Texas High is the consensus pick out in East Texas, the Tigers must replace a FBS signee at QB, but they are absolutely electric at the other spots on offense. Texas High’s defense should be better, but Coach Stanford’s team has been hit by injuries the last two years on that side, so they’ve got to build depth or hope they can remain healthy if they want to challenge SOC for the regional title. Marshall has the pieces back to be a contender for the two seed, but the Mavericks took some hits to graduation and their top defensive player moving away this off-season. They had a strong ten-win season and will be in position to host a first-round playoff game. Mount Pleasant has knocked on the door of the playoffs the past two years, but fading late in the year has done the Tigers in, Coach Cluley welcomes back thirty lettermen so MPHS may have the depth and numbers to navigate a full schedule.
8-5A Division II was an absolute dog-fight a year ago and should feature more of the same in 2025, Huntsville gets the edge based on their running game and the development of their sensational young signal caller, but the Hornets have a new coach so how will that transition work itself out? Port Neches-Groves won the district last year on the strength of their close win over Huntsville and a late collapse by Nederland, the Indians won state in 2023 and fell in the regional finals a year ago, but 41 seniors graduated. Nederland was great early in the season but faded down the stretch, a lot of key pieces have moved on so the Bulldogs will be young. Montgomery has veteran experience on offense, but the defense has a lot of youth. Lake Creek and Dayton are lurking and could easily jump into the playoff mix as well in this really fun district.
DISTRICT PREDICTIONS
District 5-5A Division II
District 6-5A Division II
District 7-5A Division II
District 8-5A Division II
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS
W5 South Oak Cliff vs F6 Kaufman
R8 Port Neches-Groves vs T7 Mount Pleasant
W6 Midlothian Heritage vs F5 Dallas Wilson
R7 Marshall vs T8 Nederland
W7 Texarkana Texas vs F8 Montgomery
R6 Crandall vs T5 Dallas Samuell
W8 Huntsville vs F7 Whitehouse
R5 Dallas Hillcrest vs T6 Terrell
REGIONAL CHAMPION
South Oak Cliff over Texarkana Texas
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