Apaches, Cards, Comanches preseason district favorites

One of the most widely-anticipated annual magazines is now out in newsstands.

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football released its 53rd annual edition statewide on Friday, and all five area football teams – Gonzales, Luling, Nixon-Smiley, Shiner and St. Paul – are featured in the magazine. DCTF even made some high predictions for three of the area teams.

Gonzales is projected to win the newly-formed District 26-3A, which also features Giddings (projected to finish second), Smithville (projected to finish third), La Grange (projected to finish fourth), Yoakum (projected to finish fifth) and Cuero (projected to finish sixth). The Apaches return six offensive and five defensive starters from last year’s 11-1 campaign.

Among the returnees for Gonzales are free safety Zack Lopez –the preseason Defensive MVP – and running back Cecil Johnson, who rushed for 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns a year ago. Other returning starters for the Apaches are guard/linebacker J.T. Miller, center/defensive tackle Zach Perez-Clack, guard/defensive end Damian Airhart, tight end Cameron Smith, defensive tackle Jordan Johnson and quarterback/kicker/punter Matt Hillman.

Miller played defensive end a year ago, but will move to linebacker this season, while Cecil Johnson could also start at cornerback and Jordan Johnson could also start at offensive tackle. Other prospects for Gonzales are Tyler Filla (OT), Ray Flores (DE), Chris Garcia (SS), Darrance James (RB/CB), Jessie Ramirez (DT) and Coltin Russell (WR/CB).

Luling returns nine starters on both sides of the football from last season’s 4-6 campaign. The Eagles were two points away from their first trip to the playoffs since 2009 as a 24-22 loss to Marion kept them home during the postseason.

Luling will have a new boss as offensive coordinator Colby Hensley was promoted to head coach after Michael Waldie left following a two-year stint to become the defensive coordinator at Class 4A Jacksonville. Among the starters Hensley will welcome back are Ches Elley (C/DE), Ty Anderson (TE, 522 yards receiving), Brendan Cubit (RB, 545 yards rushing), Tyler Gibson (DT), Zach Lawton (LB) and Trayden Staton (QB, 847 yards passing).

Other prospects for the Eagles include Josh Alvarez (WR), Aaron Bermudez (DT), A.J. Burks (DE), Jorge Munoz (WR), Zach Olguin (OL), Abraham Palomo (WR) and Aaron Werlein (LB). Luling is projected to finish third in 15-2A-Division I, which will be enough to return to the playoffs.

Marion and George West are projected to finish first and second, respectively, in 15-2A-DI. Jourdanton, Goliad, San Antonio Cole and SA Brooks round out the district.

Nixon-Smiley, like Luling, narrowly missed out on the postseason in 2011. The Mustangs finished 5-5 overall and in a third-place tie with Dilley and Three Rivers a year ago, but it was Three Rivers who clinched the playoff spot thanks to a points tiebreaker.

While Three Rivers is now in Class A-DI, Nixon-Smiley must still contend with defending district champion Poth and defending runner-up Stockdale in 15-2A-DII. Poth and Stockdale are projected to finish first and second, respectively, while Karnes City – 40-22 losers to the Mustangs in 2011 – is picked to finish third.

Rounding out the 15-2A-DII projections are Dilley (fourth), Nixon-Smiley (fifth), Cotulla (sixth), Natalia (seventh) and Bloomington (eighth). Despite the predictions, the Mustangs still have high hopes as they return seven starters on both sides of the football, including Miguel Hernandez (RB) and Logan McMain (OT).

Projections are high for Shiner after last season’s 8-6 finish. The Comanches are ranked No. 6 in the Class A-DI preseason poll and projected to win 15-A-DI.

Among the returnees for Shiner are preseason Offensive MVP Evel Jones (RB) and preseason Defensive MVP Jacob Stafford. Stafford also is the Comanches’ starting quarterback.

Shiner returns five starters on offense and four on defense. Other prospects for the Comanches are Caleb Kalich (TE), Caleb Curtis (RB, rushed for 834 yards), Max Huth (LB), Brady Cejka (FS), Trevion Flowers (CB), Cole Strauss (C), Zach Arnold (DT), Jaace Chumchal (OT) and Kris Patek (TE).

St. Paul has all the ingredients to claim its second state championship in three years, including a returning head coach. Jake Wachsmuth, who engineered the Cardinals’ 2010 TAPPS Division IV state championship, is back after a one-year hiatus as an assistant at Yoakum.

Without Wachsmuth, St. Paul still managed to finish 11-3 and was state runners-up. Wachsmuth returns to coach a team he not only knows pretty well, but also returns nine starters on both sides of the football.

Among the returnees for the Cardinals are Dakota Kresta (QB; TAPPS DIII preseason Offensive MVP; 2,446 yards passing) and Adam Hollenbach (RB, 648 yards rushing).

Other prospects are Martin Kennedy (RB), Cole Hybner (DB), Dylan Barton (LB), Travis Raabe (OL/DL), Ben Janecek (TE), Sam Wenske (OL/DL), Laddie Patek (OL/DL), Justin Siegel (OL/DL), Austin Horne (OL/DL), Mitchell McElroy (LB), Jared Markham (WR), Ryan Kapavich (WR), Wil Marcak (OL/DL) and Colton Spahn (OL/DL).

St. Paul is projected to win TAPPS 5-DIII.

The Cardinals also are among the favorites to compete for a DIII state title.