3ADL Week 9 Top 25

[big daddy russ]

RANK (PVS) TEAM/RECORD—PTS (First-place votes)

1. (1) Gilmer (8-0)—398 (14)
2. (2) Abilene Wylie (7-0)—382
3. (3) Carthage (8-0)—366 (2)
4. (8) Sealy (8-0)—342
5. (4) Cuero (8-0)—333
6. (5) Argyle (8-0)—312
7. (6) Monahans (8-0)—307
8. (10) Giddings (7-1)—291
9. (9) Navasota (7-1)—259
10. (11) Prosper (7-1)—248
11. (7) LaGrange (7-1)—230
12. (13) Caldwell (6-1)—219
13. (24) Kennedale (8-0)—199
14. (23) Brownwood (6-2)—163
15. (22) Sinton (8-0)—132
16. (15) West Orange-Stark (6-2)—128
17. (12) Graham (7-1)—102
18. (14) Jasper (6-2)—98
19. (19) Celina (5-3)—95
20. (NR) Sweeny (6-2)—66
21. (NR) Ingleside (7-1)—63
22. (NR) Pittsburg (7-1)—59
23. (NR) Lyford (8-0)—52
24. (20) Silsbee (4-4)—50
25. (NR) Glen Rose (6-2)—43

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES: Cleveland 42; China Spring 36; Bellville 34; Coldspring-Oakhurst 32; Center 7; West 4; Palestine 2; Burnet 1; Rockdale 1; Liberty Hill 1

DROPPED OUT: Cleveland (16); Rockdale (17); Mexia (18); China Spring (21); West (25)

[big daddy russ]

1. GILMER (8-0)
LAST WEEK: beat Longview Spring Hill 66-13
UP NEXT: Gladewater
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: Sure, they’ve come from behind at halftime against Liberty-Eylau and wound up winning by 17. They’ve blown out the top-ranked, defending 2A champs, a playoff-bound 4A, and the 18th-ranked 3A. But as Ric Flair used to say, to be the man you’ve gotta beat the man. And so far, nobody’s beat Carthage.

2. ABILENE WYLIE (7-0)
LAST WEEK: beat Breckenridge 35-7
UP NEXT: #17 Graham
WHY THEY SHOULD BE HIGHER: Their victims read like a who’s who of West Texas 3A and 4A powers: then-#24 Waco LaVega, #14 Brownwood, Vernon, Canyon, Wolfforth Frenship. And one by one, each of those powers have been mauled at the hands of the Bulldogs. Wylie’s average margin of victory from just those teams was 17. And every single game was well in hand in the second half.
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: How’d they get moved ahead of the champs?

3. CARTHAGE (8-0)
LAST WEEK: beat then-#14 Jasper 27-3
UP NEXT: Diboll
WHY THEY SHOULD BE HIGHER: They’re the defending champs and are look like a machine. They dismantled state power Jasper last week, did the same to a stout Center team three weeks ago, and own impressive wins over three of the four teams in the 14-4A playoff race. The Bulldogs are playing as well as anyone in the state.
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: Carthage hasn’t dominated the way Gilmer and Abilene Wylie have. They’ve looked shaky a few times, especially that 14-13 win over Henderson.

4. SEALY (8-0)
LAST WEEK: beat Smithville 49-28
UP NEXT: Bellville
WHY THEY SHOULD BE HIGHER: Their running game has been getting better all year and is firing on all cylinders heading into the home stretch. Dexter Downey’s playing like a man possessed, reeling off 222 yards and three TDs on just 11 carries against Smithville. Meanwhile, DeQuince Cooper and Jowan Davis combined for another 208 yards on 18 touches. And on top of that, just look at the Tigers’ resume. A 20-point win over 2A #4 Rice Consolidated. Dominating then-fifth-ranked Giddings. Beating fifth-ranked TAPPS large school Houston St. Pius by 21. And that Smithville team that the Tigers just whipped up on? That’s the same team that took out Hallettsville and came within three points of “upsetting” #11 La Grange. Though their 5-3 record might not show it, Smithville’s as good as any team from #15 down.
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: Don’t let that 20-point win over Rice Consol fool you. Or, for that matter, the 12-point win over Giddings. The Tigers were outgained offensively both games. They just managed to catch a few breaks that could’ve gone either way. Coverage teams could also be a concern for the Tigers, as they allowed a 104-yard KO return by Smithville’s Jordan Reynolds on Friday. Also, how did they leapfrog Monahans, Argyle, and Cuero when all three posted solid wins?

