Como-Pickton Is In Great Position To Snap Playoff Drought With Fourth 2A Playoff Spot Available

District 6-2A Division I isn't a league that is choked with great teams pushing for playoff spots, but it should be a fun league to follow nonetheless.

Wolfe City and Quinlan Boles are in lightyears better situations than the rest of the district. Clarksville also has flashed the initial signs it might be returning to form after two odd years.

The great news for Como-Pickton is a fourth playoff spot for all 2A districts has opened up, and the Eagles are right in the thick of contesting for it with Bogata Rivercrest and Honey Grove. All three teams went 2-8 last season, but Charles Swann's group has the best shot with the most experienced squad of the three.

It's going to be a fight to the finish. Can the Eagles reach the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade?

District 6-2A Division I Preview

PLAYMAKERS

ATH Rayzon Allen, Jr., Clarksville
LB Brandon Alvarez, Sr., Bogata Rivercrest
LB Tim Barton, Jr., Wolfe City
QB/DB Jed Cagle, Soph., Wolfe City
OL/DL Tanner Childers, Sr., Como-Pickton
RB Coltin Clark, Soph., Como-Pickton
RB/DL Baily Cruise, Jr., Quinlan Boles
LB Cameron Dawson, Jr., Wolfe City
RB/LB Nelson Dotson, Jr., Quinlan Boles
FB/LB Xza Epps, Sr., Honey Grove
QB/DB Cody Fite, Sr., Como-Pickton
WR/DL Clashon Gaffney, Jr., Clarksville
RB/LB Hoss McElroy, Sr., Honey Grove
RB/LB Morgan Tabb, Jr., Bogata Rivercrest
OL/DL James Woods, Sr., Clarksville

TOP GAMES

Clarksville at Como-Pickton, Oct. 9
Wolfe City at Clarksville, Oct. 16
Honey Grove at Como-Pickton, Oct. 16
Quinlan Boles at Wolfe City, Oct. 23
Como-Pickton at Bogata Rivercrest, Nov. 6
Quinlan Boles at Clarksville, Nov. 6

1. Wolfe City Wolves

Coach: M.K. Hamilton
2014 finish: 8-4 (2A D-I area finalist)
Returning starters: 7 offensive, 7 defensive

Players to watch

QB/DB Jed Cagle, Soph., 5-9, 140
LB Cameron Dawson, Sr., 5-10, 185
RB Trentin Turney, Sr., 5-11, 185
WR/LB Jory Walker, Sr., 6-2, 180

2015 outlook: The Wolves don't show much sign of slowing down after a trip to the area round of the Class 2A Division I playoffs last season. M.K. Hamilton's squad returns 14 total starters, a tie for second best with Como-Pickton but with much better results. Depth isn't much of a concern either with two-thirds of all letter winners returning. Wolfe City's offense was, far and away, the best among district teams last season. Through its 12 games, it outscored opponents 505-239 in total and owned a 238-87 margin in league play. There are challenges in the pursuit of the district title, however. Quinlan Boles in particular. The Oct. 23 meeting between the two teams at the Wolves' place has big implications.

2. Quinlan Boles Hornets

Coach: Brad Pierson
2014 finish: 7-4 (2A D-I bi-district finalist)
Returning starters: 4 offensive, 5 defensive

Players to watch

RB/DL Baily Cruise, Sr., 5-11, 230
RB/LB Nelson Dotson, Sr.
OL/DL Grant Farley, Jr.
OL/DL Keaton Kanaman, Soph., 6-3, 250

2015 outlook: The district champion last season, Quinlan Boles has some work to do if it's going to run down Wolfe City once again in 2015. The Hornets return four offensive and five defensive starters. Fortunately, the five starters on defense are especially significant. They mark roughly half of the unit which allowed a league-best 46 points against within district play. Offensive line is a major strength as well. All four returning starters on offense are along the line. The Hornets are going after their third straight district title and have not missed the playoffs in the same amount of time.

