On the surface, 8-4A looks top-heavy, with Midway, Killeen and Stephenville vying for a district title with the rest fighting for the final playoff spot. Which of the top three emerges victorious and whether one of those unheralded squads surprises with an upset or two will be the talk of the town.

District previews

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> Back to Football 2010

For the Waco schools, the district has been sheared from eight to six. That means better playoff odds, but it brings with it an element of uncertainty.

Of the new kids on the block, a stacked Stephenville poses the biggest challenge. The Yellowjackets return QB Connor Washington and RB James Myles, two of 15 returning starters. Myles had 1,680 rushing yards and 26 touchdowns last year. Killeen, an area finalist last year, should pack a punch as well. Dual-threat QB Michael Cummings, a Kansas commit, threw for 2,389 yards and 22 touchdowns with just six interceptions last season.

And for those that get Lake View on the road, the nearly four-hour bus ride from Waco could complicate matters.

Midway Panthers

Head coach: Terry Gambill (1st season)

All-time: 382-299-12 since 1947

Playoff history: 19-16-1 in 18 trips, most recently 2009; 0 state championships

Returning: 35 lettermen; 9 offensive, 6 defensive starters

Outlook: The Panthers will go as far as their 31-player senior class will take them.

Judging by past results, that could be pretty far. Many of this year’s seniors have been part of the nucleus that’s led Midway to 21 wins the last two seasons.

New coach Gambill comes from a nine-year stint as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Allen. He said he’s impressed with the way the senior class has led the team since he joined Midway in January.

Ryan Smith is the incumbent at quarterback, but three challengers — Beau Blackshear, Rodney Gordon and Kramer Robertson — are also in the mix. Whoever is the starter will get the bulk of the playing time, but the backup will play the third series of each half. Gambill said he never wants to “get caught where we don’t have a quarterback ready to play.”

Whoever gets the nod will have a plethora of weapons to distribute the ball to and a deep, experienced offensive line led by Art Wellborn, Christian Barry and

Marc Martinez
Jerry Larson / Waco Tribune-Herald

Defense has been the calling card for the Panthers, and that doesn’t figure to change.

Marc Martinez (right), who stood out at linebacker as a sophomore before taking over as a workhorse running back last year, is back at inside linebacker. Blackshear, a two-time Super Centex honoree, moves inside from defensive end to nose tackle, and Shakiel Randolph leads the secondary after a 100-tackle season as a sophomore.

Excitement is palpable at Midway with a new coach and a new stadium. Now the Panthers are looking to reach new heights.

Waco High Lions

Head coach: Danny Ramsey (2nd season: 2-8)

All-time: 636-344-33 since 1910

Playoff history: 54-32-4 in 39 trips, most recently 2008; 6 state championships (1922, ’25, ’26, ’27, ’45, ’48)

Returning: 14 lettermen; 4 offensive, 4 defensive starters

Outlook: The Lions have had plenty of time to recover from a rare down season in 2009. Now that Ramsey’s spread offense sensibilities have had a full year to sink in, the Lions expect much more in 2010.

Tristan Eche
Duane A. Laverty / Waco Tribune-Herald

Their ability to rebuild will rest largely in the hands of junior first-year quarterback Deonte’ Phillips, who missed spring drills with an injury. Ramsey calls him one of the best spread option quarterbacks he’s ever worked with.

He’ll hand off to a pair of proven backs in Dennis Gibson and Darrell Harris, both of whom had at least 400 rushing yards and five scores last season. The offensive line is massive, with towering bookends Landon Boffman and Kanyon Mitchell topping out at around 340. Speedy but untested wideouts Keimon McDowell and Adrian Norwood will have plenty of chances to make an impact as well.

The defensive centerpiece is unquestionably linebacker Tristan Eche (above), who is a monster in the middle. He had 71 tackles last season, and he’ll anchor a defense with something to prove after a stagnant 2009.

Waco High’s progression will depend on how well the Lions pick up on Ramsey’s schemes in year two. After Ramsey got a late start last season, there are fewer excuses for a sluggish season this year.

University Trojans

Head coach: Matt Carroll (3rd season: 9-13)

All-time: 252-355-19 since 1949

Playoff history: 9-9-1 in 10 trips, most recently 2009; 0 state championships

Returning: 17 lettermen; 3 offensive, 2 defensive starters

Outlook: Carroll’s playoff breakthrough came a season earlier than he expected, and University won its first playoff game since 2002 for added emphasis.

Gerrell Griffin
Duane A. Laverty / Waco Tribune-Herald

The Trojans will have to readjust quickly. Few of the stars from that team are back.

Replacing quarterback Randy Price, a four-year starter at the position, will be a tall order. Carroll repurposed senior all-district running back Gerrell Griffin (right), who as of now will take most of the first-team reps under center.

Sophomore Ray Washington, the Super Centex Newcomer of the Year in basketball, will cycle in as more of a pass-oriented trigger man. Third-year starter A.J. Montgomery should help ease the transition as a sure-handed wideout with legit speed.

There are concerns over experience and size, but athleticism should be at a premium. Weakside linebacker Isaac Carrillo heads a speedy defense that features two shutdown corners in Katron Marshall and Anthony Tisdale, who lead a secondary Carroll calls the “strength of the defense.”

The defensive line is very inexperienced after losing tackles Xavier Mitchell and Damian Halliburton.

University broke though a lot of barriers last season, one of which was defeating Waco High for the first time since consolidation in 1986. The Trojans will look to avoid a dropoff after one of their best seasons in recent memory.

— Text by Parchman and Orts
Predictions by Parchman