The Toughest District in Each Classification (6A-2A)

11-2A DI (Garrison, Joaquin, Shelbyville, Timpson, San Augustine, Hemphill)

District 11-2A DI has three teams in the top 20 of Texas Football magazine’s preseason Class 2A DI rankings. Joaquin (10-5) finishing fourth in the district standings, then making a run to the state semifinals, shows how daunting this district’s regular season is.

But Garrison (9-3) is projected to take home the district crown. Running back Avery Yarbrough (160 carries, 1,155 yards, 10 TDs) powers the No.4-ranked team in Class 2A DI. He forms a dynamic duo with District Newcomer of the Year Riley McGuire, who came off the bench as a sophomore to lead the Bulldogs to nine wins. 

Joaquin won’t take anyone by surprise this fall, including itself. Jared Jones led the Rams from a 2-7 record in 2024 to a 10-win season in his first year as head coach. Joaquin has a chance to repeat that success with the entire strong side of its offensive line returning. That group will pave the way for junior running back Cooper Bragg, the returning leader with 881 all-purpose yards.

Shelbyville (10-3) said goodbye to First Team Padilla Poll All-State quarterback DJ Barnes, but a loaded defense could make life easier for offensive newcomers. The Dragons return four first-team all-district performers on that side of the ball, including a pair of linebackers in senior Gus Duvon (95 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT) and junior William Walden (131 tackles, 2 FF, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 Def TD). 

Don’t forget about the Timpson Bears (5-5), who won a state championship just two years ago. Quarterback Braylon Parker, the reigning District Utility Player of the Year, will benefit from the return of WR Dacorian Johnson and running back Chris Nickleberry Jr. Both were integral parts of the championship squad who battled injury in 2024. 

4-3A DI (Paradise, Peaster, Vernon, Ponder, Iowa Park, Bowie, Boyd)

District 4-3A DI narrowly edges out District 12-3A DI (Columbus, Hitchcock, Yoakum). While it’s hard to pick between the top three teams in each district, DCTX thinks the seven-team District 4-3A DI is deeper than the five-team District 12-3A DI.

Paradise (12-3) has a new head coach (Tommy Koch was elevated from defensive coordinator this offseason), but has the ingredients for similar results in 2025. The Panthers return three first-team all-district linebackers in Teagan Lambert, Cash Watson and Miles Godwin. Quarterback Ayden Olalde, the District Newcomer of the Year, is also back with Second Team Padilla Poll All-State running back Luke Brown (1,155 rushing yards, 320 receiving yards, 18 total touchdowns).

Both Paradise and Peaster (9-3) enjoyed their best seasons in program history. Safety Mark Tullous, the District Defensive MVP, headlines a talented group of skill position players that gives Peaster its best team speed since head coach Trevor Owens arrived in 2023.

Vernon (9-4) is coming off its deepest playoff run since 2014. Quarterback Ty Scott, the District Offensive Player of the Year with 1,222 passing yards and 1,075 rushing yards, and running back Tru Gipson (1,066 rushing yards) provide the Lions with one of Class 3A’s best rushing attacks. 

The final playoff spot is projected to be a battle between Iowa Park (3-8) and Ponder (5-5). Both are among the most experienced teams in the district. Iowa Park returns 27 lettermen, while Ponder returns 18 of 22 starters. Look for Bowie (5-5) to also be in the mix.

7-4A DI (Celina, Frisco Panther Creek, Sulphur Springs, Aubrey, Paris, Lake Dallas, Nevada Community)

DCTX’s Matt Stepp calls District 7-4A DI, “pound-for-pound, the best district in Texas.” Want evidence? Lake Dallas dropped from Class 5A to this 4A district last season and missed the playoffs. The district has three programs who rank in the top 10 of the Texas Football Class 4A DI preseason rankings. 

It starts with reigning state champion and cover school Celina (16-0). The Bobcats are the preseason No. 1-ranked team with District Offensive MVP Bowe Bentley, an Oklahoma quarterback commit, and District Defensive MVP Luke Biagini (139 tackles, 19 TFL, 10 PBU, 4 INT, 3 sacks) at linebacker.

