Educated Guesses: 2A DII
Kickoff to the 2024 season is getting closer and closer, and the time has come to take a stab at how things will play out in each district featuring Big Country football teams.
I call them educated guesses, like your teachers used to, because I feel I have at least a little bit of knowledge about the upcoming season after speaking with area coaches for the 2024 edition of Big Country Blitz.
For the record, last season I got eight out of a possible eight playoff picks correct, a perfect 100%, in 2A Division II.
Windthorst, #8 in the preseason poll, is the big favorite to win the district yet again. They won it a year ago with a very young team that will be poised to make a deep run in 2024.
Seymour returns star quarterback Brayden Loyd, and they join the Trojans as the two teams most likely to make the playoffs.
Things get a little murky after that, but Haskell and Archer City, both playoff teams in 2023, are the picks for the final two spots.
Electra, Munday and Petrolia return 53 out of a possible 66 starters, so they should show improvement and throw a wrench in things as well in 2024.
BIG COUNTRY BLITZ COACHES POLL
1. Windthorst
2. Seymour
3. Haskell
4. Archer City
5. Electra
6. Petrolia
7. Munday
DISTRICT DECIDING GAMES
9/27 - Windthorst at Seymour
10/4 - Seymour at Haskell
10/11 - Windthorst at Archer City
10/18 - Archer City at Haskell
10/25 - Haskell at Windthorst
11/8 - Seymour at Archer City
This district is a tough one to pick, as I feel like all six teams are potential playoff teams.
Two-time defending state champion Albany is the choice at number one, but it was a tough decision to put them ahead of Roscoe this season. The Plowboys return a lot of talent and have added some as well via transfer from Highland. But Albany has won 15 district titles in the last 16 years, so it is really hard to not pick them yet again.
Miles, Hamlin and Cross Plains also have a lot of returning starters, and Winters, down from 2A Division I, should be much more competitive at this level as well.
Miles loses a star quarterback to graduation, but many of the Bulldogs very good supporting cast returns.
Hamlin just missed out on the playoffs a year ago, but I feel this is the year they take a step forward after back-to-back 5-5 campaigns. Much like last season, the Pipers matchup with Cross Plains, won by the Buffaloes in 2023, will go a long way in deciding a playoff spot.
The Winters ground attack is tough to prepare for, and the Blizzards could easily pull off an upset or two and be a 2024 playoff team.
BIG COUNTRY BLITZ COACHES POLL
1. Albany
2. Roscoe
3. Miles
4. Hamlin
5. Cross Plains
6. Winters
DISTRICT DECIDING GAMES
10/11 - Miles at Albany
11/1 - Albany at Roscoe
11/1 - Cross Plains at Hamlin
11/1 - Miles at Winters
11/8 - Roscoe at Miles
11/8 - Hamlin at Albany
