Stepp's 2022 Class 6A Region I Outlook: Projecting district finishes, bi-district matchups and regional champs!

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REGIONAL OUTLOOK

As always, 6A Region I will feature plenty of fireworks and will, without a doubt, produce multiple state title contending teams in both Division I and Division II.

District 1-6A is going to be extremely competitive and the addition of ever-improving El Dorado from the 5A ranks adds to its depth. Eastwood made a third round run last year despite finishing fourth, but Pebble Hills gets the district title nod on the strength of seven returning starters and maybe the most productive QB in the Sun City returning. Americas barely missed the playoffs with a young squad and they return the house; the Trailblazers should be in, while a young Franklin squad is always dangerous. Eastlake, Montwood and Coronado will be in the mix as well. You'd be wise to brush up on your tiebreaker scenarios in this loop!

The Little SWC is down to just six teams as Abilene High drops down to Class 5A. Even though Midland Legacy is the favorite to repeat, the gap has definitely closed as Odessa Permian and San Angelo Central expect to be improved. The real battle could be for the final playoff spot as a young Frenship squad will need to hold off Odessa High and Midland High, both of whom are rapidly improving. If Odessa High makes the playoffs, that pushes Midland Legacy into Division II.

Trinity expects to once again dominate in 3-6A, while North Crowley, fresh off back-to-back playoff appearances, is the consensus pick to finish second. The real battle looks to be for third where Boswell and Weatherford will battle it out for seeding, while Crowley will look to play spoiler after moving up from 5A.

The first real Division I/Division II item of intrigue in Region I hits with Southlake Carroll as the Dragons sit squarely on the fence. Whoever makes the playoffs behind them will ultimately determine which bracket Carroll lands in. Byron Nelson, which has a smaller enrollment than Carroll, is a likely pick to finish second. So the real question will be does Fossil Ridge, Central or Haltom get into the playoffs? If one of those teams paired with Byron makes the playoffs, Carroll goes Division I. But if all three miss out on the playoffs, Carroll moves to Division II. Right now, we give a slight lean to the Fossil Ridge Panthers to make it in over Keller High for the last spot, but Eaton, who has been a consistent playoff team recently, is very young and they could fall back a little in 2022.

It was a three-way tie for the 5-6A district title last season between Denton Guyer, Allen and Prosper and we expect those three to be right in the mix once again. Guyer has gotten the better of Prosper the past two seasons in the regular season and in the playoffs, but the Wildcats do have some depth concerns. Allen has huge numbers, but there are some major questions along with a late coaching change. The real sleeper may be McKinney. which brings back 14 starters in addition to an FBS-talent via transfer to lead the offense. That should enable the Lions to hold off strong challenges from Braswell and McKinney Boyd.

6-6A has been dominated by Lewisville ISD and that should remain the case in 2022, although Plano with their experience and some breaks has a chance to break into the playoff mix. Marcus and Hebron paper expect to be the two teams to beat, Marcus has key returning experience at the skill spots and consistent pedigree (in the regular season) under Kevin Atkinson, can playoff success follow in 2022? We think so, especially if Prosper goes the Division I route in 5-6A. Hebron has a new coach, but there’s young talent in the pipeline for the Hawks that will make them a team to watch. Lewisville High graduated a strong senior class, but the Farmers lower levels are loaded as their JV went 10-0 and they also got a key return in the secondary from a player that had left for Florida, the Farmers will be locked into the D1 bracket. Coppell is the real mystery, the Cowboys have been bobbing along the past few years hovering around .500, in steps new head coach Antonio Wiley who could be just what CHS ordered. His passion and energy have energized the program and community, if you are looking for a sleeper, Coppell is your team to watch in this fascinating and deep district.

The make-up in 7-6A changed a bit with the addition of powerhouse Highland Park from Class 5A. The Scots will be the heavy favorite in this district and a factor in the regional race in Region I. Expect Dallas Jesuit and Lake Highlands to battle it out behind Highland Park for the second spot. Much improved Berkner should be even better in 2022 and will have enough to hold off Irving MacArthur and Richardson Pearce ,who is dealing with a late offseason coaching change.

Don’t expect much to change at the top of 8-6A as Arlington Martin remains the heavy favorite to win the district. But the playoff teams behind the Warriors could see some major movement. South Grand Prairie gets the edge over surging Arlington Bowie, who is expected to make a big leap forward in 2022. Arlington High should have enough to hold off Arlington Lamar and the surprise team of 2021, the Grand Prairie Gophers.

 

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 1-6A

  1. El Paso Pebble Hills
  2. El Paso Eastwood
  3. El Paso Americas
  4. El Paso Franklin
  5. El Paso Eastlake
  6. El Paso Montwood
  7. El Paso Coronado
  8. El Paso El Dorado
  9. El Paso Socorro

 

District 2-6A

  1. Midland Legacy
  2. Odessa Permian
  3. San Angelo Central
  4. Wolfforth Frenship
  5. Odessa
  6. Midland

 

District 3-6A

  1. Euless Trinity
  2. North Crowley
  3. Saginaw Boswell
  4. Weatherford
  5. Crowley
  6. Hurst Bell
  7. Saginaw Chisholm Trail
  8. Fort Worth Paschal

 

District 4-6A

  1. Southlake Carroll
  2. Trophy Club Nelson
  3. Haslet Eaton
  4. Keller Fossil Ridge
  5. Keller
  6. Keller Timber Creek
  7. Keller Central
  8. Haltom

 

District 5-6A

  1. Denton Guyer
  2. Allen
  3. Prosper
  4. McKinney
  5. Denton Braswell
  6. McKinney Boyd
  7. Little Elm
  8. Prosper Rock Hill

 

District 6-6A

  1. Flower Mound Marcus
  2. Lewisville
  3. Coppell
  4. Lewisville Hebron
  5. Plano
  6. Flower Mound
  7. Plano East
  8. Plano West

 

District 7-6A

  1. Highland Park
  2. Dallas Jesuit
  3. Richardson Lake Highlands
  4. Richardson Berkner
  5. Irving MacArthur
  6. Richardson Pearce
  7. Irving Nimitz
  8. Richardson
  9. Irving

 

District 8-6A

  1. Arlington Martin
  2. South Grand Prairie
  3. Arlington Bowie
  4. Arlington
  5. Arlington Lamar
  6. Grand Prairie
  7. Arlington Sam Houston

 

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

Division I

W1 El Paso Pebble Hills vs R2 Odessa Permian

W3 Euless Trinity vs R4 Haslet Eaton

W5 Allen vs R6 Coppell

W7 Richardson Lake Highlands vs R8 South Grand Prairie

W2 Midland Legacy vs R1 El Paso Franklin

W4 Southlake Carroll vs R3 North Crowley

W6 Lewisville vs R5 Prosper

W8 Arlington Martin vs R7 Richardson Berkner

 

Division II

W1 El Paso Eastwood vs R2 Wolfforth Frenship

W3 Saginaw Boswell vs R4 Keller Fossil Ridge

W5 Denton Guyer vs R6 Lewisville Hebron

W7 Highland Park vs R8 Arlington

W2 San Angelo Central vs R1 El Paso Americas

W4 Trophy Club Nelson vs R3 Weatherford

W6 Flower Mound Marcus vs R5 McKinney

W8 Arlington Bowie vs R7 Dallas Jesuit

 

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

Division I

Southlake Carroll over Allen

 

Division II

Denton Guyer over Flower Mound Marcus

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