Wall, Water Valley Debut at No. 3 in Texas Football Preseason Rankings

LEWISVILLE, TX — Tom Green County has two high school football teams that are considered state-title contenders by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

Wall and Water Valley each debuted at No. 3 in their respective classifications when Texas Football’s preseason rankings were released Friday.

Both teams reached the state semifinals last year. Wall lost to eventual state champion Gunter, 42-32, while Water Valley fell to Whiteface, 74-54.

Wall returns seven starters on offense from last year’s 13-2 team, including quarterback Landon York, along with four starters on defense.

However, Gunter is again considered the top dog in Class 3A Division II. The Tigers have won three straight state titles, and they’ll enter the year at No. 1, despite just two returners on offense and five on defense.

Tidehaven, with 17 starters back from a 12-3 team, is No. 2.

In Class 1A Division I, Water Valley is No. 3 behind back-to-back defending state champion Gordon at No. 1 and Whiteface at No. 2.

The Wildcats return four starters on each side of the ball from an 11-3 team, led by quarterback Landon Lacy and linebacker Boston Wiese. 

However, Water Valley is still chasing a Gordon powerhouse that returns five starters on offense and four on defense. State finalist Whiteface returns three starters on both sides of the ball.

Robert Lee is ranked No. 15 with four starters back on each side of the ball from last year’s 7-4 team, highlighted by all-state spread back Brenner Sherwood.

Menard is No. 19 with five starters back on offense and defense from a 9-2-1 team.

In 1A Division II, Richland Springs is No. 3 with four starters back on offense and three returning on defense from a 12-1 team. 

Defending state champ Jayton is No. 1 after losing only two starters. Klondike is No. 2 with all but one starter back from a 9-5 team.

In Class 2A Division I, Mason is the Concho Valley’s top team at No. 12. The Punchers have a new head coach, Wade Griffin, and they graduated all but five starters.

In 2A Division II, the Junction Eagles are also No. 12. They bring back six starters on offense and seven on defense from a team that went 12-2 and reached the state quarterfinals.

The 2025 high school football season will begin with the first day of workouts Aug. 4.