Realignment made things super interesting in this Big Country district, which hasn’t often held intrigue as you can usually pencil in Albany as the district champion. While the Lions are picked as the district favorite with the return of QB Clay Chapman, there’s two teams who are ready to challenge the Lions dominance in 2026. Goldthwaite, who moves west after playing in Central Texas, is looking really dangerous as the Eagles return an impressive 19 starters from an 8-4 squad, WR/DB Aidyn Lee is a superstar in the making and Goldthwaite turned heads this year at State 7-on-7 as well. If it’s not Goldthwaite, Albany’s rival in the Big Country, Stamford could contend as well. The Bulldogs played for the Division I title in 2024 and after a 7-5 mark a year ago they drop to Division II with seven back on both sides of the ball. They’ve had a long running series with Albany in non-district and the two small school powers will go back and forth. Albany took last year’s meeting 21-7. Hamlin gets the edge for the last spot over Cross Plains, but that battle for the final playoff spot will be a lot of fun.
District 8-2A Division II
This is an odd mix of teams, with most of the action in the Waco area, but then you throw in Santo who geographically makes more sense in District 7 if we are being honest. Those are going to be some long road trips to and from Palo Pinto County. Mart and Crawford are the teams to beat, but both CenTex powers have questions going into 2026. Mart enters Year 2 under Chris Lancaster and the Panthers may still be year away. But even in a down year, they were still a third round playoff team. Crawford will be on their third head coach in three years, but Ty Robinson got things turned for the Pirates in his one season. Sam Moody, who was promoted to head coach, will look to keep the good vibes going with six back on both sides. Santo will field the district’s most experienced team with all but four players graduating. The Wildcats have run the flexbone in the past, but don’t be surprised if they put the ball in the air a bit more in 2026. Frost, also under a new head coach, looks ready to get back in the playoffs if they can hold off what should be an improved Wortham squad.
PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS AND PLAYOFF OUTLOOK
W5 Wellington vs F6 Seymour
R8 Crawford vs T7 Stamford
W6 Windthorst vs F5 Clarendon
R7 Goldthwaite vs T8 Santo
W7 Albany vs F8 Frost
R6 Petrolia vs T5 Wheeler
W8 Mart vs F7 Hamlin
R5 Quanah vs T6 Haskell
With two-time state champion Muenster moving up to Division I, we know Region II is absolutely up for grabs. But also consider Collinsville’s move to Region III as well. Collinsville was a regional finalist in 2022, 2023 and 2024, before losing in the third-round last year. That leaves a major power vacuum in the region. Does Albany emerge as the team to beat? I’m not so sure, as the playoff run is TOUGH. A possible third round date with Mart awaits and the top of the bracket projects to be brutal with Windthorst, Wellington, Crawford and Goldthwaite all battling it out. There’s going to be some GREAT bi-district games between District 7 and 8, especially those two vs three showdowns. I’m taking Windthorst over Albany, but that Round 2 game between Windthorst and Goldthwaite may end up being the de facto regional title game.
REGIONAL CHAMPION
Windthorst over Albany
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