Stepp's 3A DI Region III Picks: District Projections and Playoff Outlook

The 2026 Texas high school football 3A Division I Region III Outlook projects district finishes, bi-district matchups and regional champs with teams like Columbus, Franklin, Edna and Palestine Westwood.
Matt Stepp

Stepp's 3A DI Region III Picks: District Projections and Playoff Outlook

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 9-3A Division I

  1. Palestine Westwood
  2. Fairfield
  3. Diboll
  4. Crockett
  5. Trinity
  6. Huntington

After a surprise district title and an 11-1 record a year ago, Fairfield could take a bit of a step back in 2026 as the Eagles were hit pretty hard by graduation. That likely opens the door for 2024 district champion Palestine Westwood, who is led by Texas Tech commit QB Kavian Bryant. The Panthers are primed for a big season after losing just five seniors. They do have a new coach, but that experience in abundance will be huge. Diboll and Crockett both bring back loads of experience and expect to be improved; they could contend to advance out of the first round of the playoffs even if they finish third and fourth. Trinity, up from 3A-Division II, brings back 17 starters from a team that was 6-4 a year ago, so they won’t be a pushover.

 

District 10-3A Division I

  1. Orangefield
  2. East Chambers
  3. Anahuac
  4. Kirbyville
  5. Buna
  6. Coldspring
  7. Cleveland Tarkington

Hardin dominated this district a year ago, but the Hornets have dropped down to Division II, so that could bring Orangefield back to the forefront in this always tough Golden Triangle loop. Orangefield returns eight starters on both sides of the ball from a 9-3 squad and are led by a four-year starting QB Carson Gonzales. East Chambers is nipping at Orangefield’s heels. The Bucs have a dynamic duo in the backfield with Darius Edmonson and Earius Caesar. Anahuac was able to sneak into the playoffs with a 3-8 mark a year ago, and with 15 returning starters led by RB Jaytwan Dowdye, the Panthers will be a threat.

 

District 11-3A Division I

  1. Columbus
  2. Edna
  3. Wharton
  4. Sweeny
  5. Palacios
  6. Hempstead

Don’t be surprised if Columbus is back at AT&T Stadium in December. The Cardinals, who won the state title in 2024 and were a regional finalist in 2025, are absolutely loaded for another big run in 2026. Sophomore QB David James, who moved in from Corpus Christi Miller after starting as a freshman, could be the missing piece for the Cardinals and lead them to another state title. Edna will be a force as well. The Cowboys were Region IV champions from 2022-2024 and were a regional finalist a year ago. Sweeny and Wharton, who were both playoff teams in 4A last year, drop down to 3A and will be playoff caliber teams as well.

 

District 12-3A Division I

  1. Franklin
  2. Lorena
  3. Cameron Yoe
  4. Little River-Academy
  5. Troy
  6. Rockdale
  7. McGregor
  8. Caldwell

Franklin is a standard bearer in the Brazos Valley and the Lions expect to be a major contender for a regional title behind their vaunted Slot-T offense. Even when the Lions lack the big name star power they may have had in the past, they are still one of the best in the state on a yearly basis. After a down year in 4A in 2025, Lorena drops back down to 3A where they’ve had their greatest success. Expect the Leopards to be vastly improved as new head coach Jeff Pevehouse welcomes back 16 total starters. Cameron Yoe looks primed for a leap forward as 17 total starters and 27 lettermen are back from a team that just missed out on the playoffs. Little River-Academy will be one to watch as the Bumblebees return a load of offensive experience with eight starters back, but youth will be served on defense with just one starter back. Will they be able to hold off a strong squad from Troy, which was a playoff team a year ago?

 

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS AND PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

W9 Palestine Westwood vs F10 Kirbyville

R12 Lorena vs T11 Wharton

W10 Orangefield vs F9 Crockett

R11 Edna vs T12 Cameron Yoe

W11 Columbus vs F12 Little River-Academy

R10 East Chambers vs T9 Diboll

W12 Franklin vs F11 Sweeny

R9 Fairfield vs T10 Anahuac

The regional championship could get played Thanksgiving weekend as Franklin may be the lone team built to challenge a potentially loaded Columbus squad. Orangefield and Edna is a blockbuster potential area round matchup with the winner looking like they could be a good bet to advance to a regional final. Palestine Westwood is the wildcard; the Panthers will be able to score with just about anyone in the state but if they want to contend regionally they’ll need to improve on defense.

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Columbus over Orangefield

This article is available to our Digital Subscribers.
Click "Subscribe Now" to see a list of subscription offers.
Already a Subscriber? Sign In to access this content.

Sign In