Wichita Falls area well-regarded in Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football started showing up in the mailboxes on its online subscribers this week, and the Bible of the state’s favorite pastime heaped plenty of love on Wichita Falls area athletes and teams.

Due to a printing problem, DCTF will not hit shelves until late next month. But let us share with you what the magazine is saying about high school football in the area.

►Senior Hirschi running back A’Marion Peterson was named first-team running back on the Whataburger Super Team. He’s the second Husky to receive this honor in the past three years, preceded by defensive lineman Chris Murray, now playing at Sam Houston State.

The magazine said this about Peterson: “He is a very physical back who racks up an abundance of yards after contact. Peterson will the ball frequently and is keyed on by every defender in the box, but they cannon contain him. Rushed for 1,817 yards and 28 touchdowns to earn district MVP honors in 2021.”

Peterson was also ranked 39th in the Texas Hot 100 which is a list of the top 100 prospects for the Class of 2023. He’s the second natural running back listed behind only El Campo’s Ruben Owens, who is ranked No. 2.

Peterson’s teammate Jamarion Carroll listed among the state’s best receivers in the Texas Top 300 seniors.

►Rider had a trio of seniors in the Texas Top 300, including Anquan Willis who made the list as an athlete thanks to his ability to play running back and pass rusher at a high level. Willis was among the top 10 athletes in the state.

Luke Gambs (defensive line) and Jack Pitts (quarterback) are also in the Texas Top 300.

►Archer City junior Elijah Jackson was named the Texas Top 100 for the Class of 2024.

►A former Rider Raider was listed as Texas Tech’s defender to “Keep an eye on…”

"Jacob Rodriguez returns to the Lone Star State after starting his career at Virginia. The sophomore is a 6-1, 215-pound linebacker from Wichita Falls Rider High School, where he was a three-sport star and quarterback. He’ll play linebacker for the Red Raiders with Texas Tech needing a new body to step up next to Krishon Merriweather. Rodriguez and Dimitri Moore were added as transfers.”

►Midwestern State was picked fourth in the Lone Star Conference preview, which focuses on the new look of the league after more teams opted to join the Division I FCS ranks. Angelo State is picked to win the conference, and MSU is also ranked behind Central Washington and West Texas A&M.

MSU defensive back Dylon Davis is listed among the conference’s top five players. Davis returned three interceptions for touchdowns.

►Shannon Waters was named 2021 Class A Coach of the Year for the work he did at Benjamin last season. Ironically, Waters was not retained by Benjamin ISD.

►Rider was ranked seventh in Class 5A Division II, predicted to lose to Argyle (No. 6) in the state quarterfinals. If this predictions holds true, it would be Rider’s fifth consecutive appearance in the state quarterfinals.

►The Raiders are picked to win District 2-5A Division II ahead of Abilene Cooper, Abilene Wylie and Amarillo Palo Duro. Plainview and Lubbock High are chosen to miss the playoffs.

Willis was chosen as the Preseason Defensive MVP.

►Hirschi is ranked third in Class 4A Division II behind perennial state powers Carthage and Gilmer. Graham is ranked 23rd.

Hirschi is picked to advance to the state semifinals, beating Midland Greenwood in the quarterfinals. Carthage was chosen to beat Hirschi in the semifinals on its way to a state championship.

Javian Frazier was a Preseason All-State selection at defensively line. Frazier set the Hirschi record for single-season sacks last season.

►Wichita Falls High is picked third in District 4-4A Division I behind Springtown and Decatur. Mineral Wells was slotted to take the fourth playoff spot. Burkburnett is predicted to finish fifth.

►Hirschi was chosen to win District 3-4A Division II ahead of Midland Greenwood, Graham and Snyder. Peterson was chosen as Preseason Offensive MVP.

►Holliday was ranked sixth in Class 3A Division II, predicted to lose to Gunter in the state quarterfinals. Gunter was chosen to win a state title. Senior linebacker Jaxx Johnson was a Preseason All-State selection at linebacker.

