Red Raiders Are Back!

The Red Raiders are back! One year removed from the worst football season in 9 years, and two years removed from their best football season ever, Robert E. Lee looks to be back on track.

Texas 5A Football released it's 2006 Preseason Top 25 today. And low and behold, the Red Raiders were ranked 24th! That's quite impressive when you consider Lee was 4-6 last year. They are the only team in the top 25 that didn't make the playoffs last year.

According to Lee head coach Mike Owens, the Red Raiders are a young team with a bakers dozen worth of returning starters. He also has a defense that has a chance to be very good.

"We've got more speed defensively then we've had since I've been here," Owens said.

That defense should serve them well with a schedule that includes two other preseason top 25 teams in Abilene (#25) and defending state champion Euless Trinity (#9).

Former district rival Lufkin is ranked #1. The "Pack Attack" is featured on the cover of Texas 5A Football's 2006 Gridiron Guide. Too bad Lee and Lufkin don't play this year in the regular season.