REGIONAL OUTLOOK

Surprising Gilmer Harmony earned the regional title a year ago despite going 5-5 in the regular season. The Eagles record was misleading as they battled injuries much of 2022. That should only serve to make them a deeper and stronger squad in 2023 as they bring back 19 starters and enter as the Region III team to beat over district rival Daingerfield.

https://www.texasfootball.com/team/gilmer-buckeyes?ref=search

West Rusk is still the team to beat in 9-3A Division II, but the gap between the Raiders and the rest of the district has certainly closed. Last year’s runner-up Grand Saline is the team that is most poised to rip the title away as the Indians bring back seven starters on both sides of the ball. There’s three teams battling for the final two spots as Troup and Edgewood get the early edge, but Arp expects to be much improved and will challenge.

https://www.texasfootball.com/team/west-rusk-raiders?ref=search

If you are looking for a sleeper in Region III it could be the Hooks Hornets out of far Northeast Texas. Hooks returns 15 starters and 22 total lettermen from a squad that went 9-3 a year ago. Add in help from an 8-2 JV and this is a bonafide regional contender. DeKalb doesn’t have the depth of Hooks, but the Bears are also fresh off a nine-win season and will be a solid playoff team. New Boston is the top contender for third place and in a little bit of a surprise I think Redwater over-takes Pewitt for the fourth and final playoff spot.

https://www.texasfootball.com/team/hooks-hornets?ref=search

Defending regional champion Harmony and Daingerfield, which brings back eight starters on both sides of the ball, will fight it out for district and potentially regional supremacy as well. The Tigers drilled Harmony in the regular season, but fell in the regional semifinals a year ago to Newton and weren’t able to get to the fourth round where Newton was upset by Harmony. Hughes Springs has a new coach and Waskom was gutted by graduation, so the battle for the three-seed will be wide open.

https://www.texasfootball.com/team/daingerfield-tigers?ref=search

Newton, which fell to Harmony in the regional finals, should still be the team to beat in 12-3A Division II. But this Eagles squad doesn’t appear to have the firepower to over-take the tough teams out of 11-3A Division II. Hemphill and a veteran Anderson-Shiro squad will battle for the second spot, while New Waverly will hold off a tough challenge from an improving Warren squad for the final playoff spot.

https://www.texasfootball.com/team/newton-eagles?ref=search

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 9-3A Division II

1. West Rusk
2. Grand Saline
3. Troup
4. Edgewood
5. Arp
6. Winona
7. Quitman

District 10-3A Division II

1. Hooks
2. DeKalb
3. New Boston
4. Redwater
5. Omaha Pewitt
6. Prairiland
7. Paris Chisum

District 11-3A Division II

1. Gilmer Harmony
2. Daingerfield
3. Hughes Springs
4. Waskom
5. Elysian Fields
6. Queen City
7. New Diana

District 12-3A Division II

1. Newton
2. Hemphill
3. Anderson-Shiro
4. New Waverly
5. Warren
6. Trinity
7. Kountze

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W9 West Rusk vs F10 Redwater

R12 Hemphill vs T11 Hughes Springs

W10 Hooks vs F9 Edgewood

R11 Daingerfield vs T12 Anderson-Shiro

W11 Gilmer Harmony vs F12 New Waverly

R10 De Kalb vs T9 Troup

W12 Newton vs F11 Waskom

R9 Grand Saline vs T10 New Boston

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Gilmer Harmony over Hooks