Coach - Joey Florence (fifth season)
1997 record - 8-3
Offensive scheme - Multiple I
Defensive scheme - Split
Returning all-district players - TB Jason Demidio (5-10, 175); LB Jason Finch (6-0, 190); FS/WR Drew Conley (6-2, 180)
Keep an eye on - WR Jeff Miller (6-0, 170); OL Matt Morgan (5-11, 210); OL Andrew Smith (5-11, 225); TE Jamie Shanahan (6-3, 240); QB Brandon Shaw (6-2, 180); DL Billy Mayberry (5-9, 200: K/P Jeff Beeler (6-0, 170)
The coach says - ''Our team strength is our experience at the skill positions.
Brandon Shaw returns for his third season of varsity action and his second year as a starter. He has developed one of the strongest arms in the area, and his height and arm strength make him a formidable weapon in the passing game. Jason Demidio runs a 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and bench presses 320 pounds. He is fun to watch, and he could be big time.
Vernard Wilkerson has great hands and can score everytime he touches the ball, and Billy Mayberry had a great sophomore year. He is the most competitive person on the team. He does not like to lose.''
The coach picks - 1. Cooper; 2. Paul Pewitt; 3. Honey Grove; 4. Paris Chisum; 5. Prairiland; 6. Rivercrest.
Did you know? - Cooper opened the season with a 39-0 loss to Bells in 1997, but the Bulldogs rebounded to win seven in a row - scoring at least 28 points in all seven wins after the season-opening shutout. The Bulldogs scored 50 points once, 40 or more four times and 30 or more seven times in 11 games.
Honey Grove Warriors
Coach - Robert Manley (fourth season)
1997 record - 6-4
Offensive scheme - Pro I
Defensive scheme - 5-2
Returning all-district players - TE Blake Jones (5-10, 185); FB Scottie Allen (5-9, 185); QB Gabe Lane (5-11, 175); LB Andy Lane (5-11, 215); LB Thad Weems (5-11, 215)
Keep an eye on - TE Ryan Holmes (6-0, 185); FS Broderick McFail (5-9, 160); OL/DL Ryan Turner (6-0, 210); WR Kenyon West (5-9, 155); LB Jessica Shipman (5-10, 175); TB Lee acevedo (5-10, 165); LB Steven Beaver (5-9, 155)
The coach says - ''I feel good about this team, and I think we have a shot at making the playoffs. The district was tough, but it got tougher with the addition of Paul Pewitt. Cooper is always tough, but I feel we can compete for a playoff berth. We have a good group of juniors coming up. The kids are hungry. They fell just short last season, and they worked hard in the offseason to take the extra step.''
The coach picks - No answer
Did you know? - Lane rushed for more than 400 yards last season on just 85 carries. Twelve of those 85 carries finished in the end zone.
Paris Chisum Mustangs
Coach - Jim Moss (eighth season)
1997 record - 3-7
Offensive scheme - Wishbone
Defensive scheme - 50
Returning all-district players - DL Jerome Smith (6-1, 270); FB/LB Kwame Ferguson (6-0, 190)
Keep an eye on - LB J.R. Sweat (6-0, 210); QB T.J. Terman (5-11, 185); QB Kea Wallace (6-1, 170); RB/FS Jimmy Wallace (5-10, 185); DE Thomas Murphy (6-1, 195); TB Derwin Crittenden (5-8, 200)
The coach says - ''We've struggled the last two seasons, and a lot of what we need to do to turn things around has to do with attitude. We need to hustle from start to finish. We still have some that don't understand you have to go full-speed all the time. Depth is a problem. We have three offensive linemen who would be starters but are gone for the season.''
The coach picks - No answer
Did you know? - Paris Chism has never been to the playoffs in the nine-year history of the program despite finishing 8-2 twice in that span.
Prairiland Patriots
Coach - Rick Connett (sixth season)
1997 record - 1-9
Offensive scheme - Multiple Wing T
Defensive scheme - Multiple 8-man front
Returning all-district players - K Joel Hudson (6-0, 180); TE Lucus Wright (6-4, 210); DB Aaron Williams (5-9, 170)
Keep an eye on - FB/DE Shane Chennault (6-2, 180); FB/LB Stan Cox (5-9, 205)
The coach says - ''The last two years we have been done in by injuries. We were 1-0 in district play last year and we were beating the eventual district champion when we had two starters go down with injuries. We lost a total of six starters to injuries last season, and that hurt us. Hopefully it was a mixed blessing, because we had to play so many young kids last year and now those kids have a year of experience under their belts.''
The coach picks - No answer
Did you know? - Prairiland has never been to the playoffs in football since the school began the sport in 1971. The team has gone 2-8, 4-6, 3-6-1, 1-9 and 1-9 in Connett's five previous seasons.
Rivercrest Rebels
Coach - Keith Brown (fifth season)
1997 record - 5-5
Offensive scheme - Wing T
Defensive scheme - 3-4
Returning all-district players - OL Jeremy Jones (6-2, 240); OLB A.D. Martin (5-11, 195)
Keep an eye on - OL/DL Craig Eudy (6-5, 260); OL Eric Aldridge (6-0, 310); LB Scotty Goodwin (5-10, 180); WR Keith Hines (6-3, 175)
The coach says - ''We have some size on the offensive line, and if we can block we will be successful. Defensively we have to play better. We were young last season, starting a freshman and three sophomores. Those kids are back, and they have matured, so we feel good about things on that side of the ball.''
The coach picks - No answer
Did you know? - When Brown arrived to take over as head coach at Rivercrest, 13 players suited up for varsity football. Brown welcomed 55 players (grades 10-12) for the opening practice this season.
