Realignment Recap
The UIL released new districts for football for 2022 and 2023 this morning. There were some surprising choices and some districts that didn’t change much at all.
5A Division i
DISTRICT 2
Abilene (7-4 in 2021 in 6A)
Amarillo High (9-3 in 5A D1)
Amarillo Caprock (4-7 in 5A D1)
Amarillo Tascosa (10-3 in 5A D1)
Lubbock Cooper (13-2 in 5A D2)
Lubbock Coronado (7-5 in 5A D1)
Lubbock Monterey (4-6 in 5A D1)
Abilene High, down from 6A, is on a 5A Division I island and the big question was whether they’d head east or west. The answer is back west, but the district is completely different than the one they’ve been in the past two years. Lubbock Cooper, a thorn in the side of Wylie in 5A Division II, is up to Division I this season and part of the Eagles upcoming slate, along with two more Lubbock schools and three Amarillo schools that all played in 5A D1 last season. Road trips will be long for the Eagles over the next two seasons, but head coach Mike Fullen has expressed that he likes playing schools out west in the past for the atmosphere and tradition that isn’t always there when Abilene High played in districts that featured Metroplex schools. Tascosa will at least be a familiar opponent, as the Eagles have faced the Rebels in non-district action numerous times over the past few years. Abilene High has not played Amarillo since a playoff game in 2001. They have faced Amarillo 20 times (10-10), Tascosa eight times (5-3), Coronado twice (2-0), Monterey 23 times (15-8) and have never met Caprock or Cooper.
5A Division II
DISTRICT 2
Abilene Cooper (6-5 in 5A D2)
Abilene Wylie (4-6 in 5A D2)
Amarillo Palo Duro (5-5 in 5A D1)
Lubbock (1-9 in 5A D1)
Plainview (1-9 in 5A D2)
Wichita Falls Rider (12-2 in 5A D2)
As many expected, Cooper and Wylie are now in the same football district, giving a little extra flare to their Southtown Showdown series that the Cougars have dominated so far. Amarillo Palo Duro and Lubbock are new to 5A D2 from 5A D1, while Plainview and Wichita Falls Rider are familiar district opponents for Wylie. Cooper is in a West Texas district once again after playing in the Metroplex the past two seasons. Cooper and Rider are the only two teams that reached the postseason in 2021.
4A Division I
DISTRICT 2
Andrews (5-7 in 4A D1)
Big Spring (6-5 in 4A D1)
Brownwood (4-7 in 4A D1)
Lubbock Estacado (7-4 in 4A D2)
San Angelo Lake View (3-8 in 4A D1)
Brownwood trades in a “District of Death” with state powers Stephenville, La Vega and Midlothian Heritage for some road trips to the west for the next two seasons. The Lions barely made the postseason the past two years but will likely be considered as a district title contender in their new grouping. However, all five teams did reach the playoffs a year ago (Andrews, Big Spring and Lake View courtesy of playing in a four-team district). Estacado is the only team new to 4A D1 as they make the jump from 4A D2 where they won the District 2 championship in 2021.
4A Division II
DISTRICT 3
Graham (7-4 in 4A D2)
Midland Greenwood (5-5 in 4A D2)
Snyder (9-4 in 4A D2)
Sweetwater (8-4 in 4A D2)
Wichita Falls Hirschi (12-3 in 4A D1)
Rivals Snyder and Sweetwater are paired together once again with Midland Greenwood, but they will be facing some long road trips when district play comes around. Wichita Falls Hirschi had a great run in 4A D1 last season, falling to Stephenville in the semifinals, and will likely enter 3-4A D2 as the title favorites. This one should be very competitive, as all five teams made the playoffs a year ago. Sweetwater and Graham won district championships and Snyder (who beat Graham in the playoffs) reached the third round of the postseason for the first time in a decade.
3A DIVISION I
DISTRICT 3
Bowie (2-8 in 3A D1)
Breckenridge (4-7 in 3A D1)
Clyde (1-9 in 3A D1)
Iowa Park (5-5 in 4A D2)
Jim Ned (12-1 in 3A D1)
Vernon (1-9 in 4A D2)
Breckenridge, Clyde and Jim Ned are together again, but the rest of their new district brings big changes. The trio will have to face a trio of Wichita Falls area teams in Bowie, Iowa Park and Vernon. Iowa Park and Vernon played in 4A D2 a year ago, while Bowie struggled in 3A D1. Breckenridge, Clyde and Jim Ned avoid having to face perennial power Wall in district play, but Iowa Park is usually no slouch and should be a contender in the new district. Many though they would have to be in a district with Brock, but the Eagles stay east with Boyd, Paradise, Peaster, Pilot Point, Ponder and Whitesboro in District 4.
