Top 25 Games of 2016: No. 7, Texas High at Marshall

With Longview out of the picture in Class 6A now, two-thirds of last season's tri-district championship are left to battle it out in 16-5A.

When Texas High visits Marshall in the league opener on Sept. 23, the stakes may not be any higher.

It checks in at No. 7 on ETSN.fm's list of the top 25 games of 2016.

Texas High handed Marshall its only district loss a season ago, and the Mavericks are sure to have revenge on their minds.

Texas High WR/DB Eric Sutton. (Rob Graham, ETSN.fm)

Marshall, coming off an 11-2 season that reached the 5A Division II regional semifinals, returns 12 starters. Chief among them is senior running back Cam Haller, who ran for more than 1,800 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior.

The Mavs, however, will be breaking in a new quarterback and a new fleet of receivers.

Defensively, Marshall is experienced, with eight starters back. Defensive end Marje Smith, linebacker Tre Macon, and defensive back Corteze Hurd are all impact players on defense.

Texas High returns its QB-WR duo of Cade Pearson and Quan Hampton. Pearson, a North Texas commit, is about to begin his third year as the starting quarterback.

The Tigers have only one starter returning to the defense, so several fresh faces will need to step up in order for Texas High to remain solid on that side of the ball.