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

DISTRICT PREDICTIONS

District 5-2A Division II

1. Wellington
2. Quanah
3. Wheeler
4. Clarendon
5. Shamrock
6. Memphis

After a district title a year ago, Wheeler gets the nod for third despite returning seven starters on both sides of the ball. The Mustangs suffered some key graduation losses, while Wellington, which aired it out last year, returns its QB Callen Kane, who leads a group that returns seven on both sides as well. Quanah was a pleasant surprise a year ago and the Indians bring back 17 starters from an area round team. I’m going out on a limb with QHS at second but I think there’s some potential. Clarendon brings back all but two starters from a year ago, but they are on their fourth head coach in five years; that lack of consistency hurts the Broncos, who were a regional finalist in 2023.

District 6-2A Division II

1. Windthorst
2. Petrolia
3. Haskell
4. Seymour
5. Electra
6. Archer City
7. Munday

Windthorst is the runaway favorite in this district as the Trojans are led by four-year starter Brock Belcher at QB. When Windthorst has a Belcher on the field, they tend to contend and that’s the case in 2026 with seven starters back on both sides from a 9-3 squad. Things get really interesting after that as Petrolia was a surprise second-place team a year ago; they return half their starters, but can they hold off up and coming Haskell, which brings a bit more back? Seymour was ravaged by injuries last season and they expect to be improved, while Electra and Archer City also bring back good numbers. There’s really five teams who have a legit shot at second through fourth, so get your playoff tiebreakers ready!

District 7-2A Division II

1. Albany
2. Goldthwaite
3. Stamford
4. Hamlin
5. Cross Plains
6. Miles
7. Winters

Realignment made things super interesting in this Big Country district, which hasn’t often held intrigue as you can usually pencil in Albany as the district champion. While the Lions are picked as the district favorite with the return of QB Clay Chapman, there’s two teams who are ready to challenge the Lions dominance in 2026. Goldthwaite, who moves west after playing in Central Texas, is looking really dangerous as the Eagles return an impressive 19 starters from an 8-4 squad, WR/DB Aidyn Lee is a superstar in the making and Goldthwaite turned heads this year at State 7-on-7 as well. If it’s not Goldthwaite, Albany’s rival in the Big Country, Stamford could contend as well. The Bulldogs played for the Division I title in 2024 and after a 7-5 mark a year ago they drop to Division II with seven back on both sides of the ball. They’ve had a long running series with Albany in non-district and the two small school powers will go back and forth. Albany took last year’s meeting 21-7. Hamlin gets the edge for the last spot over Cross Plains, but that battle for the final playoff spot will be a lot of fun.

District 8-2A Division II

1. Mart
2. Crawford
3. Santo
4. Frost
5. Wortham
6. Hubbard
7. Meridian

This is an odd mix of teams, with most of the action in the Waco area, but then you throw in Santo who geographically makes more sense in District 7 if we are being honest. Those are going to be some long road trips to and from Palo Pinto County. Mart and Crawford are the teams to beat, but both CenTex powers have questions going into 2026. Mart enters Year 2 under Chris Lancaster and the Panthers may still be year away. But even in a down year, they were still a third round playoff team. Crawford will be on their third head coach in three years, but Ty Robinson got things turned for the Pirates in his one season. Sam Moody, who was promoted to head coach, will look to keep the good vibes going with six back on both sides. Santo will field the district’s most experienced team with all but four players graduating. The Wildcats have run the flexbone in the past, but don’t be surprised if they put the ball in the air a bit more in 2026. Frost, also under a new head coach, looks ready to get back in the playoffs if they can hold off what should be an improved Wortham squad.

PROJECTED BI-DISTRICT MATCHUPS AND PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

W5 Wellington vs F6 Seymour

R8 Crawford vs T7 Stamford

W6 Windthorst vs F5 Clarendon

R7 Goldthwaite vs T8 Santo

W7 Albany vs F8 Frost

R6 Petrolia vs T5 Wheeler

W8 Mart vs F7 Hamlin

R5 Quanah vs T6 Haskell

With two-time state champion Muenster moving up to Division I, we know Region II is absolutely up for grabs. But also consider Collinsville’s move to Region III as well. Collinsville was a regional finalist in 2022, 2023 and 2024, before losing in the third-round last year. That leaves a major power vacuum in the region. Does Albany emerge as the team to beat? I’m not so sure, as the playoff run is TOUGH. A possible third round date with Mart awaits and the top of the bracket projects to be brutal with Windthorst, Wellington, Crawford and Goldthwaite all battling it out. There’s going to be some GREAT bi-district games between District 7 and 8, especially those two vs three showdowns. I’m taking Windthorst over Albany, but that Round 2 game between Windthorst and Goldthwaite may end up being the de facto regional title game.

REGIONAL CHAMPION

Windthorst over Albany