Football season is close. Oh so close with kickoff just a full calendar away from the regular season - 31 days. Summer practices and 7-on-7 tournaments prepare the players for the grueling season ahead and the march to a state title.
In the DFW, there are plenty of teams primed and ready to make a run at state. Following our look into the preseason top 10 private schools and UIL 4A, we move up a classification to 5A, which is led by the reigning DI and DII state champions.
1. Highland Park
2018: 16-0 / DI State Semifinals
Highland Park sits atop the 5A preseason rankings following its third consecutive state championship, and with quarterback Chandler Morris running the offense, the chances of another deep run are pretty high.
2. Aledo
2018: 16-0 / DII State Champion
A "new" but very familiar coach returns to the Aledo sidelines in Tim Buchanan after the program notched its eighth state title last year. Four-star running back Jase McClellan leads the offense after getting 2,073 yards on the ground and 48 touchdowns a year ago.
3. Denton Ryan
2018: 14-1 / DI State Semifinals
Thirteen starters return from a team that made it to State and has an impressive 42 wins in the last three years. Denton Ryan's triplets are back, so the offense should pick up right where it left off last year.
4. Frisco Reedy
2018: 13-1 / DII Regional Finals
Coach Chad Cole's squad impressed and shocked a lot of people last year and they'll look to do the same despite only have six returning starters. But one of those is Will Harbour who was credited for 129 tackles and eight total touchdowns.
5. Frisco Lone Star
2018:
10-3 / DI Regional Semifinals
Lone Star brings back 13 starters from a year ago that also brings in transfer quarterback Chandler Galban from Tomball Memorial. Wideout Marvin Mims is also back after getting more than 1,100 yards receiving and 18 touchdowns.
6. South Oak Cliff
2018: 11-1 / DII Regional Semifinals
The running back duo of Mikeviun Titus and Camren Davis are expected to carry the load on offense for SOC while the defense, despite losing Steven Parker, will again be the strength of the team in 2019.
7. Birdville
2018:
9-2 / DI Regional Finals
Birdville's only two losses last year came against district rival Denton Ryan, which it will have to get past this year to make another deep run. Laderrious Mixon rushed for more than 2,000 yards last year and tallied 26 touchdowns to help spearhead the offense.
8. Azle
2018
: 10-2 / DI Area Finals
Azle returns 13 starters from a team that won 10 straight in between season-opening and season-ending losses. The combo of Ricky Firman and Jacob Edwards anchor a strong defensive front after combining for 205 tackles, five sacks and an interception last year.
9. Burleson Centennial
2018:
10-2 / DII Regional Semifinals
Centennial has a trio of backs - Jaylon Jackson, Christian Mosley and Jeff Kirvin - that are back to lead the offense after amassing 2,609 yards rushing, 437 yards receiving and 39 total touchdowns in 2018.
10. Red Oak
2018:
9-2 / Bi-District
An impressive 16 starters return to Red Oak for the 2019 campaign after making the playoffs in coach Chris Ross' first season in charge. The defense will be the strong point once again, led by cornerbacks Kevaris Hall and Darius Jackson.
