With Spring Football coming to a close pretty soon and summer workouts and 7-on-7 activities starting, we will be keeping our eye on a bunch of a teams. We will present five teams from Classes 1A to 4A each and ten teams from Classes 5A to 8A each for teams that we will be watching going into the summer and fall. With reclassification, there are some new looks including districts and the teams that shape them. As such new challenges face all the teams around the state and that means things are likely to be different than 2012. The teams we present will be followed up during the summer with more in depth looks at the teams and their respective districts.
LAFAYETTE HORNETS | District 1A-5
The Lafayette Hornets last year did the unthinkable by pushing defending Class 1A champion Jefferson County in to the district runner-up status and did so with a fairly young roster. [membership level=”1,2″]However, the Hornets have lost one of its biggest playmakers over the last few years in JR Bass and will be looking to find a replacement. The big question here is to see if the Hornets have what it takes to make a run for the state championship game in Orlando this year in a South bracket that will have a few teams wanting the same thing.
LIBERTY COUNTY BULLDOGS | District 1A-4
The Liberty County Bulldogs fell one game short of competing for a state title for the first time since 1969, but with a very strong Northview team, they were over powered at the end. One of the key concerns is how to replace a lot of the senior talent that has now graduated including replacing key playmaker QB/DB Alex Marlowe.
NORTHVIEW CHIEFS | District 1A-1
The defending Class 1A state champion, will be having some work to do, including replacing a lot of senior talent. However, they will be returning talent including WR/CB Neino Robinson and RB/WR/FS Brannon Freeman, both who should be able to provide some leadership for the Chiefs. Overall though, the key question will be is to see if a younger squad will be able to help the Chiefs repeat as Class 1A state champions in 2013.
TRENTON TIGERS | District 1A-6
The Trenton Tigers are coming off their most successful season in school history in where they reach the state title game for the first time ever. A lot of people expect Trenton not to fall off from where they were last season, but some key contributing playmakers have moved on including RB Cedric Stokes and OLB Hunter Parrish. The big question is can they do it again at making another run to state and can anyone stop them?
UNION COUNTY TIGERS | District 1A-7
Union County has come off perfect back-to-back regular seasons only to have their hopes of returning to the state title game for the first time since 2003, get dashed. For these Tigers they will have to replace some talent thanks to graduation including finding replacements for key playmakers including RB/OLB Walter Mabrey, RB Prince Alexander and TE/DE Carl Alexander . However, there is quite a bit of talent returning, but the key question will be to see if the Tigers can finally punch their way through to making it to Orlando in December.
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