Guyer quarterback David Haynes (4) runs through a tackle attempt by Ryan Griffin during the Guyer spring football game on May 17 in Denton. (Matt Strasen/Special Contributor)
Around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, my hunt for Dave Campbell’s 2012 Texas Football was over.
I walked into the bookstore and spotted a huge stack of magazines still in their plastic wrapping while copies were being stacked up on the rack. The woman stocking the magazines said they were ready to be wheeled out into the store when she got into work this morning. The store had received a few calls in the days leading up to Thursday, asking when the magazine would hit the store’s shelves.
The magazine has become its own institution in Texas football. This year’s 400-page edition is the magazine’s 53rd installment, which was released today.
And in what should surprise no one, Guyer is the No.1 team in Class 4A according to the magazine, while Ryan is slated at No.24 the Class 5A pre-season rankings.
Guyer’s move down to 4A has the Wildcats as the pre-season favorites, led by junior quarterback Jerrod Heard. District 5-4A was named one of the toughest 4A districts in the state. Guyer was picked to win 5-4A, with Lake Dallas finishing in 3rd and Denton finishing last.
Ryan’s move up to 5A has the Raiders winning District 5-5A, despite graduating almost all of its star players. Matt Griffin and Sekou Clark will respectively lead the offensive and defensive lines this season.
In Class 3A, Argyle is ranked No.6 by the Magazine. The Eagles, which advanced to the Division II state title game last season, also lost a majority of their stars. Argyle was picked to win 10-3A, while Aubrey and new head coach Mike Segleski was tapped to finish third.
Sanger was chosen to finish third in 9-3A and newcomers Krum last in that district. Pilot Point is picked to finish second in 5-2A (D1), with Ponder coming in last in the district.
Liberty Christian is picked fourth in TAPPS Division I District 1. Calvary’s is slated for fourth in TAAPS Six-Man Division I District 2.
Now, I’ll join the rest of the state in reading my copy of Texas Football for the rest of the day.