Stepp's 2A DII Region III Picks: District Projections and Playoff Outlook

Clarksville and Maud headline the Northeast Texas loop in 9-2A Division II. The Blue Tigers enter Year 2 under head coach Thavis Miller and that stability should pay off in a major way with 17 starters back. Maud won’t be far behind as they won the district last year and bring back 16 starters. The question will be can anyone from this district get past the first round of the playoffs?

It is really odd to not put Mart as the team to beat in 10-2A Division II, but the Panthers are picked second for good reason. Defending regional champion Bremond is absolutely loaded and primed to contend for a state title with 19 returning starters, including all 11 on defense. Mart has a new coach after their shocking area round exit a year ago, so expect growing pains early against a brutal schedule. Still, I’ll bet Mart plays past Thanksgiving in 2025. Chilton and Goldthwaite will be an interesting battle for the three seed.

There might not be a deeper district in 2A-Division II than 11-2A Division II as there’s six legitimate playoff teams. Lovelady gets the early nod as favorites. They’ve got some really intriguing young talent coming up in the pipeline for the next couple of years. Mount Enterprise has one of the state’s most productive running backs and 20 starters back, so the Wildcats will be a force after making the third round a year ago. Grapeland was a quiet regional finalist last year and with eight back on offense; the Sandies will be explosive. Overton, also fresh off a third-round appearance, is picked fourth and they have 15 starters back! Alto and Tenaha would be playoff teams in most districts and they are on the outside looking in of the playoff race.

12-2A Division II has a chance to be competitive amongst themselves, but winning a playoff game will be a lot to ask for anyone in this district. Deweyville gets the edge, but West Sabine and Evadale might be the best game in the district schedule as it’ll likely be for second; on paper these two are a dead heat. West Hardin should hold off the bottom three teams for the final playoff spot.

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 9-2A Division II

1. Clarksville
2. Maud
3. Cumby
4. Simms Bowie
5. Celeste
6. Detroit
7. Linden-Kildare

District 10-2A Division II

1. Bremond
2. Mart
3. Chilton
4. Goldthwaite
5. Frost
6. Wortham
7. Meridian
8. Hubbard

District 11-2A Division II

1. Lovelady
2. Mount Enterprise
3. Grapeland
4. Overton
5. Tenaha
6. Alto
7. Cushing

District 12-2A Division II

1. Deweyville
2. Evadale
3. West Sabine
4. West Hardin
5. Hull-Daisetta
6. Sabine Pass
7. Colmesneil

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS

W9 Clarksville vs F10 Goldthwaite

R12 Evadale vs T11 Grapeland

W10 Bremond vs F9 Simms Bowie

R11 Mount Enterprise vs T12 West Sabine

W11 Lovelady vs F12 West Hardin

R10 Mart vs T9 Cumby

W12 Deweyville vs F11 Overton

R9 Maud vs T10 Chilton

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Bremond over Mart