It's been a rough last few years for the Tyler Lee football program. After more than a decade of sustained success, the Red Raiders are currently in the midst of the worst three-year stretch in school history.

Lee has just four wins in the last three years after compiling a 106-54 record from 1997-2009, which included the Red Raiders' 2004 Class 5A Division I state title.

Darrell Piske is hoping his second year in charge of the program will yield better results. After years of being a run-heavy, multiple offense, the Red Raiders are going to the spread this season in the hopes of improving a unit that struggled mightily in 2012.

Lee averaged less than 17 points per game last year, a number that seemed to shrink every week. The Red Raiders scored 65 points in their first two games of the year, but managed just 72 the rest of the season. In fact, Lee was held to 25 points over its final five.

The Red Raiders' starting quarterback job is expected to be won during summer practices. The frontrunners are Trevor Carr, who led Lee to the state 7-on-7 tournament last month, and Zachery Hall. Matthew Weeks (6-5, 260) and Ameir Wilson (6-3, 240) will anchor the offensive line, while Triston Taylor (6-1, 240) and Etim Asangansi (6-1, 240) highlight the defensive front.

A brutal non-district schedule that features Lufkin and 4A powers Sulphur Springs and John Tyler may not lend itself to an immediate turnaround, but the lessons learned early on should help a rebuilding program down the road.

ETSN.fm 2013 Preseason Class 5A/4A Poll

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