PRESTON'S BACK...AND SO ARE WYLIE'S CHAMPIONSHIP HOPES

By mark rogers
November 21, 2009

Not to say that Wylie didn't have a chance to win a second State Championship with either Colin Harris or Eric Watts at the helm (both played admirably in Preston's absence), but when Preston's in there, things just seem to click.

After being out for a couple of weeks, it took the Bulldog offense about three minutes to get back in the groove. Their first drive ended in zero points.

But after that? The Wylie starters only gave Andrews a chance to touch the ball after they'd scored en route to a 42-0 win.

Next up for Wylie?

Burkburnett. A team that was blown out by Graham. And also lost to Bridgeport and Argyle. They also beat a down Sweetwater team by just 14 points in the first game of the season.

I hate using the logic of "Team A beat Team B so if Team C beats Team A they're better than Team B"...but here we go.

Here's a look at the common opponents for Wylie and Burkburnett this year:
Wylie - 47, Sweetwater - 7
Burkburnett - 14, Sweetwater - 0

Wylie - 37, Vernon - 14
Burkburnett - 48, Vernon - 14

Graham - 13, Wylie - 10
Graham - 41, Burkburnett - 7

It's hard to make a conclusion from those scores, but it's not hard to assume that Wylie is the better team.

They played a much tougher schedule.

So let's also assume that the return of Matt Preston is the spark Wylie needs to go on a State Championship run.

That would mean a win against Burkburnett next week.

So what's up after that? (Another thing I hate is looking too far ahead).

Not trying to jinx anyone, just interesting to look at.

If Wylie wins, they'll play the winner of the Prosper/Lovejoy game.

Prosper ended the season ranked #8 in 3A. Wylie was #9. I think it would be safe to predict a Prosper win in that one. They're only loss was to Argyle (a team that beat Burkburnett and hasn't lost all year), and they also beat Bridgeport and won big at Celina.

A Wylie win over Prosper would earn them a spot in the State Championship game. And looming in Regions 3 and 4 are Gilmer, Waco La Vega, Navasota, Cuero and Ingleside.

Gilmer and La Vega play today. Keep in mind Wylie beat La Vega 46-29 on the road in non-district.

The highest ranked team in that group is Gilmer (#1) then Cuero is next at #3.

So it's not an easy field. But also remember that unranked Wylie beat #1, #2 and #9 en route to the 2004 championship.

Didn't hurt that they were led by junior Case Keenum who is now leading the nation in passing yards by nearly 700 yards.

I don't want to look too far ahead, which I've already done, but I really like Wylie's chances with a healthy Matt Preston leading the charge.

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