3A DIVISION II
DISTRICT 2
Ballinger (6-5 in 3A D2)
Brady (8-4 in 3A D2)
Early (9-3 in 3A D1)
San Angelo Grape Creek (5-6 in 3A D2)
San Angelo Texas Leadership (0-10 in 3A D1)
Wall (5-5 in 3A D1)
Early, San Angelo TLCA and Wall drop down from 3A D1 and will join Ballinger, Brady and Grape Creek in District 2. The Longhorns made their best playoff run in a long time a year ago in Division I and should be poised to contend for a district title. Wall had a down year, for them, and will likely be among the favorites as well. Ballinger, Brady and Grape Creek were all in the same district last season and should enjoy a little less travel time as they replace road trips to Sonora and Ingram-Moore with a more San Angelo-centric district.
DISTRICT 5
Comanche (1-9 in 3A D2)
Dublin (9-4 in 3A D2)
Eastland (6-6 in 3A D2)
Jacksboro (5-5 in 3A D2)
Merkel (3-6 in 3A D2)
Millsap (6-6 in 3A D2)
The UIL copied and pasted District 5-3A Division II as all six teams are back to do battle once again. The district was very competitive a year ago with many games that went down to the wire. The Badgers hope to join Eastland as a playoff team after missing out in 2021 in their first season under head coach Will Kates.
2A DIVISION I
DISTRICT 4
Anson (4-7 in 2A D1)
Cisco (11-3 in 2A D1)
Colorado City (1-8 in 2A D1)
Hawley (15-1 in 2A D1)
Olney (6-6 in 2A D2)
Stamford (3-7 in 2A D1)
Winters (2-7 in 2A D1)
Six teams remain in 2A Division I, but they are joined by Division I newcomer Olney, who is coming off a playoff season in Division II. Cisco and Winters replace Haskell and Forsan in what was District 3 the past two seasons. That gives us a pretty good matchup to look forward to when Cisco and Hawley meet again after playing in the state quarterfinals a year ago. Another key item in this realignment is that this district is not in the same region as the new District 5, which includes a Coleman team that should be mighty good again this season.
DISTRICT 5
Bangs (1-8 in 3A D2)
Coleman (11-1 in 2A D1)
De Leon (0-10 in 2A D1)
Goldthwaite (5-6 in 2A D1)
Hamilton (6-5 in 2A D1)
San Saba (2-9 in 2A D1)
Tolar (10-3 in 2A D1)
Speaking of the Bluecats, they reunite with De Leon, Goldthwaite and San Saba in district and welcome Bangs, Hamilton and Tolar. The Dragons make the move from 3A D2, where they hope to bounce back after a rough 2021. Tolar made a good playoff run a year ago and should join an improving Goldthwaite squad as contenders in the district. Hamilton is coming off a playoff appearance as well.
2A DIVISION II
DISTRICT 6
Albany (13-1 in 2A D2)
Hamlin (0-10 in 2A D2)
Miles (3-8 in 2A D2)
Roscoe (10-2 in 2A D2)
Abilene TLCA (3-7 in 1A D2)
Cross Plains (5-5 in 2A D2)
Five Big Country schools join Miles in what should be an interesting district over the next couple of years. Albany and Hamlin return to being in the same district after being apart the last two years, although the Lions are coming off a state semifinal run while the Pipers are rebuilding in year two under Chris Evans. Roscoe should be a contender as well after a great turnaround season in 2021, and Cross Plains is working on a seven-year playoff streak. TLCA Abilene joins the 11-man ranks this season in their third year of football. The Eagles have 1A Division I numbers but have opted up to 2A.
DISTRICT 7
Archer City (8-3 in 2A D2)
Haskell (4-7 in 2A D1)
Petrolia (8-3 in 2A D2)
Seymour (7-5 in 2A D2)
Windthorst (12-2 in 2A D2)
Electra (3-6 in 2A D2)
Munday (0-10 in 2A D2)
Haskell is making many moves this time around, both from 2A Division I to 2A Division II and from a district that featured many rivals right down the road in Jones County to plenty of road trips north. The Indians will be the southernmost outpost in District 7, but games at Munday and Seymour will not be that far away. Archer City, Seymour, Electra and Munday were all in the same district (6) for the last realignment, while state power Windthorst and Petrolia were together in District 7.
1A DIVISION I
DISTRICT 8
Hermleigh (10-1 in 1A D1)
Highland (5-5 in 1A D1)
Ira (7-3 in 1A D1)
Roby (4-5 in 1A D1)
Rotan (7-3 in 1A D1)
Westbrook (11-4 in 1A D1)
This looks like one of tougher six-man districts in the state as defending state champ Westbrook joins playoff teams Hermleigh and Ira and a trio of teams that just missed the postseason a year ago in Highland, Roby and Rotan. Roby is the weak link based on how things ended up in 2021, but even the Lions were in the state rankings for a time last season. Rotan has been getting better each season and Highland has missed out on the playoffs thanks to being in the same district as Sterling City and Westbrook over the years. Now they all come together with an Ira team that nearly always makes the playoffs in what should be a very interesting district over the next two years.
