Regional Outlook

The outlook of Region IV changed in a big way after UIL Realignment as the Austin area, which has dominated Region IV gets a second district, while the Rio Grande Valley loses a district after four former 6A programs dropped to Class 5A.

25-6A is the new north Austin district in Region IV as it moves from Region II, Vandegrift has dominated the loop the last two years and 2020 should be no different. The real battle is for the three spots after that where six teams all have a legit case to be in the playoffs. Keep an eye on Hutto up from 5A, if they get in they could push one of the tabbed D2 schools up to D1.

26-6A is a two-horse race between defending 6A-Division II state champion Austin Westlake and Lake Travis, while super-talented Del Valle looks to make a case for the third-place slot. They’ll have to hold off challenges from Buda Hays Consolidated and Austin Bowie, both of whom have become playoff regulars.

The order of things changed in the northern San Antonio suburbs as Judson and Steele’s stranglehold on District 27-6A was ended by upstart Schertz Clemens in 2019. Judson looks to get back to the top of the district, but now they look to be a Division II school as the third high school in JISD, Veterans Memorial has fully taken effect and impacted the Rockets enrollment. Clemens, Steele and Smithson Valley should take the last three slots, but two-time state semifinalist in 5A San Antonio Wagner is battle tested.

The shape of 28-6A changed as two Northside programs Brandeis and Clark join the seven North East ISD schools, Brandeis a back-to-back regional finalist gets the early nod in the district as the Broncos are playoff tested. It gets real muddled after Brandies as Madison, Johnson, Roosevelt, Reagan, Churchill and possibly even a much improved Clark team could all be in playoff contention. Get your tiebreaker scenarios ready!

With Brandeis moving to 28-6A, the door could be back open for O’Connor to regain the crown in the nine-team Northside ISD loop District 29-6A. Brennan, an area finalist a year ago looks to be a solid bet for second place. There will be a major dogfight for the last two spots between 5A move-up Harlan, Warren and Stevens, on paper these three teams look to be evenly matched.

Laredo United, Laredo United South and Eagle Pass all can stake a claim in 30-6A, all three were playoff teams a year ago and bring back a good amount of experience, but United gets the edge with their regional semifinal appearance a year ago. Expect Laredo Alexander and an up and coming Del Rio squad to fight it out for the last playoff spot.

The first Rio Grande Valley loop is District 31-6A, which features Edinburg ISD, along with the two PSJA and La Joya ISD programs. Edinburg ISD expects to get three of the four playoff spots, with Edinburg Vela being the heavy favorite. Look for a tough Mission squad to be the team that prevents an Edinburg sweep, the Eagles will have the firepower to push Vela when they meet up.

The lower RGV district is 32-6A which will see a shakeup as Weslaco moves east along Interstate 2 and takes the mantle of district favorite from perennial power Harlingen. San Benito will be in the playoff mix as well and could challenge for one of the top spots if some of their young talent matures. Los Frensos was a surprise playoff squad a year ago, the Falcons bring plenty back and should be even better with their flexbone offense in year two. Harlingen South and a much-improved Brownsville Hanna squad will contend as well.

District Predictions

District 25-6A

1. Austin Vandegrift
2. Cedar Park Vista Ridge
3. Round Rock Cedar Ridge
4. Round Rock
5. Hutto
6. Round Rock Stony Point
7. Round Rock Westwood
8. Round Rock McNeil

District 26-6A

1. Austin Westlake
2. Lake Travis
3. Del Valle
4. Buda Hays Consolidated
5. Austin Bowie
6. San Marcos
7. Austin High
8. Austin Akins

District 27-6A

1. Converse Judson
2. Schertz Clemens
3. Cibolo Steele
4. Smithson Valley
5. San Antonio Wagner
6. New Braunfels
7. San Antonio East Central
8. South San Antonio

District 28-6A

1. San Antonio Brandeis
2. San Antonio Madison
3. San Antonio Johnson
4. San Antonio Roosevelt
5. San Antonio Reagan
6. San Antonio Churchill
7. San Antonio Clark
8. San Antonio Lee
9. San Antonio MacArthur

District 29-6A

1. San Antonio O’Connor
2. San Antonio Brennan
3. San Antonio Harlan
4. San Antonio Warren
5. San Antonio Stevens
6. San Antonio Taft
7. San Antonio Jay
8. San Antonio Marshall
9. San Antonio Holmes

District 30-6A

1. Laredo United
2. Laredo United South
3. Eagle Pass
4. Laredo Alexander
5. Del Rio
6. Laredo Nixon
7. Laredo LBJ

District 31-6A

1. Edinburg Vela 
2. Mission 
3. Edinburg North 
4. Edinburg 
5. PSJA
6. La Joya
7. PSJA North
8. Edinburg Economedes
9. La Joya Juarez-Lincoln

District 32-6A

1. Weslaco
2. Harlingen
3. San Benito
4. Los Fresnos
5. Harlingen South
6. Brownsville Hanna
7. Brownsville Rivera
8. Donna North

Predicted Playoff Matchups

DIVISION I

W25 Round Rock Cedar Ridge vs R26 Del Valle

W27 Schertz Clemens vs R28 San Antonio Johnson

W29 San Antonio O’Connor vs R30 Laredo United South

W31 Edinburg North vs R32 Los Fresnos

W26 Lake Travis vs R25 Round Rock

W28 San Antonio Madison vs R27 Smithson Valley

W30 Laredo United vs R29 San Antonio Warren

W32 Harlingen vs R31 Edinburg

DIVISION II

W25 Austin Vandegrift vs R26 Buda Hays Consolidated

W27 Converse Judson vs R28 San Antonio Roosevelt

W29 San Antonio Brennan vs R30 Laredo Alexander

W31 Edinburg Vela vs R32 San Benito

W26 Austin Westlake vs R25 Cedar Park Vista Ridge

W28 San Antonio Brandeis vs R27 Cibolo Steele

W30 Eagle Pass vs R29 San Antonio Harlan

W32 Weslaco vs R31 Mission

Playoff Sleepers

Division I - Schertz Clemens: After an early exit in the Division II bracket a year ago, Clemens appears primed for a push to a potential regional final in 2020.  

Division II - Edinburg Vela: The Sabercats have been to the regional semifinals in three straight years, this may be their best shot to punch through that ceiling and make that rare Rio Grande Valley fourth round appearance.

Regional Winners

Division I - Lake Travis over Schertz Clemens: Austin’s domination of Region IV continues as the Cavaliers get a test from a very tough Clemens defense, but in the end Lake Travis’ offensive firepower proves to be the difference.   

Division II - Austin Westlake over Austin Vandegrift: Vandegrift makes their deepest playoff run in the state’s largest classification, they push the defending state champions in an all-Austin regional final, but the Chaparrals could be better in 2020 than they were a year ago.