San Marcos — Many people know Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine to be “The Bible” of all things football in the Lone Star State, but another source is slowly ascending the mountain — TexasHSFootball.com.

When Christopher Lyke launched the Web site dedicated to prep football in Texas, he didn’t know it would grow to where it is today. During the football season, TexasHSFootball.com hosts more than six million readers a month.

Lyke puts together a comprehensive list of each schedule in the state, calculates rankings in each class from 5A to Six-Man and keeps an updated scoreboard every Friday night.

After releasing his own district preview sections with predictions and recruiting watch lists, Lyke participated in a Q&A with Tyler Mayforth about the upcoming season.

Lyke tabbed San Marcos to finish last in District 25-5A behind Converse Judson, Cibolo Steele, New Braunfels, San Antonio Wagner and Seguin.

In 27-4A, he sees Smithson Valley taking home the title with Alamo Heights, Schertz Clemens, Hays, New Braunfels-Canyon, Lockhart and Lehman falling in order behind the Rangers.

And finally in 26-3A, Lyke feels Wimberley is the team to beat with Bandera, Fredericksburg, Canyon Lake, Navarro and Boerne trailing the Texans.



Q: Football season is getting close. What do you think really kicks off the anticipation for fans and pundits alike?

A: The adrenaline and rush of passion provided by the community and the kids. A lot of it has to do with the anticipation of what the future holds too. Football season in reality never leaves. Once a champion is crowned in December it is focused on recruiting and the new season ahead. It’s become a year-round ritual in Texas.



Q: Between District 25-5A, 27-4A and 26-3A, which one do you feel will be the most competitive and why?

A: 27-4A and 25-5A are very close. 27-4A has its ups and downs from top to bottom, but so does every other district in the state. 25-5A will be probably the most interesting of them because of teams like Cibolo Steele and New Braunfels and then 27-4A has a loaded crowd with Smithson Valley and Alamo Heights. Both top-heavy districts. should be fun to watch. 26-3A will have its moments, but nowhere near as appealing as 25-5A or 27-4A.



Q: You speak of top-heavy districts, yet with many rankings coming out, some area schools find themselves in the middle of the pack (Hays) or near the bottom (Lehman and San Marcos). To what do you attribute that — a lack of respect or depth of their respective districts?

A: I believe it is a combination of both. It’s hard to gauge what these schools will do in changing classes and some have to do with scheduling. The more successful schools in the area are challenging themselves more so than the weaker teams it seems.



Q: Out of these teams — San Marcos, Hays, Lehman and Wimberley — predict the order of finish based on their final 2010 records.

A: Wimberley, Hays, Lehman and San Marcos.



Q: Out of the teams in the San Marcos, Kyle, Buda and Wimberley areas, give me a team no one is talking about right now that will take everyone by surprise in 2010.

A: Out of the three districts in that area, the one school that may turn some eyes not just on a regional level, but statewide, has to be Canyon Lake. If the Hawks play consistently enough throughout the season, watch out for them.



Q: What do you think San Marcos needs to do to earn some respect?

A: San Marcos will need to find a way to win against teams like Judson, New Braunfels and Steele. If they can hang around late in these games they will earn that respect.



Q: Just to get the fire started: Hays and San Marcos will resume their rivalry in the third week of the season. Big crowd expected and you can imagine how electric the atmosphere will be. Who wins?

A: If I had to pick at this moment, Hays would more than likely come away with a victory. Should be a very entertaining game nonetheless. Will be a very close one in my opinion.