District 21-3A 2009 Overview
Predicted Order of Finish (Division I teams in all CAPS):
1. West Orange-Stark
2. SILSBEE
3. Bridge City
4. Sour Lake Hardin-Jefferson
5. Hamshire-Fannett
6. Orangefield
2008 Season Recap (season finish):
West Orange-Stark has enjoyed many strong seasons under coach Dan Hooks. Only a handful stand out more than 2008 when the unbeaten district champion Mustangs (12-1) defeated Coldspring and Caldwell before falling to Gilmer 35-23 in Division II. Hardin-Jefferson (4-6) also reached the Division II bi-district, falling 46-14 to Cleveland.
Silsbee (6-5) also reached the regional semifinals before dropping a 48-33 battle against Navasota. Bridge City (4-4), Hamshire-Fannett (3-6) and Orangefield (1-7) missed the postseason in 2008.
2009 Breakdown:
Class 3A football has a quandary: so many elite teams with pedigree, speed, talent, recent success that only a handful are ranked by every website.
Liberty Hill, Gilmer, Celina, Carthage, Giddings and West Orange-Stark are consistent top five picks by most prognosticators. In 21-3A, the WO-S Mustangs are a legitimate state contender with powerful defending state champion Carthage as their major Region III obstacle. While WO-S is ranked in the top 8, Silsbee also received preseason ranks.
If you recall, the Mustangs are an annual threat to get to a state semifinal or better, and they accomplished that in 4A football not long ago. Speed powers WO-S in 2009 with WR-KR Trey Franks (5-11, 180) using his 4.38 speed to take three punts to the end zone last year. DB James Haynes (6-1, 188) is another burner with DE Steven Cook (6-1, 235) powering the defensive line.
Silsbee will enter the season with the returning district MVP in QB Jeremy Johnson (6-2, 180), who threw for 1,876 and 18 TDs in 2008 and runs well with 4.5 speed. RB Chris Barnes (5-8, 165) and WR Jarrian Rhone and WR Prentice Lane will provide the offense’s weapons.
Bridge City will make a push into the postseason with QB Josh Lemoine, RB Matt Menard and CB Zach Heinze providing the Cardinal horsepower. Lemoine threw for 1, 094 yards and 8 TDs while Menard scored 4 TDs as varsity newcomer of the year.
Hardin-Jefferson returns 9/6 starters, which will help the Hawks in the playoff hunt. QB Blake Venable (6-1, 185) and RB Jacoby Turner (5-11, 175) will keep points on the board for the Hawks.
Hamshire-Fannett will depend on QB Jake Minaldi, who rushed for 637 yards and 8 TDs, and RB Justin Scully (6-0, 190). Orangefield also returns 9/6 starters, including DB Quinton Evans, OL Tyler Whitmire (6-2, 275) and RB Chase Parker.