Stratford, last year’s regional champion actually dropped down to Division II after UIL Realignment, so the door is open for a new regional champion in 2024, last year’s Division II regional champion Sunray makes the move to Division I adding to the intrigue in this regional race.

1-2A Division I is fascinating on paper, as Sunray who won the Division II Region I crown a year ago makes the move up with seventeen returning starters. The Bobcats will have to hold off Panhandle who brings back eighteen starters from a 10-2 squad, while Spearman drops down after making the playoffs in 3A a year ago. West Texas High gets the pick for fourth over a young Highland Park bunch.

Top to bottom 2-2A Division I is the best district in the region top to bottom as Floydada, picked sixth finished 6-4 a year ago. 3A-Division II drop down headlines the district as Abernathy gets the edge over a strong New Deal squad, while fast growing New Home, a state semifinalist in 2A-Division II in 2022 makes the move up to Division I, where the stay may be short-lived with all the growth. Post and Olton will be a real battle for the last spot, we’ll give the nod to Post in a slight upset.

After a regional semifinal run a year ago, Sonora gets the edge in 3-2A Division I over Forsan who returns eight starters on the offensive side of the ball. Christoval struggled in their move to Division I the past two years, but the Cougars will be in the mix as they bring back twenty starters, while Reagan County gets the slight nod over Ozona in this Concho Valley based district.

Stamford has the makings of a state title contender in Wayne Hutchinson’s second year at the helm, the Bulldogs are absolutely loaded, the only question is they’ve lacked playoff success the past two years falling in the first round of the playoffs. Hawley’s won fourteen playoff games the past three years and although they don’t have as much experience returning as Stamford, but they do have plenty of playoff pedigree. Traditional powerhouse Cisco expects to be improved but there’s a gap between the Loboes and the top two, while Anson is the pick for the four spot.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 1-2A Division I

1. Sunray
2. Panhandle
3. Spearman
4. Stinnett West Texas
5. Amarillo Highland Park
6. Sanford-Fritch

District 2-2A Division I

1. Abernathy
2. New Deal
3. New Home
4. Post
5. Olton
6. Floydada

District 3-2A Division I

1. Sonora
2. Forsan
3. Christoval
4. Reagan County
5. Ozona
6. Colorado City

District 4-2A Division I

1. Stamford
2. Hawley
3. Cisco
4. Anson
5. Olney
6. Abilene TLC

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W1 Sunray vs F2 Post

R4 Hawley vs T3 Christoval

W2 Abernathy vs F1 Stinnett West Texas

R3 Forsan vs T4 Cisco

W3 Sonora vs F4 Anson

R2 New Deal vs T1 Spearman

W4 Stamford vs F3 Reagan County

R1 Panhandle vs T2 New Home

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Stamford over Hawley