►Iowa Park is listed as a Class 3A Division I dark horse, an honor given to four teams starting the year unranked but can make deep playoff runs.

"The drop-down Hawks are going to try and play big-fish-in-a-small-pond their first year in 3A. With 12 starters back, it's not hard to see how."

►Iowa Park is picked second in District 3-3A Division I behind Jim Ned. Vernon is predicted fourth behind Breckenridge. Clyde and Bowie are slotted fifth and sixth, respectively, missing the playoffs.

►Jacksboro is chosen second in District 5-3A Division II behind Eastland. Dublin and Millsap round out the four playoff teams. Comanche and Merkel miss the playoffs.

►Holliday is picked to District 6-3A Division II once again with Callisburg chosen second. Henrietta and City View are picked third and fourth, respectively. S&S Consolidated and Valley View miss the playoffs.

Johnson is chosen as the Preseason Defensive MVP.

►Windthorst is ranked seventh in Class 2A Division II. Archer City is ranked 23rd. The Wildcats have two players named Preseason All-State, including linebacker Gunner Smith and Jackson, who is listed as a utility player.

►Olney is predicted to return to the playoffs, chosen third in District 4-2A Division I behind Hawley and Cisco. Stamford is chosen fourth with Anson, Winters and Colorado City missing the playoffs.

►Nocona is selected to miss the playoffs in District 6-2A Division I, coming in at fifth. Alvord, Tioga, Whitewright and Trenton are the fourth playoffs teams. Nocona is picked ahead of Tom Bean.

►Quanah sneaks into the playoffs under first-year coach Payton Jackson, picked fourth in District 2-2A Division II. Wellington is picked to win the district followed by Clarendon and Shamrock. Wheeler and Memphis are left out of the postseason.

►Windthorst is chosen to best county rival Archer City for the District 7-2A Division II championship. Seymour is picked third with Haskell in fourth. Petrolia, Electra and Munday are predicted to miss the playoffs.

Seymour junior quarterback Keegan Gilbreath was chosen as Offensive MVP, with Archer City’s Jackson picked as Defensive MVP.

►Benjamin is ranked first in Class A Division II after hiring Jamie Rigdon, formerly of Strawn, to be its head coach. Rigdon brings his son, Grayson, with him. Grayson was the 2021 Class Division II Player of the Year and the Offensive MVP of Strawn’s state title win.

Rigdon is picked as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for all of six-man.

Benjamin is also predicted to win the Class Division II state title.

"From also-ran to undisputed, the Mustangs' overwhelming talent and experience guides them to their first title."

Throckmorton is ranked eighth in Division II, while Knox City is ranked 17th in Division I.

►Despite being ranked 17th, Knox City is picked to miss the postseason, ranked third in District 4-A Division I behind Turkey Valley and Spur. Northside is picked fourth.

►Bryson is picked sixth in District 9-A Division I, not factoring into the postseason picture. Bryson is listed behind Gordon, Gorman, Lingleville, Baird and Perrin-Whitt.

►Benjamin is of course chosen to win District 6-A Division II with Paducah coming in second. Crowell is chosen third in its drop down to Division II. Chillicothe and Harrold are picked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Rigdon is the natural choice as Offensive MVP.

►Throckmorton is expected to win another district title in 7-A Division II. Rule is chosen second with Woodson, Lueders-Avoca and Paint Creek rounding out the district.

Throckmorton linebacker Cooper Grenko is chosen as Defensive MVP.

►Gold-Burg is picked to make a second straight playoff appearance, predicted second after defending state champion Strawn. Newcastle and Forestburg are picked third and fourth, respectively.

Gold-Burg linebacker Jayon Grace is picked  as Defensive MVP.

►Wichita Christian is slotted second in TAPPS Six-Man Division III District 1 behind Lubbock Kingdom Prep. Lubbock Christ the King and Midland Holy Cross round out the district.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls area well-regarded in Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine