Football: Pundits like Indians' chances (Posted 7/29/2010 11:23 am)
BY RICKY MOORE

mooresports@thestargroup.com
As July heads in August, it seems like the perfect time to earnestly start talking about Texas high school football.

Earlier this month, the 2010 version of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine hit the magazine racks and the discussions began.

Alvarado, which is moving from Region I to Region II is tabbed by the magazine to make a return to the playoffs. Texas Football picks the Indians, who went 7-5 last season and lost to Argyle in the second round of the playoffs, to finish third in District 8-3A.

Kennedale, the champion of Alvarado’s former district ,12-3A, is selected to win the district. Glen Rose is tabbed to finish second.

“The magazine and predictions are for the fans,” Alvarado coach Jeff Dixon said. “I love the magazine. It’s all about entertainment.”

Not making the playoffs according to Texas Football will be fourth-place West, fifth-place Hillsboro and sixth-place Venus.

Alvarado has a rebuilding project on hand offensively with three players returning. Defensively, the Indians should be strong with eight players back.

Dixon, like most coaches, doesn’t put much stock in the magazines predictions.

“I don’t know how they make their picks,” he said. “We graduated our top rusher and lost seven players on our front line. One plus we have is our numbers are very good. I don’t really pay much attention to where we are picked. When it is all said and done, everything will be settled on the field.”

The Indians open practice Monday and have two home scrimmages scheduled Aug. 14 against Crandall and Aug. 19 against Kaufman. Alvarado opens the regular season Aug. 27, hosting Waco Robinson. The Indians begin district play Oct. 8 at Kennedale. The Wildcats are ranked 19th by Texas Football.

In the post-season, 8-3A matches up with 7-3A in the opening round of the playoffs and according to Texas Football that means Alvarado will play Mineral Well in a Division I game. In Division II, Kennedale faces Lake Worth and Glen Rose will take on Bridgeport.

To go along with Kennedale, Region I has three other state-ranked teams according to Texas Football, including second-ranked Brownwood, No. 5 Abilene Wylie and No. 16 Bridgeport. Just to make things interesting, Brownwood and Abilene Wylie are both in District 5-3A and meet Nov. 5 on the final week of the season.