This is the fourth of The Athlete’s Connection’s 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games beginning Thursday, Aug. 28. Today, Athlete's Connection sportswriter Dave Purpura takes a look at District 24-5A.

Suburban Houston schools
ALVIN
Nickname: Yellow Jackets.
Colors: Orange and white.
Enrollment: 2,838.
2007 record: 0-10 overall, 0-6 district.
Coach: Jeff Dungen.

The Yellow Jackets’ five-year-long decline hit rock-bottom last year, when a winless record followed years of 5,6,4 and 2 wins since a 7-3 record in 2002. There isn’t much reason to suspect things will change this year, but the addition of first-year school Clear Springs could keep Alvin from the kind of perfect season they don’t want.

The top players appear to be on defense, with DL Josh Fowler and LBs Brenton Beasley and Matthew Bass. The latter two combined for 80 tackles last year, stats they’ll have to increase considerably to make the Yellow Jackets’ defense a force.

Senior RB Ashton Jefferson, a fullback type at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, will have to be the primary offensive performer and increase from 434 yards and four touchdowns a year ago.

CLEAR BROOK
Nickname: Wolverines.
Colors: Red and black.
Enrollment: 2,694.
2007 record: 3-8 (Division II bi-district finalists, lost 49-28 to Fort Bend Clements), 2-4.
Coach: Paul Lanier.

No reason to believe the ground game won’t key success for Brook and Lanier, who in his first year at Brook didn’t vary from the wishbone that earned him success at Galveston Ball.

There were many positive signs last year – QB Lane Berry ran for 16 touchdowns and nearly 1,400 yards but threw for only 212 yards and no scores, paltry numbers no matter the system.

LB Miles Gay, a three-year starter who had 40 tackles last year, paces a defense that seemed to come in to its own late. After allowing at least 24 points in five of their first six games, including a one-point win against Alvin, they did so only once the second half of last season.

Brandon Ellison, a 6-0, 190-pound senior, could figure in at RB, LB and S.

The Wolverines face two playoff teams early; they have Lamar and Strake Jesuit before 24-5A play begins.

CLEAR CREEK
Nickname: Wildcats.
Colors: Maroon and silver.
Enrollment: 3,126.
2007 record: 5-6 (Division I bi-district finalists, lost 30-8 to Fort Bend Hightower), 4-2.
Coach: Darrell Warden.

Oh, if a few bounces had gone a different way last year. The Wildcats lost to district powers Brazoswood and Pearland by 14 and six points, respectively, in back-to-back weeks at midseason and to 9-3 Klein Forest by a touchdown in Zero Week. That gave way to a losing record and 22-point loss to buzzsaw Hightower.

The defense may be able to get Creek over the hump. It’s led by Texas commit Marcus Davis, a five-star safety and Texas commit who had 47 tackles and three interceptions last year. DB James Galvin should lock down the other side.

Then it’s up to the offense, which scored a lot of point early but not many late in the year. The standouts should be RB Nick Mencacci and WR D.J. Gipson, who combined for 12 touchdowns last year but didn’t put up stellar numbers otherwise.

Pasadena Memorial, Kingwood and Baytown Lee isn’t an easy non-district stretch.

CLEAR LAKE
Nickname: Falcons.
Colors: Red, blue and white.
Enrollment: 3,530.
2007 record: 6-4, 2-4.
Coach: Troy Aduddell.

With a ton of depth and experience, it’s little wonder many are picking Clear Lake to edge Dickinson for the district championship. The Falcons return 15 starters, nine on offense, and Aduddell is high on team speed. The only reason Lake didn’t make the playoffs last year after a 4-0 start was a 2-4 district record.

There’s not a clear-cut stud on defense, but rather several of them – Texas A&M bound-DT Stephen Barrera had 53 tackles, nine for loss; DB Nate Snow made an astounding 80 tackles with an interception; and junior LB Jon Witten averaged 13 tackles a game in his only two starts.

RBs Jarred Mack and Randall Holliman should put on a show of force.

In case you’re wondering, the showdown with Dickinson is Oct. 23 in League City.

CLEAR SPRINGS
Nickname: Chargers.
Colors: Blue, black and silver.
Enrollment: 2,320.
2007 record: First-year program.
Coach: Clint Hartman.

As with most first-year programs, there’s not much set in stone and the prospects aren’t particularly high. Hartman feels the Chargers could be competitive, given they’ve had a year to adjust to his system.

They may be exciting, at least, with a spread offense. WR James Cunningham might become the go-to target of QB Phillip Miller, while Byron Williams likely will be the lead running back.

Hartman is no stranger to success. During the last three of his four years as a defensive coordinator at Seguin, the Matadors went 24-9 and three of his players made all-state.

Clear Springs’ season opener will provide a rare sight. When the Panthers play DeKaney in Week Zero, there won’t be a single senior on the field.

Beyond metro Houston
BRAZOSWOOD
Nickname: Buccaneers.
Colors: Blue and silver.
Enrollment: 2,819.
2007 record: 9-2 (Division II area finalists, lost 28-17 to Pasadena Memorial), 5-1.
Coach: Dean DeAtley.

The Buccaneers have a lot of work to do if they’re to sustain their recent success – they’re 21-4 the past two seasons with two playoff berths, their first winning seasons in a decade. Not only did graduation deplete the offensive line and linebacking corps, but RB Yobes Walker and his 2,100 yards also are gone. Thirty-nine letterwinners graduated and only seven return.

In his stead may come Travis Lundy, a 5-9, 165-pound senior who played free safety last year but likely will start at tailback, too. He won’t be the only two-way player – junior OL Chris Grishby probably will start on the defensive line. RB Kendal Brown and FB Alvin Samuel will accompany Lundy, with Troy Deska the receiving threat.

DICKINSON
Nickname: Gators.
Colors: Blue and white.
Enrollment: 2,155.
2007 record: 8-3 (4A bi-district finalist, lost 39-14 to Lamar Consolidated), 4-2 in 23-4A.
Coach: Warren Trahan.

The Gators’ winning mentality and enormous depth should spare them the growing pains often associated with a move up in conference. The offense should again be explosive, especially if QB Brody Trahan (the coach’s son) plays a full season. The Baylor commit threw for eight touchdowns in three games before a torn ACL ended his season; he accounted for more than 2,400 total yards as a sophomore.

His targets will include WRs Clay Honeycutt, Corey Thomas and Donald Hunter. Hunter caught six touchdowns last year.

GALVESTON BALL
Nickname: Tornadoes.
Colors: Purple and gold.
Enrollment: 2,452.
2007 record: 5-5, 2-4.
Coach: Ron Holmes.

The strength of the Tors appears to be the trenches. NG Broderick Brown had nearly 70 tackles last year and OG Geremy Wilson – even his name sounds tough, doesn’t it? – will anchor a line in front of first-year starting QB Richard Sincere. Sincere threw five touchdowns and seven interceptions in limited time in 2007. Ball lost 30 seniors after Holmes’ first season.

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