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This district might end up being deceptively strong. Whitney and Breck-enridge were bottom feeders in 3A, but both are dropping down, which almost certainly will improve playoff prospects for both teams right out of the gate. Whitney returns 18 starters and Breckenridge brings back 17.

The district’s best player is also on the best team. Godley running back Landry Martinez had 201 rushes, 1,916 yards and 29 TDs last year for a 12-1 regional finalist. The Wildcats went through their district unbeaten last year, and there is reason to believe they can do it again with the talent they return, though they do break in a new quarterback this year.

The district is hard to handicap behind Godley. It’s unknown how well Breckenridge and Whitney will take to 2A competition, and Comanche has some holes to plug after a nine-win season.

Clifton has a legitimate shot at the playoffs with so much coming back, but the Cubs are not alone in that category.

Clifton Cubs

Head coach: Brandon Brown (1st season)

All-time: 531-309-39 since 1919

Playoff history: 27-28-3 in 28 trips, most recently 2005; 0 state championships

Returning: 27 lettermen; 8 offensive, 8 defensive starters

Outlook: Clifton lost coach Shawn Bell after only one season, but the Cubs return almost everyone else from a three-win team.

Brad Madux wil run a more wide-open offense this season for Clifton.
Rod Aydelotte / Waco Tribune-Herald

Brown moves over from Jacksboro, a team he led to consecutive playoff appearances in two of his three years there after a postseason drought. He’ll have the same task at Clifton, which hasn’t made the playoffs in five years.

Greeting him is a team almost entirely intact, but one adjusting to a different spread offense and a new 4-3 defense. Experienced offensive and defense lines that average around 240 pounds will be key. The offensive line was planning on blocking for running back Dylan Brownsworth, but he tore an ACL during the first week of practice and is out for the year. Junior Cody Franklin has impressed coaches in camp and will get most of Brownsworth’s snaps.

Quarterback Brad Maddux (above) is under center, and Brown is excited about handing him the keys to his wide-open spread offense. Mark New and Derrick Neelly are the top returning pass catchers.

The defensive front four should “shut some people down,” he said, with about five defensive tackles ready to play, led by Will Dryer and Riley Hubert.

Neelly was also all-district as a safety, where he’ll figure heavily into the Cubs’ plans this year.

Whitney Wildcats

Head coach: Kenneth Gilchrist (2nd season: 3-7)

All-time: 283-415-28 since 1921

Playoff history: 9-8 in 10 trips, most recently 2005; 0 state championships

Returning: 10 lettermen; 9 offensive, 9 defensive starters

Outlook: The Wildcats look to improve on both sides of the ball in Gilchrist’s second year at the helm.

Junior Dylan Hightower will start at quarterback after getting some experience last year. Speedy Chris Gipson returns at wide receiver to help stretch the field.

A.J. Buck and Dedrick Walker will line up behind Hightower in the backfield.

Whitney returns a solid core on defense with Colton Callaway (right) and Brazos Bonner in the secondary, and Kolton Fletcher on the line.

— Text by Parchman and Ash
Predictions by Parchman