District previews

> Choose district District 12-5A District 8-4A District 8-3A District 19-3A District 20-3A Dist. 4-2A (I) Dist. 11-2A (I) Dist. 12-2A (I) Dist. 4-2A (II) Dist. 11-2A (II) Dist. 12-2A (II) Dist. 7-1A (I) Dist. 8-1A (I) Dist. 12-1A (I) Dist. 9-1A (II) Dist. 10-1A (II) TAPPS 2-II TAPPS 2-IV Six-man Dist. 12 (I) Six-man Dist. 13 (I) Six-man Dist. 14 (I) Six-man Dist. 15 (I) Six-man Dist. 12 (II) Six-man Dist. 13 (II) Six-man Dist. 16 (II) TAPPS 2-Six-man (II) Six-man TCAL, indep.

> Back to Football 2010

There are a lot of question marks in this district.

Can Walnut Springs, a state semi-finalist in 2009, replace a standout senior class? Or will on-the-rise Avalon emerge as the district leader? Might Kopperl or Covington find a way to sneak into the postseason mix? And who can figure out Waxahachie Advantage, which is opening its first year in the UIL?

It should be interesting seeing how these questions get answered.

Walnut Springs Hornets

Head coach: Tim Trotter (3rd season: 21-5)

Playoff history: 7-10 in 11 trips, most recently 2009; 0 state championships

Returning: 4 lettermen; 1 offensive, 3 defensive starters

Outlook: Coming off their best season in school history, the Hornets have loads to replace. But the players who are back are pretty talented.

They include RB/LB Kody Stack, a returning Super Centex star who scored 14 touchdowns while picking up 161 tackles and six interceptions defensively. Another defensive stalwart is NG Ryan Engelhardt (right), a second-team all-state pick last season.

Trotter will count on QB/DB Mario Ballesteros for leadership, while senior SE Trey Buscha and SE Zane Trotter, the coach’s son, should be targeted plenty. Dylan Cooke, a move-in from Meridian, takes over at center, and brother tandem Austin and Dillon Rose will help out in the defensive secondary.

**at Hico

Kopperl Eagles

Head coach: Cooper Thornhill (2nd season: 2-8)

Playoff history: 0-1 in 1 trip (2003); 0 state championships

Returning: 11 lettermen; 5 offensive, 5 defensive starters

Outlook: Experience should pay dividends for Kopperl as it tries to reach the postseason for the first time in seven years.

The Eagles will have to replace former Super Centex star Travis Bryant in the backfield, but RBs Blake Harlin (5-6, 165) and Dillon Young (5-10, 190) should step in nicely. Young, a junior, is entering his third year as a varsity starter.

Helping to anchor the defense will be DE Justin Martin, CB Rusty Hutcherson and DE Dakota Frazier.

Covington Owls

Head coach: Tom McVey (3rd season: 0-20)

Playoff history: 3-5 in 5 trips, most recently 1997; 0 state championships

Returning: 6 lettermen; 3 offensive, 3 defensive starters

Outlook: Covington hasn’t won a game since its last 11-man season in 2007, so priority No. 1 for the Owls will be to taste victory again.

RBs Garrett Bishop, Michael Windham and Trey Gibbs will split up ball-carrying duties for the Owls, and will take handoffs from QB Jonathan Wallace, the son of assistant coach Darrell Wallace. DB Fernando Perez and DL Randall Robertson will be counted on to make plays defensively.

— Cherry