5. CUERO (8-0)
LAST WEEK: beat Goliad 42-14
UP NEXT: Gonzales
WHY THEY SHOULD BE HIGHER: Dominant wins over then-19th-ranked LaVernia and 4A Bay City. They’re loaded with size, speed, and a bunch of kids that will be playing on Saturdays soon enough.
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: That win at Yoakum was ugly with a capital “U.” The Gobblers were behind 23-13 halfway through the fourth and would’ve lost if not for a furious late rally spurred on by Tyler Arndt and Ryan Barrientez. Sure, Yoakum’s a rivalry. And yeah, you can throw all the records out the window. But still, aren’t we talking about a Cuero team that’s supposed to be one of the five best teams in the state. And they barely pulled it out against a team that currently sits at 3-5?

6. ARGYLE (8-0)
LAST WEEK: beat Sanger 34-7
UP NEXT: Gainesville
WHY THEY SHOULD BE HIGHER: The offense is balanced and the defense is amazing. The defense was dominant as usual on Friday, holding Sanger to 122 total yards while forcing three turnovers. That’s just more of the same from one of the most impressive in the state. That Eagle “D” is allowing a mere 209 yards per game and just keeps getting better as the season rolls on. Two weeks ago, the Eagles held tenth-ranked Prosper to a mere 158 yards and 14 points of offense. Meanwhile, the other side of the ball rolled out 361 yards of offense and, in an impressive team performance, outgained the champs by more than a 2-to-1 ratio. Take out that one game, Prosper’s offense has been rolling to the tune of 366 yards and 37 points per game. And still the champs couldn’t get anything going against Argyle.
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: Iowa Park doesn’t look as good as they did to start the season and Argyle won that game by the skin of their teeth. As much as the boxscore says the Eagles dominated that game against Prosper, the scoreboard says otherwise. Which brings up several interesting questions about Argyle. They outgained Prosper 2-to-1, won the turnover battle, and still only won by a field goal. Do they get most of their yards between the 20’s? Do they struggle in the red zone? Does their offense stall in the moments that matter? Are the special teams the weak link? Most importantly, why did they struggle putting up points when the yards were so easy to come by?

7. MONAHANS (8-0)
LAST WEEK: beat Lamesa 48-7
UP NEXT: Brownfield
WHY THEY SHOULD BE HIGHER: Every team is supposed to have a close call, right? Monahans’ closest was their season-opening 43-27 win over Midland Christian. Since that game, their average margin of victory has been 37 points. While the offense has been busy putting up 45 points and nearly 400 yards per game, the defense has been suffocating, allowing only eight. The rushing attack has six players in three digit territory and is humming along with 300 yards per game.
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: Their schedule is softer than Rosie O’Donnell during the Thanksgiving holidays and replacing a “special” player at the 3A level is next to impossible. Their toughest game to date was against a marginal playoff team, Fort Stockton. Meanwhile, Abilene Wylie, Giddings, Prosper, Navasota, and most of the other teams on this list have been feasting on top 25 teams all year. On top of that, Quincy Titus’ 200 yards per game, leadership, and athleticism are gone. It looks like their leading receiver is on tap to replace Titus, leaving a huge question mark in the passing game. For now, it’s tough to imagine the Loboes being anything more than a limited offensive team that is forced to rely even more heavily on their run game. Are the Loboes on the same level as the Abilene Wylies? For that matter, are they even on the same level as Graham and Brownwood? And if they were on that level two weeks ago, where are they now that they’re without their QB?

8. GIDDINGS (7-1)
LAST WEEK: beat #7 La Grange 36-32
UP NEXT: Smithville
WHY THEY SHOULD BE HIGHER: They were so much closer to beating fourth-ranked Sealy than the 30-18 final score would have you believe. They won the yardage battle, the turnover battle, and mixed it up on offense. The Buffs also own wins over four ranked teams and are sitting with only one loss despite playing one of the toughest schedules in the state. The thing that impresses me the most about this team and makes me want to see them higher is how they’ve manhandled some of the best teams the state has to offer. It doesn’t matter how you win, as long as you win…
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: …or is it? The heart attack kids keep scraping together wins against good teams, but they don’t pull away from some of the “lesser” good teams like you’d expect the eighth-best team to do. They clawed and scratched their way to an impressive win over seventh-ranked La Grange last week. Meanwhile, they allowed 5-3 Bellville stay in the game despite the fact that Giddings outgained them 311-188. Sealy beat Giddings even though the Buffs also won that yardage battle, 311-248. Same story with La Vernia... 344-273 edge in yards, only a seven-point win. Giddings finds a way to turn dominant performances into close games. They won the turnover battle against Sealy, but committed eight penalties for 60 yards. They only had two penalties to Bellville’s five, had a 4-2 edge in turnovers, and dominated the yardage battle, but was still only up by six with three minutes to play. The final thing about Giddings’ top ten ranking that I have is something that I rarely use, comparative scores. They snuck out of the La Vernia game (a home game for the Buffs) by seven. Meanwhile, the team ranked just three spots above the Buffs took La Vernia behind the woodshed in a 41-16 romp. Isn’t that supposed to be what a top-ten team does?

