Southlake Carroll opens at No. 1 in AP poll

By Jarret Johnson

jmjohnson@star-telegram.com

Southlake Carroll will start this football season where it ended in 2011, No. 1 in the state.

The Dragons, who are coming off their record-tying eighth UIL state championship, edged Austin Lake Travis for the top spot in The Associated Press preseason Texas high school Class 5A poll released Thursday.

"That's cool, we want to stay there all year and hopefully we can get back to the state championship," Carroll quarterback Kenny Hill said. "The expectations are always the same here, we're expected to win. That's what we expect of ourselves, so nothing has really changed."

Lake Travis is making the jump to Class 5A after winning five consecutive titles at the 4A level.

The Cavaliers actually garnered one more first place vote than Carroll but 12 fewer overall points.

A loaded Dallas Skyline team, Carroll's opponent in an epic state semifinal matchup last season, checks in at No. 3, followed by Katy and Cibolo Steele.

"We're honored because we know there are a lot of outstanding football teams in our great state," Carroll coach Hal Wasson said. "We know it's a tribute to last year's team and the other championship teams here. We have our work cut out for us, but competitors love challenges, and I know I'm in a field with a lot of competitors."

Euless Trinity, which has made four state championship appearances and won three titles since 2005, will kick off the season at No. 6 in the poll.

Coach Steve Lineweaver said he couldn't remember the last time the Trojans started a season unranked but tried to downplay his current team.

"We're not that good right now," Lineweaver said. "We're young at a lot of positions and not the sixth-best team in the state, but it's an honor and speaks to what some of the guys who came before have done in the past."

DeSoto and Allen, Carroll's Aug. 31 opponent, are seventh and eighth. Longview and Abilene round out the top 10.

Arlington Martin finished just outside the top 10, but it hosts DeSoto on Aug. 31 and would likely make the leap with a win.

Denton Guyer was an overwhelming pick as the top team in the 4A poll after dropping down from 5A last season. Cedar Park, Tyler and Pearland Dawson take the next three spots.

No. 5 Highland Park will open the season at home against No. 6 Aledo, winner of three consecutive 4A Division I state titles. Leander, Wichita Falls Rider, Angleton and Corpus Christi Calallen round out the top 10.

Stephenville holds the top preseason spot in Class 3A after dropping down from 4A. New District 7-3A rival and 2011 3A state runner-up Alvarado cracked the top 10 at No. 9.

"I hope they're right," Stephenville coach Joseph Gillespie said. "There are several polls out there. A couple of them have us one, several of them have us at two -- I just care about where we finish."

Jarret Johnson, 817-390-7760

Texas AP 2012 preseason HS football poll

Here is The Associated Press 2012 preseason Texas high school football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2011 records, points based on 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, and last year's final regular-season ranking, if any:

Others receiving votes: 11, Arlington Martin 41. 12, Manvel 18. 13, Pearland 15. 14, SA Madison 11. 15, The Woodlands 10. 16, Spring DeKaney 9. 17, La Porte 5. 18, Austin Westlake 3. 19, Hewitt Midway 2. 20, Lufkin 1. 20, Smithson Valley 1.

Others receiving votes: 11, Brenham 16. 12, Nederland 15. 13, Wichita Falls 11. 14, Kerrville Tivy 9. 15, Dallas Kimball 8. 16, Amarillo 3. 16, Wolfforth Frenship 3. 18, Sulphur Springs 2. 19, Sherman 1. 19, Corsicana 1.

Others receiving votes: 11, Henderson 36. 12, Tyler Chapel Hill 32. 12, Gilmer 32. 14, Monahans 14. 15, West Columbia 13. 16, Sealy 9. 17, Bellville 6. 18, Abilene Wylie 5. 19, Kennedale 2. 19, Kilgore 2. 21, Melissa 1.

Others receiving votes: 11, Arp 38. 12, Corsicana Mildred 30. 13, East Bernard 23. 14, Crockett 17. 15, Littlefield 11. 15, Rogers 11. 17, Franklin 8. 18, Garrison 6. 19, Clarksville 2. 19, Commerce 2. 21, Elysian Fields 1. 21, Idalou 1. 21, New Boston 1.

Others receiving votes: 11, Wellington 37. 12, Shiner 23. 13, Hubbard 16. 14, Ganado 14. 15, Albany 10. 15, Lindsay 10. 17, Alto 7. 17, Italy 7. 19, Muenster 6. 20, Joaquin 4. 21, Sunray 3. 22, Mount Enterprise 2. 22, Panhandle 2. 24, Stratford 1.

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