2014 Football Preview: Como-Pickton Has Rough Road in District 6-2A D-I

Como-Pickton struggled in 2013 to say the least.

The Eagles scored one touchdown all season and gave up 574 points on the way to an 0-10 record. However, the squad is returning 18 starters and 22 total lettermen to just three graduations.

Can this group contend for a playoff spot in District 6-2A Division I? It's possible.

The top half of the district is heavy with usually strong programs in Clarksville and Quinlan Boles. But things get interesting after that group. Wolfe City, Bogata Rivercrest and Honey Grove faced their own adversities last season. Even Clarksville struggled as a small Class 2A Division II school.

Let's take a look at Como-Pickton's district and its playoff outlook for this season.

District 6-2A Division I Preview

PLAYMAKERS

• Hunter Bostick, Sr., WR/DB, Wolfe City
• Trevin Dockins, Sr., WR, Clarksville
• Brandon Fisk, Sr., QB, Wolfe City
• Hayden Hanks, Sr., OL, Bogata Rivercrest
• David Hernandez, Jr., LB, Quinlan Boles
• Clashon Gaffney, Soph., DE, Clarksville
• Frankie Murillo, Jr., LB, Como-Pickton
• Blake Neal, Sr., RB/ATH, Como-Pickton
• Bobbie Newman, Jr., QB/ATH, Honey Grove
• Frankie Olguin, Jr., LB, Clarksville
• Chris Sumrall, Sr., DL, Boles
• Wyatt Tabb, Sr., LB, Rivercrest
• Terrence Tinnell, Sr., QB, Clarksville
• Cameron Walker, Sr., QB, Boles

TOP GAMES

• Oct. 17 -- Clarksville at Wolfe City
• Oct. 24 -- Como-Pickton at Honey Grove
• Nov. 7 -- Rivercrest at Como-Pickton
• Nov. 7 -- Clarksville at Boles

1. Clarksville Tigers

Coach: Dewaski Davis

2013 finish: 4-7 (2A D-II bi-district finalist)

Returning starters: 6 offensive, 6 defensive

Players to watch

• QB Terrence Tinnell, Sr., 5-11, 170 (1,500 passing yards, 19 passing TDs, 600 rushing yards, 9 rushing TDs)
• WR Trevin Dockins, Sr., 5-8, 160 (750 receiving yards, 8 TDs)
• DE Clashon Gaffney, Soph., 6-6, 185, (49 tackles, 12 tackles for loss)
• LB Frankie Olguin, Jr., 5-11, 160 (58 tackles)

2014 outlook: The Tigers have moved down from the old Class 2A. They weren't a great team a season ago, but the team did have enough athleticism to reach the 2A Division II playoffs. The move down will definitely be a big help for Clarksville. The program returns 20 lettermen to just eight lost, so this team will be experienced and gained its experience against schools with larger talent pools. To give you an idea of how much Clarksville struggled late in its 2A tenure, Bogata Rivercrest has 211 students to the Tigers' 171. This move should help this proud program get back on track.

Quarterback Terrence Tinnell should be able to run in this district and his throwing ability is unquestioned after recording 19 touchdowns through the air last season. His primary receiver will be Trevin Dockins. Dockins caught eight of those scores a season ago. The defense returns a good amount of key contributors.

2. Quinlan Boles Hornets

Coach: Brad Pierson

2013 finish: 9-2 (1A D-I area finalist)

Returning starters: 8 offensive, 8 defensive

Players to watch

• DL Chris Surmall, Sr., 6-2, 320
• LB David Hernandez, Jr., 6-2, 210
• QB Cameron Walker, Sr., 6-1, 195

2014 outlook: The Hornets were, by far, the most successful team in the newly aligned district with a 9-2 record and trip to the second round of the Class 1A Division I playoffs. Returning 16 starters bodes well for them. Boles should be right with Clarksville in the hunt for the district championship. The squad has great size for a team in its classification. This group has improved exponentially during its time in the program and only lost six seniors from last year's team. The Hornets went 5-5 in 2012.

