because of bad days and worthy foes. Second, what the Wildcats will face in their own region this year at least appears to be tougher than last year’s field, which featured a state championship caliber foe at the top in Stratford, but lacked depth. This year’s Region I field includes Cisco, a team very used to competing in the deepest levels of the state playoffs, as well as Idalou, Coleman, Spearman and Tolar. That’s a lot trickier to navigate, and that’s just Region I. Outside the region, the depth of the overall 3A DII field is staggering. Teams we think will be in the mix if everything falls into place: Daingerfield, Hooks, Henrietta, Waskom, Newton, West Rusk, Arp, East Bernard, Boling, Blanco and Odem. Hold on to your butts. That’s some field. But if any program has shown its ability to reload and work well under pressure and expectations, it’s Chris Koetting’s group up in the Panhandle. Canadian has earned the distinction of being included in the conversation whenever elite programs are discussed. Some great players are gone from that incredible run. Tanner Schafer and the Cook brothers and Benigno Heredia left a legacy. It’s up to Cameron Copley, Manny Ramsey and Cade Throgmorton to keep the tradition going. It should be a blast to watch.