The newest edition of Dave Campbell Texas Football (DCTF) magazine is on store racks, and it predicts success for several local high school football teams in their 2025 campaigns.
Writers predict playoff berths for the Whitesboro Bearcats and deep runs by the Collinsville Pirates and Tioga Bulldogs.
WHITESBORO BEARCATS
The Whitesboro Bearcats are picked to finish third in District 6-3A DI, but that ranking could be a bit deceiving as they are saddled with two regional contenders in Pottsboro, at number two, and Palmer, ranked first in the district.
Pilot Point is picked number four with Dallas Life Oak Cliff, Dallas Madison and Dallas A+ Academy at fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively.
“Expect Whitesboro to be right in the thick of the district title chase with one of the most experienced teams in the state,” DCTF reports. “QB (Colt) Fagan returns to pilot the offense after a strong sophomore campaign.”
Head coach Cody Fagan led the Bearcats to 6-5 overall record last year. They finished district 4-2 and made the playoffs.
Much of the production the Cats saw last year was at the hands of Brayden Bomar who DCTF pegs as the Preseason District MVP.
Colt Fagan is coming off a successful recovery from a season-ending leg injury last year that could have hampered late run success.
Notably, the Bearcats did not make the Top 25 rankings, but DCTF writers did pick them as one of four possible sleeper teams in the 3A ranks.
“With 20 starters back from a playoff team, Cody Fagan’s Bearcats are ready to leap,” they wrote.
Other 3A DI sleepers include Childress, San Diego and Boling.
COLLINSVILLE PIRATES
Collinsville enters the 2025 season ranked seventh in the state. Normally that would make you a shoo-in for a district championship bid, but the road might be tougher for the Pirates, who are ranked second in the district standings.
They are ranked right behind their district rival Muenster Hornets— the returning State Champs who are pegged for repeat success.
The Hornets are ranked first in the 2A DII standings.
To make matters more interesting, the Lindsay Knights are also in the Top 25— sitting at number 19 in the pre-season poll.
Lindsay is picked third in the district standings, behind Collinsville and Muenster, making District 8-2A DII easily one to be most talent heavy in the state.
Santo is pegged at number four with Era at fifth and Chico at sixth.
“Expect the Pirates to be a regional title contender again,” DCTF reports. “One reason why is QB (Jaxon) Jenkins, who shined as a sophomore. Fellow junior (Chad) Davidson is back as a big play threat, while RBs (Brandon) Cantu and (Chase) Sheppard provide depth at the skill positions. The Pirates will be able to outscore most teams, but DL (Russell) Carney and LB Sheppard will help provide an imposing defensive front.”
DCTF picks Carney as the Pre-season Defensive MVP with two teammates picked for All State finishes.
Davidson was named Pre-season All State Wide Receiver and Isiah Smith named Pre-season All State Kicker.
The Pirates are coming off a 12-2 year with both 2024 losses coming to the eventual State Champion Muenster Hornets. They were regional finalists and ended district play 4-1.
TIOGA BULLDOGS
Seven miles down the road, the Tioga Bulldogs will open their season at 23rd in the State Pre-season Poll for 2A DI.
Like Collinsville, they are predicted to finish district play in second place behind a tough Wolf City team who is 15th in the state standing.
The Alvord Bulldogs are picked to finish third in District 6-2A DI with Whitewright at fourth, Tom Bean at fifth, Nocona at sixth and Trenton at seventh.
“The Bulldogs will rely on their defensive experience as they look to defend their district title,” DCTF predicts. “Among those veterans are DBs (Jake) David (135 tackles, 9 INTs) and (Justin) Arrington (3 INTs), who make the secondary strength.”
David is picked as the DCTF Pre-season District Defensive MVP.
The Bulldogs finished last year as Area Finalists with a 9-3 record on the year and a perfect 6-0 district finish.
S&S RAMS
The S&S Rams are picked to finish seventh in District 7-3A DII behind Howe at sixth, Callisburg at fifth, Leonard at fourth, Blue Ridge at third, Bells at second and Gunter at first.
As one of the tougher districts in the state, Gunter is predicted to repeat as State Champs and Bells will surely make a deep run rooted in an experienced group there.
S&S coach Dan Pike enters his second season looking for a first win.
“Pike saw growth despite a winless first season,” DCTF reports. “And the Rams expect to see improvement. (Hunter) Courville (1,030 yards, 9 TDs passing) is a dual-threat QB and the team’s top returning tackler.”
SEASON OPENERS
Football practices start across the area on Aug. 5.
Whitesboro opens the season on the road Friday, Aug. 29 against Paris North Lamar.
Collinsville and Tioga will open the season the night before on Thursday, Aug. 28 in the renewal of the Battle of the Bridge rivalry.
This year’s installment will get underway at 7 p.m. in Collinsville.
The S&S Rams open at home Friday, Aug. 29 against Comanche, Oklahoma.
See the Aug. 29 edition of the News-Record for our annual North Central Texas High School Football Preview edition.