9. NAVASOTA (7-1)
LAST WEEK: beat Taylor 44-0
UP NEXT: Cameron Yoe
WHY THEY SHOULD BE HIGHER: They’re big, fast, mean, and just like Gilmer are loaded with future big-time college players. That 47-0 blowout of Henderson is looking awfully good now that Henderson has taken control of a tough 14-4A district race. Even more impressive is the fact that the Rattlers have taken out two 3A top-ten teams by double digits, along with a Palestine squad that may actually be better than some of the teams I’m writing about right now.
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: That loss at Caldwell hurt. Bad. The Hornets figured out the Rattlers and gave everyone a clinic on how to beat them. They just ran the ball down Navasota’s throats, kept the offense off the field, then punished and wore down their talented but thin defensive front. When it was all said and done, Kysan Woolverton alone had more yards (149) than the Navasota offense (114). What happens if Prosper, Monahans, or any other dominant running team decides to take a page out of Caldwell’s playbook? Can the Rattlers come up with stops late in a game when they’re not in control?

10. PROSPER (7-1)
LAST WEEK: beat Whitesboro 53-7
UP NEXT: Sanger
WHY THEY SHOULD BE HIGHER: The champs were supposed to hang their hat on their offense, but somewhere along they way they found a defense that’s among the state’s best. Allowing fewer than 200 yards and eight points per game, the only teams to score two TDs on the Eagles have been sixth-ranked Argyle and 19th-ranked Celina. Argyle’s “offensive explosion” totaled 17 points, and Celina’s potent offense was held well below its average of 400 yards. The loss at Argyle was nothing to worry about. It was only a FG and Argyle looks as elite as any team around. The 27-0 win at 13-3A leader Farmersville was a statement. When the Eagles decided to take control of the game against then-14th-ranked Celina, they showed that they could put up points in a hurry. It didn’t matter that Celina is one of North Texas’ best 3A’s or that they’re poised for a deep playoff run, Prosper hung 24 points on the Bobcats in one quarter to ice the game. The one-two punch of RB Juan Williams (921 rush yards) and QB Brian Hardy (over 1000 total yards) have combined for 114 points and an average of 340 yards a game in a run-based offense.
WHY THEY SHOULD BE LOWER: Want to hear something incredible? Take out the Argyle game, the Prosper offense is averaging 366 yards a game while the defense is holding teams to 176 yards. Want to hear something else? Celina doesn’t look like the team we thought they’d be. Any way you look at it, Argyle dominated Prosper everywhere except for the scoreboard. The offense seemed to be at a standstill, mustering a mere 158 yards. Meanwhile, the defense didn’t even slow them down, allowing 361 yards. So do those averages of 366 and 176 have more to do with the quality of the team or the level of competition? No doubt they can beat good teams. Celina’s still quality and Farmersville may wind up a district champ, but can they beat top ten teams? After all, Farmersville is only a 5-3 team with losses to Wills Point and Van Alstyne while Celina’s going through a down year. And until the fourth quarter, Celina and Prosper were all tied up.



OTHER THOUGHTS:

KENNEDALE’S OFFENSE: We’ve been talking about all these top-ten teams who boast big offenses and are running up close to or more than 400 yards per game. Argyle hasn’t been slowed down yet, Monahans is otherworldly, and Gilmer’s been nothing short of a juggernaut with their 490 combined yards per game. So what word would you use to describe Kennedale’s offense? The Wildcats are averaging over 500 yards a game… rushing.

PITTSBURG: What should we make of Pittsburg? They opened the season with an impressive win over 2A Jefferson, beat Atlanta and New Boston, and took out a solid Liberty-Eylau squad with little problem. But that black eye against Lindale looks pretty dark right now. I’m still buying them. As district champs and as R2 darkhorses.