3. Wolfe City Wolves

Coach: M.K. Hamilton (first year)

2013 finish: 5-6 (1A D-I bi-district finalist)

Returning starters: 7 offensive, 8 defensive

Players to watch

• WR/DB Hunter Bostick, Sr., 5-9, 168 (68 tackles, 8 INTs, 278 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns)
• QB Brandon Fisk, Sr., 6-1, 180 (1,600 passing yards, 12 passing TDs, 352 rushing yards, 2 TDs)
• OL Andre Brown, Sr., 6-0, 280 (fourth-year starter)
• RB Trinten Tourney, Jr.

2014 outlook: The Wolves certainly have some athletic talent between athlete Hunter Bostick and quarterback Brandon Fisk. Fisk should be able to put up some good numbers in the district, especially against the back end of it. Wolfe City has playoff experience and 15 returning starters. Graduation took away 11 players of its 25-man 2013 roster, however. The season-opener against Simms Bowie ought to be a good gauge for the marginally overhauled team.

4. Honey Grove Warriors

Coach: Brian Lewis

2013 finish: 2-8

Returning starters: 6 offensive, 5 defensive

Players to watch

• QB/ATH Bobbie Newman (511 passing yards, 5 passing TDs, 295 rushing yards, 5 rushing TDs in just three games played)
• OL/DL Blake Shaw, Sr., 6-3, 340
• OL/DL Jonathan Clark, Sr., 6-0, 310
• OL/DL Drew Rhodes, Sr., 6-0, 295

2014 outlook: Honey Grove topped Rivercrest last season and Rivercrest got the best of Como-Pickton. With 11 returning starters and better overall numbers than the remaining two teams in the league, the Warriors will likely be able to clinch a playoff berth even if it has the misfortune of going 2-8 once again. Bobbie Newman should give the program new life. He was electric in just three starts as a quarterback last season and has a huge offensive line paving the way for him. Things are looking up in Honey Grove.

5. Bogata Rivercrest Rebels

Coach: Lance Cannot

2013 finish: 1-9 (2A Division II)

Returning starters: 7 offensive, 8 defensive

Players to watch

• OL/DL Hayden Hanks, Sr., 6-3, 260 (2013 District 8-2A Division I first-team offense, second-team defense)
• LB Wyatt Tabb, Sr., 6-1, 170 (leading tackler)

2014 outlook: The Rivercrest program is another group that technically moved down a classification with the UIL's addition of Class 6A. The Rebels were not nearly as successful as Clarksville, however. The team went 1-9 and scored six points through four district games prior to playing Como-Pickton for a 36-0 win in the second-to-last game of the season. It was once again shut out in the season finale. Experience should help, but the front end of the district looks tough and Honey Grove appears to be in a better position entering the season.

6. Como-Pickton Eagles

Coach: Conley Bland

2013 finish: 0-10

Returning starters: 9 offensive, 9 defensive

Players to watch

• RB/ATH Blake Neal, Sr., 6-0, 170
• LB Frankie Murillo, Jr.
• WR Luis Lopez, Sr.
• QB Cody Fite, Sr.

Offense: There's definitely some work to do after scoring just six points last season. The loss of key player Bryce Steel hurts, but Como-Pickton's experience factor applies here. Running back and receiver Blake Neal will shoulder the load for the Eagles. Cody Fite will start at quarterback.

Defense: Luis Murillo is a player to watch for the all-district team at linebacker. Again, nine returning starters holds some promise for Como-Pickton.

2014 outlook: The reality is the Eagles appear to be in trouble heading into the season after the rough go last season. That being said, a two-win season can launch Como-Pickton into the postseason, provided those wins come against Rivercrest and Honey Grove. It's possible. The Eagles were a young team last year. Only three players graduated.