DISTRICT 9
Baird (6-3 in 1A D1)
Bryson (2-8 in 1A D1)
Gordon (10-3 in 1A D2)
Gorman (6-4 in 1A D1)
Lingleville (6-3 in 1A D1)
Perrin-Whitt (3-7 in 1A D1)
Baird has a new district home with a pair of familiar teams in Gorman and Lingleville that they have battled over the past couple of years. Gordon joins the 1A D1 ranks after a great run a year ago in 1A D2 and should be immediate contenders. There will be quite a bit of travel involved for Bryson and Perrin-Whitt in their new district as they will have to head south over the next two seasons.
DISTRICT 14
Evant (5-5 in 1A D1)
Jonesboro (11-1 in 1A D1)
Lometa (8-3 in 1A D1)
May (14-1 in 1A D1)
Santa Anna (6-4 in 1A D1)
May and Santa Anna stick together and they will join Evant, Jonesboro and Lometa who were all in District 15 the last two seasons. The Tigers have knocked Jonesboro out of the playoffs the past two years, so them meeting in the regular season should give us a very good game to look forward to. All five teams went .500 or better a year ago.
1A DIVISION II
DISTRICT 5
Patton Springs (2-8 in 1A D2)
Aspermont (2-8 in 1A D1)
Guthrie (5-4 in 1A D2)
Jayton (11-1 2 in 1A D2)
Motley County (14-1 in 1A D2)
It’s a good news/bad news situation for Aspermont. The Hornets drop from 1A D1 to 1A D2, but they are in the same district as state powers Jayton and Motley County. Patton Springs, Jayton, Guthrie and Motley County were all in the same district with Southland the last two years, now Aspermont will take the Eagles’ spot and hope to contend while Southland moves to a different district.
DISTRICT 7
Paint Creek (4-5 in 1A D2)
Lueders-Avoca (3-6 in 1A D2)
Rule (5-4 in 1A D2)
Throckmorton (11-1 in 1A D2)
Woodson (4-5 in 1A D2)
Paint Creek, Lueders-Avoca, Throckmorton and Woodson all stay together this time around and welcome Rule to the district. The Bobcats played against Benjamin, Chillicothe and Harrold the past two seasons and now will try to make it back-to-back trips to the playoffs while driving in a different direction.
DISTRICT 13
Blackwell (4-7 in 1A D2)
Bronte (2-8 in 1A D1)
Loraine (8-4 in 1A D2)
Trent (5-5 in 1A D2)
Blackwell, Loraine and Trent remain together and welcome Bronte to replace TLCA Abilene in District 13, which means Region IV. Bronte moves down from Division I to Division II but the competition will still be tough against what should be a very good Loraine squad, a Blackwell team that has become a playoff regular and an up-and-coming Trent squad under Chris Ellison.
DISTRICT 14
Moran (2-7 in 1A D2)
Paint Rock (4-6 in 1A D1)
Rising Star (5-4 in 1A D2)
Panther Creek (3-6 in 1A D2)
Panther Creek and Rising Star remain in the same district, but Moran and Paint Rock will give them some new blood to tackle in District 14-1A Division II. Paint Rock moves down from Division I. All four teams missed out on the playoffs in 2021 and will be looking to get back in the postseason in 2022.
DISTRICT 15
Blanket (9-2 in 1A D2)
Gustine (1-9 in 1A D2)
Mullin (5-3 in 1A D2)
Sidney (4-6 in 1A D2)
Zephyr (0-10 in 1A D1)
Blanket and Sidney are still in the same district but the rest of it has a new makeup. Zephyr makes the drop from Division I and Gustine and Mullin join from different districts during the last realignment. Blanket and Sidney are the only two that made the playoffs in 2021.
DISTRICT 16
Brookesmith (1-9 in 1A D2)
Cherokee (7-4 in 1A D2)
Lohn (0-8 in 1A D2)
Richland Springs (10-2 in 1A D2)
Rochelle (6-3 in 1A D2)
District 16 is almost the same as last time around, but Brookesmith joins and Mullin departs to make it a little bit different. Richland Springs and Cherokee were the playoff teams from the district a year ago, while Brookesmith struggled to field a team as members of District 15.
RANGER had 2A Division II numbers but has decided to play an outlaw six-man schedule over the next two seasons. The Bulldogs went 6-4 under Eric Sanchez in 2021 in their first season of six-man football.
TAPPS Six-Man Division II
DISTRICT 1
Abilene Christian School (5-5 in 2021)
Lubbock All Saints (3-6)
Fort Worth Covenant Classical (12-2)
Keller Harvest Christian (1-8)
Denton Calvary (4-5)
Amarillo San Jacinto (1-9)
Irving The Highlands School (4-5)
Midland Trinity (6-4)
Abilene Christian’s district has a new look as the Panthers move up to Division II from Division III in the TAPPS ranks this season. Lubbock All Saints, Amarillo San Jacinto and Midland Trinity are familiar, but the rest of the district is in the Metroplex. The Panthers lost to eventual state champ Fort Worth Covenant Classical last year in the first round of the playoffs, now the Cavaliers are a district foe.
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