In District 17-3A nothing is taken for granted. Week in and week out, any of the seven teams in the highly competitive Super Centex area league are capable of knocking each other off, which makes what Kevin Johnson’s Connally Cadets did last season even more impressive.

Despite being outgunned in their regional semifinal playoff loss to Giddings, the Cadets posted a 9-2 record and won the district championship over the likes of playoff participants Robinson and China Spring.

The Cadets have 13 total starters returning and if they can replace the beef up front created by the loss of all-Central Texas tandem Keith and Kevin Dahman and the playmaking ability of Jordan Williams, Johnson could have his club in line for another district title.

Junior running back Dexter Fulbright headlines the six returnees on offense for the Cadets, who will work out of spread attack. A potential big time prospect in the class of 2008, Fulbright returns as the Cadets leading rusher after running for 350 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore. Tyler Tynes will take over in the shotgun at quarterback for the Cadets and he has a plethora of good receivers to go to, including senior Terence Whitaker, who hauled in 12 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns and returns as the Cadets leading receiver. Senior Bubba Adcock and junior Aston Love, both all-District honorees last season, will anchor the offensive line.

All three linebackers return from last year’s team and all three returning all-District players will play a big role in shutting down the opposition. Fulbright was named district newcomer of the year last season after recording 72 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and returning both of his interceptions for touchdowns. Whitaker (48 tackles, four for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one interception) and John Jacobs (98 tackles, 6.5 for loss, two forced fumbles) round out what should be the best group of linebackers in the district. Eric Howard and Adam Martinez were both named all-District along the defensive line last season as was safety Jeremiah Jonse, who will anchor the secondary.