2013 East Texas Football Games of the Year, No. 18: Center at Jasper

District 20-3A was strong in 2012 and should be even stronger this fall.

Carthage is Class 3A's preseason No. 1 team, but there's more than just Scott Surratt's Bulldogs in this district. Center and Jasper combined for 17 wins a year ago and will once again be heavy favorites for two of the district's playoff spots.

Jasper won 27-21 at Center on the final night of the 2012 regular season. Those teams meet Nov. 8 in another finale that promises to pit two playoff-bound teams against each other at Jasper's Bulldog Field.

Center, which went 8-3 last season, must replace Texas A&M-Commerce signee K.J. Garrett at tailback, but quarterback Dalton Horton returns after a breakout sophomore season. Defensively, the Roughriders will lean on 2012 leading tackler Kiounis Williams at linebacker.

He will undoubtedly meet Jasper's bevy of ball carriers that evening, including senior Terrance Cuney, who rushed for almost 1,300 yards during Jasper's 9-3 season a year ago. Leading the way for Terrance is his cousin, Texas-bound center Terrell Cuney.

Another Cuney -- DeAnthony, Terrance's brother -- brings back 145 tackles to the Jasper defense, which will need him when it faces Center's athlete-heavy spread offense.

This game may not be for the 20-3A title if Carthage lives up to expectations, but, like 2012, should at least decide the league's second-place finisher.

 ETSN.fm 2013 Preseason Top 25 Games of the Year

• No. 18 -- Center at Jasper
• No. 19 — Kilgore at Henderson
• No. 20 — Elysian Fields at Hughes Springs
• No. 21 – Longview vs. Olive Branch, Miss.
• No. 22 – Chapel Hill at Henderson
• No. 23 – Jefferson at White Oak
• No. 24 – Tenaha at Garrison
• No. 25 – Tatum at Center