The Longview Lobos are in position to challenge for something they haven't accomplished since before World War II.

Longview's last state championship was in 1937, but with several impact players from last year's semifinalist coming back, the Lobos are definitely a contender to win it all in 2018.

The ETSN.fm Preseason Class 6A/5A Poll has Longview at No. 1.

Longview came a few inches from reaching the state finals when a field goal attempt with three seconds remaining was just wide, but the Lobos are hungry to get back to December football.

Junior quarterback Haynes King, who took over at starter following Longview's district opener last year, won 10 consecutive games in getting Longview to its first semifinal since 2018. He passed for 2,106 yards and 25 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Kamden Perry, the team's leading receiver, returns as well. The running game will be a strength once again as seniors Jessie Anderson and Keilyn Williams and sophomore Kaden Meredith will be running behind a dominant offensive line anchored by TCU commit Marcus Williams.

Graduation left Longview with just three defenders with staring experience from 2017. Three-year starter Jephaniah Lister will be the leader on the defensive side of the ball.

Longview will be the favorite in District 11-6A, and Region II will be full of tough opponents, including Hewitt Midway, Pflugerville Hendrickson, and Klein Collins. If Southlake Carroll goes Division I out of Region I, the Lobos would have an easier path to the title game.

ETSN.fm Preseason Class 6A/5A Poll

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