One year after picking Lampasas to finish last in their district, the staff at Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine is predicting the Badgers will match the school’s longest playoff run by reaching the Class 3A Division I state semifinal game. Dave Campbell just made approximately 7,000 new friends.

One year after picking the Badgers to finish dead last in their district, Campbell and his Texas Football magazine staff are predicting Lampasas will go deep in the playoffs.

Real deep.

In fact, the highly respected publication has Lampasas reaching the Class 3A Division I state semifinal game.

The bold prediction comes just one year after the Badgers snapped a 20-game losing streak en route to making the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

“I don’t know if we deserve to be right there, but I know we’ve gained respect,” Badgers head coach Joey McQueen said. “It doesn’t really mean anything unless we live up to it, but when you have high expectations it builds your confidence.

Taken from TexasFootball.com. “It’s better than starting out picked [to finish] last in the district, but we’re going to have to prove ourselves.”

Probably the most influential factor in the sudden and dramatic change in perception of the Badgers is their move to Class 3A following the UIL’s recent reclassification of districts.

The change from District 25-4A to District 25-3A relieves Lampasas’ burden of facing much bigger schools like three-time defending Class 4A champion Lake Travis -- Texas Football’s pick to win it all again in 2010 -- Killeen and Pflugerville Hendrickson.

The Badgers now have the highest enrollment of any Class 3A school with 987 students -- three below the Class 4A cutoff of 990 -- which means if Lampasas makes the playoffs, it will automatically go into the Division I bracket.

Texas Football -- considered by many to be the bible of Texas football for the past 50 years -- predicts Burnet will win the District 25-3A title, with the Badgers and Liberty Hill following in the standings. In Class 3A competition, only the top three teams from each district make the playoffs.

While McQueen admits the new classification is a huge component in the Badgers’ potential success, he knows it is not a magic potion.

“You can’t just snap your fingers and think you are going to be good,” the coach said. “You’ve got to keep working, and we have done that.

“I think [the players] will keep things in perspective, and if our kids start getting too big-headed, then the coaches will pop the bubble for them.”

In addition to transforming into the pond’s biggest fish virtually over night, the Badgers have other factors in their favor. Most notably, the team is receiving an influx of talented players from the junior varsity team that went 9-1 in 2009.

Composed entirely of incoming juniors, the new additions have a year of familiarity with McQueen’s slot-T offensive scheme under their belts.

After installing the gritty, ground-and-pound system last season, the varsity Badgers won four games, including three in district, which invigorated a team that had acquired a reputation as a pushover.

Lampasas is returning 11 starters (six on offense and five on defense) and 20 lettermen from the team.

By the time the district opener against Burnet rolls around on Oct. 9, the Badgers should be battletested, having faced Manor, Austin Travis, Lorena, Leander Rouse and San Angelo Lake View in their nondistrict schedule.

“It’s not like we are playing rinky-dink teams before we go into district,” McQueen said. “We’re going to have some tough times there. Then we’re going to have to make sure we stay healthy.

“To go a long way in the playoffs, you need to have luck, talent, and [you need to] stay healthy. If all three of those fall into place, you never know what kind of season you could have.”

Despite all the variables working for Lampasas, the fact remains the Badgers are just 4-27 over the last three seasons, and they have not won a playoff game since 1998.

So, while the preseason prediction of emerging as a statesemifinal contender -- a feat accomplished only once in Lampasas history (1986) -- is a tremendous compliment, McQueen is taking it with a grain of salt.

“I’m glad the kids know their hard work is paying off and people respect them,” the coach said. “Now, you can have a lot of respect and go out there and get your head knocked off.

“I want our kids and our coaches and our town to keep perspective, knowing that we have an opportunity to do well, but at the same time realize [we must take it] one step at a time.”

After all, predictions are meaningless. Even the great Dave Campbell’s.