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> Back to Football 2010

None of the four teams in this new Central Texas district have made the playoffs since 2007, so it’s a group with big dreams.

Figure on Iredell and Jonesboro, the teams with the most recent playoff experience, as the favorites, though the Eagles will have to rebound from a 2-8 season. But Morgan and Cranfills Gap aren’t too far behind those top two in numbers or talent.

“I’ve been telling people this, but I think this could be the most competitive district in the state,” Gap coach Kyle Doty said. “There’s not much separation between us.”

Jonesboro Eagles

Head coach: Eduardo Gallegos (2nd season: 2-8)

Playoff history: 16-23-2 in 24 trips, most recently 2007; 0 state championships

Returning: 7 lettermen; 4 offensive, 4 defensive starters

Outlook: Jonesboro will be looking to restore a proud playoff tradition behind a strong running game led by senior RB/LB Matt Buster, who busted his way to 1,008 yards on the ground a year ago.

DL/OL Jacob Dossey (6-3, 185) returns to solidfy the lines, while LB/QB Ethan Jenkins, SE Gerritt Buster and C Travis Lusk will also play key roles.

Iredell Dragons

Head coach: Don Coffell (14th season: 67-68)

Playoff history: 5-11 in 13 trips, most recently 2007; 0 state championships

Returning: 6 lettermen; 4 offensive, 5 defensive starters

Outlook: The Dragons won’t have an easy task replacing Brady Lee, an all-region and Super Centex running back from a year ago. But there is still talent on hand, led by junior RB/LB Ryan Wilson, who rushed for 829 yards and 12 TDs last year while also earning second-team all-region recognition at linebacker.

WR/DB Manuel Vergara is a versatile talent at both catching and running with the ball, and should handle the kicking duties.

Cranfills Gap Lions

Head coach: Kyle Doty (13th season: 22-95)

Playoff history: 1-4 in 4 trips, most recently 1991; 0 state championships

Returning: 5 lettermen; 5 offensive, 5 defensive starters

Outlook: Gap will rely on 10 players, five of whom are freshmen. But the ones with experience can take heart in the fact that they notched wins over two of their three new district foes, Morgan and Jonesboro, in 2009. “We’re hoping to build on that win over Jonesboro (in Week 10),” Doty said.

Senior RB Anthony Aldren is the team’s workhorse in the backfield, while a core of three juniors, RB Nate Walsh, QB Daniel Olvera and C Will Hubbard, should prove vital to Gap’s hopes. Doty said the Lions will shift from a spread formation to a tighter alignment after having some success with that look late last year.

Morgan Eagles

Head coach: Daryle Humphrey (1st season)

Playoff history: 0-1 in 1 trip (2001); 0 state championships

Returning: 8 lettermen; 3 offensive, 3 defensive starters

Outlook: The Eagles will have youth on their side, as 12 of their 14 players are sophomores or freshmen.

Providing that rare senior leadership for Morgan are QB/S Victor Regalado and C Logan Cline. Others who will play key roles include SE/LB Cameron Frase, NG David Hernandez and RB Jordan Wright. Humphrey, who was an assistant coach at Vernon Northside last year, is also counting on freshman RB/LB Daniel Regalado, Victor’s brother, to make an instant splash.

— Cherry