Top 25 Games Of 2016: No. 20, Harmony Versus Waskom

Harmony is a team trending up this preseason on the heels of a Class 3A Division I area round game playoff appearance, a drop to 3A Division II and a nice performance earlier this summer at the Texas State 7-on-7 Championships.

Do the Eagles have what it takes to knock down two-time defending state champion Waskom when the lights turn on at Longview's Lobo Stadium for a Saturday night showdown? That's a good question.

Harmony versus Waskom on Sept. 3 checks in at No. 20 as ETSN.fm counts down the top 25 games of the 2016 regular season.

Head coach Tim Russell's Eagles squad was very young last season and is still young, albeit experienced, at high-profile positions. Sixteen starters are back, many of which will carry on into the 2017 season. Ten of those starters are on the offensive side of the ball.

Returning quarterback Spencer Seahorn is a junior. Receivers and defensive backs Konrad Eichelman and Jacob Kimmen are juniors.

But those guys should collectively benefit from a senior-laden offensive line and defensive front.

Waskom universal athlete Keylon Johnson is one of seven starters back from last year's 2015 Class 3A Divison II state championship team. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)

The Wildcats, meanwhile, bring an active 31-game winning streak into the season. That's the best streak in East Texas. Only Jefferson, which went 2-8 last year, will have a say against them ahead of Harmony.

Waskom coach Whitney Keeling has built a program with staying power.

Off of the 2014 3A Division II title, the coach endured losing three of four 1,000-yard rushers and a Division I defensive back. A team made up of eight returners and 14 newcomers did that championship team one game better for a perfect 16-0 season.

The Wildcats have seven returning starters this year, headlined by universal athlete Keylon Johnson and defensive back Jason Jinks.

One team is going to get a big win in Week 2.

This is just nice to mention. If Harmony and Waskom re-meet in the playoffs, they will be facing each other in the state championship game.