High School Sports

This league counters the general understanding of size in high school football.

The three schools expected to contend for playoff berths all have enrollments of less than 500 students. And the three schools expected to be left home all have enrollments of more than 750 students.

Whatever that means about realignment and reclassification is still debatable, but the little guy is top dog in 13-3A.

Farmersville, Rains and Nevada Community were picked by Texas Football to finish 1-2-3 in respective order. Farmersville, which won the Class 2A Division I state championship last season, is the smallest school in the league -- only 460 students. Rains reported an enrollment of 485 and Nevada Community of 478.

The three of them are followed by Lucas Lovejoy, Princeton and Quinlan Ford in respective order. Lovejoy, a growing school located in Collin County, has the largest enrollment at 848, but is in its first season of fielding a varsity team. Princeton reported 769 students and Quinlan Ford, 815.

Rains head coach Brannon Kidd expects at least part of the district to pan out as predicted.

"I put Farmersville first because they have a lot of tradition," he said.

Farmersville at Winnsboro (Aug. 29): Farmersville will make its debut in Class 3A as the reigning 2A Division I champion. On paper, the opponent has the necessary tools to make a deep run in the Farmers' former class.

Sanger at Lucas Lovejoy (Aug. 29): The Leopards are making their debut at the varsity level in 2008. Just how big the change is will begin to take shape in the opener.

Rains at Gilmer (Sept. 5): This will be Rains' first game since moving to the spread offense. The opponent is a seasoned veteran at the spread, and will be playing its first game since falling in the state final last season.

Rains at Nevada Community (Oct. 10): Rains and Nevada Community are expected to vie for postseason berths. Should Farmersville honor predictions and win the district, the spoils of second place could go to the victor.

Rains at Farmersville (Oct. 17): There might be district title implications on the line when these teams meet. It will also be a display of how far each new head coach has gone since taking over.