Carthage the Heavy Favorite for District 20-3A Crown Entering League Play

Jasper C Terrell Cuney. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Before the season started, we at ETSN.fm knew that Carthage would be among the state's best Class 3A teams in 2013.

Through six weeks of the season, nothing has changed.

Carthage (5-1) enters District 20-3A play Friday at Huntington averaging almost 45 points and 525 total yards per game. The only blemish on Carthage's record is a 63-39 loss at Class 4A No. 3 Whitehouse (5-0), a team that the Bulldogs led by 19 points in the third quarter.

But Carthage is where the overwhelming non-district success stops in regards to 20-3A teams.

Center QB Caiden Rainbolt. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Jasper (2-2) has its district bye this week and plays at College Station on Friday. The .500 start has the Bulldogs in relatively good shape, but losses to Orangefield and Class 2A Kirbyville came as surprises. Nevertheless, Jasper appears to be in the best position to claim second place, which it accomplished a year ago en route to a 9-3 season that ended in the second round of the 3A Division II playoffs. The 'Dogs open their district competition at Diboll on Oct. 18.

The remaining three teams -- Center, Diboll, and Huntington -- have combined for a 1-16 start and should fight for the final two playoff berths.

Center's 0-6 start could be a bit misleading considering that the Roughriders' first six opponents are a combined 26-6. Diboll is also 0-6, but has faced a similarly daunting schedule with six prior opponents posting a 26-5 cumulative record.

Diboll RB Deverick Thompson. (Christopher Vinn, ETSN.fm)

Huntington is 1-4, but its lone win came against a winless Cleveland Tarkington team that has been outscored 157-62 in five games. Additionally, the Red Devils' losses to Palestine Westwood and Splendora account for the only wins of the season so far for those teams.

Despite their winless starts, Center and Diboll should have a distinct advantage over Huntington in the pursuit of the district's final two playoff berths behind Carthage and Jasper. Friday's Diboll at Center game will greatly influence the race for those final two spots.