3. Clarksville Tigers

Coach: Dewaski Davis
2014 finish: 3-8 (2A D-I bi-district finalist)
Returning starters: 6 offensive, 5 defensive

Players to watch

ATH Rayzon Allen, Jr., 5-10, 155
WR/DE Clashon Gaffney, Jr., 6-7, 190
OL/LB James Woods, Sr., 6-0, 185
RB Ranzae Daniels, Soph., 5-9, 155

2015 outlook: Clarksville has not been up to its program par the past two seasons, but it did sneak into the playoffs with a 3-2 district record as part of a 3-7 regular season. The group should be better this season with 11 returning starters, including six on the offensive side of the ball. Clarksville put it on last season's bottom three teams, Como-Pickton, Honey Grove and Bogata Rivercrest by big margins. Athlete Rayzon Allen and running back Ronzae Daniels are very good athletes on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, the team has an edge. Clashon Gaffney is 6-foot-7 and a unique challenge for offensive tackles at his defensive end position. Linebacker James Woods led all returning defenders with 99 tackles in 2014. Expect the Tigers to turn around their recent history this season, but games against Como-Pickton, Rivercrest and Honey Grove are very important for a second year in a row.

4. Como-Pickton Eagles

Coach: Charles Swann
2014 finish: 2-8
Returning starters: 7 offensive, 7 defensive

Players to watch

QB/DB Cody Fite, Sr., 5-10, 165
OL/DL Tanner Childers, Sr.
RB Coltin Clark, Soph.
TE/DL Malik Gray, Sr.
OL/DL Brian Potts, Sr.

Offense: Como-Pickton's defense stepped up its game last season. The Eagles offense will have to as well to put together its first winning season since 2004. The group mustered 86 points all season last year. Fortunately, seven players are back on this side of the ball and the offensive line has experience. Look for Coltin Clark to take the next step as a sophomore and to develop into a real nice player over his final three varsity seasons. Quarterback Cody Fite and tight end Malik Gray are other major offensive skill players to keep an eye on this season.

Defense: Credit the Eagles' defense for most of last season's success. It allowed about 200 less points in 2014 as it did in 2013, which in turn pushed Como-Pickton to a 2-8 record from an 0-10 campaign the year prior. Malik Grey, Tanner Childers and Brian Potts constitute a nice front seven that the team can build on. Having Cody Fite in the backfield is another strength. Seven starters return on this side of the ball in total, so expect more improvement this year.

2015 outlook: Experience really matters and Como-Pickton has it. Bogata Rivercrest and Honey Grove struggled last season as well and bring back less. A fourth playoff spot is available this season and onward into the future. The Eagles have the inside track for it. It's a good situation for first-year head coach Charles Swann. Wins against Rivercrest and Honey Grove in the final three weeks of the campaign are absolute musts.

5. Bogata Rivercrest Rebels

Coach: Lance Connot
2014 finish: 2-8
Returning starters: 5 offensive, 4 defensive

Players to watch

RB/LB Morgan Tabb, Jr., 5-10, 165
LB Brandon Alvarez, Sr., 5-8, 170
TE/DL Trevor Barbo, Sr., 6-3, 250

2015 outlook: The bright spot is head coach Lance Cannot returns for a second year after the Rebels suffered three new head coaches for three straight years. Bogata Rivercrest returns the fewest starters from the three 2-8 teams a year ago, but it has a good top group of playmakers. Morgan Tabb rushed for 657 yards and six scores on 121 carries last season. Brandon Alvarez made 69 tackles at linebacker. Games against Como-Pickton and Honey Grove will be the difference between making the playoffs or sitting at home.

6. Honey Grove Warriors

Coach: Brian Lewis
2014 finish: 2-8
Returning starters: 6 offensive, 6 defensive

Players to watch

FB/LB Xza Epps, Jr.
RB/LB Hoss McElroy, Sr., 5-6, 160
ATH Bobbie Newman, Sr., 6-2, 220
QB Rylee Stoltenberg, Jr., 5-10, 170

2015 outlook: Honey Grove checks in at the bottom of the district after some rough losses last season, but it also should be contending for the final spot with 12 starters returning. Hoss McElroy scored nine touchdowns last season and racked up 846 yards on 187 carries. Linebacker Xza Epps had a great sophomore season with 97 tackles. If the Warriors can shake their youth during the season, they'll be competitive among the bottom four teams. Fortunately, games against Bogata Rivercrest and Como-Pickton come in the second half of October. There's plenty of time to get prepared.