But Frisco Panther Creek (10-2) has Division I prospects of its own in WR/CB Jalen Lott (Oregon) and ATH Donovan Webb (Texas Tech). Coach Clint Surratt’s squad has compiled a 21-4 record over the past two seasons. The Panthers began varsity play in 2022. 

Sulphur Springs (10-3) is a dark horse contender with 16 starters back. TCU offensive tackle Vincent Johnson will pave the way for reigning Offensive Newcomer of the Year Deuce Timmons at quarterback and Utility Player of the Year Jaxson Haire.

Aubrey (8-5) reached the third round of the playoffs as a four-seed, illustrating the gauntlet that 7-4A DI is. The Chaparrals only have five starters back, but look for RB/LB Cameron Haygood (91 tackles, 11 TFL), center Elliott Kinney and defensive end Logan Gannon (65 tackles, 11 TFL, 5 sacks) to be the team leaders.  

9-5A DII (Richmond Randle, Iowa Colony, Fort Bend Marshall, Texas City, Santa Fe, Baytown Lee, Rosenberg Terry, Lamar Consolidated)

District 9-5A DII had three of the four semifinalists in Region III last season, and each of those programs is ranked in the top 10 in the Class 5A DII preseason rankings. The defending champion Richmond Randle checks in at No. 1, Alvin Iowa Colony is No. 5 and Fort Bend Marshall is No. 7.

Richmond Randle (16-0) and Iowa Colony (12-2) may have begun varsity football in 2022, but they’ve wasted no time climbing to the top of TXHSFB teams. 

Randle has to replace both offensive coordinators, but whoever takes over playcalling duties will feed superstar junior running back Landen Williams-Callis (2,108 rushing yards, 45 TDs). The defense should be salty with the linebacking corps of Noriel Dominguez (TCU commit) and Ryan Mallory (Class 5A DII State Championship Game MVP).

Iowa Colony’s only two losses last season came to Randle, demonstrating how loaded this district is. The Pioneers have one of the state’s best passing duos in quarterback Carson White (District Offensive MVP) and wide receiver Jayden Warren (First Team All-District). 

Fort Bend Marshall’s (10-3) only three losses came in the form of one game against Randle and two games against Iowa Colony. These District 9-5A DII foes beat everybody except each other! The Buffaloes will ride First Team All-District QB Kaeden Johnson (2,680 total yards and 31 touchdowns) and running back Reyton Long (1,022 yards and 12 touchdowns) a three-year starter.

This district was so loaded that Baytown Lee (6-4), missed the playoffs with a winning record last season. They’re projected to vie for the four-seed with Texas City (5-6) and Santa Fe (4-6).

23-6A (North Shore, Summer Creek, Atascocita, Kingwood, C.E. King, Humble, Channelview, Goose Creek Memorial)

The DCTX office was in gridlock debating whether the Dallas-based 11-6A or the Houston-based 23-6A is a tougher district. Both have three teams in the Class 6A preseason state rankings. Duncanville (No. 3), DeSoto (No. 10) and Waxahachie (No. 21) represent 11-6A. Meanwhile, North Shore (No. 5), Humble Summer Creek (No. 11) and Humble Atascocita (No. 13) hail from 23-6A. All six teams are projected to reach the regional finals.

I am picking 23-6A because North Shore (14-1), Summer Creek (12-3), Atascocita (12-2) and Kingwood (9-5) reached the regional finals, whereas in 11-6A, only Duncanville and DeSoto did so last season. I also believe each of those four teams from 23-6A are regional final contenders once again, where I’d only add Waxahachie to the contender list for 11-6A. 

North Shore lost nine Division I signees, but the Mustangs haven’t been knocked out before the state semifinals since 2017. Summer Creek has SMU defensive end commit Amontre Harris (59 tackles, 16 TFL, 10 sacks) and First Team All-District 23-6A linebacker Tyson Joiner (101 tackles, 10 TFL) to make life easier for a young secondary. Atascocita returns reigning District MVP Cardae Mack. Kingwood would be a surprise regional finalist, but the Mustangs shocked us last season, too. First Team All-District LB Cade Haug posted 152 tackles and 10 TFL, and DCTX four-star Kennedy Brown can help mentor a young offensive line.