Offense is usually the name of the game in TAPPS, but Bishop Lynch has a couple of good pieces in place on defense.

Outside linebacker Dion Chidozie has already gotten offers from Army and Louisiana Tech, and defensive end Richard Stevens has an offer from Louisiana Tech.

Bishop Lynch begins spring practice Monday. It concludes May 16. Unlike the UIL schools, which have 30 days to get in 18 practices, TAPPS schools have just 14 days to squeeze in 10.

"It's just about perfect, actually," coach Bill Persinger said. "Short and crisp and to the point. It makes you work as a coach and makes sure you don't waste any minutes."

The area's top 5A offense last season looks loaded again for 2008. Allen, which averaged 502.8 yards per game last season, began spring drills last week with several key returning starters.

Quarterback Matt Brown passed for 25 touchdowns and rushed for 10 as a sophomore. Coach Tom Westerberg said Brown, listed as 6-0, 175 last season, has grown in stature and confidence.

"He's gotten a year more mature," Westerberg said. "He's getting a lot stronger through off-season work. I think he might have grown an inch."

Running back Jeremiah Williams, who averaged 9.0 yards per carry, is back. Bradlee Waddell, who also played running back last year, has moved to inside receiver.

Uzoma Nwachukwu, who caught six TD passes last year, takes over for Dan Buckner at outside receiver. Dakarai Pecikonis, who played a lot when Coby Jones went down with an injury, will also be a big part of the receiving corps.

Guards Justin Esparza and Cody Milam return to the offensive line.

"We'll probably be as big as we've ever been," Westerberg said.

Forney can take comfort in knowing that 1,500-yard runner Peter Smith returns for his senior season. But the departure of Landon Hartwick, who had started since he was a freshman, has left a wide-open race at quarterback. The entire receiving corps also has to be replaced.

"We've got to come up with some big answers pretty quick," said coach Kevin Rush, whose team opens drills Friday.

Smith will be treated gingerly during the first week of practice because of a hamstring injury left over from track season.

However, 6-2 safety Kezie Camp is healthy, at last. Camp suffered a high ankle sprain in the opener last season, then came back for one play against Richardson Pearce and dislocated his elbow.

Forney hasn't made the playoffs since 2003, its last year in 3A. Realignment has moved Forney out of a district with Highland Park and into one with Lancaster, Mabank and Red Oak.

Forney will still play West Mesquite, Mesquite Poteet and Terrell, but it will be different.

"The automatic thing is there's nothing with an H or a P and blue and gold attached to it," Rush joked. "You trade one problem for another. That district was such a bruising district. Big kids, big linemen. I think the district we're going into is going to be more packed with speed."

You'll have to get up early to catch the final spring scrimmage for 5A Division I state champion Euless Trinity. It's scheduled for 6:30 a.m. May 14.

Many programs try to re-create the atmosphere of a fall Friday night with their spring games. It builds enthusiasm and is a chance to make a little money off tickets and concessions.

"I hate to pass that up, but we just wanted to focus more on the grind and the basics and get away from the glitter and the drama," coach Steve Lineweaver said.

"We've done that [kind of spring game] before, but it's like two days where we could have gotten more basics done."

The basics for Trinity start with the offensive line, which doesn't return any starters. Quarterback Denarius McGhee does return along with running back Dontrayevous Robinson.

The defense returns state title game defensive MVP Elikena Fielo at linebacker and several veterans in the secondary.

Lineweaver cautions: "We've got a long way to go."

Spotlighting a player who could make an impact his first year on varsity:

Bowie already has a standout quarterback in Christian Matthews, but coach Kenny Perry said Davis' arm strength is getting attention. Davis has already attended an Elite 11 regional camp for top quarterbacks. "He's got one of the best arms I've ever seen," Perry said. "We're talking about putting in some packages just so we can get Deric on the field."

A sampling of area teams starting spring practice in the next week (date of spring game in parentheses):

TODAY

Arlington Bowie (May 30)

Carrollton R.L. Turner (May 16)

Garland (May 29)

Garland Naaman Forest (May 29)

Lewisville (May 30)

McKinney North (May 22)

FRIDAY

Carrollton Newman Smith (May 24)

Cedar Hill (May 23)

Flower Mound Marcus (May 23)

Forney (May 30)

Richardson (May 23)

SATURDAY

Rockwall (May 22)

MONDAY

Bishop Lynch (May 16)

Duncanville (May 21)

Irving MacArthur (May 22)

Lake Dallas (May 29)

McKinney (May 29)

McKinney Boyd (May 29)

Molina (no spring game)

North Garland (May 29)

South Grand Prairie (May 24)

South Oak Cliff (May 30)

Southlake Carroll (May 29)

TCA-Addison (May 16)