Our dark horse picks for 5A in 2017

Every year there’s a team or two that surprises most of the observers with a longer than anticipated playoff run. There are always a lot of variables involved with making that run, but — as always — a little challenge never deterred us at DCTF. So we take a look at one team from each region that we think has a chance to make a little noise in 2017. Region I: Denison After slipping into the playoffs a year ago, Denison and head coach Chad Rogers could be flying a bit too far under the radar — especially with a massively improved defense that returns seven starters. District 5-5A has one powerhouse in Denton Ryan, but if Denison can grab that second spot and the top seed in Division II, the playoff bracket could be a bit wide open aside from dealing with Aledo. Last year, Boswell beat Denison in bi-district and advanced all the way to the quarterfinals before falling to the eventual state champions. Region II: Little Elm Head coach Kendrick Brown has quietly built the Little Elm program up from perennial loser to a team that broke through with a 6-5 record and a playoff appearance. The Lobos are poised to compete for a district title this year with nine starters back on offense leading the way along with help from a JV squad that finished 8-2 a year ago. District 14-5A is a tough one and Region II is always a bear, but if the Lobos can nab that top Division II seed, the bracket could be very workable after round one. Region III: Brenham One of the state’s traditional powerhouses, Brenham had an unusually down year in 2015, but the Cubs rebounded last year and went 8-3 before falling to A&M Consolidated in the area playoffs. Coach Glen West’s squad is poised to have one of the state’s top secondary units with the addition of Oklahoma commit Treveon Johnson, who moved in from Giddings this off-season. He gives the Cubs an incredibly dangerous weapon on both sides of the ball to go along with QB Kendarrian Ray. Region III is full of landmines locally with A&M Consolidated, College Station down the road and always tough Ennis looming in 17-5A, but Brenham could be a real factor come November. Region IV: Corpus Christi Ray It’s rare that a 7-3 team misses the playoffs in this day and age of four teams making the postseason, but that was the fate for the Texans a year ago. Coach Craig Charlton’s team has a strong group of juniors led by QB Brad Breckenridge, to go along with a senior class short on numbers but big on talent. If that unit can mesh and the Texans navigate a brutal 11-team District 30-5A, the playoff path to at least the third round looks more than manageable.

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