TexasHSFootball.com has published its 2010 Class 1A preseason rankings and Canadian (Division I) and Tenaha (Division II) have grabbed the top spots in their respective divisions.
Canadian is no stranger to being state-ranked and winning state championships. The Wildcats, from the Panhandle, just missed winning their third consecutive 1A championship in 2009, losing to Goldthwaite, 29-25.
With a revamped Class 1A that moved seven of last year's eight 1A-I and 1A-II regional champions into Division I this year (the eighth--Joaquin--moved up to Class 2A), Canadian will have a tough road to navigate to make it back to the championship game.
Christopher Lyke, chief editor of TexasHSFootball.com, says the indications are that Canadian should be up to the challenge.
"Canadian is a team that has established itself over the last couple of years," says Lyke, "with a championship 'it' factor."
He believes that the offensive and defensive line play may be key to their success.
"The Wildcats have a very talented group that is led by Missouri commit Taylor Chappell on the lines," he says. "You combine that with an already stingy defense with Ryan Alexander, and a late-season title run is, yet again, a reality."
Tenaha, on the other hand, may have benefitted from the fact that so many Class 1A powerhouses were classified as Division I schools. The Tigers won their only state championship in 1998, but TexasHSFootball.com gives them the nod as the top-ranked Division II team.
"Tenaha is looking very salty with Reginald Davis back," says Lyke. "(He's) a dangerous threat on both sides of the ball."
Lyke states that, much like Canadian in Division I, the Tenaha defense will be a key factor for a potential title run. And the restructuring of Class 1A doesn't hurt at all.
"They were talented enough last year to win it," Lyke states, "but they have a much better chance this year with the way the alignment shook things up in Class 1A."
From the Greater Houston area, High Island--the 1A school with closest proximity to Houston--earned the No. 10 regional ranking in Division II/Region IV. TexasHSFootball.com projects the Cardinals as the runner-up in District 14-1A-II behind Evadale.
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