District 7-3A, Division II football is going to be like the Wild West-showdowns and shootouts are bound to happen at any given time.
Hooks is the defending district champion after going a perfect 5-0. Daingerfield was second and looks to overthrow the Hornets. And also in the mix is a talented Paul Pewitt team who tied with Daingerfield at 4-1 for second place last year.
DeKalb was fourth in the district with Queen City fifth. New Diana finished last and went 0-10.
New to the district is Ore City, which formally played in Class 2A, Division I. The Rebels went 9-2 last year and were bi-district finalist.
HOOKS
Second-year head coach Chris Birdwell returns six starters on offense. The offense is led by all-state selection, senior Montrell Estell who amassed 580 yards receiving and 417 yards rushing last season.
Starting quarterback and Air Force commit Jordan Johnson tallied 1,971 all-purpose yards in 2015. Seniors Malik Estell and Seth Mahar will rotate at running back. The Hornets will run a multiple-formation spread offense.
Hooks returns six starters on defense, and Malik Estell and Mahar start at linebacker in Birdwell's 4-3 scheme. Montrell Estell starts at safety led the area with six interceptions, three went for touchdowns.
Malik Estell was an all-state honorable mention selection last season and had 162 tackles, while Mahar made 153.
DAINGERFIELD
First-year head coach Mike Waldie is eyeing a district championship and a deep playoff run.
The Tigers return four starters on offense and are led by speedy running backs Markevian Grant, Chris Castleberry, and DK Lewis. Daingerfield is learning a new offense: the multiple 2-back, gun scheme.
Waldie's football philosophy is to build the defense first, then work on the offense. Cedric Arthur is one of the leaders on defense. He plays cornerback and runs a 4.5 second 40-yard dash. The Tigers will run a 3-4 defense.
Daingerfield has good depth on the offensive and defensive lines as well as blazing speed.
PAUL PEWITT
The Brahmas and head coach Ryan Gentry are looking to polish up all aspects of the game and win a district championship.
Paul Pewitt tied for second last year with a 4-1 district record. Gentry runs a smash-mouth, spread offense. Five offensive starters return including lineman Jovani Zavala, who anchors the line.
Lucas Hungerford will likely be named the starting quarterback. Labrandon Webster is the starting running back and was the Newcomer of the Year in 2015.
Senior Tyhsun Mitchell made the all-district first team as a receiver, defensive back and a returner. Love White is a 6-foot-2 player who could create matchup problems for the opposition.
The Brahmas will run a 3-3 stack defense and are led by outside linebacker Jonah Hungerford and middle linebacker Nick Garrett.
DeKALB
Eddy May and the Bears are looking to build upon a young, inexperienced team. DeKalb went 5-6 last season and made the playoffs.
The Bears return just three offensive starters and two on defense.
Sophomore quarterback Tristen Jamison will start, and running backs JaQuan Jackson and Kentavius Williams will got most of the carries.
Deonta Brown is the lone returning senior starter on the offensive line. Brown is also expected to start on the defensive line.
DeKalb has good skill players returning, but lacks depth. May said that if the offense can produce some points until the defense grows up, the Bears will be OK.
ORE CITY
Head coach Tracy Blakenship and Ore City look to make an impact in Class 3A after playing 2A ball last season.
The Rebels went 9-2 in Class 2A, Division I football last year.
Senior quarterback Cartea Douglas returns. Nick Hughes is the starting running back and amassed 782 yards last season. Ore City returns six starters on offense and five starters on defense.
Linebacker Dustin Ritter, who made 51 tackles last season, leads the defense.
QUEEN CITY
Head coach Justin Burk and the Bulldogs are looking to improve upon a 1-9 season.
Queen City runs a flex-bone offense and will count on fullback Dwight Glover to lead the way in yardage. The quarterback position will go to either senior Josh Henry or sophomore Jordan Wiley.
Dylan Savage is a first team all-district selection and anchors the offensive and defensive lines.
The Bulldogs run a 4-2-5 defense and is led by senior linebacker Jaeger Jaynes. Queen City looks to improve on its tackling.
NEW DIANA
The Eagles are looking to put 2015 behind then after going 0-10.
Quarterback Jackson Sampson is a 10-game starter and will have a trio of wide receivers to use as weapons in Marquice Wilkerson, Jared Weeks and T.J. Rogers.
Linebacker Aaron Jahr leads the defense, has good size, plenty of speed and a good work ethic.