This is the sixth 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 21-5A.

Suburban Houston schools
BAYTOWN LEE
Nickname: Ganders.
Colors: Maroon and white.
Enrollment: 2,233.
2007 record: 5-6 overall (Division II bi-district finalists, lost 35-10 to Pasadena Memorial), 4-3 district.
Coach: Dick Olin.

Veteran Ganders fans shouldn’t worry that well into the summer, Olin was looking for this quarterback. In fact, their trust in Olin’s grooming abilities – among others, he oversaw stepson Drew Tate’s transformation into a starter at the University of Iowa – probably obviated any concerns in the first place. And based on their 7-on-7 performance, the Ganders’ starter is likely Tim Jirrels, who started one game a year ago and ensured them a state berth this summer.

The pieces around Jirrels, or whomever the starter will be, seem to be in place. The loss of 26 letterwinners left depth thin, but the early favorites include RB Paul Martinez and WR Jahwran Goode. They aren’t at the top of the prospect list yet.

Defensively, speedy CB and University of Houston commit Thomas Bates leads a unit featuring inside forces Donovan Raymond and Zach Zellers on the line.

BAYTOWN STERLING
Nickname: Rangers.
Colors: Silver and blue.
Enrollment: 2,485.
2007 record: 1-9, 1-6.
Coach: Herb Minyard.

Tough to tell right now how the Rangers’ season may go, mostly because there are a lot of mixed signals. Sterling does return 16 letterwinners and 11 starters from a 1-9 team, but lost a decent number of athletes to Goose Creek Memorial, Goose Creek ISD’s third high school that will start its existence as a 4A school.

Sterling’s biggest loss was return specialist Justin Neal, now at the Colorado School of Mines. Probably its most prominent returning starter is QB Keagan Kegut, who started only one game in 2007. The line in front of him is touted, led by 6-foot-4, 310-pounder Fitisuela Partsch, Mike Gibson and Ian Irby. Junior OL Hayden Jones could make a name for himself, as might sophomore RB Chance Nelson.

The non-district schedule provides few gimmes, with La Porte and South Houston up early in addition to Pearland Dawson and New Caney.

CHANNELVIEW
Nickname: Falcons.
Colors: Royal blue and gold.
Enrollment: 2,204.
2007 record: 4-6, 3-4.
Coach: Averion Hurts.

The Falcons will have to replenish the skill positions quickly if they hope to improve their record for the fifth straight year. Probably the biggest question is who will replace Jackie Hinton, who accounted for well more than 1,000 yards and 14 touchdowns as an RB and sometime WR. That job might fall to senior Denzel Granderson, Hinton’s backup a year ago.

The lines are in better shape, paced by offensive tackles Cedric Steward and Jerel Watkins and defensive end Tyrone Campbell. Campbell recorded more than 50 tackles last year.

As in any six-team district, an upset here or there could be the key to a postseason appearance for the first time since 1993 and only the third time ever. A strong overall start is a good possibility, but West Brook and North Shore are Channelview’s first two 21-5A games.

NORTH SHORE
Nickname: Mustangs.
Colors: Red and black.
Enrollment: 4,216.
2007 record: 14-1 (Division I state semifinalists, lost 28-7 to Converse Judson), 7-0.
Coach: David Aymond.

If North Shore doesn’t let down after its extremely grueling non-district schedule – in case you forgot, it’s Katy, Eisenhower, Cypress Falls, La Marque and Southlake Carroll – it has a good chance to run the table in the district. West Brook should provide the toughest challenge, and that game isn’t until Nov. 7 – Week 10 – at Galena Park.

As usual, the Mustangs are loaded. They return 20 lettermen. Many of these skill players played prominent parts last year – RB DeAundre Jones rushed for 978 yards and three touchdowns and TE Barrett Matthews, a Texas commit, caught eight touchdown passes.

LB Daniel Salinas and his eyepopping 142 tackles return, as does DT Thad Randle, who committed to Nebraska last spring. Safeties Alton Denby and Eric Ruben each had two interceptions for the Mustangs’ sometimes-overlooked defense.

The hurdle for North Shore remains the postseason. They advanced as far last season as they had since 2003, the year of their last state championship.

Beyond metro Houston
BEAUMONT WEST BROOK
Nickname: Panthers.
Colors: Blue and red.
Enrollment: 2,430.
2007 record: 10-2 (Division II area finalists, lost 36-33 to Fort Bend Clements), 7-0.
Coach: Craig Stump.

Rumor has it that touted RB Christine Michael only spells his name that way because it was misprinted years ago on his Social Security card and he simply decide to go with the flow. There’s no mistaking, though, that West Brook is the most formidable threat to North Shore cruising through this district. Michael, who is most interested in Texas A&M and LSU, had 1,200 yards and 28 touchdowns last year. He’ll run behind a veteran, talented line.

Senior LB Taylor Reed had nearly 100 tackles last year and will lead a defense featuring mostly underclassmen.

PORT ARTHUR MEMORIAL
Nickname: Titans.
Colors: Red, black and silver.
Enrollment: 2,383.
2007 record: 4-6, 3-4.
Coach: Ronnie Thompson.

A talented defense highlights the Titans, who return 30 letterwinners and 10 starters – seven on defense. End Radermon Scypion, a verbal commitment to Houston, brings 88 tackles, nine of them for loss, and five sacks. That wasn’t even tops on the team – LB Earl Hines had 126 tackles as a sophomore. Thompson is high on sophomore WR K’Sean Wesley, a 5-11, 170-pounder who caught 21 touchdowns on the freshman team.

Subscribe to this comment's feed