Denton RC High School

Denton High School will have over 1600 students, there are schools with 1000 students in the top 10 (football)...get your student athletes participating in athletics.

-- Brady

This is true. Denton coach Randy Patzkowski's former team, Lake Dallas, has the smallest enrollment figures in the district. Lake Dallas has a crowded sideline during its games with quality depth. For some reason, that just isn't the case at Denton, whatever the reason is.

OK, that was obviously a joke. The Denton Record-Chronicle does not support any type of illegal wagering, especially on high school sports. But without further ado, he's the way District 5-4A football will shape up this season. (Yes, I'm making a prediction on July 18. Sue me, I'm ready for football).

First, I will let you folks in on what Dave Campbell's Texas Football 2008 thinks will happen in the district.

1. Wichita Falls Rider
2. Ryan
3. Wichita Falls
4. The Colony
5. Lake Dallas
6. Guyer
7. Little Elm
8. Denton

Continue reading the jump for the real picks...

It's hard to say where the Ryan football program is these days. Are the Raiders still a state-powerhouse who got a bad playoff draw in the last realignment or has the opening of Guyer caused Ryan to level off a bit?

One thing I do know is Ryan will have more than six wins like it did in 2007. The Raiders non-district schedule (Mesquite Poteet, McKinney, JJ Pearce) is considerably easier than the last two years (Colleyville Heritage, Arlington Bowie, South Oak Cliff, Abilene), and District 5-4A is lighter with out Sherman and Denison.

That said, I think Ryan could have a better record this year but not be as good a team as it was last year. The Raiders should have no problems moving the ball with a solid offensive line led by Blake Holland. The slippery Jay Catlin returns in the backfield along with dynamic receiver D.J. Beshears.