The departure of Brock to Class 4A has changed the tenor of the Region I race in Class 3A and for good reason, Brock in the past ten years won an incredible seven regional titles and in all but one year (2020) the Eagled wound up in at least the regional final. That now opens the door for a new champion from the region and a chance for some teams to push deeper than ever before in the playoffs. Only 21 teams total are in this region which means mathematically this is the easiest region to advance out of in the entire state.
Bushland, a regional semifinalist the past two seasons will be led by their veteran defense that has seven starters back. The Falcons will get a serious challenge from Shallowater who brings back fifteen total starters from last season’s area round playoff squad. Dalhart and River Road will fight things out for seeding as all four teams in this loop are playoff bound.
The second four team loop in Region I is 2-3A Division I which centers heavily around the Lubbock area and points south. Denver City, the district favorite has a new head coach, but the Mustangs return fourteen starters which should give them a leg up on the rest of the district. After DCHS things get pretty murky, Brownfield, who may be destined for 4A next realignment has enough numbers to hold off Lamesa who also has a new head coach and Kermit.
Top to bottom 3-3A Division I looks to be the best district in the region and it starts with 4A drop down Sweetwater who looks primed for a big season with nine starters back on both sides of the ball from an area round playoff team. The Mustangs will have to hold off the always tough Jim Ned Indians and a tough Comanche squad moving up from 3A-Division II. Clyde had a historic 11-2 campaign a year ago, but a late coaching change and graduation depleted the ranks a bit, but they should still hold off Breckenridge for a playoff spot.
Vernon with thirteen returning starters is the surprise pick to win 4-3A Division I over a Paradise squad that’s been among the best in the state the past two seasons. The biggest reason for this pick is Paradise was absolutely gutted by graduation losing several key three-year starters. Vernon’s got some speedy playmakers who will fit well in their Slot-T offense. Iowa Park is the pick to hold off hard charging Ponder who could be among one of the state’s big sleepers.
DISTRICT PREDICTIONS
District 1-3A Division I
- Bushland
- Shallowater
- Dalhart
- Amarillo River Road
District 2-3A Division I
- Denver City
- Brownfield
- Lamesa
- Kermit
District 3-3A Division I
- Sweetwater
- Tuscola Jim Ned
- Comanche
- Clyde
- Breckenridge
- San Angelo TLC
District 4-3A Division I
- Vernon
- Paradise
- Iowa Park
- Ponder
- Peaster
- Boyd
- Bowie
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS
W1 Bushland vs F2 Kermit
R4 Paradise vs T3 Comanche
W2 Denver City vs F1 Amarillo River Road
R3 Tuscola Jim Ned vs T4 Iowa Park
W3 Sweetwater vs F4 Ponder
R2 Brownfield vs T1 Dalhart
W4 Vernon vs F3 Clyde
R1 Shallowater vs T2 Lamesa
REGIONAL CHAMPION
Sweetwater over Bushland
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