The story in Region IV the past few years has been Austin’s dominance over the San Antonio area, but the worm turned a bit in 2023 as Cibolo Steele in Division II took home the Region IV crown, beating Dripping Springs in the regional final to end Austin’s reign of terror. In Division I Austin Westlake continued their dominance with their seventh consecutive regional title and there’s no reason to believe Westlake can’t make it number eight.

Despite some heavy graduation losses and the pain of going the dreaded 10-1 a year ago, Vandegrift should still take home the district crown behind a defense that will have to carry the load early. McNeil had a surprise 2023 season and the Mavericks should be even better in 2024 with nine starters returning on the offensive side of the ball. There’s a big mess of teams after the top two teams in this district, Round Rock and Hutto get the edge, but don’t be surprised if Cedar Park Vista Ridge, Round Rock Westwood and Manor all are in the mix.

Austin Westlake’s run in 26-6A will continue, but expect another absolute war with Lake Travis inside of district play, however we likely won’t get the playoff rematch between these two as Westlake is likely to go into the Division II bracket this year. Dripping Springs despite the graduation of ten starters on defense still gets the edge for the three-seed, while Austin Bowie gets the edge as the best of the rest as the district saw some shifts with teams moving south after realignment.

There’s been a lot of late movement in North East ISD as many had picked San Antonio Johnson to over-take San Antonio Reagan inside of district play, but the departure of Johnson QB Ty Hawkins out of state definitely drops Johnson in the pecking order. That should propel Reagan back to the top of the district, while a veteran Brandeis squad under a new head coach is primed to jump into the two slot. Johnson still has the firepower to get the three-spot, while the four seed is totally up for grabs with Roosevelt, Clark, Madison and Churchill all making a strong case.

It’s a two-horse race at the top of District 28-6A, with Brennan and Harlan, a pair of teams who advanced to the regional semifinals a year ago expected to battle it out for the district crown. If you are looking for a true Region IV sleeper, Brennan may be that team after a surprise 10-3 campaign with a young team. Taft and Sotomayor are on the next tier and should take the other two playoff spots, if there is a surprise entry look for Warren or Marshall to crash the party.

After a state semifinal run a year ago, Cibolo Steele is hoping to replicate that deep playoff push, but the question for the Knights who are loaded on offense will be do they go Division I or Division II? The key team to watch is San Antonio East Central, the Hornets made the playoffs a year ago and if they get into the post-season they’ll push the Knights into Division II. Judson with thirteen starters back from an area round playoff squad a year ago should be the chief challenger to Steele inside of district play. Buda Johnson went through a late coaching change, but the Jaguars should benefit from moving south in realignment.

30-6A is still heavily centered around the Laredo area, but there’s a bit of San Antonio-metro area flair with the addition of Medina Valley to the mix from 5A. Laredo United brings just enough talent back to get the slight edge over a veteran Laredo Alexander bunch for the district crown. Eagle Pass despite the late retirement of head coach Tom Gonzalez still gets the nod for the three seed, while district newcomer Medina Valley gets the pick for the final playoff spot over Laredo United South.

UIL Realignment had some big surprises for us in the Rio Grande Valley as we have a six-team district and a five-team district. 31-6A is the six-team loop in the Valley where Weslaco who was 11-1 a year ago in the Lower Valley district moves west and the Panthers ascend to the district favorite role. PSJA, another area round playoff team should be the top contender, but don’t count out a veteran and always tough Edinburg squad.

The annual Battle of the Arroyo grudge match between Harlingen and San Benito could once again decide the district title, but don’t count out Brownsville Veterans Memorial who moves up from Class 5A-Division I after a surprise run to the state semifinals. Los Fresnos expects to be the final playoff team as they’ll hold off Brownsville Hanna.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 25-6A

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

District 26-6A

1. Austin Westlake
2. Lake Travis
3. Dripping Springs
4. Austin Bowie
5. Austin High
6. Del Valle
7. Austin Akins

District 27-6A

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

District 28-6A

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

District 29-6A

1. Cibolo Steele
2. Converse Judson
3. Buda Johnson
4. New Braunfels Canyon
5. Schertz Clemens
6. San Antonio East Central
7. San Marcos

District 30-6A

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

District 31-6A

1. Weslaco
2. PSJA
3. Edinburg
4. Edinburg North
5. Edinburg Economedes
6. La Joya

District 32-6A

1. Harlingen
2. San Benito
3. Brownsville Veterans Memorial
4. Los Fresnos
5. Brownsville Hanna

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

DIVISION I

W25 Round Rock vs R26 Austin Bowie

W27 San Antonio Reagan vs R28 San Antonio Taft

W29 Cibolo Steele vs R30 Laredo Alexander

W31 Weslaco vs R32 Los Fresnos

W26 Lake Travis vs R25 Hutto

W28 San Antonio Brennan vs R27 San Antonio Johnson

W30 Laredo United vs R29 Buda Johnson

W32 San Benito vs R31 Edinburg North

DIVISION II

W25 Austin Vandegrift vs R26 Dripping Springs

W27 San Antonio Brandeis vs R28 San Antonio Sotomayor

W29 Converse Judson vs R30 Medina Valley

W31 PSJA vs R32 Brownsville Veterans Memorial

W26 Austin Westlake vs R25 Round Rock McNeil

W28 San Antonio Harlan vs R27 San Antonio Roosevelt

W30 Eagle Pass vs R29 New Braunfels Canyon

W32 Harlingen vs R31 Edinburg

REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

Division I

Cibolo Steele over Lake Travis

Division II

Austin Westlake over Austin Vandegrift