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With all its returning talent, Crockett could be poised for a worst-to-first turnaround. A talented Malakoff is the only thing standing in the way.

Still, there is a lot of uncertainty here to start the season, arguably more so than any district in the state. Elkhart, Teague and Troup are all rebuilding with first-year head coaches.

Malakoff and Trinity’s coaches are only entering their second year, and Crockett’s Paul Parsons is the elder statesman of the group in his fourth season in one place.

Crockett or Malakoff should finish 1-2 in some form, but it’s fairly wide open with so many coaching unknowns. Malakoff is the only team in district to win more than two games in 2009.

Teague Lions

Head coach: Josh Finney (1st season; overall: 38-12)

All-time: 368-454-33 since 1914

Playoff history: 1-10 in 10 trips, most recently 2008; 0 state championships

Returning: 14 lettermen; 4 offensive, 4 defensive starters

Outlook: The Lions were blatantly out of their depth last season, as their one-win season proved. Finney steps into the breach after a 38-12 run with Maud, a 1A school he brought to prominence over the last four seasons.

Finney is bringing his quarterback with him. Jake McClain, the starter the past three years at Maud, will start his final season under center in Teague. He earned honorable mention on the 1A all-state team last year, running and passing for 2,000 yards and accounting for 27 TDs. Everything starts with him.

Running back Larry Busby is probably the fastest player in the district. He’s the state 2A 100-meter champion after running an 11.05 in Austin in May as just a sophomore.

Trae Bell is a talented sophomore who will likely fill a jack-of-all-trades type role on offense and defense. Teague switches from the wishbone to the spread, and Finney says his athletic offensive line will adapt well.

Wide receiver Timmy Campbell is 6-foot-3 and will be leaned on heavily.

— Parchman