Previously: 

6A: Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV

5A DI: Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV

5A DII: Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV

4A DI: Region I / Region II / Region III / Region IV

4A DII: Region I / Region II

Today’s spotlight: Class 4A Division II Region III

West Orange-Stark’s reign of terror in Region III has lasted four years now, but the gap certainly has closed. The Mustangs had a couple of close games in the early rounds of the playoffs and with them being young and a few new faces in the region, could we see a new regional champion for the first time since 2013? 9-4A Division II is led by Jasper who moves over from Region II and a battle-tested Center squad who drops down from the state’s toughest district in Division I. We’ll talk more about the Roughriders below. West Orange-Stark is in a five-team Golden Triangle district with 4A Division I drop -down Silsbee and Hamshire-Fannett who has a new coach for the 2018 season. 11-4A Division II split down the middle with three Houston ISD teams and then Sweeny and Wharton who move back to the Houston area after two years in Region IV and LaMarque who is back up from 3A Division I. 12-4A Division I is the travel district as the teams are much more spread out as LaGrange and Giddings will travel down Highway 77 over to I-10 to the western edges of Houston where Brookshire Royal resides. Bellville, Caldwell and Smithville lie in between. Giddings will have a new coach in 2018 as Wade Griffin arrives from 5A White Settlement Brewer.  

Center

After spending two years in the “District of Doom” in Division I with Carthage, Kilgore, etc. the Roughriders’ experienced squad will look for a breakout 2018 in Division II. Center brings back eight starters on offense and six on the defensive side of the ball. QB Jayden Hicks (2,697 total yards, 26 touchdowns) was outstanding as a sophomore, has had a great off-season and could turn into one of the state’s top playmakers according to the coaching staff. RB/DB Marquez Hall (730 total yards, nine touchdowns, three interceptions) impressed on both sides of the ball as a freshman and could be an X-Factor for CHS, what he lacks in size he makes up for with elusiveness and underrated strength. The defense is led by two-way starter Logan Holloway (50 tackles, seven sacks) and LB Jake Liker who started eight games and tallied 50 tackles as a freshman.

West Orange-Stark

Cornel Thompson’s Mustangs have dominated Region III the past four years, playing for two state titles and winning two others. Look for two way all-district standout RB/LB Kavyn Cooper (815 rushing, 13 touchdowns, 93 tackles) to lead the way, along with an experienced offensive line that returns Quincy Ledet and Jacorry Brady. That strong running game will help as West Orange-Stark gets a new QB acclimated to the speed of varsity football. As always, WOS will feature a secondary that is talented and plays physical as Teshaun Teel and Ja’Vonn Ross are both back after earning all-district honors in 2017. This will be the youngest Mustangs squad in several years, so they may take a while to gel but they’ll still be a tough out once the playoffs roll around.

Sweeny

The Bulldogs made a strong run to the third round a year ago in Region IV and head coach Randy Lynch thinks his team has similar capability for 2018 despite the move to a deeper Region III.  RB Cameron Adams (1,187 yards, 13 touchdowns) will pace the Sweeny Wing-T attack along with two-way playmaker RB/SS Jame’son Rebector (over 500 rushing yards).  DE Josh Ellis (82 tackles, four sacks) who was the 15-4A Division II Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 returns along with all-district DB’s Bryce Williams and Blake Benavides. Trayvon Brooks was a force on the defensive line as a sophomore and could emerge as a real game changing interior lineman. The Bulldogs will be the favorite in 11-4A Division II and with a good playoff draw could be playing well after Thanksgiving.

Silsbee

Silsbee moves into 4A Division II with an experienced defense and strong running game that Coach Randy Smith hopes can pay big dividends come playoff time once again after an impressive three-deep run in 2017. The running back duo of Christopher Martin and Dralyn Taylor combined for 1,900 yards on the ground and could put up bigger numbers in 2018 as Silsbee breaks in a new QB. Coach Smith likes to have offensive balance, but at least early on they’ll rely on the running game and experienced defense. Silsbee brings back an impressive eight starters on that side of the ball.  Tiger fans have to be happy about the return of hard hitting LB Spencer Uribe (90 tackles), DL Doken Keenan (eight sacks) and DB Aaron Sells (two interceptions).