Dave Campbell's Texas Football picks Refugio to win state title
If Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine's predictions go as planned, Refugio will be crowned Class 2A Division I state champions during the 2023 season.
The magazine, which was released this week, predicted Refugio to knock off rival Shiner in the regional final and top Hawley in the championship game to claim its sixth state crown in program history.
The Bobcats were also ranked No. 1 in the Class 2A Division I preseason rankings with linebacker Kaleb Brown being named the Class 2A preseason defensive player of the year.
Refugio finished 14-2 last season and advanced to the state final before falling to Hawley.
Taft's J.J. Acosta was named the preseason offensive player of the year in Class 3A after passing for a Coastal-Bend best 4,269 yards and 40 touchdowns with 1,447 yards on the ground and 11 scores last season. The Greyhounds are coming off a historic season after advancing to the Class 3A Division II regional quarterfinals.
The magazine also projected other strong finishes for several Coastal bend teams in 2023.
In Class 5A, Veterans Memorial is slated to advance to the regional final before falling to PSJA North and Gregory-Portland is picked to advance to the regional final before having its season end against Liberty Hill.
The magazine predicted Calallen to reach the Region IV-4A final, but will come up short against Boerne for the second consecutive season. Sinton is also pegged to reach the regional final before falling to Wimberley.
Eight area players were tabbed as preseason all-state picks in their classifications — Miller offensive lineman Devin Cage, Veterans Memorial linebacker Luke Johnson and Gregory-Portland linebacker Gabriel Juarez were selected in Class 5A. Orange Grove linebacker Seth Barnes was selected in Class 4A with Taft's Acosta being named to the team in Class 3A. In Class 2A, Refugio's Brown, wide receiver Ernest Campbell and defensive back Isaiah Avery were selected.
Ingleside's Jaydon Smith and Three Rivers' Derek Lancaster were tabbed as players to watch.
Other team ranked in the magazine's preseason poll were Calallen (No. 7 in Class 4A Division I); Veterans Memorial (No. 14 in Class 5A Division I); Gregory-Portland (No. 14 in Class 5A Division II); Sinton (No. 14 Class 4A Division II); Three Rivers (No. 17 Class 2A Division I); Flour Bluff (No. 18 Class 5A Division II); Miller (No. 21 Class 5A Division I) and Taft (No. 22 Class 3A Division II).
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Dave Campbell's Texas Football picks Refugio to win state title
