After back-to-back trips to the state quarterfinals, John Tyler projects as a repeat district champion in 2011.

JT, which went unbeaten in league play a year ago, received six first-place votes from the beat writers who cover the East Texas loop to take the top spot in unanimous fashion in the Preseason All-District 14-4A football poll.

Marshall garnered all six second-place votes to follow JT. Whitehouse placed third, followed by Kilgore in fourth, Jacksonville in fifth, Nacogdoches in sixth, Hallsville in seventh and Pine Tree in eighth.

After dropping down from Class 5A, JT finished a perfect 7-0 in district play and outpointed its opponents by an average margin of 30 points (40.7-10.7). JT ended last year 12-2 and bowed out in the round of eight for the second consecutive season. The Lions lost their two games by a combined seven points, and both in the final 70 seconds.

Seven offensive and three defensive regulars return for JT, led by Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Eric Davis. The end, who has committed to Texas A&M, registered 53 tackles (19 for losses), 12 sacks, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries during a dominant junior campaign.

Whitehouse quarterback Hunter Taylor, coming off a season where he threw for more than 3,800 yards and 46 touchdowns, starts the year as Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Taylor joined Whitehouse standout receiver Johnathan Aldridge, who caught 81 passes for more than 1,400 yards and 16 TDs last year, on the offensive side.

JT placed a high of six players on offense, including kicker Julian Varona, fresh off a season where he booted 52 point-after attempts, four field goals and 20 touchbacks.

Greg Ward, a junior quarterback who led JT in receiving last year with 52 catches for 663 yards and six TDs, made the team as an athlete. JT’s receiving core accounted for two spots in senior Devonte Haggerty (51 touches for 590 total yards and nine TDs) and junior Fred Ross (36 touches for 406 yards and five TDs). Also two-way threat DeQuante Woods claimed a running back spot after he averaged nearly six yards per rush and caught two TD passes in spot duty last year.

Tyus Bowser, a junior defensive end who notched five sacks in 2010, represented JT on the defensive side.

The regular season opens up on Aug. 25, with district play set to get going on Sept. 23.

Preseason All-District 14-4A Football Team

Offensive Player of the Year — Hunter Taylor, QB, 6-1, 180, Sr., Whitehouse

2010: 277-for-403, 3,854 yards, 46 TDs, 7INTs

Defensive Player of the Year — Eric Davis, DE, 6-2, 235, Sr., John Tyler

2010: 52 tackles (19 for loss), 12 sacks, 10 hurries, 3 INTs; 3 FRs

OFFENSE

QB – Riley Toler, 6-2, 210, Sr., Kilgore

RB – LaDarius Anthony, 6-1, 190, Sr., Kilgore

RB – Cornelius Bell, 6-1, 240, Jr., Kilgore

RB – Dequante Woods, 5-10, 180, Jr., John Tyler

WR – Johnathan Aldridge, 6-1, 165, Sr., Whitehouse

WR – Darrell Minifee, 5-8, 150, Jr., Jacksonville

WR – Devonte Haggerty, 6-0, 185, Sr., John Tyler

WR – Fred Ross, Jr., 6-3, 180, Sr., John Tyler

OL – Mark Jenkins, 6-3, 330, Sr., Jacksonville

OL – Donald Jackson, 6-1, 260, Sr., Kilgore

OL – Jarren Gipson, 5-11, 255, Sr., John Tyler

OL – Xavier Gordon, 5-10, 220, Nacogdoches

OL – Aris Hilburn, 6-3, 245, Sr., Marshall

ATH – Greg Ward, 5-11, 165, John Tyler

K – Julian Varona, 5-7, 165, Sr., John Tyler

DEFENSE

DL – Deonte McKinney, 6-3, 270, Sr., Marshall

DL – Jenson Jackson, 6-0, 285, Sr., Marshall

DL – Tyus Bowser, 6-2, 225, Jr., John Tyler

DL – Jason Robinson, 6-2, 285, Sr., Jacksonville

LB – A.J. Davis, 5-11, 195, Jr., Kilgore

LB – Bryson Haywood, 5-11, 185, Jr., Jacksonville

LB – Olajuwon Raven, 6-0, 185, Sr., Marshall

DB – Dexter Davis, 6-0, 170, Sr., Jacksonville

DB – Dylan Cantrell, 6-3, 180, Jr., Whitehouse

DB – Marquee Shankle, 5-10, 165, Sr., Nacogdoches

DB – J.C. Daily, 5-10, 175, Sr., Hallsville

DB – Christian Marroquin, 5-11, 190, Sr., Pine Tree

P – Hugo Orta, 6-0, 170, Sr., Kilgore

RS – Alandric Tutt, 6-0, 185, Sr., Marshall

Media Poll

School                    Points^

1.John Tyler*        48

2.Marshall*           42

3.Whitehouse        34

4.Kilgore               29

5.Jacksonville        25

6.Nacogdoches      20

7.Hallsville*          12

8.Pine Tree*          6

^ — Eight points were awarded for first-place votes, descending in order to one-point for eighth-place votes

* — denotes unanimous selection

Participants: Gabriel D. Brooks, Longview News-Journal; Chase Colston, Tyler Morning Telegraph; Mitch Lucas, Kilgore News-Herald; Jay Neal, Jacksonville Daily Progress; Brandon Ogden, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel; Harold Wilson, Tyler Morning Telegraph.