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The top spot in the district is Dawson’s to lose. Alex Shaw returns from back-to-back 1,500-yard rushing seasons and Michael Vaughn will provide a good second option for the Bulldogs, but questions will still remain on defense.

Bremond’s passing game and Chilton’s consistency will likely decide second place, although Hubbard’s offensive line could sneak the Jaguars into the playoffs.

Dawson Bulldogs

Head coach: Scott Hawkins (4th season: 17-14)

All-time: 388-382-27 since 1920

Playoff history: 9-15-1 in 16 trips, most recently 2009; 0 state championships

Returning: 15 lettermen; 8 offensive, 6 defensive starters

Outlook: Dawson has several holes to fill, but the all-important running game will stay solid.

Just as it has for the past two seasons, Dawson’s success will run through RB Alex Shaw (right), who returns from back-to-back 1,500-yard rushing seasons. He’ll have help in the backfield. Hawkins has designed plays for senior Michael Vaughn, who had 900 yards last season.

QB Trey Tennison is much more accurate in play-action passing. All-state TE Nick Renfro provides a large target for Tennison.

DL Kyle Golden and C/DE Michael Passini will anchor the defensive line.

Bremond Tigers

Head coach: Bruce Brignac (1st season)

All-time: 438-337-26 since 1917

Playoff history: 46-20-2 in 23 trips, most recently 2008; 1 state championship (1981)

Returning: 16 lettermen; 7 offensive, 6 defensive starters

Outlook: Brignac expects QB Johnathon White, whose rushing total exceeded his passing last season, to be a more efficient passer this year. He’ll have plenty of targets as WRs Dylon Lindley, Jeffery Drymalla, Ryan St. Clair and Ryan Rekeita will all contribute to the passing game.

RB Justin Kinney will be a complete back, able to gain the edge or charge through tackles. Jackson Yezak and Harvey Steele will be the main forces on the offensive line.

White’s brother, junior safety Jacob White, will roam the center of the field, while DL Omar Wallace and DL Zach Hall will be Bremond’s main run stuffers.

Chilton Pirates

Head coach: Robert Little (5th season: 33-16)

All-time: 414-304-25 since 1922

Playoff history: 31-16 in 20 trips, most recently 2009; 2 state championships (1972, 2006)

Returning: 9 lettermen; 3 offensive, 4 defensive starters

Outlook: With only nine returning lettermen, Chilton will need first-year starters to grow up in a hurry.

They’ll get their feet wet immediately, facing a Mart team in the opener that is expected to contend for a state championship.

Little said he feels good about his defense, especially up front. Shurdon Simpson, Adam Rodriguez (above) and Gage Seiler hold down those spots, and “they came back faster and stronger,” Little said.

Four quarterbacks are competing for the starting job, but Tevon Sparks appears to have the inside track. Eric Bradley (right) will be the primary running back.

Hubbard Jaguars

Head coach: Joe Heckathorn (2nd season: 3-7)

All-time: 427-353-28 since 1910

Playoff history: 10-14-1 in 17 trips, most recently 2003; 0 state championships

Returning: 20 lettermen; 8 offensive, 7 defensive starters

Outlook: A year into coach Heckathorn’s system, the Jaguars have plans to improve on a 3-7 record.

Most of that will rest on Hubbard’s ability to control the line of scrimmage. OT/DT Shawn McKinney, who Heckathorn said is the “strongest kid in 1A,” will join OL/DE Roderick Williams to anchor both lines.

Offensively, junior QB Cole Hill will “get the ball to his playmakers,” Heckathorn said, and take to the air more this season. His main target will be junior WR Donam Johnson.

MLB Ben Morris returns to Hubbard to lead the defense.

Wortham Bulldogs

Head coach: Jerry Young (2nd season: 5-5)

All-time: 400-346-37 since 1923

Playoff history: 11-19-1 in 21 trips, most recently 2004; 0 state championships

Returning: 16 lettermen; 6 offensive, 8 defensive starters

Outlook: The Bulldogs’ youth has supplanted many starters from last year’s 5-5 squad, most notably Cooper Warren’s ascension to QB. Former QB Brandon Lansford moves to TE.

Wortham will have excellent run defense as Hance Spencer, Chris Perez and Mantin Capers return to anchor the linebacking corps. Safety Chris McDaniel is solid in the secondary.

Frost Polar Bears

Head coach: Clark Moore (3rd season: 3-17)

All-time: 315-436-20

Playoff history: 4-6 in 7 trips, most recently 2001; 0 state championships

Returning: 11 lettermen; 7 offensive, 6 defensive starters

Outlook: Frost started 2009 with three straight victories — a monumental accomplishment since the 11th smallest school playing 11-man football snapped a 21-game losing streak that stretched back to 2006.

Sophomore RB Danial Steels returns to anchor the offense after leading the team with 889 yards last season. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound district newcomer of the year will get a boost running behind C Mark Jackson, OL Gary Woods and OL Lucas Clayton. FB Philip Page will complement Steels in the backfield and also leads the defense as a four-year starting linebacker.

— Bateman