ETSN.fm Preseason Class 6A/5A Poll: No. 3, Longview Lobos

The Longview Lobos are among the winningest programs in all of East Texas over the last decade-plus, so it should come as no surprise they check in at No. 3 in the ETSN.fm preseason Class 6A/5A poll.

Since John King took over the Lobos prior to the 2004 season, Longview has compiled a 120-28 record (.811) and claimed 10 district championships in 11 seasons.

Last season, Longview recovered from an 0-2 start by reeling off nine consecutive wins before its area-round playoff loss to Mansfield Lake Ridge, which denied the Lobos an eighth consecutive trip to at least the third round of the postseason.

The Lobos' 2015 season looks promising as well.

However, Longview will be featuring a starting quarterback not named Dezmond Chumley for the first time since the 2012 season opener, when starter and senior Bivins Caraway was lost for the year following an injury.

Michael Ross, who starred at Class 3A-Harmony as a sophomore before transferring to Longview before last season, will take over the offense. And his primary responsibility will be to get the ball to senior tailback Tylan Miller, who emerged after an injury to projected starter and Baylor signee JaMycal Hasty in 2014.

Miller finished his junior season with more than 1,400 rushing yards, and with the Lobos' patented two-back set, should receive another big dose of carries.

And he'll be running behind a veteran offensive line, which did lose Texas Tech signee Broderick Washington, but brings back a couple of standouts in senior Tim Clay (6-6, 360) and junior Kendall Starling (6-2, 310).

Defensively, the strength -- like most Lobos teams -- lies with the secondary, and in particular, the safeties. King believes the combination of Travion Webster, Keenan Madden, Joshua Johnson, De’Keithon Ingram fit perfectly into Longview's 4-2-5 schematic approach.

Longview should be a favorite once again in District 15-5A, but will be tested in non-district. The Lobos scrimmage defending state champion Ennis on Friday, before facing Lufkin, John Tyler, and Shreveport Byrd before league play begins.

2015 Longview Lobos Football Schedule

ETSN.fm Preseason Class 6A/5A Poll

• No. 3: Longview Lobos
• No. 4: Lufkin Panthers
• No. 5: Marshall Mavericks
• No. 6: Whitehouse Wildcats
• No. 7: Texas High Tigers
• No. 8: Nacogdoches Dragons
• No. 9: Sulphur Springs Wildcats
• No. 10: Hallsville Bobcats