CONCENTRATION OF POWER: Sealy, Giddings and Navasota are all ranked in the top ten. La Grange and Caldwell are ranked 11th and 12th, respectively. Both were in the top ten just two weeks ago. Until Bellville started playing these neighboring teams, they were also in the top ten. Out of the 12 3A teams that are within an hour and a half drive of Bryan/College station (these six, Caldwell, Taylor, Bryan Rudder, Madisonville, Cameron, Brookshire-Royal), six have been ranked in the top ten at some point this year.

UNDEFEATED TEAMS NOT RANKED: Van Alstyne (8-0)

MOVEMENT IN THE POLL: Cleveland fell the furthest, dropping out of the rankings from their spot last week at 16. Meanwhile, Kennedale gained the most, jumping up 11 spots to number 13.

WHO’S ON THE RADAR: Cleveland, Coldspring-Oakhurst, Palestine, Bellville, West, Van Alstyne, Texarkana Pleasant Grove, Burnet, Wimberley, Edna, SA Sam Houston, Waco La Vega, Center, New Boston, Wills Point, Dallas Madison, and China Spring.



DISTRICTS WITH MORE THAN ONE TEAM IN THE RANKINGS:
2-3A
2. Abilene Wylie
14. Brownwood
17. Graham

9-3A
6. Argyle
10. Prosper
19. Celina

18-3A
3. Carthage
18. Jasper

21-3A
16. West Orange-Stark
24. Silsbee

24-3A
9. Navasota
12. Caldwell

25-3A
4. Sealy
8. Giddings
11. La Grange

31-3A
15. Sinton
21. Ingleside

[Old Tiger]

A 4-4 team in the top 25 is stupid.

[big daddy russ]

Originally posted by Old Tiger
A 4-4 team in the top 25 is stupid.

Discuss.

[HEMOTOXIC]

La Grange is posted as being in D24 & D25.

Otherwise, great work as usual!

[big daddy russ]

Originally posted by HEMOTOXIC
La Grange is posted as being in D24 & D25.

My bad. Meant to fix it but forgot. Thanks for pointing it out.

[HEMOTOXIC]

Originally posted by big daddy russ
My bad. Meant to fix it but forgot. Thanks for pointing it out.

No problem.

[SHSBulldog00]

I like it.

[pirate4state]

Originally posted by Old Tiger
A 4-4 team in the top 25 is stupid.

Who are the 4 losses to and who are the 4 wins against? Maybe that has something to do with it?

Thanks Russ!

[WOS87]

...

[WOS87]

Originally posted by pirate4state
Who are the 4 losses to and who are the 4 wins against? Maybe that has something to do with it?

Thanks Russ!

The 4 wins are over:
(3A) WO-S - received votes in the AP poll this week
(3A) Bridge City
(3A) Orangefield
(4A) Houston Davis

The 4 losses are to:

(2A) Newton - top 5 in the AP this week
(3A) Diboll
(3A) Jasper - received votes in the AP poll this week
(4A) Lumberton

[44INAROW]

very nice Russ - appreciate all the time and effort involved.

[oldtownag]

A loss to Diboll should exclude you from top 25 automatically.

[big daddy russ]

Originally posted by WOS87
The 4 wins are over:
(3A) WO-S
(3A) Bridge City
(3A) Orangefield
(4A) Houston Davis

The 4 losses are to:

(2A) Newton
(3A) Diboll
(3A) Jasper
(4A) Lumberton

There you are.

Tough team to rank. If you plan on going old school, they don't deserve to be in there because of the record and a few losses to sub par teams. But if you want to rank them based on how they're playing now, they deserve it. After that Diboll loss, they just kept getting better. Lost to 2A #6 Newton by one, then lost to #16 Jasper by four, then finally put it all together against #12 West Orange-Stark and haven't looked back.

They're playing as well as anyone outside the top three (Gilmer, AW, Carthage) and could go toe-to-toe with those three if they play like they should, but where they deserve to be ranked depends on how you prefer to rank your teams. That's why the people who vote on this stuff have them everywhere from top ten to unranked.

[trojandad]

wo-s, why do you think jasper and silsbee have had such a tough time with diboll and yet teams outside of your district, for lack of a better term, not only beat them but made mincemeat out of them? i know that one question seems to get swept away but its why i have a hard time getting on the silsbee bandwagon.....