ETSN.fm Preseason Class 3A Poll: No. 3, Waskom Wildcats

What do the defending state champion Waskom Wildcats have in store for an encore? We'll all find out soon enough, but expectations remain high for them, as they enter the new year ranked No. 3 in ETSN.fm's preseason Class 3A poll.

Waskom was hit hard by graduation, losing roughly 80 percent of its rushing offense, but there is once again no shortage of speed for head coach Whitney Keeling's crew.

Physical runner and hard-hitting linebacker Chan Amie, the MVP of last season's Class 3A Division II state title game, returns to the fold after putting up incredible all-around numbers as a junior.

Amie finished 2014 with 967 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, returned three kickoffs or punts for touchdowns, and was the Wildcats' leading tackler, finishing with 216 stops (36 for loss) with 12 sacks, five forced fumbles, three recoveries, and two interceptions.

There will be a new starting quarterback, a position battle that is expected to be decided by either senior Dylan Harkrider or junior Logan Hughes.

Defensively, Waskom appears to be solid once again, with the return of Amie, fellow linebacker Mike Reason, and playmaking defensive back Eric Stephens III.

2015 Waskom Wildcats Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time/Result
Aug. 28	at Center	W 34-22
Sept. 4	Paul Pewitt	W 30-0
Sept. 11	at Hughes Springs	W 58-36
Sept. 18	OPEN
Sept. 25	*at Elysian Fields	W 45-0
Oct. 2	*Frankston	W 51-0
Oct. 9	*at Arp	W 55-23
Oct. 16	*Winona	W 59-21
Oct. 23	*at West Rusk	W 40-0
Oct. 30	at Troup	W 49-0
Nov. 6	*New Diana	W 75-0
Nov. 13	(BI-DISTRICT): vs. DeKalb	W 50-7
Nov. 20	(AREA): vs. Gunter	W 28-7
Nov. 27	(REGIONAL): vs. Arp	W 35-18
Dec. 4	(QUARTERFINAL): vs. West Rusk	W 57-28
Dec. 11	(SEMIFINAL): vs. Idalou	W 28-24
Dec. 17	(FINAL): vs. Franklin	8 p.m.