|
Where are they Now?????? |
|
|
June 23, 2002 Celeste, Commerce earn high rankings in 'Texas Football' By David Claybourn / Herald Banner Sports Editor
Commerce and Celeste earned lasting respect with their trips to the state football finals last season. "Dave Campbell's 2002 Texas Football Magazine" has ranked both Commerce and Celeste in the top 10 of their respective classifications for the upcoming season. Commerce, which beat La Grange 14-11 in the Class 3A Division II title game last season, is ranked No. 5 in Texas Football's preseason Class 3A rankings. The Tigers return three offensive and four defensive starters off last year's 14-2 team. Commerce's Terry Cron became the first head coach to win state titles in Classes A, 2A and 3A. Celeste, which lost 27-8 to Burkeville in the Class 3A finals last season, is rated No. 2 in Class A by Texas Football. The Blue Devils return six offensive and six defensive regulars off a 14-1 team. Ironically a Petrolia team that Celeste has eliminated from the playoffs during the past seasons holds Texas Football's No. 1 ranking in Class A. The Pirates return seven starters both ways, including all-state running back Ross Harrison, who topped the 2,000-yard rushing mark last season. Everman, the returning Division I champion, topped Texas Football's 3A rankings. Jasper, dropping down from Class 4A, earned the No. 2 spot followed by two returning 3A state finalists, Sinton and La Grange. Commerce and Celeste were the only two teams from the Greenville area to earn a state ranking in Texas Football. They're also the only two area teams picked by the magazine to win their respective districts. Commerce got the nod to win 10-3A, with Bonham second and North Lamar third. Quinlan Ford, which was 2-8 last season, was picked to finish fourth. Farmersville, 10-1 last season in 2A, was pegged to finish fifth followed by Community, Royse City and Princeton. Texas Football picked Celeste to win District 17-A over Wolfe City (dropping down from 2A), Fannindel, Boles, Cumby and Dallas Rylie, which is moving up from six-man. Fannindel made the playoffs last season. Greenville's Lions, with Marvin Sedberry back at the helm, were picked to finish second in District 11-4A behind Sherman. Sherman returns 13 starters off a 9-3 team. The Lions return eight regulars off a 6-5. Sedberry, who coached nine seasons at GHS, returned to coach the Lions following one season at Class 5A Dallas Carter. Paris and Sulphur Springs, two holdovers from the Lions' previous district, were picked to finish third and fourth in 11-4A, followed by Denison and McKinney North, which fielded a junior varsity team last season. Rains, which went 6-4 last season, was picked to finish sixth in District 11-3A behind Lindale, Winnsboro, Gilmer, Mount Vernon and Mineola. Caddo Mills, which went 8-3 to make the playoffs last season, was picked to finish third in 14-2A behind Como-Pickton and Quitman. Grand Saline grabbed the fourth spot, followed by Lone Oak, Edgewood, Alba-Golden and Scurry-Rosser. Leonard, which was 0-10 last season, was picked to finish eighth in 13-2A behind Whitewright, Howe, Bells, S&S Consolidated, Anna, Blue Ridge and Tom Bean. Texas Football picked Greenville Christian School to finish second in TAPPS District 2-2A Six-Man though the Eagles return all six starters on defense off last year's 10-2 state finalists. Waxahachie Cornerstone received the nod in that district. |