This is the 22nd of The Athlete's Connection's 30 football previews in 30 days leading up to the season-opening games Aug. 28. Today, Chad Washington visits with Fort Bend Hightower coach Shane Hallmark and quarterback A.J. Highsmith.

The bar has been raised at Fort Bend Hightower.

Not just content with a district championship and going deep in the playoffs, the Hurricanes are now gunning for a regional championship and a berth in the 5A state championship game in December at Reliant Stadium.

The Hurricanes have been a perennial playoff team since 2001; missing the postseason only in one season back in 2005. Last year, Hightower overcame a 0-3 start to the season by winning its next 10 games, including tight playoff games against Humble and Cypress Ridge. North Shore ended the run in the Region III-5A Division I finals with a 33-9 win.

Now with arguably its strongest team in years, there is excitement and hope in Missouri City that this could be the year Hightower breaks through and brings home the hardware.

“I’m just concerned in winning a state championship,” quarterback A.J. Highsmith said.

But new head coach Shane Hallmark – who was the defensive coordinator last year until former coach Gene Johnson took the job at Cypress Ranch – is hoping to install a mental attitude to help his team learn to play like champions before thinking that they are champions.

“We’re preaching high goals, but with that, (we need to work on) the accountability factor that they have to have with the program,” Hallmark said. “If they want to be a champion, you have to model yourselves after Katy, Euless Trinity and Southlake Carroll have done. They have taken on every opponent and been able to finish games. And that’s something we need to do, we need to learn how to finish games and hopefully get off to better starts.”

Highsmith could be the one who helps Hightower get off to good starts. The three-year starter is a good mix of a quick runner and a strong passer. He threw for over 2,300 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2007. But more importantly, he has developed into a team leader and a smart player on the field.

Although Hightower lost four talented wide receivers from last year’s team, returning starter Darius Johnson is Highsmith’s favorite target and will keep the passing game going. But the real strength of the Hurricane offense will be the running game, with returning letterman London Hamilton and transfer Jermane Longino providing a bruising attack. The offensive line should be decent with returners Alvin Jackson and Jordan Becker.

Most of the buzz around Hightower is because seven starters are back on a defense that held opponents to only 13 points per game last season. There is talent at almost every position, including the secondary and linebackers. Safety Colton Valencia is a strong hitter as well as a ball-hawking defender, while cornerback Alex Francis can be a lock-down defender. Linebackers Tomas Luna, Phillip Steward and Shaun Lewis are all quick to the ball and can pressure the quarterback.

“There’s a lot of pressure on them because there’s a lot of people telling them how good they’re supposed to be,” Hallmark said. “And sometimes they believe how good they’re supposed to be. But we stay on them, and we expect good things from them.”

The first test for the Hurricanes comes in the season opener against another team with dreams of a state title in Eisenhower on Aug. 29 at Hall Stadium. The game against the Eagles will feature several Division I commitments as well as provide an indicator whether both teams are strong enough to make a run for state.

“We’re excited for that game as more than anything to see where we are,” Hallmark said. “They got great players over there, and we’ll see if we can run with those guys. Win or lose, we’re going to come out of that game knowing what we need to do.”

After the Eisenhower game and a bye week, Hightower jumps immediately into District 23-5A play because of the addition of Fort Bend Travis into the mix, making it a 10-team district. Hallmark feels this will be a tough task to handle.

“I think sometimes our district gets a bad rap for being so big, but there’s good football players and good coaches there,” Hallmark said. “You have to come out and play every game or you’re going to get beat. And even Travis and coach (Randy) Cunningham is going to have his kids ready to go. It’s going to be a war every week.”

The confidence is high for Hightower to break out and make some big waves this season. But the question remains if the Hurricanes can make another run like it did last season, and can it keep going all the way to state.

“We got to maintain our focus and stay disciplined late in the season,” Highsmith said. “It’s a long season, and we have to stay focused for the long haul.”

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