High school football countdown: Fort Worth Dunbar

Fort Worth Dunbar

District 6-4A

Coach: Todd Lawson, sixth season

Last season: 6-5 (6-3 in District 6-4A), lost to eventual 4A Division II state champion Aledo in bi-district 59-10

Key players: QB Dan Harris (5-7, 170); RB Stepfawn Hughes (5-10, 175); LB Kameron Lewis (5-10, 205); DB Nicholas Johnson (6-1, 190); DB DaeVion Mangum (5-10, 165); OT Robert Henry (6-3, 270)

The big picture: Dunbar's playbook was so watered down last season, coach Todd Lawson admits most defenses knew what was coming before the ball was snapped. That all changes in 2012 as the Wildcats add new wrinkles to the philosophy and their younger talent is now a year older. Stepfawn Hughes not only returns as the workhorse for Dunbar's offense, but has added muscle to his frame and better ability to move as a north-south runner. He's bench-pressing nearly 60 pounds more than last season, and the skill players around him have improved. Dunbar's defense might be one of the best in the area if not the state. Running a 4-2-5, the Wildcats' secondary leaves little passing room on either side of the field.

Quotable: "The thing that jumps out the most is how much work the kids put in in the off-season. They are so much stronger than last season and they're sharper with the little things it takes to be successful." Coach Todd Lawson

Notable: Stepfawn Hughes is already a heavily recruited player, having scored 14 times last season and led the team in yards rushing and receiving.

-- Kevin Casas

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