Posted: Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:14 AM - 12,166 Readers

By: Jim Halley

This season's nexus of high school football is Texas.

• Trinity (Euless), the defending Texas 5A-I champion, is No. 1
• Defending 5A-II champ Abilene is No. 3
• Lake Travis (Austin) is No. 9
  

While Texas teams have been represented every year since the rankings began in 1982 in the season-ending Super 25, only Southlake Carroll in 2004 and '06 and Lee (Midland) in 1999 finished No. 1.

"You don't really get ranked that high unless you're in a long winning streak, and it's hard to have one in Texas," said Christopher Lyke, owner and chief editor of texashsfootball.com.

Trinity coach Steve Lineweaver's teams own three state 5A-I titles in the past five years but always had at least one loss.

"Other areas have good football, but there are a lot of good teams in Texas," Lineweaver said. "It's a big fan game here."

Trinity plays in 12,500-seat Pennington Stadium, which doesn't even put it in the top 10 in the state in capacity.

"It's been a religion in Texas, more like a way of life," Lyke said. "There may be just as much talent in Florida or California, but the atmosphere isn't there. People don't understand until they come here and watch. Every Friday night, they're the showcase of the town."