Centex Grid Fans Enjoy Huge Week

Bill Reynolds- Head Feature Writer

- February 8, 2004 -

The Texas high school football campaign won't kick off for another six months, but there was plenty of off-field action this past week for fans and analysts to tackle.
    
Which means water cooler moments weren't limited to confabs over whether singer Justin Timberlake should've been flagged for illegal use of the hands during the now infamous Super Bowl halftime show at Houston's Reliant Stadium.
    
The office and campus buzz throughout Central Texas instead focused on the much anticipated release of the University Interscholastic League's (UIL) bi-annual realignment format, and national letter of intent signings by area NCAA grid recruits.
    
While Texas senior blue chippers literally signed away the next four or five years of their lives, the state's high schools---barring appeals---were redistricted for a new two-year term.
    
Despite "location, location, location" (the old real estate axiom) figuring heavily into the 2004-06 re-districting map, some interesting Geography emerged.
    
Though nothing to compel coaches to take flight to Oklahoma or New Mexico, the official postings did create something akin to a swap meet atmosphere as school and athletic officials scrambled to fill non-District dates come August.
    
And the new UIL lines promise during the District season to have some Central Texas schools on the road as much as Willie Nelson.
    
Consider Mart, which landed in the new 22-2A loop. There is Hearne and Franklin to the south, plus Centerville to the east. All represent an hour's drive for the Panthers.
    
Still, area fans should be the big winners with the potential for engaging District races as well as enticing non-conference pairings taking shape next fall. The revamped 13-5A circuit likely will be no exception.
    
Playoff clubs A&M Consolidated, Belton, and Temple along with perennial contender Waco High will welcome Killeen's Harker Heights and Shoemaker to a District that also features improving Bryan and the entertaining aerial exploits of Copperas Cove.
    
Midway and University High will compete in a 16-4A grouping that includes Killeen High, Killeen Ellison, Lampassas, and tradition-rich Brownwood.
    
Some minor tweaking adds a couple  new wrinkles to 17-3A, which last season provided arguably the most interesting title chase in the Centexsports.com coverage region. Lorena joins a balanced and talented District also comprised of Waco Connally, China Spring, LaVega, Robinson, and Gatesville.
    
On the other hand, 18-3A underwent a major facelift that now places defending champion and State runnerup Marlin in the same District with always dangerous Mexia and rivals on the rise in Groesbeck, Fairfield, and Madisonville.
    
The Crawford Pirates, who in '03 shipwrecked District pretenders en route to an undefeated regular season and playoff berth, now find themselves in 21-2A with McGregor, coming off back-to-back post-season appearances, and Troy, which is moving down from the 3A ranks, among others.
    
Axtell, highly competitive at 2A a year ago, was realigned to Single-A. But the Longhorns certainly got no favors. Axtell has drawn District 12-A, home to '03 State powerhouses Chilton and Bosqueville, traditional 'A' standouts Wortham, Dawson, and Hubbard, and rebuilding Riesel.
    
With realignment giving Central Texas high school football fans much for which to look forward, last week was as well a time for reflection as top graduating prospects took their first steps toward playing at the next level.
    
All will leave lasting legacies and fuel memories of remarkable performances under  Friday Night Lights---with the promise of doing much of the same on Saturdays.
  
Waco High coverage ace Marcus Walker inked with Oklahoma, as did Palestine's Adrian Peterson, considered in many circles as the premier prep running back in America. Also going out-of-state are Marlin DBs D'Nerian Wrighter and Matterial (Red) Richardson, and University OL Ryan Young, all of whom signed with Arkansas.
  
Staying closer to home will be Belton's Ramonce Taylor, who committed to coach Mack Brown and the University of Texas. Versatile Torey Degrate, Walker's WHS teammate---and like Taylor also a skilled high school cager---is taking his pass catching skills to Texas A&M.

Replacing them will be no easy feat. But there's no doubt that in countless weight rooms and on remote running trails there are at the moment dozens of Central Texas high school players working hard to gain that edge to do something truly special in the fall.
  
Because "location, location, location" isn't the only quote that comes to mind this time of year.
  
There's also the one that says football championships aren't won between August and December. Rather, the saying goes, they're won between December and August.