Regional Outlook

The new look 5A-Division I Region III is a split between the Houston area, Austin and the northern reaches of San Antonio. 9-5A Division I features teams to the east and south of the Houston area, look for 6A drop down La Porte and high-powered Friendswood to fight it out for the crown. La Porte’s physicality and overall team speed gives them edge. The Golden Triangle should earn the next two playoff spots with Beaumont United down from 6A getting the nod over Port Arthur Memorial. If you are looking for a sleeper, take a strong peek at Baytown Memorial.

The “Little SEC” as it’s known in the Houston area should be just as tough as ever as 10-5A Division I does lose last year’s state champion as Alvin Shadow Creek makes the move 6A. However, power Manvel moves back up from 5A-Division II and Fort Bend Kempner, a very competitive team at the 6A level moves up potentially giving the district more depth. Richmond Foster gets the early edge, while Manvel and Fort Bend Hightower look to be close behind, all three have some question marks heading into the season and no one appears to be a clear favorite. It’ll be a three-way fight for fourth with a veteran Angleton squad expected to hold off Katy Paetow and Kempner for the final spot.

11-5A Division I makes the move west as it’s a district consisting primarily of northern Austin suburban teams and it appears Cedar Park has enough to hold off Pflugerville Hendrickson down from 6A and a talented Manor squad who upset the Timberwolves in the regional semifinals a year ago. The district has plenty of depth with Georgetown, Pflugerville Weiss and Pflugerville High all fully capable of pushing into the playoff discussion as well.

Don’t adjust your glasses, yes there are San Antonio metro area schools in Region III and third-year program San Antonio Veterans Memorial could be poised to bring home their first district title in school history after making the area playoffs in each of their first two seasons. Dripping Springs, who has become a perennial playoff team under head coach Galen Zimmerman will be in the title mix as well. Seguin shouldn’t be overlooked as well, the Matadors especially at home are always a tough out. New Braunfels Canyon was winless a year ago, but the Cougars dropping down from 6A and with a veteran squad get the nod for fourth over first year program Buda Johnson.

District Predictions

District 9-5A Division I

1. La Porte
2. Friendswood
3. Beaumont United
4. Port Arthur Memorial
5. Baytown Lee
6. Goose Creek Memorial
7. Galveston Ball
8. Baytown Sterling

District 10-5A Division I

1. Richmond Foster
2. Manvel
3. Fort Bend Hightower
4. Angleton
5. Katy Paetow
6. Fort Bend Kempner
7. Rosenberg Terry
8. Houston Milby
9. Houston Wisdom

District 11-5A Division I

1. Cedar Park
2. Pflugerville Hendrickson
3. Manor
4. Georgetown
5. Pflugerville Weiss
6. Pflugerville
7. Austin Anderson
8. Leander

District 12-5A Division I

1. San Antonio Veterans Memorial
2. Dripping Springs
3. Seguin
4. New Braunfels Canyon
5. Buda Johnson
6. Kyle Lehman
7. San Antonio Harlandale
8. San Antonio McCollum

Predicted Playoff Matchups

W9 La Porte vs F10 Angleton

R12 Dripping Springs vs T11 Manor

W10 Richmond Foster vs F9 Port Arthur Memorial

R11 Pflugerville Hendrickson vs T12 Seguin

W11 Cedar Park vs F12 New Braunfels Canyon

R10 Manvel vs T9 Beaumont United

W12 San Antonio Veterans Memorial vs F11 Georgetown

R9 Friendswood vs T10 Fort Bend Hightower

Playoff Sleeper

La Porte: The Bulldogs nearly made the playoffs a year ago in 6A playing in a district led by back to back state champion North Shore. Second-year head coach Anthony Renfro’s squad has some intriguing young talent returning combined with a veteran cast, this is a team that come playoff team could be a very tough out.

Regional Winner

Richmond Foster over Cedar Park: The Falcons get the nod over Cedar Park in a game that if it happens will be an absolute battle. Cedar Park is a team on paper I really like this season, but this is Foster’s year as it’s now or never for the Falcons who after this season could take a step back.