The defending 5A Division I champion Trojans were voted the top team in The Associated Press preseason poll released Sunday, not long after they were ranked No. 1 in the nation by rivals.com.
In other words, they’ve replaced Southlake Carroll, at least for now, as the most-hyped team in Texas.
The Dragons aren’t too far down the list, though. They’re ranked fourth behind Plano, which plays at Temple on Sept. 19, and Katy after missing the championship game last year for the first time since 2001.
Lake Travis, the defending 4A Division II champion, edged Wichita Falls Rider by a point for the top spot in 4A. The difference was first-place votes. Lake Travis had 13, Rider the other seven.
Last year’s 3A champs - Liberty Hill and Celina - hold the top two spots in 3A. Liberty Hill, with a 24-game winning streak and consecutive state titles, earned 13 first-place votes and 192 points to five and 172 for Celina, a seven-time champion.
Cisco, which returns 13 starters from a 14-1 Division II semifinalist team, was the most overwhelming No. 1 pick in 2A, with 17 first-place votes and 196 points.
Salado, which advanced to the 2A Division I semifinals last year and finished 13-1, received 16 points in the 2A poll.
The closest vote was in Class A. No. 1 Alto, the defending Division I champ, got eight first-place votes and 177 points to seven first-place nods and 176 points for No. 2 Canadian, which is dropping down after winning last year’s 2A Division II title.
