REGIONAL OUTLOOK

Aledo enters the year as the runaway favorite to win Region I. It’ll take a monumental effort from someone in this region to dethrone the defending state champions, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of intrigue behind them.

Del Valle gets the pick as the No. 1 team out of the Sun City district, which features four schools who actually have Division II enrollments (Ysleta, Parkland, Hanks and Horizon). Bel Air finished third a year ago and brings back a bevy of experience from last year; the Highlanders are poised to even challenge for a district title. Parkland is always talented but a year away from contention at the moment.

District 2-5A Division I will once again be one of the state's most competitive in 2023. Abilene High, who turned a third-place finish into a regional semifinal run, gets the edge over Lubbock Cooper and Amarillo Tascosa for the district title. The Eagles offense could be among the best in West Texas and you know they’ll play tough defense. The battle for the final playoff spot will be fascinating. Despite Amarillo having the edge on paper, the nod goes to Lubbock Coronado. The Mustangs may have had the worst luck in close games of any team in the state a year ago and I believe things balance out for DJ Mann’s squad in 2023.

Lots of intrigue in 3-5A Division I once you get past district, regional and state favorite Aledo. Last year’s surprise team, Burleson Centennial, got decimated by graduation, but don’t count Kyle Geller’s squad out of the race. Denton Ryan is young, but very talented. How quick will the Raiders youth mature in 2023? Northwest has 6A numbers now and that depth will be a big factor as it tries to hold off The Colony for the district’s final playoff spot.

District 4-5A Division I is going to be a lot of fun once again with the four playoff teams likely set, but their order is anyone’s guess. Midlothian, last year’s champion, pushed Aledo to overtime in the third round in 2022. But the Panthers lost a ton to graduation. Soes that open the door for Lake Belton or Killeen Shoemaker? Red Oak is loaded at the skill spots, but the Hawks have major concerns up front. If there’s a team outside of the top four that could get into the playoffs it’s Killeen Ellison.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 1-5A Division I

1. El Paso Del Valle
2. El Paso Bel Air
3. El Paso Parkland
4. El Paso Ysleta
5. El Paso Hanks
6. Clint Horizon

District 2-5A Division I

1. Abilene
2. Amarillo Tascosa
3. Lubbock Cooper
4. Lubbock Coronado
5. Amarillo
6. Lubbock Monterey
7. Amarillo Caprock

District 3-5A Division I

1. Aledo
2. Denton Ryan
3. Burleson Centennial
4. Justin Northwest
5. The Colony
6. White Settlement Brewer
7. Azle
8. Saginaw
9. Fort Worth South Hills

District 4-5A Division I

1. Lake Belton
2. Killeen Shoemaker
3. Red Oak
4. Midlothian
5. Killeen Ellison
6. Killeen
7. Waco
8. Granbury
9. Cleburne

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W1 El Paso Del Valle vs F2 Lubbock Coronado

R4 Killeen Shoemaker vs T3 Burleson Centennial

W2 Abilene vs F1 El Paso Ysleta

R3 Denton Ryan vs T4 Red Oak

W3 Aledo vs F4 Midlothian

R2 Amarillo Tascosa vs T1 El Paso Parkland

W4 Lake Belton vs F3 Justin Northwest

R1 El Paso Bel Air vs T2 Lubbock Cooper

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Aledo over Abilene